How to Install PlotJuggler on Ubuntu

Ubuntu users have more PlotJuggler choices than anyone else — which is exactly why this guide keeps the two lines strictly separate. The first half covers PlotJuggler 4.0.0, the current release. The second half covers PlotJuggler 3.17.2, the classic line that the ROS ecosystem still uses. Start from the official files on the Download page, and see the Install hub for the other platform guides.

PlotJuggler 4 on Ubuntu — AppImage

The AppImage is the simplest PJ4 option and works on any suitable Linux distribution, not just Ubuntu. It requires glibc 2.35 or newer — Ubuntu 22.04 or later, or an equivalent distribution.

1. Download PlotJuggler-4.0.0-x86_64.AppImage (145,070,584 bytes) from the official release via the Download page, where the GitHub SHA-256 for the file is also listed.
2. Open a terminal in the download folder and make the file executable:

chmod +x PlotJuggler-4.0.0-x86_64.AppImage

1. Run it: ./PlotJuggler-4.0.0-x86_64.AppImage
2. Keep the file somewhere permanent (for example ~/Applications) — an AppImage is the program itself, not an installer, so deleting the file deletes the app.

If the AppImage does not start, work through the checks in our install troubleshooting guide — the usual causes are the executable permission and a glibc version that is too old.

PlotJuggler 4 on Ubuntu — single .deb

For a traditional package install of one specific release, download plotjuggler4_4.0.0-1_amd64.deb (109,778,188 bytes) from the official release and install it with apt so dependencies are resolved:

sudo apt install ./plotjuggler4_4.0.0-1_amd64.deb

A single .deb does not update itself. If you want future PJ4 releases to arrive through your normal system upgrades, use the apt repository instead — the dedicated guide is PlotJuggler 4 apt repository: install and stay updated, and it is the method the PJ4 documentation recommends for Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+.

PlotJuggler 3 on Ubuntu — snap (PJ3-recommended)

Switching lines now: everything below is PJ3, currently 3.17.2. The PJ3 documentation recommends the snap on Ubuntu, including for ROS users:

sudo snap install plotjuggler

The PJ3 documentation notes that the snap works with ROS 2 with some limitations. If you hit those limitations in a ROS workflow, the apt ROS packages in our ROS 2 install guide are the alternative.

PlotJuggler 3 on Ubuntu — .deb packages

PJ3 also ships distribution-specific .deb files on its GitHub release: for Ubuntu 24.04, plotjuggler_3.17.2_amd64_24.04.deb, plus builds for Debian bookworm and Debian trixie. All three are linked, with their GitHub SHA-256 values, from the Download page. Install the one matching your system the same way as above:

sudo apt install ./plotjuggler_3.17.2_amd64_24.04.deb

PJ3 additionally provides an aarch64 AppImage — something PJ4 4.0.0 does not ship — which matters for ARM single-board computers. Use the same chmod +x and run steps described for the PJ4 AppImage.

Which Ubuntu option should you choose?

Whichever route you took, launch PlotJuggler once and load a small CSV or log file to confirm plotting works before you rely on it for real data.