Linux Installation Guide

Install Askimo for Ollama on Linux

Complete guide to install Askimo desktop client for Ollama on Linux. Get a native GUI with advanced features like RAG, chat search, custom directives, and seamless model switching.

Supported distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, and other Linux distributions. Available in .deb and .jar formats.

Looking for a different operating system?

Prerequisites

1. Install Ollama on Linux

Before installing Askimo, you need to have Ollama installed on your Linux system.

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

Verify installation: ollama --version

2. System Requirements

  • OS: Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 35+, or any modern Linux distribution
  • RAM: 8GB minimum (16GB recommended for larger models)
  • Disk: 10GB+ free space
  • Java: JRE 21+ (for .jar installation)

Installation Methods

Method 1: Install via DEB Package (Ubuntu/Debian)

Recommended for Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions.

Step 1: Download the DEB package

Choose the correct package for your system architecture:

# For x64 (Intel/AMD 64-bit)
wget https://github.com/haiphucnguyen/askimo/releases/latest/download/Askimo-Desktop-linux-x64.deb
# For ARM64 (ARM 64-bit)
wget https://github.com/haiphucnguyen/askimo/releases/latest/download/Askimo-Desktop-linux-arm64.deb

Check your architecture: uname -m (x86_64 = x64, aarch64 = ARM64)

Step 2: Install the package

# For x64
sudo dpkg -i Askimo-Desktop-linux-x64.deb

# For ARM64
sudo dpkg -i Askimo-Desktop-linux-arm64.deb

Step 3: Fix dependencies (if needed)

sudo apt-get install -f

Step 4: Launch Askimo

askimo-desktop

Or search for "Askimo" in your application menu.

Method 2: Run JAR File (All Distributions)

Works on any Linux distribution with Java installed.

Step 1: Install Java (if not installed)

sudo apt install default-jre # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install java-latest-openjdk # Fedora

Step 2: Download the JAR file

Choose the correct JAR file for your system architecture:

# For x64 (Intel/AMD 64-bit)
wget https://github.com/haiphucnguyen/askimo/releases/latest/download/askimo-desktop-linux-x64.jar
# For ARM64 (ARM 64-bit)
wget https://github.com/haiphucnguyen/askimo/releases/latest/download/askimo-desktop-linux-arm64.jar

Check your architecture: uname -m (x86_64 = x64, aarch64 = ARM64)

Step 3: Run Askimo

# For x64
java -jar askimo-desktop-linux-x64.jar

# For ARM64
java -jar askimo-desktop-linux-arm64.jar

Optional: Create a desktop shortcut

Create ~/.local/share/applications/askimo.desktop:

Replace /path/to/ with the actual path to your JAR file.

# For x64
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Askimo
Exec=java -jar /path/to/askimo-desktop-linux-x64.jar
Type=Application
Categories=Development;

# For ARM64
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Askimo
Exec=java -jar /path/to/askimo-desktop-linux-arm64.jar
Type=Application
Categories=Development;

Post-Installation Setup

Configure Ollama Connection

  1. 1 Launch Askimo desktop application
  2. 2 Go to Settings → Providers
  3. 3 Enable Ollama and verify the connection (default: http://localhost:11434)
  4. 4 Select your preferred Ollama model (e.g., llama3, mistral, codellama)

Download Ollama Models

Download models you want to use with Askimo:

ollama pull llama3
ollama pull mistral
ollama pull codellama

Why Use Askimo with Ollama on Linux?

Native Linux Desktop

True native application built for Linux, not a web wrapper. Better performance and system integration.

Advanced Chat Search

Search across all conversations instantly. Find past discussions, code snippets, or ideas.

RAG Support

Chat with your local files and documents. Askimo provides context from your files to Ollama models.

CLI + GUI Workflows

Combine desktop GUI with powerful CLI for automation, scripts, and advanced workflows.

Custom Directives

Create reusable prompts and directives for your common tasks and workflows.

Switch AI Models

Not locked to Ollama. Also supports OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and other providers in one app.

Troubleshooting

Askimo can't connect to Ollama

Ensure Ollama is running:

systemctl status ollama # Check if service is running
ollama serve # Start Ollama manually if needed

Permission denied error

Make JAR file executable:

# For x64
chmod +x askimo-desktop-linux-x64.jar

# For ARM64
chmod +x askimo-desktop-linux-arm64.jar

Java not found

Install Java Runtime Environment:

sudo apt install default-jre # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install java-latest-openjdk # Fedora

Ready to Install Askimo on Linux?

Get the most powerful desktop client for Ollama on Linux with RAG, chat search, and multi-model support.