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  1. Blog
  2. Article

Martin Wimpress
on 31 July 2018


Linux is the best platform for developers. Here’s how you can get popular languages and development environments up and running in moments. The first step is to install snapd (the service that runs and manages Snaps) on your distro, then you can install your pick from some of our recommendations below.

We regularly share new articles and interesting applications via the @snapcraftio Twitter account, so give us a follow and stay up to date.

1. GitKraken


Git is central to most contemporary development workflows. GitKraken is a great Git client that integrates with self hosted repositories and popular services like GitHub, Bitbucket and GitLab to make working with your remote repositories easier. Get GitKraken from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install gitkraken

2. NodeJS & Visual Studio Code


Node.js, the cross-platform JavaScript run-time environment that executes JavaScript code server-side, continues to grow in popularity. Visual Studio Code is the code editor of choice for many developers and combines the simplicity of a code editor with what developers need for the edit-build-debug cycle. Pairing Node.js and Visual Studio Code creates a powerful development environment with access to the largest ecosystem of open source libraries in the world.

The Node.js Snap makes use of tracks so you can install any supported Node.js release. For example you can install Node.js 10.x from the command-line with:

snap install node --channel=10/stable

Replace --channel=10 with the major version number of the Node.js release you require. At the time of writing tracks for Node.js 6, 8, 9 and 10 are available. You can install Visual Studio Code from the Snap store or install it on the command-line to with:

snap install vscode

4. Go & Goland


The Go programming language Snap provides an assembler, compiler, linker, and compiled libraries which can be paired with the Goland IDE to provide an ergonomic environment for Go development. The Go Snap also makes use of tracks enabling you to install any of the supported Go releases. For example you can install the Go 1.10 from the command-line with:

snap install go --channel=1.10/stable

Replace --channel=1.10 with the major version number of the Go release you require. At the time of writing tracks for Go 1.6 to 1.11 are available. Get Goland from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install goland

3. Kotlin & IntelliJ IDEA


Kotlin is a statically typed programming language for modern multiplatform applications that is 100% interoperable with Java™ and Android™. IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate editon is also available) is a capable & ergonomic Java IDE for enterprise, web & mobile development.

JetBrains publish snaps for Kotlin and Kotlin/Native. The Kotlin snap provides the command line compiler while Kotlin/Native is a technology for compiling Kotlin to native binaries that run without any VM. Get Kotlin, Kotlin/Native and IntelliJ IDEA from the Snap Store or install them from the command-line with:

snap install kotlin
snap install kotlin-native
snap install intellij-idea-community

3. Android Studio


Android Studio provides the fastest tools for building apps on every type of Android device. World-class code editing, debugging, performance tooling, a flexible build system, and an instant build/deploy system all allow you to focus on building unique and high quality apps. Get Android Studio from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install android-studio

5. PostgreSQL & DataGrip


PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system. It has more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness.
Get PostgreSQL 10 from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install postgresql10
Other releases of PostgreSQL are available in the Snap Store should you require them.

If a DBMS has a JDBC driver you can connect to it via DataGrip. DataGrip is a multi-engine database environment which supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, Amazon Redshift, Sybase, DB2, SQLite, HyperSQL, Apache Derby and H2. Get DataGrip from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:

snap install datagrip

6. Insomnia & Postman


Insomnia is a powerful open source HTTP and GraphQL tool belt to debug APIs like a human by offering advanced authentication helpers, templating, and request chaining to help get things done faster. Get Insomnia from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install insomnia

Postman is the complete toolchain for API developers and makes working with APIs faster and easier by supporting developers at every stage of their workflow. Get Postman from the Snap store or install it on the command-line with:
snap install postman

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