How to Install Wike on Fedora Linux

Wike is a lightweight and open-source Wikipedia reader app for Linux-based GNOME desktops and uses the MediaWiki API to fetch content from Wikipedia. The following tutorial will teach you how to install Wike on Fedora Linux using a COPR repository or the Flatpak package manager utilizing the Flathub with cli commands for those looking for a fast and lightweight way to view Wikipedia articles on their Fedora desktop.

Update Fedora

Before you continue, your system is advised to ensure all existing packages are up to date to avoid system conflicts.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Method 1: Install Wike with COPR Repository

The best method to install Wike Wikipedia Reader for Fedora is to enable the COPR repository by xfgusta/wike.

First, enable the repository using the following terminal command.

sudo dnf copr enable xfgusta/wike -y

If successful, you should see the following output at the end of the import log.

Example:

Repository successfully enabled.

Once done, install Wike using the following command.

sudo dnf install wike -y

Method 2: Install Wike with Flatpak and Flathub

The second method is to utilize Flatpak, as sometimes this can be an easy option to keep the latest version installed if the maintainer is active enough. In contrast, sometimes Fedora can fall behind by an update or two but do not let me persuade you not to use that method as this can be rare also as Fedora is an upstream release.

First, re-install it using the following command for users that may have removed Flatpak.

sudo dnf install flatpak -y

For users re-installing Flatpak, I would recommend rebooting your system. Failure to do this can occur in odd issues, such as incorrect icon paths on the odd occasion.

reboot

SKIP THE REBOOT IF FLATPAK IS INSTALLED.

Next, you need to enable Flatpack using the following command in your terminal:

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

Now install Wike using the following flatpak command.

flatpak install flathub com.github.hugolabe.Wike -y

Troubleshoot Wike Flatpak Installation

First, the most common error when installing a Flatpak from Flathub is the following error output.

"error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can't fetch summary from disabled remote 'flathub,"

The fix is simple, run the following command to enable Flathub.

flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

This will fix the issue the above issue. The next issue can be access to system files. I would only recommend using the following command if you have access permission with your installation accessing files; use the override command below.

sudo flatpak override com.github.hugolabe.Wike --filesystem=host

Please do not use this command by default unless it is needed.

How to Launch Wike Wikipedia Reader

Launching can be done in a few ways now that you have the software installed.

Users with an open command terminal use the following command to launch immediately.

wike

Flatpak installations need to run the following commands instead of the above.

flatpak run com.github.hugolabe.Wike

Desktop users would mostly prefer opening Wike using the application icon, which you would use the following path on your desktop.

Activities > Show Applications > Wike.

Example:

Once launched, you will visit your home page featuring Wikipedia today’s featured article. From here, you can search and, better yet, customize your layout, fonts, and much more, and save articles for reading offline.

Example:

Additional Commands & Tips

How to Update Wike Wikipedia Reader

For future updates, since you have installed the software from a repository, run the standard DNF commands to check for an update manually. You should be notified along with the rest of your system updates, given that it is a DNF install.

sudo dnf update --refresh

How to Remove Wike Wikipedia Reader

Use one of the following commands to remove Wike from your desktop system.

sudo dnf autoremove wike -y

Lastly, if you have no intention of re-installing Wike, you should disable the COPR repo.

sudo dnf copr disable xfgusta/wike -y

Flatpak installations will need to use the following commands.

Conclusion

In this small tutorial, you have learned two methods to install Wike on Fedora Linux for your Wikipedia reading. Overall, if you do not use Wikipedia a lot, this application is probably not needed, but for avid readers, Wike can enhance your reading experience tenfold.