There are two ways to install Debian packages on OpenSUSE Leap or Tumbleweed, one is using SNAP to get Ubuntu-specific packages and the other by converting .Deb files into .RMP using Alien package convertor. We will show how to use both of them, here.
OpenSUSE uses the YMP file extension for one-click install but also allows the installation of RPM packages, thus we can convert easily the Debian packages that are not available to install on this Linux. However, converting packages from one format to another is one thing, and installing the same is another. I am saying this because there is no guarantee that the converted packages will get installed without any error. In such a situation, Snapcraft can help a lot because it creates an isolated environment to install packages thus doesn’t depend on the type of Linux system you are using. All the available software on its repository are installable on OpenSUSE. If you don’t want to use SNAP the Flatpak is there, however, the numbers of software packages in it are low as compared to SNAP.
#1st Method:
Install Snapd On OpenSUSE Leap
The first method is to get Snapd on OpenSUSE Leap Linux using the command terminal. This will give us the ability to install various Debian packages available as Snaps in Snapcraft Store.
Step 1: Open command terminal, we can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.
Step 2: Add snap repository on Leap 15.2
sudo zypper addrepo --refresh https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Leap_15.2 snappy
If you are using other versions of this Linux then replace the OS version in the above command given at the last of it with the appropriate one- openSUSE_Leap_15.1, openSUSE_Leap_15.0 or openSUSE_Tumbleweed
Step 3: Import snap repo GPG key
To ensure the packages we will receive via SNAP are from an authentic source, import its GPG key.
sudo zypper --gpg-auto-import-keys refresh
Step 4: Update the package cache
Update the OpenSUSE repository cache to include the newly added snap repo.
sudo zypper dup --from snappy
Step 5: Finally, Install snapd on Leap or Tumbleweed
Run the installation command to get the Snapd on your Linux system.
sudo zypper install snapd
Once the installation is completed, either log out and log in to your system or simply reload the shell using a command- source ~/.bashrc
Step 6: Enable and start Snapd service on openSUSE
Enable the service of this package manager and also start the same.
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd
sudo systemctl start snapd
To check the status of it to confirm whether it’s working fine or not run-
sudo systemctl status snapd
Now, we can install any available open-source application on this Linux using the command line. However, it would be a great idea to install Snapcraft Store to install the application easily via a graphical interface.
sudo snap install snap-store
Restart your system…
#2nd method
Convert Deb Package to install on OpenSUSE Leap
Step 1: Install Alien Debian or RPM package convertor
On your OpenSUSE Leap or Tumbleweed open this link- https://software.opensuse.org/package/alien and under the “Show community packages” button select the latest Alien version and hit the “1 Click Install“.
A file will get downloaded, click on that and follow the installation wizard. It will ask you to do that two times. Once that is done the Alien will be installed on your system.
Step 2: Check the Alien version
Now, go to your command terminal and type
alien --version
This will give the version of the currently installed alien.
Step 3: Open a command terminal and convert Deb to RPM package
To convert any downloaded Debian package to install on OpenSUSE leap or tumbleweed, we will use the Alien command i.e-
sudo alien –to-rpm debian-package-name
For example- Here, we have downloaded the Kitematic Debian package which is not available RPM to install on OpenSUSE, thus, the above command syntax will be as given below to convert this Deb file.
sudo alien --to-rpm Kitematic-0.17.13_amd64.deb
Once the conversion is done, we can easily use the ZYpper package manager to install the converted Kitematic RPM package on Leap or Tumbleweed.
sudo zypper install kitematic-0.17.13-2.x86_64.rpm
With the completion of installation, you will be able to use Debian packages on your OpenSUSE Leap or Tumbleweed Linux system.
Here is the Kitematic on SUSE
