Install BetterDiscord on Linux

BDLinux.md

Install BetterDiscord on Linux

This Gist contains simple instructions on how to install, update, and uninstall BetterDiscord on Linux.

For more thorough documentation, take a look at betterdiscordctl's README.

Do NOT submit issues here as I don't check the comments. You should submit them here instead.

Install dependencies

Git

Install using your package manager

Node & npm

Install using your package manager or download a binary package

Install betterdiscordctl

$ curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bb010g/betterdiscordctl/master/betterdiscordctl
$ chmod +x betterdiscordctl
$ sudo mv betterdiscordctl /usr/local/bin

You can then keep betterdiscordctl up to date with this command:

$ betterdiscordctl upgrade

Install BetterDiscord

Replace [COMMAND] with install to install BD for the first time, update to update BD to the latest version, reinstall to reinstall BD after a Discord update, or uninstall to uninstall an existing installation.

Note: on Ubuntu/Mint and other Debian-based distros you have to add -s /usr/share to the commands to point BDCTL to the right path.

• For Stable

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND]

• For PTB

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] -f PTB

• For Canary

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] -f Canary

• For Snap

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] --snap

• For Flatpak

$ betterdiscordctl [COMMAND] --flatpak

Common Issues

Discord intallation not found

Point betterdiscordctl to the correct path with the --scan flag.

Discord modules directory not found or Config directory not found

Discord has to be started at least once to create the necessary directories before using betterdiscordctl.

git : command not found or npm : command not found

You don't have git or npm installed. Install them.

asar.js: No such file or directory

Install asar globally with sudo npm install -g asar and then use betterdiscordctl's --global-asar option.

Credits

BetterDiscord by Jiiks

Bandaged BD by Zerebos (rauenzi)

betterdiscordctl by bb010g

Does this work with the Snap version of Discord?
Edit: any plans on making this work with Snap version of Discord?

Updated to work with the Snap version of Discord.

Tried to install stable and this happened
Error: Cannot find module './core'
at Module._resolveFilename (module.js:470:15)
at Function.Module._resolveFilename (/usr/share/discord/resources/electron.asar/common/reset-search-paths.js:35:12)
at Function.Module._load (module.js:418:25)
at Module.require (module.js:498:17)
at require (internal/module.js:20:19)
at Object. (/root/.config/discord/0.0.4/modules/discord_desktop_core/index.js:1:173)
at Object. (/root/.config/discord/0.0.4/modules/discord_desktop_core/index.js:2:3)
at Module._compile (module.js:571:32)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:580:10)
at Module.load (module.js:488:32)

I'm getting the same problem when installing into both Discord Canary and Discord. (Ubuntu MATE) That said, I don't know to reverse this either, so I've been using the snap version of Discord without trying to install BetterDiscord.

edit:
You can fix this error by deleting the discordcanary folder in /.config/ and discord-canary in /usr/share, then reinstalling it. I'd imagine you can do the same with the Discord stable as well. Have not been able to get BetterDiscord working though.

edit 2:
Got it to work, but I merely just followed the instructions here again. If all else fails I suggest going to the BetterDiscord2 server and searching "linux in:faq" for answers rather than asking.

@RemixSlay Don't install with sudo.

didnt use sudo, im on the root account....

i did what @vozycozyx said and i got back into discord

ERROR: Discord installation not found.

I got the same error as Trihash, even on Stable or Snap, the config directory isn't found (though it not exists).

@Trihash You will need to elaborate more on the issue you have sumbitted.
@miakx Please check the same issue and comment there if it remains unsolved for you.

@Trihash - maybe you got the wrong installation directory. See where discord files are located using the following command:

find / -name discord 2> /dev/null

As it turns out, /opt worked for me.

ERROR: Discord installation not found
I tried /usr/bin/discord and /usr/share/discord, neither worked. It's not in /opt (/opt is empty.)

I didn't get any errors, It seems to have installed fine, but, the status says the app is not patched and it doesn't appear to have changed the discord app at all.

@ObserverOfTime

i put betterdiscordctl install -s /usr/share and this came out
WARN: Config directory not found for (/usr/share/discord, /home/spencer/.config/discord).
ERROR: Discord installation not found.

Ok people if it says

WARN: Config directory not found for (/usr/share/discord, /home/spencer/.config/discord).
ERROR: Discord installation not found.

Then you are trying to install betterdiscord into the wrong directory. RTFM.

Well, i tried to install Better Discord on my Lubuntu 16.04 but...
This happens here, what i should do?

Print is here https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/472857389628915723/483767139807789086/DiscordError.png

Solved this by using parent of binary root folder as path. With Discord binary @ /usr/bin/discord using betterdiscordctl install -s /usr worked [even though docs say to use path to binary root folder /usr/bin].

On Lubuntu 18.04, fresh discord install which discord returns /usr/bin/discord. I was getting the error ERROR: Discord installation not found when running betterdiscordctl install -s /usr/bin/. Using /usr as the [PATH] instead of the suggested path was successful.

When I try installing I get:
Class constructor LRUCache cannot be invoked without 'new'
Along with:
/asar.js: No such file or directory
I have node (v8.11.2) and npm (5.8.0) installed. I noticed Common Issues and tried installing asar, but I get:
Class constructor LRUCache cannot be invoked without 'new'
What am I doing wrong?

big thanks! works with 0.0.8 in debian stretch (backport: nodejs 8.11.1~dfsg-2~bpo9+ and npm 5.8.0+ds6-2~bpo9+1).

i get every time i try to use betterdiscordctl:

betterdiscordctl: line 1: 404:: comand not found

tried using stable instead of snap or flatpak, and i used -s /usr/share to find the installation, which it detected, but if i ran the install command it still says no discord installation found. i'm on Pop OS 18.10.

Seems to have installed just fine, however there are no changes in my client? (using Canary on Mint 19.1 if it helps at all)