IronBarcode Linux Compatibility & Setup Guide

Updated: August 2, 2026

IronBarcode fully supports Linux for .NET Standard, .NET Core, and .NET Framework applications on a wide variety of distributions.

No code changes are required to run IronBarcode on Linux. Generally speaking, IronBarcode works out of the box thanks to hundreds of hours of testing and configuration by our engineers.

Linux support is important as many of the cloud services today run on Linux. At Iron Software, we use these cloud tools regularly and understand that many of our Enterprise and SaaS customers do too.

Officially Supported Linux Distros

We officially support and recommend the latest 64-bit Linux distributions below for a "zero-configuration" setup of IronBarcode:

Ubuntu ≥18
Debian ≥10
CentOS ≥7

Other Linux distributions are supported in part, but may require additional manual configuration.

Linux Specific Package

The BarCode.Linux package enables barcode features on Linux devices via .NET cross-platform projects. The vanilla BarCode package is not needed.

PM > Install-Package BarCode.Linux

Ubuntu Compatibility

Ubuntu is our most tested Linux operating system. This is because it is heavily used in the Azure infrastructure that supports our continuous testing and deployment. This platform also has official Microsoft .NET support and official Docker images available.

Ubuntu 20

Official Microsoft Docker Images:

Ubuntu 20 Setup

To run IronBarcode, first ensure you have sudo admin privileges, then add these commands to your Dockerfile:

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

Text

Ubuntu 18

Official Microsoft Docker Images

Ubuntu 18 Setup

To run IronBarcode, first ensure you have sudo admin privileges, then add these commands to your Dockerfile:

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

Text

Debian 11

Official Microsoft Docker Images

Debian 11 Setup

To run IronBarcode, first ensure you have sudo admin privileges, then add these commands to your Dockerfile:

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

Text

Debian 10

Official Microsoft Docker Images

Debian 10 Setup

To run IronBarcode, first ensure you have sudo admin privileges, then add these commands to your Dockerfile:

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

# Update package lists
RUN apt update

# Install libgdiplus, a library used for GDI+ support
RUN apt install -y libgdiplus

Text

CentOS

CentOS 7 Setup

To run IronBarcode, first ensure you have sudo admin privileges, then add these commands to your Dockerfile:

# Install EPEL repository for extra packages
RUN yum install epel-release -y

# Install Mono, a cross-platform implementation of .NET
RUN yum install mono-complete -y

# Install libgdiplus and libc6-dev for graphics support
RUN yum install libgdiplus libc6-dev -y

# Install EPEL repository for extra packages
RUN yum install epel-release -y

# Install Mono, a cross-platform implementation of .NET
RUN yum install mono-complete -y

# Install libgdiplus and libc6-dev for graphics support
RUN yum install libgdiplus libc6-dev -y

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the supported Linux distributions for running IronBarcode?

IronBarcode officially supports the latest 64-bit versions of Ubuntu (>=18), Debian (>=10), and CentOS (>=7) for a zero-configuration setup. Other distributions may require manual configuration.

Does IronBarcode require code changes to run on Linux?

No, IronBarcode does not require any code changes to run on Linux. It works out of the box due to extensive testing and configuration by the Iron Software team.

What package should I use for integrating IronBarcode on Linux?

For Linux devices, you should use the `BarCode.Linux` package, which is optimized for .NET cross-platform projects. The vanilla BarCode package is not required.

How do I set up IronBarcode on Ubuntu 20?

To set up IronBarcode on Ubuntu 20, ensure you have sudo admin privileges, and add the following commands to your Dockerfile: `apt update` and `apt install -y libgdiplus`.

Is Ubuntu a suitable platform for IronBarcode?

Yes, Ubuntu is the most tested Linux platform for IronBarcode due to its widespread use in Azure infrastructure, which supports continuous testing and deployment.

What additional steps are needed to run IronBarcode on CentOS?

For CentOS, run `yum install epel-release -y`, `yum install mono-complete -y`, and `yum install libgdiplus libc6-dev -y` to ensure all necessary dependencies are installed.

Why is libgdiplus required for IronBarcode on Linux?

Libgdiplus is required on Linux to provide GDI+ support, which is necessary for graphical operations performed by IronBarcode.

Can I run IronBarcode on Amazon or Azure cloud servers?

Yes, IronBarcode is fully compatible with cloud services like Azure and Amazon Web Services, which often run on supported Linux distributions.

Are there official Docker images for running IronBarcode on Linux?

Yes, there are official Microsoft Docker images available for .NET Standard and ASP.NET Core that you can use to set up IronBarcode on Linux.

What is the significance of using the `BarCode.Linux` package?

The `BarCode.Linux` package is tailored specifically for enabling barcode features on Linux devices via .NET cross-platform projects, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility.

Curtis Chau

Chat with engineering team now

Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

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