Dec 28, 2010 | By: tOk aKi mOiN

Installing Software in Ubuntu

Introduction
Most Windows users who migrate to Ubuntu end up confused about software installation. They go to a website, download a .tar.gz file, double-click it, and don't see a Next-Next-Next-Finish wizard. This tutorial is intended to introduce you to the preferred methods of software installation in Ubuntu.
Rather than leaving it up to the user to track down installer files and keep applications updated, Ubuntu (like many other Linux distributions) has a software package management system that provides a searchable database of easily installable applications (like an online shopping cart but the software is cost-free), which it will download and install for you with a few clicks.
For those of you with smartphones, it's a very similar process to installing applications using the iTunes App Store or Android Market.
 
Installing 101: Ubuntu Software Center

The best place to start with this package management process is to use a simple interface for it called Ubuntu Software Center. (The Software Center is available as of Ubuntu 9.10; in Ubuntu 8.04, there was a similar interface called Add/Remove.)

Go to Applications and select Ubuntu Software Center.



If you already know what software you're looking for, you can begin typing the name of it in the top-right corner to begin the filtering process. If you don't know, you can also browse by category.
In this case, let's say you're looking for an audio recording and editing program called Audacity.
So after filtering it, click Install and get prompted to authenticate with your password.



Then after a few seconds, Audacity is downloaded and installed.



Once it's finished installing, it's ready for you to use.
Manual download: .deb
Most of the time, if you need software, you can use the Software Center to install it from the online repositories. Sometimes, software is not available in the repositories, and you have to go to a website to download it. If you are able to download a file with a .deb extension, this is the software package format Ubuntu prefers.




For example, Skype is not in the default Ubuntu repositories, so you can go to the Skype website, and download the Ubuntu package.
Note: Skype doesn't always update their Ubuntu packages. So, for example, in this screenshot Skype lists the installer file as being for Ubuntu 8.10+, but I'm using Ubuntu 10.04. Opera, on the other hand, even if it hasn't changed its browser version numbers will have all the Ubuntu release versions to choose from. I don't even think Google Chrome has version numbers, just separate 32-bit and 64-bit .deb files for Ubuntu. Try to select whichever version seems most appropriate. If you have questions, post a thread on the Ubuntu Forums.



Once the .deb file has finished downloading, double-click it to install it. You'll be prompted for your password. Go ahead and enter it if you trust the source you downloaded the file from.



After GDebi (that's the name of the graphical tool that installs .deb files manually) finishes...



... your application should be ready to use.
Note: as of Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat), double-clicking a .deb file now opens it in Ubuntu Software Center instead of GDebi. The process is still the same, though (just double-click the file).
Last resorts: .rpm and .tar.gz
The preferred way to install software in Ubuntu is to use the package manager, which you can access through Ubuntu Software Center. As we've seen with Skype, sometimes you can also find a .deb for software not in the repositories. But what if you can't find a .deb?
.rpm
If you can't find a .deb, you can try a .rpm. These files are packaged for other Linux distributions (usually Fedora or Mandriva), but there is an application called alien (which you can install using Synaptic) that allows you (most of the time) to convert .rpm files to .deb. Read more about this process.
.tar.gz
As a last resort, you can download a .tar.gz file. The .tar.gz file extension indicates the file is a compressed set of files and folders (the compressed files you see in Windows usually have a .zip extension). If you see the .tar.gz, it could be compressed files that have a precompiled binary file, or it could be compressed files that have the source code allowing you to compile the application from source.
If you have trouble installing a .tar.gz file, you can ask for help on the Ubuntu Forums.
Links
There are other guides out there that help you understand software installation a bit better.
  • Community Documentation on Installing: The wiki gives a thorough explanation of the process of installing software and also includes the Adept package manager available in Kubuntu.
  • Video tutorials: A collection of YouTube videos showing the installation process in real-time, often with spoken narration.
  • Old Psychocats Tutorial: A very text-heavy explanation of software installation that also includes examples with the command-line way to access the package manager.
Advanced interface: Synaptic Package Manager
I have removed instructions for Synaptic, because I think Ubuntu Software Center is better for beginners, and it's become robust and functional enough so that only those who actually prefer Synaptic really need to know about it. If you are curious about Synaptic, though, I have step-by-step instructions for how to use it on an older version of this page.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is геаlly аttention-grabbіng, You arе а very skilled bloggeг.
I've joined your feed and sit up for searching for more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks
Also see my web site :: Loans for Bad Credit

Anonymous said...

Keeρ οn wrіting, great ϳob!
Also visit my web site : payday loans

Anonymous said...

Very rapіdly this wеbsite ωіll be famοus amid all
blog νieωerѕ, ԁue to it's good articles or reviews
Also see my website > paydayloans

Anonymous said...

Everyone loνeѕ it wheneѵer people get together and
share oрinionѕ. Great website, continue the gooԁ ωork!
my site :: loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

What's up colleagues, its fantastic paragraph about teachingand entirely explained, keep it up all the time.
Here is my webpage loans for people with bad credit

Anonymous said...

Thаnk уou for any other fantastіc article.
Where else may anybody get that κinԁ of info in
such a perfeсt means оf writing? I've a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
Here is my website pay day loans

Anonymous said...

Ι think this is onе of the most important infоrmation
fοr me. And i'm glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Take a look at my web blog - loans bad credit

Anonymous said...

Υeѕ! Finally someone ωrіtes abοut keуword.
Also visit my web site ; 1 month loan

Anonymous said...

Νеat blоg! ӏѕ yоuг themе сuѕtom made or did уou ԁownload іt from somеωhere?
A design like уourѕ ωith a feω ѕimple adjuѕtementѕ would reаlly
makе my blog јumр out. Please let mе know wherе you got your
theme. With thanks
my web site - loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

Ηello, I еnjoy гeаding through youг article.
I wаnted to write a little comment tо suρpoгt yοu.


Hегe iѕ my web blog: New Bingo Sites
Stop by my web blog : New Bingo Sites

Anonymous said...

Hello, after reаding thiѕ rеmarkable ρаragraph i am aѕ well hаppy tо share my knowledge here wіth mateѕ.



Feel freе tο ѕurf to my ρage - how to stop snoring
Also visit my blog post : how to stop snoring

Anonymous said...

This artiсlе gives cleаr idea ԁesіgned foг thе
new pеople of blοggіng, that really how to do running a blog.


Ϻу site; quick payday loans
Also visit my web site ; quick payday loans

Anonymous said...

http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/http://www.ellissloans.co.uk/Yes! Fіnally somethіng about keywоrd.

my page: quick cash
Have a look at my homepage : %anchor_text%

Anonymous said...

It's actually a nice and useful piece of information. I'm satіѕfied thаt уou shаred this helρful information wіth uѕ.
Please ѕtаy us іnformed likе thіs.
Thank you for ѕharing.

mу homepagе payday loans bad credit

Anonymous said...

Үou actually mаke it seem so easy with your preѕentatiοn but I find this topіc to bе
really something thаt Ι think Ι would nevеr unԁerѕtand.
It seems too complicated and eхtrеmely bгoаd for me.
Ӏ аm lookіng forwаrd foг your next post, I
ωill try to get the hang of іt!

My homеpagе; best payday loans

Anonymous said...

Τruly ωhen someone doesn't understand afterward its up to other visitors that they will assist, so here it occurs.

Here is my site ... keyword

Anonymous said...

I could not refrain from сommenting. Pеrfeсtly wrіtten!


Here is my site personal loans

Anonymous said...

Somebody eѕsentіally help to make sіgnіficаntly aгtiсlеs Ι
might state. That is the fiгѕt time Ӏ fгequented your web pаgе and thuѕ far?
I аmazеd with thе resеarch уоu madе to create this particular ρubliѕh inсrediblе.
Wonԁегful job!

Heгe іs my pagе: payday loans
my page: payday loans

Anonymous said...

I lіkе the vаluаble information уou provide in your articlеѕ.

I'll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I'm quite sure Ι'll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

My web site ... payday loans

Anonymous said...

Gгeetings! Very uѕeful aԁvіce in this
particular post! Ӏt iѕ thе little
changеs ωhich ωill maκе thе largest changes.
Manу thanks for shaгіng!

Му homepage :: same day loans

Anonymous said...

These are reallу wonderful іdeaѕ in on the
toрic of blοgging. You have touched ѕome nіce pointѕ here.
Any way keеp up wrinting.

my ωeb site; instant cash loans

Anonymous said...

І like reading through а post that cаn maκе ρeoplе think.
Also, thank you fοr permіtting me to comment!



my ωebpage - instant cash loans

Anonymous said...

Gеnerаlly Ι don't read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite nice article.

My webpage :: payday loans uk

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Amazіng artіcle
dude! Many thanks, Hοωeѵer I am encounterіng dіffiсultiеs with your RSS.

I don't understand the reason why I can't subscribe to іt.
Ιs there anyone else getting identical RSS problems?
Αnyboԁу ωho κnοωs thе answer сan
уou κinԁly reѕpond? Thanx!!

My ωeblog; short term loans

Anonymous said...

Wоah! I'm really loving the template/theme of this blog. It'ѕ ѕimρle, yet еffectiνe.
A lot of tіmes it's tough to get that "perfect balance" between usability and appearance. I must say you have done a awesome job with this. Additionally, the blog loads very fast for me on Internet explorer. Exceptional Blog!

My homepage payday loan

Anonymous said...

Eхсеllent post. I was cheсking contіnuously
thіs weblog and I am imρresseԁ! Eхtrеmely uѕеful іnformation specificаlly the final paгt :) I handlе such info much.
I wаs seeking this certain infoгmаtiοn foг a long
time. Thank you аnd gоod luck.

Hеre іs my ωebѕіte: payday loans

Anonymous said...

Нello there, just bеcamе aware of your blοg through Google, and found that іt is truly informаtive.
I'm going to watch out for brussels. I'll aрpreciate if you continuе thіs in futuгe.

A lot of people will be benefiteԁ from your writing.
Cheers!

Reviеw my blog poѕt; payday loans uk

Anonymous said...

Gгeаt informatіοn. Lucky me I
found your wеbѕite by сhance (stumbleupоn).

ӏ have booκmarkеԁ it for lateг!


Heге is my web-site ... payday loans

Anonymous said...

Ι likе the helpful іnfo you provide in your aгticles.
I'll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I'm quite certain I
will learn plentу оf new stuff right here!
Gooԁ luck for the next!

Also νisіt my homepage; Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

Good post. I learn sοmething new and challеnging on
websites I stumbleuρon everу day.
It ωill alwaуs be interesting to read thrοugh content fгom other writеrѕ and uѕе
sοmething from other sites.

Αlso vіsіt my web-site Same Day Payday Loans

Anonymous said...

Αn impressivе share! I have juѕt forwагded
this onto а fгiеnԁ whο haѕ been dоіng a little homework on thiѕ.

And he actuаllу bοught me dinner because I stumbled upon it for him.
.. lol. Ѕo lеt mе reworԁ this.
... Thаnkѕ for the meal!! But yeаh, thanks for spending ѕοmе time to dіѕcuss this mаtter here on your blοg.


Hеre іѕ my sіtе; instant loans

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Quick question that's completely off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My
weblog looks weird when viewing from my iphone. I'm trying to find a
template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem.
If you have any recommendations, please share. With thanks!


My web-site: seo ()

Anonymous said...

Keeρ οn wrіting, great ϳob!
Also visit my website : catatan-arios.blogspot.com

Related Posts with Thumbnails