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Old 05-02-2010, 05:07 AM   #1
Delpheno
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$sudo apt-get install... how do you know the name?


So it seems like the universal command to install something through the terminal is sudo apt-get install whatever, but how do you know what the argument for what you want to install? Is there a list online or something?

For example, installing the Compiz Manager is sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager

I know there are easier ones like pidgin, but for something like the Compiz Manager... how the heck was I supposed to know that?

Thank you.
 
Old 05-02-2010, 05:15 AM   #2
smoker
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http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=2...=&oq=&gs_rfai=
 
Old 05-02-2010, 05:24 AM   #3
grail
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Quote:
So it seems like the universal command to install something through the terminal is sudo apt-get install whatever
In Ubuntu this statement is correct, but if you move to Gentoo I do not like your chances of the command working.

As smoker has displayed above, a simple search in your favourite engine will yield you the results you need.

I would probably suggest searching something like "apt-get howto install" or similar as you apparently need help with the command
rather than how to install Compiz
 
Old 05-02-2010, 05:26 AM   #4
the trooper
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You could you use the apt-cache command.
Here's an example of searching for compiz on my Debian system:

Code:
ade@Pc1:~$ apt-cache search compiz
cairo-clock - An analog clock drawn with vector-graphics
compizconfig-settings-manager - Compizconfig Settings Manager
compiz-fusion-bcop - Compiz Fusion option code generator
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra - Compiz Fusion plugins - extra collection
compiz-fusion-plugins-main - Compiz Fusion plugins - main collection
compiz-fusion-plugins-unsupported - Compiz Fusion plugins - "unsupported" collection
compiz - OpenGL window and compositing manager
compizconfig-backend-gconf - Compiz Fusion configuration system - gconf backend
compizconfig-backend-kconfig - Compiz Fusion configuration system - kconfig backend
python-compizconfig - Compizconfig bindings for python
fusion-icon - tray icon to launch and manage Compiz Fusion
libcompizconfig-dev - Configuration settings library for compiz-fusion - development files
libcompizconfig0 - Configuration settings library for compiz-fusion
pdfcube - PDF document viewer with 3D effects
screenlets - Widget-like mini-applications for GNOME
awn-applets-c-core - A collection of applets for avant-window-navigator
cairo-dock-compiz-icon-plugin - Cairo-dock - Compiz icon plug-in
compiz-core - OpenGL window and compositing manager
compiz-dev - OpenGL window and compositing manager - development files
compiz-gnome - OpenGL window and compositing manager - GNOME window decorator
compiz-gtk - OpenGL window and compositing manager - Gtk window decorator
compiz-kde - OpenGL window and compositing manager - KDE window decorator
compiz-plugins - OpenGL window and compositing manager - plugins
libdecoration0-dev - Compiz window decoration library - development files
libdecoration0 - Compiz window decoration library
Just substitute compiz for other packages you want to search for.

Last edited by the trooper; 05-02-2010 at 05:29 AM.
 
Old 05-02-2010, 05:58 AM   #5
smoker
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Here is a list of commands for apt-get
http://wiki.linuxhelp.net/index.php/Apt-get_Guide
 
Old 05-02-2010, 06:44 AM   #6
penguiniator
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How about starting with "man apt"?
 
Old 05-02-2010, 09:51 AM   #7
Delpheno
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grail View Post
In Ubuntu this statement is correct, but if you move to Gentoo I do not like your chances of the command working.

As smoker has displayed above, a simple search in your favourite engine will yield you the results you need.

I would probably suggest searching something like "apt-get howto install" or similar as you apparently need help with the command
rather than how to install Compiz
Yeah sorry I am using Ubuntu.

The reason I'm posting is not so people can show me how to install stuff, or look up how to install stuff, but if there's a way to install stuff in the terminal without looking it up.
 
Old 05-02-2010, 10:23 AM   #8
DragonSlayer48DX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Delpheno View Post
The reason I'm posting is not so people can show me how to install stuff, or look up how to install stuff, but if there's a way to install stuff in the terminal without looking it up.
That's a bit rhetorical, isn't it? You were right in your original post- you need to know the name of the package (or in some cases, meta-package; i.e kubuntu-desktop to install all the components of KDE) in order to issue the proper command argument. Otherwise, it won't install anything.

Cheers
 
Old 05-02-2010, 11:31 AM   #9
smoker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Delpheno View Post
Yeah sorry I am using Ubuntu.

The reason I'm posting is not so people can show me how to install stuff, or look up how to install stuff, but if there's a way to install stuff in the terminal without looking it up.
Why don't you think you should look it up ? You want to install something using the shell, then you have to learn what the names are. Otherwise use the GUI and the search.

Every distro I know has a list of packages available :
http://packages.ubuntu.com/
 
Old 05-03-2010, 12:28 AM   #10
Karl Godt
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Code:
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ apropos compiz
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ apropos setting
bluetooth-wizard (1) - GTK wizard for setting up devices with the Linux Bluet...
ethtool (8)          - Display or change ethernet card settings
gnome-eject (1)      - Mount drives and volumes using HAL and read settings f...
gnome-mount (1)      - Mount drives and volumes using HAL and read settings f...
gnome-umount (1)     - Mount drives and volumes using HAL and read settings f...
hp-printsettings (1) - Printer Settings Utility
iwevent (8)          - Display Wireless Events generated by drivers and setti...
laptop_mode (8)      - apply laptop mode settings
resize (1)           - set TERMCAP and terminal settings to current xterm win...
stty (1)             - change and print terminal line settings
tc (8)               - show / manipulate traffic control settings
toshset (1)          - manipulate bios and hardware settings of Toshiba laptops
update-locale (8)    - Modify global locale settings
xsetroot (1)         - root window parameter setting utility for X
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$
Code:
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find compiz
find: ‘compiz’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find manager
find: ‘manager’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find *manager*
find: ‘*manager*’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ whatis compiy
compiy: nothing appropriate.
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ whatis setting
setting: nothing appropriate.
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ whatis *setting*
*setting*: nothing appropriate.
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ whatis x
x: nothing appropriate.
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find x
find: ‘x’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find
.
./.bash_history
./.macromedia
./.macromedia/Flash_Player
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com/support
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/sys
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/sys/settings.sol
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/#SharedObjects
./.macromedia/Flash_Player/#SharedObjects/ZFQJBBWU
./.adobe
./.adobe/Flash_Player
./.adobe/Flash_Player/AssetCache
./.adobe/Flash_Player/AssetCache/4XBUTJXG
./.mozilla
./.mozilla/extensions
./.mozilla/extensions/{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}
./.mozilla/firefox
./.mozilla/firefox/fxjklpfv.default
./.mozilla/firefox/fxjklpfv.default/sessionstore.js
./.mozilla/firefox/fxjklpfv.default/mimeTypes.rdf
./.mozilla/firefox/fxjklpfv.default/localstore.rdf
./.mozilla/firefox/fxjklpfv.default/signons3.txt
Code:
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ whatis nm-connection-manager
nm-connection-manager: nothing appropriate.
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ find nm-connection-manager
find: ‘nm-connection-manager’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ cd ~
crunchbang@crunchbang:~$ cd /
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ find nm-connection-manager
find: ‘nm-connection-manager’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ find nm-connection-editor
find: ‘nm-connection-editor’: No such file or directory
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ nm-connection-editor

(nm-connection-editor:3806): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_hash_table_foreach: assertion `hash_table != NULL' failed

** (nm-connection-editor:3806): WARNING **: nm_connection_list_new: failed to load VPN plugins: Couldn't read VPN .name files directory /etc/NetworkManager/VPN.
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ whatis
whatis what?
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$
It differs a lot at every linux. some even have to do makewhatis manually for creating a database for apropos. And it might be mkwhatis or make-whatis..... Some use wildcards and some not.....
Unfortuately this is a cause to stay and not to upgrade.....

Code:
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ makewhatis
bash: makewhatis: command not found
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ mkwhatis
bash: mkwhatis: command not found
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ apropos mk
initramfs-tools (8)  - an introduction to writing scripts for mkinitramfs
initramfs.conf (5)   - configuration file for mkinitramfs
jfs_mkfs (8)         - create a JFS formatted partition
mk_modmap (8)        - translate a Linux keytable file into an xmodmap file
mkboot (8)           - makes a bootdisk
mkdir (1)            - make directories
mkdosfs (8)          - create an MS-DOS file system under Linux
mke2fs (8)           - create an ext2/ext3 filesystem
mke2fs.conf (5)      - Configuration file for mke2fs
mkfifo (1)           - make FIFOs (named pipes)
mkfontdir (1)        - create an index of X font files in a directory
mkfontscale (1)      - create an index of scalable font files for X
mkfs (8)             - build a Linux file system
mkfs.bfs (8)         - make an SCO bfs filesystem
mkfs.ext2 (8)        - create an ext2/ext3 filesystem
mkfs.ext3 (8)        - create an ext2/ext3 filesystem
mkfs.ext4 (8)        - create an ext2/ext3 filesystem
mkfs.ext4dev (8)     - create an ext2/ext3 filesystem
mkfs.jfs (8)         - create a JFS formatted partition
mkfs.minix (8)       - make a Linux MINIX filesystem
mkfs.msdos (8)       - create an MS-DOS file system under Linux
mkfs.ntfs (8)        - create an NTFS file system
mkfs.reiserfs (8)    - The create tool for the Linux ReiserFS filesystem.
mkfs.vfat (8)        - create an MS-DOS file system under Linux
mkfs.xfs (8)         - construct an XFS filesystem
mkinitramfs (8)      - low-level tool for generating an initramfs image
mkinitramfs-kpkg (8) - generates an initramfs image for kernel-package
mklost+found (8)     - create a lost+found directory on a mounted Linux secon...
mkmanifest (1)       - makes list of file names and their DOS 8+3 equivalent
mknod (1)            - make block or character special files
mkntfs (8)           - create an NTFS file system
mkpasswd (1)         - Overfeatured front end to crypt(3)
mkreiserfs (8)       - The create tool for the Linux ReiserFS filesystem.
mksquashfs (1)       - Create or modify a Squash file system
mkswap (8)           - set up a Linux swap area
mktemp (1)           - make temporary filename (unique)
mkzftree (1)         - Create a zisofs/RockRidge compressed file tree
pam_mkhomedir (8)    - PAM module to create users home directory
xfs_mkfile (8)       - create an XFS file
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ apropos make
Glib::MakeHelper (3pm) - Makefile.PL utilities for Glib-based extensions
hp-makecopies (1)    - Make Copies Utility
hp-makeuri (1)       - Device URI Creation Utility
ln (1)               - make links between files
make (1)             - GNU make utility to maintain groups of programs
make-memtest86+-boot-floppy (1) - create a memtest86+ boot-floppy using GRUB.
make-ssl-cert (8)    - Debconf wrapper for openssl
make_method (1p)     - Turn Perl code into an XML description for RPC::XML...
MAKEDEV (8)          - create devices
mkboot (8)           - makes a bootdisk
mkdir (1)            - make directories
mkfifo (1)           - make FIFOs (named pipes)
mkfs.bfs (8)         - make an SCO bfs filesystem
mkfs.minix (8)       - make a Linux MINIX filesystem
mkmanifest (1)       - makes list of file names and their DOS 8+3 equivalent
mknod (1)            - make block or character special files
mktemp (1)           - make temporary filename (unique)
mlabel (1)           - make an MSDOS volume label
mmd (1)              - make an MSDOS subdirectory
pf2afm (1)           - Make an AFM file from Postscript (PFB/PFA/PFM) font...
remastersys (1)      - script to make a bootable and installable live cd o...
script (1)           - make typescript of terminal session
syslog2eximlog (8)   - make syslog output suitable for eximstats
xxd (1)              - make a hexdump or do the reverse.
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ apropos whatis
whatis (1)           - display manual page descriptions
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$ apropos what
exiwhat (8)          - Finding out what Exim processes are doing
sudoers (5)          - list of which users may execute what
w (1)                - Show who is logged on and what they are doing.
w.procps (1)         - Show who is logged on and what they are doing.
whatis (1)           - display manual page descriptions
crunchbang@crunchbang:/$
I also try to avoid man pages but this was happily just 162 lines long :

Code:
 The database searched by apropos is updated by  the  mandb  program.
       Depending  on  your installation, this may be run by a periodic cron
       job, or may need to be run manually after new manual pages have been
       installed.
 
  


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