Best way to install packages

[joepesci2]

Hi everyone.
Im a new Ubuntu user and i have some questions about installing packages.
What would be the best way to install software?
I have read in some places that its better to use apt, but in other places i have seen that its better to download the deb from the official website of each software.

If i install it from apt, will it automatically update to the new versions when i will do apt upgrade-update or do i would have to add the repositories?

If i install it from the .deb, would it update in the future or would i would have to download the deb again?

Thank you very much and sorry if the questions are stupid.

[ajgreeny]

You should certainly, particularly a new user of Ubuntu, steer well away from searching for and installing .deb packages from anywhere other than the Ubuntu repositories.

Anything installed from the Ubuntu repos will be guaranteed secure and will update with the normal software updates whether you use the command line, sudo apt update/upgrade or the GUI version which i have never bothered with.

As you become more acquainted with Linux and Ubuntu, there may be a very few things that have to be installed by other methods but don't concern yourself with them yet; just continue using the repos and ask again here if you find something you installed not working.

[joepesci2]

You should certainly, particularly a new user of Ubuntu, steer well away from searching for and installing .deb packages from anywhere other than the Ubuntu repositories.

Anything installed from the Ubuntu repos will be guaranteed secure and will update with the normal software updates whether you use the command line, sudo apt update/upgrade or the GUI version which i have never bothered with.

As you become more acquainted with Linux and Ubuntu, there may be a very few things that have to be installed by other methods but don't concern yourself with them yet; just continue using the repos and ask again here if you find something you installed not working.

Hi ajgreeny!
Do you mean that if i install Firefox with apt, in the future it will be updated to new versions when i will do apt update-upgrade?
Do updates take longer to arrive or is there some inconvenience?

And finally, is it necessary to add repositories to Ubuntu to update the software or isnt necessary?

Thank you very much for your patience and kindness.

[Dennis N]

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS comes with a software store application called "App Center" (see image) where you can find software by category or searching. Just search for "App Center" in the Overview Screen, accessed by Windows Key (aka Super Key).

You can install using the terminal, but you must know the package name of the software.

Ubuntu automatically updates some software (like Firefox), and provides security updates, but most software stays at the version that comes with the original Ubuntu install.

The repositories are automatically configured for your system when you install. No need to deal with that.

[vanadium]

The answer to your question is very simple: never download deb files. Install software using apt. This installs software packaged and tested for your distribution, and will automatically update if security issues are fixed. There will, however, not be updates to possible newer major versions of the software, except then for Firefox (which, however, is nowadays installed using a different system, "snap").

You can also use the graphical tool to safely install software. Ubuntu now has two different systems to install software: the newer "snap" system, and the traditional APT system. The software tool will prefer snap-packaged versions if available, but you can always select the apt version yourself if you prefer (and if available).

From the command line, software distributed using the traditional APT system is installed through the command "apt". For software distributed using the snap framework, "snap" is the command.

[joepesci2]

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS comes with a software store application called "App Center" (see image) where you can find software by category or searching. Just search for "App Center" in the Overview Screen, accessed by Windows Key (aka Super Key).

You can install using the terminal, but you must know the package name of the software.

Ubuntu automatically updates some software (like Firefox), and provides security updates, but most software stays at the version that comes with the original Ubuntu install.

The repositories are automatically configured for your system when you install. No need to deal with that.

The answer to your question is very simple: never download deb files. Install software using apt. This installs software packaged and tested for your distribution, and will automatically update if security issues are fixed. There will, however, not be updates to possible newer major versions of the software, except then for Firefox (which, however, is nowadays installed using a different system, "snap").

You can also use the graphical tool to safely install software. Ubuntu now has two different systems to install software: the newer "snap" system, and the traditional APT system. The software tool will prefer snap-packaged versions if available, but you can always select the apt version yourself if you prefer (and if available).

From the command line, software distributed using the traditional APT system is installed through the command "apt". For software distributed using the snap framework, "snap" is the command.

Ive installed Ubuntu with minimum software, only installed the desktop environment.
Ive then installed Firefox using apt:

If Firefox releases a new version in a while, will it automatically update when i will do apt update-upgrade?
How do i know which software i will need to add a repository to the Ubuntu archive?

Sorry if im repetitive or these are silly questions, but i like to establish the knowledge and basic operation well.

Thank you for your help and tips.

[grahammechanical]

What would be the best way to install software?

In my opinion with Linux there is no best way and no worst way. Just alternative ways of doing things.

Updating the operating system is different from updating applications. On Ubuntu there are only a few applications that are regularly upgraded during the life support period of any Ubuntu version. Those that I can think of are Firefox; Thunderbird and Libreoffice. There may be others but they do not come to mind.

Most applications that are part of the default installation of Ubuntu are only upgraded when we move on to the next version of Ubuntu.

As for updating the operating system in Ubuntu there are three ways to do this. By the terminal

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo snap refresh

Running the Software and Updates utility. That is the front end for running those three commands. Or open App Centre and select Manage. That will reveal what Snap packages are ready to be updated. It also says: Debian package updates are handled by the Software Updater.

There are different ways of installing software. As explained above the new user should install applications through the App Center. That will offer mainly Snap packaged application but the search can be expanded to include Debian (deb) packaged applications. The App Centre provides the user with some measure of confidence that the applications do not have any malicious code in them. The same is true when we use the terminal to install those same applications.

sudo apt install <package name>

Both App Centre and apt install/update/upgrade access the same Ubuntu software repositories. There are other methods of installing software. They can be complicated to use and in some cases the software is downloaded with the user accepting a measure of security risk.

Oh, by the way, software that is deb packaged will run on Ubuntu but software that is rpm packaged will not run on Ubuntu. Redhat and Fedora use rpm packaged applications. Some other distributions also do the same.

Regards

[grahammechanical]

How do i know which software i will need to add a repository to the Ubuntu archive?

Trying installing the package using apt and if your OS has not enabled the appropriate repository then you will get an error message.

If you had told us that you installed Ubuntu as the Essentials I would not have wasted my time explaining about the App Centre and Software & Updater. You only have the terminal to install software.

Next question: How do I find out what repositories have been enabled using only the terminal? I have no idea.

Regards

[joepesci2]

In my opinion with Linux there is no best way and no worst way. Just alternative ways of doing things.

Updating the operating system is different from updating applications. On Ubuntu there are only a few applications that are regularly upgraded during the life support period of any Ubuntu version. Those that I can think of are Firefox; Thunderbird and Libreoffice. There may be others but they do not come to mind.

Most applications that are part of the default installation of Ubuntu are only upgraded when we move on to the next version of Ubuntu.

As for updating the operating system in Ubuntu there are three ways to do this. By the terminal

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo snap refresh

Running the Software and Updates utility. That is the front end for running those three commands. Or open App Centre and select Manage. That will reveal what Snap packages are ready to be updated. It also says: Debian package updates are handled by the Software Updater.

There are different ways of installing software. As explained above the new user should install applications through the App Center. That will offer mainly Snap packaged application but the search can be expanded to include Debian (deb) packaged applications. The App Centre provides the user with some measure of confidence that the applications do not have any malicious code in them. The same is true when we use the terminal to install those same applications.

sudo apt install <package name>

Both App Centre and apt install/update/upgrade access the same Ubuntu software repositories. There are other methods of installing software. They can be complicated to use and in some cases the software is downloaded with the user accepting a measure of security risk.

Oh, by the way, software that is deb packaged will run on Ubuntu but software that is rpm packaged will not run on Ubuntu. Redhat and Fedora use rpm packaged applications. Some other distributions also do the same.

Regards

Hi grahammechanical! I understand that Ubuntuss own patches and operating system updates are done with the update and upgrade.
My question is more focused on other "non-essential" programs such as Discord, Steam, Obsidian, etc.

Thank you for your help and kindness.

[joepesci2]

Trying installing the package using apt and if your OS has not enabled the appropriate repository then you will get an error message.

If you had told us that you installed Ubuntu as the Essentials I would not have wasted my time explaining about the App Centre and Software & Updater. You only have the terminal to install software.

Next question: How do I find out what repositories have been enabled using only the terminal? I have no idea.

Regards

I have installed Ubuntu with the minimum, but the applications app does appear.

Thanks for your help!