How to Install Gedit Plugins

Edited 5 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Gedit is a free and open-source text editor that comes pre-installed with most Linux distributions, especially distributions that use the GNOME desktop environment. It is a simple and user-friendly text editor with essential features. However, sometimes users want more customization or additional functionality, which can be achieved by installing plugins. In this article, we will discuss how to install and manage Gedit plugins.

Introduction to Gedit plugins

Gedit plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of the Gedit text editor. These plugins can add new features, improve existing features or streamline your workflow. Whether you need syntax highlighting for different programming languages, a file browser or a project management tool, there's a plugin for that.

Gedit comes with some default plugins that you can enable, such as a spell checker and a word completion tool. However, there are many more plugins available created by developers around the world. In the sections below, we will learn how to find, install, and use these plugins effectively.

Step-by-step guide to installing Gedit plugins

Step 1: Open Gedit

The first step towards installing plugins in Gedit is to open the Gedit application.

You can use the following methods to open Gedit:

• Press Alt + F2 on your keyboard, type gedit and press Enter.
• Alternatively, open the applications menu of your Linux system and search for gedit.

Step 2: Access the Plugins page

Once Gedit opens, the next step is to get to the Plugins page, where you can add or activate plugins.

1. Go to the Gedit menu bar.
2. Click Edit.
3. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.

This action will open a new dialog box called Preferences.

Step 3: Enable default plugins

Inside the Preferences dialog box, switch to the Plugins tab.

Gedit comes with several default plugins that can be enabled. The Plugins tab will display a list of these available plugins. Some of the popular Gedit plugins included by default are:

• External Tools: Execute scripts and external commands directly from Gedit.
• File Browser Pane: Access the file system and browse directories without leaving Gedit.
• Snippets: Use predefined code snippets to increase coding efficiency.

Check the checkbox next to each plugin you want to enable.

Step 4: Find more plugins

While the default plugins are useful, there are many more third-party plugins available to improve Gedit. To find additional plugins, you can follow these steps:

1. Search the Internet for Gedit plugins. Many resources, including GitHub and other repositories, offer additional plugins.
2. Check out the Gedit plugins page on GNOME's website. It provides a comprehensive list of plugins along with installation instructions.

Step 5: Download the Plugin

Once you've selected a plugin you want to install, download it to your computer. The plugin usually comes in a compressed file format, such as .tar.gz or .zip.

Extract the downloaded file to a directory. You can use a command in your terminal to extract the file:

tar -xzvf plugin-name.tar.gz

Replace plugin-name.tar.gz with the actual name of your downloaded plugin file. This will create a directory containing the plugin files.

Step 6: Install the Plugin

Copy the extracted plugin folder to Gedit's plugin directory. You will usually have two destination options for installing a plugin:

• System-wide installation: Install the plugin in a way that all users on the system can access it. Use the following command:

sudo cp -r extracted-directory /usr/lib/gedit/plugins

• User-only installation: Install the plugin for the current user only:

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gedit/plugins

cp -r extracted-directory ~/.local/share/gedit/plugins

Replace extracted-directory with the name of the extracted files directory of your plugin. Make sure you have the proper permissions if needed during these actions.

Step 7: Enable the installed plugin in Gedit

Now that the plugin is copied to the Gedit plugin directory, revisit the Preferences dialog box in Gedit. You will find your newly installed plugin listed in the Plugins tab.

Check the checkbox next to the new plugin to enable it. Some plugin changes may require a restart of Gedit to take effect, so close and reopen Gedit if necessary.

Managing Gedit plugins

Once you have installed and enabled the desired plugins, you may want to manage them regularly.

Updating Plugins

Gedit plugins may receive updates for bug fixes or new features. To make sure you have the latest versions:

1. Regularly check for updates on the plugin's source page or repository.
2. Download the old plugin files to the plugins directory and replace them with the updated files.

Disabling the Plugin

If you don’t use a plugin often or find that it doesn’t meet your needs, consider disabling it.

Follow the same initial steps to access the Preferences dialog box and access the Plugins tab. Then uncheck the box next to the plugin you want to disable. You can re-enable it at any time.

Removing a plugin

To completely remove a plugin from your system:

1. Go to the appropriate plugin directory (/usr/lib/gedit/plugins for system-wide plugins or ~/.local/share/gedit/plugins for user-specific plugins).
2. Delete the plugin's folder from the directory.

Be careful when deleting plugin files, make sure you delete only the targeted plugin and nothing else.

Conclusion

Installing and managing plugins in Gedit allows you to tailor the editor to your needs, increasing productivity for writing, coding, and many other tasks. With this guide, you are now well-equipped to install, enable, and manage Gedit plugins, bringing more flexibility and power to your editing environment.

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