--- title: Install universal-ctags on Raspberry Pi using the Snap Store | Snapcraft description: Get the latest version of universal-ctags for on Raspberry Pi - Universal-Ctags packaged as an installable snap for Linux url: https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/raspbian --- [Canonical Snapcraft](https://snapcraft.io/) # Install universal-ctags on **Raspberry Pi** # universal-ctags [Jonathan Hartley (tartley)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/tartley "View all snaps from Jonathan Hartley (tartley)") * [Jonathan Hartley (tartley)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/tartley "View all snaps from Jonathan Hartley (tartley)") * [Development](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=development) [Install](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/raspbian#install) #### Universal-Ctags packaged as an installable snap for Linux Ctags parses source code to produce an index file, mapping the names of symbols, like functions, classes, and variables, to the locations where they are defined. This index is used by editors like Vim and Emacs to enable features like 'go to definition'. Universal Ctags () is an active fork of the venerable Exuberant Ctags (, last release 2009), that adds additional features, including support for more languages. This is the snap package of universal-ctags (), which installs the application binary on any Linux distribution. **Usage** When installed, this snap provides executable `universal-ctags`, and alias `ctags`. ``` ctags [options] [target files or directories] ``` eg. `ctags -R .` (`-R` or `--recurse` to recursively search directories), or `ctags -R --languages=python --exclude=.git src/`. This snap does not install the man pages. See the online universal-ctags man pages at for options and usage details. **Limitations** Compared to universal-ctags installed using apt, or compiled from source, this snap has some limitations, introduced by snap security restrictions. 1. Source files cannot be scanned if they are: * Outside the user's $HOME directory, or * In a top-level hidden directory in $HOME, eg. `~/.src`. Lower-level hidden directories, eg. `~/proj/.src`, can be scanned. 2. Ctags usually reads config from the following directories: * The user's `~/.ctags.d/` is read as expected. * The current directory's `ctags.d` is not read by default, but the '--options' arg can be used to read from it. * The current directory's `.ctags.d` cannot be read. 3. Configuration in other places, specified using `--options` or `--options-maybe`, will not be read if they are outside the user's HOME, or in a top-level hidden directory. 4. Tag files written using '-f' options or similar may not be outside the user's $HOME directory, nor in a top-level hidden file or directory. You may be able to work around this by using `-f -` and redirecting stdout to the required location. 5. The universal-ctags man pages are not installed. But you can see them online at 6. The 'etags' executable alias (which defaults to Emacs style tags files) is not installed. Use `ctags --output-format=etags` or `ctags -e` instead. If these or other issues cause you problems, please file an issue at . ### Package name * universal-ctags --- ### License * GPL-2.0+ --- ### Last updated * 4 November 2024 - latest/stable * 5 June 2026 - latest/edge --- ### Websites * [ctags.io](https://ctags.io/ "https://ctags.io/") --- ### Contact * [tartley@tartley.com](mailto:tartley@tartley.com "mailto:tartley@tartley.com") --- ##### Report a Snap Store violation * [Report this Snap](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/raspbian#report-snap-modal) --- ## Enable snaps on Raspberry Pi and install universal-ctags Snaps are applications packaged with all their dependencies to run on all popular Linux distributions from a single build. They update automatically and roll back gracefully. Snaps are discoverable and installable from the [Snap Store](https://snapcraft.io/store), an app store with an audience of millions. ### Enable snapd On a [Raspberry Pi](https://www.raspberrypi.org/) running the latest version of [Raspbian](https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/) snap can be installed directly from the command line: ``` sudo apt update sudo apt install snapd ``` You will also need to reboot your device: ``` sudo reboot ``` After this, install the snapd snap in order to get the latest snapd: ``` sudo snap install snapd ``` ### Install universal-ctags To install universal-ctags, simply use the following command: ``` sudo snap install universal-ctags ``` ### Other popular snaps… [See more...](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured) [See more in Featured](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured) ### More things to do… #### [Get the snap store](https://snapcraft.io/snap-store) Browse and find snaps from the convenience of your desktop using the snap store snap. #### [Learn more about snaps](https://snapcraft.io/docs) Interested to find out more about snaps? Want to publish your own application? Visit [snapcraft.io](https://snapcraft.io/) now. [Back to top](https://snapcraft.io/install/universal-ctags/raspbian) © 2026 Canonical Ltd. Ubuntu and Canonical are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd. 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