How to Install and Configure Atom Text Editor on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Atom is a free, versatile, customizable, and hackable text editor developed by Github. It comes packed with features and supports extensive customization and extensibility through plugins and themes.

Installing Atom on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is simple and can be done in several ways:

• Using the Snap store (easiest method)
• Downloading the .deb package and installing manually
• Building Atom from source code

In this comprehensive guide, we will go through all three methods with step-by-step instructions and details on customizing and extending Atom to unlock its full potential.

Installing Atom through the Snap Store

The Snap package manager makes installing Atom on Ubuntu a breeze. Snap is a Linux application packaging and distribution system that brings software to Linux users faster and more securely.

Here is how to install Atom via Snap:

1. First, update the package index and install snapd if it‘s not already present:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

2. Next, install Atom using the snap command:

sudo snap install atom --classic

The --classic flag is needed to allow Atom to properly integrate with the operating system, including gaining access to user themes and extensions.

That‘s it! Atom should now be successfully installed and available in your application launcher.

Downloading the Atom .deb Package

You can also install Atom by downloading the 64-bit Debian package (.deb) from the official website:

1. Go to the Atom releases page and download the latest .deb installer for your Ubuntu version. For example, atom-amd64.deb for 64-bit or atom-arm64.deb for ARM-based systems.

2. Once downloaded, open a terminal in the download directory and run:

sudo dpkg -i atom-amd64.deb 

3. If any dependencies are missing, run:

sudo apt-get install -f

This will install the required dependencies and complete the Atom installation.

4. You may need to restart for Atom to fully integrate. Once done, you‘ll be able to access it like any other application.

While the Snap method is easier, installing via .deb allows you to uninstall through APT if needed in the future.

Installing Atom from Source Code

If you want the very latest version before it‘s officially released, building Atom from source is an option. However, this method is complex and only advised for advanced Linux users.

Here‘s a quick summary of the compilation steps:

Prerequisites:

• git – to clone the repository
• Node.js – to install Atom build dependencies
• npm – Node‘s package manager
• build-essential – tools for compiling source code

1. Install the prerequisites above, including the latest Node.js.

2. Clone the Atom GitHub repo:

git clone https://github.com/atom/atom

3. Switch into the project root directory:

cd atom

4. Install Atom build dependencies with npm:

npm install

5. Build Atom source and create package:

script/build

This will generate a platform-specific .deb package under out/.

6. Install the local .deb package through dpkg or gdebi.

Refer to the official build instructions for details. Building from source allows tweaking Atom however you want but takes effort to set up.

Customizing and Configuring Atom

Part of what makes Atom so popular is its extreme customizability through themes and packages. Let‘s explore some customization options:

Atom Themes

To change the look and aesthetics of Atom, extensive themes are available. Popular options include:

• Atom Material UI – Modelled after Google‘s Material Design language for a clean, vibrant look. Easy on the eyes for long coding sessions.
• Dracula Official – A darker theme with purple and orange accents inspired by classic terminal themes.
• One Dark – Atom‘s built-in dark theme subtly colored for a distraction-free editing experience.

Handy Atom Packages

Atom plugins empower developers to tailor environments to specific needs. Here are some of the best:

• atom-beautify – Beautifies code by properly formatting it for dozens of languages. Great for cleaning up messy code.
• Emmet – The essential toolkit for boosting HTML and CSS workflows, with shortcuts for high-speed coding.
• advanced-open-file – Quickly open any file in your project tree through fuzzy finding.
• git-plus – Perform Git commands like commit and push without leaving Atom!

UI & Editor Customizations

Beyond visual customizations, Atom gives fine-grained control of editor behavior. Some examples:

• Choose one of three unique Command Palette styles for initiating actions – Slip Box (default), Fuzzy Finder, or Command Panel. All use the Shift + Cmd + P shortcut for cross-platform compatibility and familiarity.
• Simple global search with easy-to-remember Ctrl + Shift + F shortcut. Case-sensitive option available for advanced users.
• Set preferred scroll sensitivity under the editor settings for fast scrolling through long documents.
• Modify tab type and size under the editor settings for projects with many files open. Traditional horizontal tabs or vertical tabs on the side can aid organization.
• Show a minimap with code overview for quick navigation across documents within Atom‘s tree-view package. This bird‘s eye view adds valuable code context.
• Customize which panels are visible when launching Atom or through the Atom menu bar. Keep your workspace tidy.

Configuring Atom for Python Development

As a versatile text editor loved by millions of developers, Atom needs some additional configuration to excel as a Python IDE:

• Install the Hydrogen package for native Python kernel integration, running code blocks inline, autocompletion, with full debugger support.
• The autocomplete-python package taps into Python‘s Jedi library for smarter statement completion.
• Lint Python on the fly with syntax error notifications using linter-flake8.
• Beautify Python code to conform to PEP8 style guides using python-beautify.
• Get useful Python snippets and auto-generated function templates via python-snippets.

With the above setup along with one of the many Python-dev oriented Atom themes, you have a tailored environment specifically for Python without needing to switch IDEs.

Conclusion

With wide-ranging configurations, customizations, and responsiveness, Atom delivers on its vision to build the "hackable text editor for the 21st Century". Installing it on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is quick but unlocking Atom‘s full potential lies in customizing it to your needs.

The Snap installation method makes getting started a breeze while compiling from source is best for shaping cutting-edge versions of Atom.

Hundreds of open-source plugins, themes, and extensions contribute to Atom‘s flexibility for any development workflow. Python programmers, in particular, can enhance Atom into a powerful IDE alternative to platform-specific tools.

As your needs grow, Atom grows with you. Its vibrant community keeps adding new capabilities, making Atom a future-proof coding companion.