How to install Mu on Linux

Packaging on Linux is a complicated scenario. We’ve tried to find a solution that will work on as many flavours of Linux as possible (x86_64) while making it as easy to install as possible for beginner coders. As a result, we’re currently using the AppImage standard for package distribution.

Step 1 - Download the AppImage

• Download the AppImage and put it somewhere safe (such as your home directory, or Downloads directory).

Step 2 - Update User Permissions

On Linux, in order for Mu to work with the MicroPython based devices you need to ensure you add yourself to the correct permissions group (usually the dialout or uucp groups).

• Open a terminal (press CTRL + ALT + T).
• Type the following to add your user (identified by $USER) to the dialout group:

sudo adduser $USER dialout

• You will need to enter your password for this to work.
• You should reboot your machine for this change to take effect.

On some specialised Linux distributions (i.e. not the most popular / common ones), flash drives may not be automatically detected and mounted. Since many MicroPython and CircuitPython based devices appear as flash devices by default, please consult your distribution’s documentation for how to automatically mount such devices when they are plugged in.

Step 3 - Update AppImage Permissions

• In the file explorer, find the AppImage you downloaded in the first step, and right click to display the context menu.

• Select the “Properties” entry. A new modal window will open.
• Select the “Permissions” tab.
• Make sure the “Allow executing file as program” check box (“Execute”) is ticked.

• Close the window.

Step 4 - Install Dependencies

On these Linux distributions you need to install additional software packages. Bring up a terminal window and run the following commands:

Arch Linux

pacman -S libxcript-compat

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)

apt install libfuse2

Step 5 - Launch Mu

On most Linux distributions, double click Mu’s AppImage to start it. A few, however, require using the terminal to do it:

Arch Linux

As of Mu 1.1.1 running Mu requires using the Wayland display server. Other than that, double clicking Mu’s AppImage works nicely.

Debian 11 (bulleye)

QT_QPA_PLATFORM=wayland ./Downloads/Mu_Editor-1.1.1-x86_64.AppImage

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)

QT_QPA_PLATFORM=wayland ./Downloads/Mu_Editor-1.1.1-x86_64.AppImage