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The software installation system of Linux distributions shares many similarities with app stores. Here, users can install most software and software updates in a consistent way.
For further reference on installing software and applications on Linux, check out the Mytour article below to learn the steps for software installation on Linux.
Guidelines for installing software and applications on Linux systems
1. Installing software from the Linux distribution's repository
Most of the software and applications we want to install are available in the software repository of the Linux distribution. Choose the package you want to install, and the package manager will automatically download and retrieve additional software packages that the program requires and install them.
On Ubuntu, the primary package manager is the Ubuntu Software Center - the orange bag icon on the dock. Use this interface to search for packages and install them.
Discovering applications on Linux, such as video players or specific tools like VLC, involves clicking the Download button, entering your password, and letting the package manager handle the rest.
Each Linux distribution has its own software repository and package manager. However, in practice, all Linux distributions operate their software repositories in a similar way. For instance, on Linux Mint, you can utilize the Software Manager application as an alternative.
Additionally, you can install software packages and applications by opening the Terminal and running the apt-get command on Ubuntu.
2. Installing proprietary software on Linux
Certain software and applications aren't available in the software repository of the Linux distribution, including Google Chrome, Skype, Steam, and the Opera browser.
Linux distributions lack the license to redistribute these applications, so we need to download them from the source. To download these applications, visit the software's official website, then locate and click the Download button.
You'll be prompted to choose a package suitable for your Linux distribution. Mytour recommends selecting the package compatible with your Linux distribution. For example, Skype offers the Ubuntu 12.04 (multiarch) package, which is the latest version, so the ideal solution is to use the package on Ubuntu 14.04.
Different distributions use various package types with different file extensions. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, and similar distributions use Deb packages with the file extension .deb. Fedora, Red Hat, openSUSE, and some other distributions use .rpm packages.
Double-click on the downloaded package to open the package installer and handle the remaining steps. For instance, double-click on the downloaded .deb file, then click Install and enter your password to install the downloaded package on Ubuntu.
Alternatively, you can employ different methods to download packages, such as running the command dpkg -I in the Terminal window to install packages on Ubuntu.
3. Alternative methods to install software and applications on Linux
In addition to the two methods Mytour introduced above for installing software on Linux computers, you can explore some other ways to install software on Linux computers below:
- Utilizing third-party repositories: Any user can create their own software repository, package software, and distribute it. In some cases, you may use third-party repositories to install software not available in the Linux distribution's repository.
For example, Ubuntu allows users to easily set up a PPA (personal package archive). We can add this PPA to the package manager, and the packages in the PPA will appear in the Ubuntu Software Center and other package management interfaces. This is also a common solution to add packages not present in the official repositories of Linux distributions.
- Extracting binary files: Some Linux software is distributed in precompiled form, designed to run on Linux distributions without installation. For instance, Skype provides a .tar.bz2 download file. It's just a compressed file, similar to a ZIP file, and we need to extract the file to a folder on the computer, then double-click on the executable file inside the folder to run it.
Mozilla also provides the latest versions for download in the .tar.bz2 format, so you can download and run the application without installing it. Just extract the file to any folder, then double-click on the Firefox file to run it.
- Source Compilation: Linux users don't need to compile and install software from the source. All software you want to install is available in packaged form. That means most Linux software distribution projects are available in source code form, and Linux distributions are responsible for packaging and distributing them to users.
If the Linux distribution you're using doesn't have the packages you need or the latest versions of the packages, you can compile packages from the source. However, this solution is only suitable for experienced users.
- Installing Windows Software: Windows software doesn't run on Linux. However, we have some ways to install and run Windows software on Linux, including the compatibility layer Wine or installing Windows on a virtual machine. By using software designed for Linux, you can achieve a more stable and better experience compared to native Linux software.
Package managers regularly check their software repositories for the latest versions of packages. This is how all software on your system can be updated from one place.
When installing third-party packages, it may also set up a software repository for easier updates. For example, Google Chrome installs files pointing to the browser's official repository when users install Chrome on Ubuntu. When new Chrome versions are released, they will appear in the Update Manager alongside all other updates. Applications don't need separate integrated updates, similar to Windows.
In this article, Mytour has just guided you on how to install software and applications on Linux. Additionally, readers can explore some other articles already available on Mytour to learn basic Shell commands on Linux.
