# Ignition 8.3 - Installing Designer Launcher - Ubuntu 22.04 **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition83, designer\ **Created:** [October 24, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701 "2025-10-24T13:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/1 "2025-10-24T13:32:58Z")
I’m installing Ignition 8.3 for the first time on Ubuntu 22.04. The gateway installed fine. I can to go to the gateway page to download Designer Launcher for Linux and download designerlauncher.tar.gz. After that is where I run into problems. How do I properly install the Designer Launcher once I have the tar.gz file? ---
**Author:** ![Spencer\_Lommel1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/spencer_lommel1/32/78679_2.png) [@Spencer\_Lommel1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Spencer_Lommel1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/2 "2025-10-24T13:50:31Z")
This is pretty similar to this post which contains a good answer > [@Best practices for 8.1 Designer Launcher install on Linux?](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/best-practices-for-8-1-designer-launcher-install-on-linux/40302/4): > > I'm going to answer my own question here. The designerlauncher.desktop file is a file that specifies where an application exists and how a Linux desktop such as Gnome (or other [freedesktop.org](http://freedesktop.org) compliant applications) can start it from an icon. These desktop systems assign icons to applications by registering each application's ".desktop" file. There are 2 main locations where the ".desktop" file should be placed in order for this to occur: /usr/share/applications =\> For globally accessibl… Essentially you install it like any other software on Linux when not installing with a package manager. You just put it in whatever directory you install applications which is usually something like `~/opt` on Ubuntu for user level apps or `/opt` for system wide. This also wont make a `.desktop` launcher on it’s own but this does a decent job explaining how to do that: > Now you should have enough info to Google any remaining questions from here since the install process for the designerlauncher is pretty standard compared to other Linux applications ---
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/3 "2025-10-24T14:08:43Z")
I saw that post but I’m still confused because there is no .desktop file in the tar.gz file. There is an install.sh and a designerlauncher.sh. I’ve run both and attempted to run Designer Launcher from the gateway and I get a message indicating that Designer Launcher is not installed properly, or something to that effect. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/a/1/a116f3c1b95900710db7226b23db292fa3a97b1d.png) ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/4 "2025-10-24T14:49:38Z")
Go to the `~/.ignition/` folder and find the `clientlauncher-data/designerlauncher.log` file. Near the bottom of that log file there should be a line like this: ```python INFO [LaunchUtil] [2025/09/25 11:14:26]: Starting Java with the following parameters: nohup /Applications/Designer Launcher.app/Contents/Resources/runtime/bin/java -classpath /Users/pgriffith/.ignition/cache/resources/platform/launchclient.jar/00000000E344E944/launchclient.jar -Djavaws.sr.gateway.addr.0=http://localhost:8188 -Djavaws.sr.launchts=1758824066792 -Djavaws.sr.main=com.inductiveautomation.ignition.designer.DesignerStartupHook -Djavaws.sr.platform.edition= -Djavaws.sr.platform.plugins= -Xms64M -Xmx1024M -Djavaws.sr.memory.init=64M -Djavaws.sr.memory.max=1024M --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt.event=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.tree=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.basic=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.apple.eawt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.sun.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.image=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.shell=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.table=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.print=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.base/sun.security.action=ALL-UNNAMED -Xdock:name='localhost' -Xdock:icon="/Users/pgriffith/.ignition/clientlauncher-data/images/DesignerIcon.icns" -Dsun.java2d.d3d=false -Dsun.java2d.noddraw=false -Djavaws.sr.screen=0 -Djavaws.sr.scope=D com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing & ``` Copy that whole line and paste it into the terminal, **omitting** any arguments that run it in the background (e.g. the `nohup` and `&` I'm getting on MacOS). Then you can launch the actual designer application directly from your terminal and get the full output in the logs indicating what the actual problem is with launching. ---
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/5 "2025-10-24T15:02:45Z")
Ran java as follows: java /home/bob/Downloads/designerlauncher/runtime/bin/java -classpath /root/.ignition/cache/resources/platform/launchclient.jar/000000009F1E0FD9/launchclient.jar -Dignition.gateway.addr.0=[http://localhost:8088](http://localhost:8088) -Dignition.launchts=1761259863283 -Dignition.main=com.inductiveautomation.ignition.designer.DesignerStartupHook -Dignition.edition= -Dignition.plugins= -Xms128M -Xmx1024M -Dignition.memory.init=128M -Dignition.memory.max=1024M --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt.event=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.tree=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.basic=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.apple.eawt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.image=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.shell=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.table=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.print=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.base/sun.security.action=ALL-UNNAMED -Dsun.java2d.d3d=false -Dsun.java2d.noddraw=false -Dignition.screen=0 -Dignition.scope=D com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing Here the output: Error: Could not find or load main class .home.bob.Downloads.designerlauncher.runtime.bin.java Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: /home/bob/Downloads/designerlauncher/runtime/bin/java Help deciphering the meaning will be appreciated because I’m not an experienced Linux user. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/6 "2025-10-24T15:23:30Z")
> [@MickBob](#): > > java /home/bob/Downloads/designerlauncher/runtime/bin/java Remove the first `java` here. ---
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/8 "2025-10-24T15:38:44Z")
Hopefully, this is the correct command: /home/bob/Downloads/designerlauncher/runtime/bin/java -classpath /root/.ignition/cache/resources/platform/launchclient.jar/000000009F1E0FD9/launchclient.jar -Dignition.gateway.addr.0=[http://localhost:8088](http://localhost:8088) -Dignition.launchts=1761259863283 -Dignition.main=com.inductiveautomation.ignition.designer.DesignerStartupHook -Dignition.edition= -Dignition.plugins= -Xms128M -Xmx1024M -Dignition.memory.init=128M -Dignition.memory.max=1024M --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/java.awt.event=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.tree=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.basic=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.desktop/javax.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.apple.eawt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.image=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.shell=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.awt.windows=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.plaf.synth=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.swing.table=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.desktop/sun.print=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=java.base/sun.security.action=ALL-UNNAMED -Dsun.java2d.d3d=false -Dsun.java2d.noddraw=false -Dignition.screen=0 -Dignition.scope=D com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing Results: WARNING: package com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows not in java.desktop WARNING: package sun.awt.windows not in java.desktop WARNING: package com.apple.eawt not in java.desktop Error: Could not find or load main class com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/9 "2025-10-24T15:40:26Z")
How did you install Ignition itself - with our GUI installer or via a zip "installer"? ---
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/10 "2025-10-24T15:47:39Z")
ignition-8.3.1-linux-64-installer.run ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/11 "2025-10-24T15:54:50Z")
You might have better luck with our support department at this point; they can remote in and walk through your system "live" and see what might be going wrong. Though, if you're just evaluating I'm not sure how support coverage works: [https://support.inductiveautomation.com/hc/en-us](https://support.inductiveautomation.com/hc/en-us) > [@MickBob](#): > > Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: com.inductiveautomation.ignition.client.launch.BootstrapSwing This error suggests that the process for the Ignition Designer cannot start because the `launchclient.jar` file, which will be retrieved from the gateway you're connecting to, is malformed or incomplete in some way. One 'hail mary' to try - you could try deleting the `~/.ignition/cache/` directory completely and launching again (via the Designer Launcher; the terminal command you've been running won't work once you delete that cache). You can try running the designer launcher as an actual application or clicking the button on the web interface, which should create a new Designer instance via "deep link". ---
**Author:** ![MickBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MickBob](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MickBob)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/12 "2025-11-14T22:17:44Z")
I think I have the issue resolved. For some reason, I was only able to run the install.sh using sudo. Having done that, I had no permissions to my ~/.ignition folder. I was able to run Designer once I changed the owner to myself and gave myself all permissions in the ~/.ignition folder. Thanks for the assistance! ---
**Author:** ![venisonn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bbe5ce/32.png) [@venisonn](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/venisonn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-8-3-installing-designer-launcher-ubuntu-22-04/111701/13 "2025-11-23T21:33:04Z")
This may be the improper way to do it but I navigated to my Downloads folder and ran sudo designerlauncher/install.sh The installer ran and I found the designerlauncher in my apps.