Installing Podman Desktop on Ubuntu

Introduction:

Podman is quickly becoming a popular alternative to Docker, especially for those who appreciate rootless containers and a daemonless approach. On Ubuntu, installing Podman CLI is a breeze and requires minimal effort. However, installing Podman Desktop is a completely different story. If you’re curious like me and want to explore the graphical interface of Podman Desktop, be ready for an adventure filled with challenges, errors, and a bit of fun troubleshooting. It took me two hours of persistence to get it running properly, but the learning experience was worth it!

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Why Install Podman Desktop on Ubuntu?

You might ask, “Why bother with Podman Desktop when the CLI is so easy to install?” And honestly, that’s a fair question. For practical purposes, sticking with the CLI is the way to go. But if you’re like me, you might want to try something new just for the learning experience. Keep in mind, though, that the road to running Podman Desktop on Ubuntu is fraught with unexpected hurdles.

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Step 1: Installing Flatpak on Ubuntu

The first step in this journey is setting up Flatpak. This part is relatively straightforward, but don’t get too comfortable—this is just the calm before the storm.

1. Update your package list:

    sudo apt update
   

2. Install Flatpak:

    sudo apt install flatpak -y
   

   So far, so good, right? Flatpak is now installed, but this is where the real adventure begins.

   %[https://x.com/ABHAYDPATIL96/status/1822158123487891855]

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Step 2: Adding the Flathub Repository

To get Podman Desktop, you need to add the Flathub repository. This is the easy part, but don’t be fooled—things are about to get more interesting.

1. Add Flathub:

    sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
   

   Now that Flathub is added, you’re ready to install Podman Desktop. Or are you?

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Step 3: Installing Podman Desktop (Prepare for a Challenge)

Here’s where my curiosity turned into a test of patience. The installation process might look simple, but depending on your setup, you could encounter multiple errors that will require some serious troubleshooting.

1. Install Podman Desktop:

    flatpak install flathub io.podman_desktop.PodmanDesktop
   

   For me, this step took a turn for the worse. What seemed like a straightforward installation quickly became a two-hour marathon of fixing dependencies, resolving errors, and Googling solutions. If you’re up for the challenge, keep going—but be ready to troubleshoot.

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Step 4: Launching Podman Desktop (Finally!)

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’re one step away from running Podman Desktop. But remember, even launching the application might not be smooth sailing.

1. Run Podman Desktop:

    flatpak run io.podman_desktop.PodmanDesktop
   

   After all the effort, I was finally able to launch Podman Desktop. The sense of accomplishment was worth the time spent, but I couldn’t help but think, “Was it really necessary?” If you’re just experimenting, you might ask yourself the same question.

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Conclusion: A Fun Yet Frustrating Experience

Installing Podman Desktop on Ubuntu using Flatpak turned out to be a fun, albeit frustrating, experience. While the CLI version of Podman is easy to install and use, the Desktop version presents numerous challenges that may not be worth the effort for most users. However, if you’re like me and enjoy solving problems just for the sake of learning, this journey will definitely teach you a thing or two.

Connect with Me:

If you’ve enjoyed this adventure or have your own experiences to share, connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Hashtags:

#Podman #Containers #Ubuntu #DevOps #TechChallenges #Linux #OpenSource #Troubleshooting#AbhayDandge

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