Complete Guide to Installing and Starting Postman Native v4.10.3 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 64-bit

When installing Postman native v4.10.3 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 64-bit, users often encounter JavaScript module errors such as Cannot find module 'glob'. This typically results from non-standard installation paths or dependency issues. Based on best practices, this article offers a complete solution to ensure successful installation and startup of Postman.

Standardized Steps for Installing Postman

First, download the latest Linux version of Postman via the command line. Use the wget command to fetch the archive from the official source and save it as postman.tar.gz. For example:

wget https://dl.pstmn.io/download/latest/linux64 -O postman.tar.gz

After downloading, extract the file to the system directory /opt using the tar command. This ensures the application is in a standard location, avoiding permission and path issues. Execute the following command:

sudo tar -xzf postman.tar.gz -C /opt

Once extracted, remove the archive to save space:

rm postman.tar.gz

Next, create a symbolic link to add the Postman executable to the system path /usr/bin, enabling direct startup from the terminal. Use this command:

sudo ln -s /opt/Postman/Postman /usr/bin/postman

Now, users can start the application by typing postman in the terminal.

Configuring the Desktop Launcher

For ease of use in the graphical interface, create a desktop launcher file. In the ~/.local/share/applications/ directory, create a file named postman.desktop with the following content:

cat > ~/.local/share/applications/postman.desktop <<EOL
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Postman
Exec=postman
Icon=/opt/Postman/app/resources/app/assets/icon.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Development;
EOL

This adds a Postman icon to the Unity Launcher, allowing users to launch the app by clicking the icon. Note that the icon path may change with Postman updates, so adjust based on the actual directory structure.

Analysis of Common Errors

The error in the original issue stemmed from directly executing the extracted binary without proper dependency or path handling. The standardized installation method ensures environmental consistency through system directories and symbolic links. Standard Ubuntu 16.04 LTS development installations usually include necessary dependencies, so no additional Node.js or other modules are required.

Additional Notes and Best Practices

After installation, verify the Postman version to confirm correct setup. Run postman --version in the terminal or check the about page in the app. If permission issues arise, use the chmod command to adjust file permissions. For example:

sudo chmod +x /opt/Postman/Postman

Additionally, regularly update Postman by repeating the download and extraction steps to maintain the latest features and security patches.

In summary, by following these steps, users can efficiently install and start Postman on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 64-bit, avoiding JavaScript module errors and enhancing the development experience.