How to Install Slack on Fedora Linux

Slack is a powerful communication platform designed to enhance collaboration and productivity, especially in business and enterprise environments. On Fedora, one of the most popular and versatile Linux distributions, Slack’s seamless integration ensures an efficient and user-friendly experience.

Slack offers a range of features that make it stand out from its competitors, such as:

  • Real-time messaging: Communicate instantly with your team using public channels, private groups, or direct messages.
  • File sharing: Effortlessly share documents, images, videos, and other files with your team members.
  • App integration: Enhance your workflow by integrating with numerous third-party applications and services.
  • Advanced search: Quickly find messages, files, and documents using Slack’s powerful search capabilities.
  • Customizable notifications: Stay informed without being overwhelmed by adjusting your notification preferences.
  • Security: Ensure your data is safe and secure with enterprise-grade security features and compliance standards.

Fedora users can benefit from Slack’s robust feature set and seamless communication experience by installing the application on their systems. This guide will demonstrate how to install Slack on Fedora Linux by manually downloading the Slack RPM and installing it or using Flatpak with the Flathub repository.

Update Fedora

Before installing Slack, it is advised to verify that all major packages on your system are up-to-date to avoid any potential issues with the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Do not forget to reboot if any Linux Kernels have been updated.

Method 1: Install Slack with RPM Download

Slack is not included in Fedora’s default repositories; therefore, it is necessary to download the .rpm package from the Slack downloads page. After obtaining the latest download link, the package can be downloaded using the command line terminal. This ensures that users have access to the latest version of Slack and enables a successful installation.

Example:

wget https://downloads.slack-edge.com/releases/linux/x.x.x/prod/x64/slack-x.x.x-x.x.xxxx.x86_64.rpm

If obtaining the download link from the browser presents difficulties, the user can directly download the Slack package from the browser. Upon completion, the package will be saved in the downloads directory, which can be accessed via the command line by running the following command:

cd ~/Downloads/

The next step is to install the previously downloaded Slack package using the appropriate command. Running the installation command will initiate the installation process, enabling the successful deployment of Slack on the system.

sudo dnf localinstall slack-*

Method 2: Install Slack with Flatpak and Flathub Repository

Flatpak is a popular software deployment and package management system that allows users to install and run applications in a sandboxed environment. It enables the distribution of applications that can run on different Linux distributions, irrespective of their differences in software versions and dependencies.

Flatpak comes pre-installed on several Linux distributions, including Fedora, and allows users to easily install and run applications from the Flathub repository, a centralized store for Flatpak applications. Flathub hosts many applications, including popular ones like Slack, LibreOffice, and GIMP.

To install an application using Flatpak on Fedora, you must first enable Flathub on your system. This is done by opening a terminal and entering the following command:

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

To install Slack using Flatpak, follow these steps:

flatpak install flathub com.slack.Slack

How to Launch Slack

Once Slack is installed via Flatpak or RPM on your Fedora system, you can launch it through the command line or by accessing the application icon.

To launch Slack via the command line using Flatpak, you can open a terminal and enter the following command:

flatpak run com.slack.Slack

This will start Slack in a sandboxed environment provided by Flatpak, which ensures that the application runs securely and does not interfere with other applications on your system.

If you installed Slack using RPM, you could launch it by opening a terminal and entering the following command:

slack

This will launch Slack in your default environment without any sandboxing or confinement. It is worth noting that this method may not work if you have installed Slack via a different package management system or installed it manually.

Finally, you can access the Slack icon from the Applications menu if you prefer the graphical interface. To do this, click the Activities button on the top-left corner of your screen, then search for Slack. Once you find it, click on the icon to launch the application. This method should work regardless of how you installed Slack on your Fedora system.

Example of Slack Application Icon on Fedora:

The first time you launch Slack, there are a few things you may want to do to customize your experience and get started using the application. Here are some steps to take on your first time launching Slack:

  • Launching Slack will prompt you to sign in or create a new account. If you already have a Slack account, enter your email address and password to sign in. Otherwise, follow the prompts to create a new account.
  • Once signed in, you will be taken to the Slack workspace to communicate with your team or other Slack users. You can join existing channels or create new ones by clicking the plus icon next to the Channels section.
  • You can also customize your Slack settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the Slack window. From there, you can access your profile, preferences, and various settings related to notifications, accessibility, and more.
  • If you want to add more features to Slack, you can do so by accessing the Slack App Directory. To do this, click the Apps button in the left-hand sidebar, then search for and install any apps or integrations you want to use with Slack.
  • Finally, if you encounter any issues while using Slack or need help getting started, you can access the Slack Help Center by clicking the Help & Feedback button in the left-hand sidebar. You can access various resources, including guides, FAQs, and support options.

Please create a new account, or use your existing account to sign in, and that is it. Slack has been successfully installed on your Fedora desktop.

Additional Tips

Updating Slack

Firstly, for the RPM method, you will need to use the same method to re-install Slack when you need to update the binary, as Slack offers no native RPM repository to use with your DNF package manager compared to most other software.

For Flatpak installations, run the following command to update Slack:

flatpak update com.slack.Slack

Or

flatpak update 

Removing Slack

To remove the RPM installation of Slack, use the following command:

sudo dnf remove slack

Lastly, Flatpak installations can remove Slack using the following command:

flatpak uninstall com.slack.Slack

Conclusion

Installing Slack on Fedora Linux can be accomplished by manually downloading and installing the Slack RPM or using Flatpak with the Flathub repository. Regardless of your chosen approach, following the steps in the guide will help you set up and enjoy seamless communication with your team using Slack on your Fedora system.

Additional Resources and Links

To ensure a smooth experience with Slack on Fedora, explore the following official resources:

  • Slack Help Center: Visit the Slack Help Center for comprehensive information on using and troubleshooting Slack and tips on improving team collaboration.
  • Fedora Documentation: Access the Fedora Documentation to learn more about the Fedora operating system, including software installation and system administration guides.
  • Slack Flathub: Get Slack Flatpak on Flathub to install Slack via Flatpak on your Fedora system.
  • Flatpak Documentation: Familiarize yourself with the Flatpak Documentation to learn more about how Flatpak works and how to manage your Flatpak applications.
  • Flathub: Browse the Flathub website to discover more Flatpak applications available for your Fedora system.

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