# Ubuntu (/integration/embedded_linux/distros/ubuntu)



Overview [#overview]

LVGL publishes prebuilt packages for Ubuntu through a [Launchpad PPA](https://launchpad.net/~lvgl/+archive/ubuntu/lvgl).
This lets you `apt install` LVGL directly, with all of its dependencies pulled in automatically, instead of
configuring and compiling LVGL yourself.

Each package is built with most optional features enabled (JPEG and PNG decoders, GStreamer, and more), so it's a
good way to get started quickly or to try out a demo. If your project needs a leaner build, compile LVGL from
source and disable the features you don't need in your own configuration.

<Callout type="info">
  The PPA packages are a convenient way to install and link against LVGL on Ubuntu. They are not a replacement for
  vendoring LVGL into an embedded project, where you typically still want full control over the configuration and
  the build.
</Callout>

Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

Install the tools needed to add a PPA and to compile a small test program:

```bash title=" " lineNumbers=1
sudo apt update
sudo apt install software-properties-common build-essential pkg-config
```

* `software-properties-common` provides `add-apt-repository`.
* `build-essential` provides a compiler.

Configuration [#configuration]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    **Add the LVGL PPA:**

    ```bash title=" " lineNumbers=1
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lvgl/lvgl
    sudo apt update
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Install one of the LVGL packages. Packages differ only in which display backend(s) they enable and whether 3D
    support is included; the rest of the feature set (image decoders, GStreamer, etc.) is the same across all of
    them.

    | Backends         | 2D                  | 3D                     |
    | ---------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------- |
    | SDL2             | liblvgl-sdl2-dev    | liblvgl-sdl2-3d-dev    |
    | Wayland          | liblvgl-wayland-dev | liblvgl-wayland-3d-dev |
    | DRM              | liblvgl-drm-dev     | liblvgl-drm-3d-dev     |
    | SDL2/Wayland/DRM | liblvgl-full-2d-dev | liblvgl-full-3d-dev    |

    `apt` resolves and installs every runtime library each package needs (SDL2, DRM, Wayland client libraries, and so on).

    Every package installs an `lvgl.pc` file and a CMake config into the standard system paths, so `pkg-config` and
    `find_package(lvgl)` work immediately with no extra setup.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Usage [#usage]

The application code is the same as for any other LVGL install; only how LVGL got onto the machine differs. This
example uses the SDL2 backend:

```c title=" " lineNumbers=1
#include <lvgl/lvgl.h>

int main(void)
{
    lv_init();

    lv_display_t * disp = lv_sdl_window_create(800, 600);
    if(!disp) {
        return 1;
    }
    lv_sdl_mouse_create();

    lv_obj_t * button = lv_button_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_obj_t * label  = lv_label_create(button);
    lv_label_set_text_static(label, "Click Me!");
    lv_obj_center(button);

    while(1) {
        uint32_t ms = lv_timer_handler();
        if(ms == LV_NO_TIMER_READY) {
            ms = LV_DEF_REFR_PERIOD;
        }
        lv_sleep_ms(ms);
    }

    return 0;
}
```

Compile and link against the installed package with `pkg-config` or CMake:

**pkg-config**:

```bash title=" " lineNumbers=1
g++ main.c -o main $(pkg-config --cflags --static --libs lvgl)
```

**cmake**:

```cmake title="CMakeLists.txt" lineNumbers=1
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14)
project(lvgl_consumer)

find_package(lvgl REQUIRED)

add_executable(main main.c)
target_link_libraries(main PRIVATE lvgl::lvgl)
```

```bash title=" " lineNumbers=1
cmake -B build
cmake --build build
```

See Also [#see-also]

* [Renesas RZ/G2L](/integration/embedded_linux/distros/ubuntu/rzg2l) - a full walkthrough on real hardware: GPU-accelerated DRM, and building on the board instead of cross-compiling
* [SDL Driver](/integration/pc/sdl) - using the SDL2 backend directly
* Found a problem with a package, or want another configuration published? Open an issue at [github.com/lvgl/lvgl/issues](https://github.com/lvgl/lvgl/issues).