How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 with Snap | Easy Setup

By Posted on

How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 with Snap | Easy Setup

In this guide, we’ll explore How To Install Postman on CentOS 7. Postman is a powerful API (Application Programming Interface) development tool used to build, test, and modify APIs. Its comprehensive feature set caters to almost any functionality a developer might require. Millions of developers rely on Postman every month to simplify and streamline their API development processes. Its capabilities include making various types of HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH), saving environments for later use, and converting APIs into code for various languages like JavaScript and Python. This article will show you How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 using Snap.

Steps To Install Postman API Development Tool on CentOS 7

Before you begin, ensure you are logged in to your CentOS 7 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. If you haven’t already, you can set this up by following a guide like the Initial Server Setup with CentOS 7.

Now, let’s proceed with the following steps to install the latest version of Postman on your server.

Install Postman on CentOS 7 with Snap

First, update your local package index using the following command:

sudo yum update -y

Next, install the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository, which provides additional packages not available in the default CentOS repositories.

sudo yum install epel-release -y

We will use the Snap store to install Postman. Install Snap using the command below:

sudo yum install snapd -y

Once Snapd is installed, enable the systemd unit that manages the main snap communication socket:

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

To enable classic snap support, create a symbolic link between /var/lib/snapd/snap and /snap:

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Now, use the following command to install Postman:

sudo snap install postman
Postman install with Snap

To run Postman, simply type:

postman

Note: Avoid starting Postman using the sudo command, as it can create permission issues with the files Postman creates.

Start Postman from a Launcher Icon on CentOS 7

To create a launcher icon, you need to create a .desktop file (a shortcut used to launch applications in Linux) for the Postman desktop app and save it in the following location:

sudo vi ~/.local/share/applications/Postman.desktop

Enter the following content into the file, replacing /path/to/Downloads with the actual location where Postman is installed, and then save the file:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Postman
Exec=/path/to/Downloads/Postman/app/Postman %U
Icon=/path/to/Downloads/Postman/app/resources/app/assets/icon.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Development;

Once done, save and close the file. Copy the created shortcut to your desktop as well:

cp ~/.local/share/applications/Postman.desktop ~/Desktop/

Right-click on the created shortcut of Postman on the Desktop and select the “Allow launching” option.

You can also start it from the Application launcher by searching for "Postman".

The Postman desktop app will look like this:


That’s it, you are done with How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 using snap!

Alternative Installation Methods for Postman on CentOS 7

While Snap offers a convenient way to install Postman, let’s explore two alternative methods: using Flatpak and manual installation.

1. Installing Postman on CentOS 7 with Flatpak

Flatpak is another universal package management system that provides a sandboxed environment for applications. It’s similar to Snap but has its own ecosystem and benefits.

First, you need to install Flatpak on your CentOS 7 system.

sudo yum install flatpak -y

Next, add the Flathub repository, which hosts a large collection of Flatpak applications:

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

Now, you can install Postman using Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.postmanlabs.Postman

This command will download and install Postman from the Flathub repository.

To run Postman after installation, use the following command:

flatpak run com.postmanlabs.Postman

Advantages of using Flatpak:

  • Sandboxing: Flatpak applications run in a sandboxed environment, which enhances security by isolating them from the rest of the system.
  • Dependency Management: Flatpak handles dependencies automatically, ensuring that applications have all the necessary libraries and resources.
  • Up-to-date Applications: Flatpak applications are often updated more frequently than traditional package managers, providing access to the latest features and bug fixes.

2. Manual Installation of Postman on CentOS 7

This method involves downloading the Postman archive directly from the official website and manually extracting and configuring it. This method gives you more control over the installation process.

First, download the Linux 64-bit version of Postman from the official website. You can use wget to download it directly to your server:

wget https://dl.pstmn.io/download/latest/linux64 -O Postman.tar.gz

Extract the downloaded archive:

tar -xzf Postman.tar.gz

Move the extracted folder to a more appropriate location, such as /opt:

sudo mv Postman /opt/

Create a symbolic link to the Postman executable in /usr/local/bin so you can run it from the command line:

sudo ln -s /opt/Postman/Postman /usr/local/bin/postman

To create a desktop entry, create a .desktop file as described in the original guide, but adjust the paths accordingly:

sudo vi ~/.local/share/applications/Postman.desktop

Enter the following content into the file:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Postman
Exec=/opt/Postman/Postman %U
Icon=/opt/Postman/app/resources/app/assets/icon.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Development;

Save and close the file. You can now launch Postman from your application launcher.

Advantages of manual installation:

  • More Control: You have full control over the installation process and can customize it to your specific needs.
  • No Dependency on Package Managers: You don’t need to rely on Snap or Flatpak, which can be useful in environments where these tools are not available or desired.
  • Potentially Smaller Footprint: Depending on the distribution and version, a manual install might result in a smaller disk footprint compared to containerized solutions like Snap or Flatpak.

Disadvantages of manual installation:

  • More Complex: The installation process is more complex and requires more manual steps.
  • Dependency Management: You are responsible for managing dependencies manually.
  • Updates: You need to manually download and install updates.

Choosing the right installation method depends on your specific needs and preferences. Snap offers a convenient and automated way to install Postman, while Flatpak provides sandboxing and dependency management. Manual installation gives you the most control but requires more technical expertise. Understanding How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 via different ways is crucial for different use cases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, How To Install Postman on CentOS 7 with Snap, Flatpak, or manual installation are all viable options for setting up this valuable API testing tool. Snap provides a straightforward method, Flatpak offers enhanced security through sandboxing, and manual installation grants maximum control. Postman’s user-friendly interface simplifies API development and debugging, making it an indispensable tool for developers.

Hope you found this guide helpful. Please consider subscribing to relevant social media channels for more tutorials and updates.

Related posts: