Sublime Text 3 dpkg error

Question

I want to install Sublime Text 3 , but had a problem, my terminal is showing this error:

dpkg: error: dpkg status database is locked by another process

What shall I do?

Answer 1

This is probably because apt-get is being used already. Close the Ubuntu software center, and if you are using dpkg or apt-get on a different tab, wait for it to finish.

If that doesn't work try rebooting.

If you don't want to reboot, try:

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Note that this could break your system and it should only be used if everything else doesn't work.

Answer 2

You need to add sudo to your commands and check if apt-get is already busy. If apt-get is busy wait for it to finish.

METHOD 1 USING PPA

Here are the steps to install Sublime text 3 using PPA:

Add Sublime text 3 PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/sublime-text-3
sudo apt-get update

Install sublime text

 sudo apt-get install sublime-text-installer

Create symbolic link so that you can run ST3 from terminal by typing subl

sudo ln -s /opt/Sublime\ Text\ 3/sublime_text /usr/bin/subl

Just to make sure if it's installed properly , try running it from terminal by typing

 subl

METHOD 2 USING DEB PACKAGE

Install ST3 from deb file :

Download deb package:

Head over to Sublime text website and download the deb package by clicking on Download for Ubuntu .

Change directory to location where you have saved the downloaded file:

If you have downloaded the deb in Download directory then in terminal type

cd Downloads/

this will change your directory to Downloads.

Install the package:

At present it's named sublime-text_build-3103_amd64.deb , for future release, replace the package name with new package name)

dpkg -i sublime-text_build-3103_amd64.deb

Note: If there are some errors with unresolved dependencies, run apt-get install -f afterwards.

In case you face any issues or have doubt read How do I install a .deb file via the command line? and Install from a deb file, by dpkg -i or by apt?