Managing BetterDiscord with betterdiscordctl (with examples)

BetterDiscord is a popular customization tool for the Discord chat platform, allowing users to enhance their experience with custom themes and plugins. While BetterDiscord is officially supported by Windows and macOS, Linux users have to rely on third-party solutions. One such solution is betterdiscordctl, a command-line tool specifically designed for managing BetterDiscord on Linux.

This article will guide you through various use cases of betterdiscordctl, showcasing its versatility and usefulness. We’ll cover installing BetterDiscord on different versions of Discord, as well as with different installation methods such as Flatpak and Snap.

1: Installing BetterDiscord on Discord Stable

sudo betterdiscordctl install

Motivation: This use case is ideal for users who have installed Discord Stable on their Linux systems and want to enhance their Discord experience using BetterDiscord.

Explanation: By invoking the install command without any additional flags, betterdiscordctl will automatically detect and install BetterDiscord on Discord Stable, providing the necessary files and configurations.

Example Output:

BetterDiscord installed successfully on Discord Stable.

2: Installing BetterDiscord on Discord Canary

sudo betterdiscordctl --d-flavors canary install

Motivation: Users who prefer using Discord Canary can also benefit from BetterDiscord’s customization options. This use case is specifically for installing BetterDiscord on Discord Canary.

Explanation: The --d-flavors canary flag tells betterdiscordctl to target Discord Canary for installation. This ensures that BetterDiscord is compatible with the specific features and updates of Discord Canary.

Example Output:

BetterDiscord successfully installed on Discord Canary.

3: Installing BetterDiscord on Discord PTB

sudo betterdiscordctl --d-flavors ptb install

Motivation: Discord PTB (Public Test Build) allows users to access upcoming features and provides a testing ground for developers. Installing BetterDiscord on Discord PTB can enhance this testing environment.

Explanation: Using the --d-flavors ptb flag instructs betterdiscordctl to install BetterDiscord on Discord PTB instead of the stable version. This ensures BetterDiscord can integrate seamlessly with Discord PTB.

Example Output:

BetterDiscord installation complete for Discord PTB.

4: Installing BetterDiscord on Discord installed with Flatpak

sudo betterdiscordctl --d-install flatpak install

Motivation: Flatpak is a popular distribution method for Linux applications, and many users prefer to install Discord using this method. This use case allows for installing BetterDiscord on Discord installed via Flatpak.

Explanation: The --d-install flatpak flag specifies that Discord has been installed using the Flatpak method. By providing this information, betterdiscordctl can locate the necessary files and configurations specific to the Flatpak installation.

Example Output:

BetterDiscord successfully installed on Discord (Flatpak).

5: Installing BetterDiscord on Discord installed with Snap

sudo betterdiscordctl --d-install snap install

Motivation: Snap is another popular method for installing applications on Linux, including Discord. This use case demonstrates how to install BetterDiscord on a Discord installation that was installed with Snap.

Explanation: Using the --d-install snap flag indicates that Discord has been installed using the Snap method. This allows betterdiscordctl to correctly identify the location of the Discord files and install BetterDiscord accordingly.

Example Output:

BetterDiscord installation complete for Discord (Snap).

Conclusion

betterdiscordctl is a powerful command-line tool for managing BetterDiscord on Linux. It provides various use cases depending on your Discord version and installation method. Whether you’re using Discord Stable, Canary, PTB, Flatpak, or Snap, betterdiscordctl offers a straightforward way to enhance your Discord experience with BetterDiscord.