how to install programs

[Cu Rua]

I don't know how to install programs in Linux without the Synaptic Package Manager. Could somebody give me a tutorial?

[Frogs Hair]

What kind of programs ? It is possible to install programs from the command line if you know the package name and they are in the repository. Methods for installing may vary depending on the package type.

[mardybear]

Hi.

Welcome to Ubuntu Linux.

Via terminal you would typically type 'sudo apt-get <program name>'
...not including the quotes...replace program name with the program you wish to install.

A forum or google search will provide all the information you would ever want to know.

mardybear

[mag1strate]

This is a pretty useful guide that will get you to know the ins and outs of apt-get:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptGet/Howto

[oldos2er]

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware

[newb85]

Via terminal you would typically type 'sudo apt-get <program name>'
...not including the quotes...replace program name with the program you wish to install.

Should actually be 'sudo apt-get install <program name>'

[Cu Rua]

The problem with trudging all over Google is they assume I have a clue. I need something very general and dumbed-down, particularly for somebody who's hopelessly dependent on GUIs and Windows install wizards.

Also, not all the programs I want are in the repositories, though I try to use them as much as I can. What would I do with old Windows discs?

I keep getting zips or tarballs, as soon as I extract them, I have no idea what to do next. Is there a command-line incantation for that?

Finally, all Linux distros have the same command-line system, right?

[mardybear]

Should actually be 'sudo apt-get install <program name>'

Sorry...that's what i meant...only an Ubuntu wizard would be able to install software via terminal without using the install command

mardybear

[oldfred]

If you want synaptic:

sudo apt-get install synaptic

You can also use Ubuntu Software Center.

I almost never install from a deb which is complied for Debian distributions.

And I do not think I have ever installed from zips or tar-bells. They usually have compile instructions in a text file, but may have dependency issues. Or the old dependency hell that used to be common before repositories and their managers.


Terminal may be similar, but there even different terminals by distribution, several optional in Ubuntu.
Only Debian based Linux use apt, the other major distributions use different managers for software repositories.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_management_system

[mardybear]

Hi again...

As synaptic usually works well, rarely do i install software via command line. The repositories are so vast (can't remember how many thousands of available packages), rarely have i ever needed/wanted to install software that wasn't already in the repository. Additonal repositories are also available via syanptic if you can't find the specific software you're looking for.

There's lots to learn with Ubuntu Linux, one step at at time. As mentioned, there's lots of reading available on this forum and via google, such as:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/25961...r-tar-bz2-file

http://www.google.ca/search?client=u...M4nKiwK40oCYCA

Have fun with it and don't let yourself get too frustrated. Linux has a steep learning curve. Don't expect to figure everything out right away. It's taken me years and i'm just starting to feel like i'm getting a handle on it.

mardybear