How to Install and Use GCompris on Ubuntu – Free Educational Software for Kids

GCompris is a free, high-quality educational software suite designed for children aged 2 to 10. It offers more than 100 engaging activities, with more being added regularly. The activities are designed as fun games while serving an educational purpose, making GCompris an excellent tool for both parents and teachers.

With GCompris, children can learn computer basics, improve their reading and writing skills, practice math, explore science, and play logic-based games—all in a playful, interactive environment.

Key Features of GCompris

Here’s an overview of the wide range of activities available:

  • computer discovery – keyboard, mouse, touchscreen
  • reading: letters, words, reading practice, typing text …
  • arithmetic: numbers, operations, table memory, enumeration, double entry table …
  • science: the canal lock, the water cycle, renewable energy …
  • geography: countries, regions, culture …
  • games: chess, memory, align 4, hangman, tic-tac-toe …
  • other: colors, shapes, Braille, learn to tell time …

Platform Availability

GCompris is available on multiple platforms:

  • Linux (Free)
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Android
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Source Code (for developers

Note: On Linux, GCompris is free. For other platforms, an activation code may be required.

Official website: https://gcompris.net

Install GCompris on Ubuntu

GCompris is included in the default Ubuntu repository. Follow these steps to install it.

Step 1: Update Package Index

sudo apt-get update

Step 2: Search for GCompris Packages

apt-cache search gcompris
  • gcompris – Educational games for small children – transitional package
  • gcompris-qt – Educational games for small children – Qt rewrite
  • gcompris-qt-data – data files for gcompris-qt

Step 3: Install GCompris (Qt Version)

You need to install gcompris-qt as gcompris is no longer updated

sudo apt-get install gcompris-qt

Step 4: Launch GCompris

Go to Activities and Search for Gcompris to launch it. Below is the dashboard.

Gcompris dashboard

Alternative: Install via Snap

You can also use snap package,

sudo snap install gcompris

Summary

GCompris is a free and open-source educational suite with more than 100 interactive activities for children aged 2–10. It covers reading, math, science, geography, and games, making it a valuable resource for parents and teachers alike.

By following this guide, you can easily install GCompris on Ubuntu and give children access to an engaging, playful, and educational environment.

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