Snap documentation

Welcome to the home of snap, snapd, and snapcraft documentation.

Snaps are app packages for desktop, cloud and IoT that are easy to install, secure, cross-platform and dependency-free.

  • snap is both the command line interface and the application package format
  • snapd is the background service that manages and maintains your snaps
  • snapcraft is the command and the framework used to build your own snaps
  • Snap Store provides a place to upload your snaps, and for users to browse and install

Discovering snap:
Getting started Discover how snaps are used, installed, updated, removed and managed
Installing snap Step-by-step installation instructions for all major Linux distributions, from Arch to Zorin
Channels Get the latest stable releases of your favourite software, or run cutting edge versions

Advanced features:
Controlling updates Snaps update automatically, but you can also manually control when and how often
Snapshots Save, backup and restore the state of one or more installed snaps
Parallel installs Install more than one version of the same snap on your system

Building your own snaps:
Snapcraft overview Learn how to Install snapcraft and build your first snaps
Creating a snap Step-by-step guides for Python, Go, Electron, pre-built binaries and more
The snapcraft format A comprehensive look at the various values that can be defined within a snap’s build file

Most of this documentation can be collaboratively discussed and changed on the respective topic in the doc category of the Snapcraft forum. See the documentation guidelines if you’d like to contribute.

Last updated 16 hours ago. Help improve this document in the forum.