Ubuntu 16.04 LTS offers support for "Snap" packages. It's a new way to install applications that does not require the apt-get and dpkg commands that allow you to install .deb applications.
Snaps use the “.snap” extension and are more like storage containers (packages). Snap apps come standalone, include all the libraries they need to run, sandboxed. They will install in their own directory and won't interfere with the rest of your system.
Although there are not many available apps yet let's see how you can install them:
Search for available Snap packages
To see the list of all packages available at store, open a terminal and run the following command:
snap find
To search for a specific package with its name, simply add your search term at the end of the first order:
snap find_name
For a more complete description and discrete packages marked with the search term:
snap find | grep search_request
How to Install a Snap Package
To install a Snap package, use the following command, specifying the name of the packet. You should run the command with sudo to enable it to be installed on the root system.
sudo snap install package_name
The snap command will download and install the application package you requested, displaying progress in the terminal window.
You can run the installed application just like any other application. If it is a graphical application, it should appear in the menu of your applications. Otherwise, just start typing the application name into the terminal and press the "Tab" key to complete the name automatically. Then you can press Enter to start the application.
How to Update Snaps Packs
To update an installed Snap package, run the following command, specifying the package name. If there is any news version of Snap, will download and install:
sudo snap refresh package_name
How to view a list of packages you have installed:
To list your installed snap packs, run the following command
snap list
For results with more info via grep:
snap list | grep package_name
How to Remove a Snap Package
sudo snap remove package_name
See recent changes
With the following command you can see a list of system changes. Displays a list of newly installed snap packs, which have been updated, or have been removed and when. updated (updated), and removed, along with the times these actions took place.
snap changes
Here, let's mention that Ubuntu developers continue to develop Snap packages, so we will probably see more command-line options and snap packs themselves in the future.
If you are interested in creating your own .snap packages, consult the Ubuntu Snap documentation for more details.