Downloaded App.. Now what?

Tobywuk · 09-24-2006, 10:15 AM

Im New to linux, and im currently using Ubunto. Im finding it very difficult to get to grips with how Installing programes works, and the diffrent file extenshions with applications.

When i download a program, Does it have to be installed like applications do on windows? And how do i install them? is this process diffrent with diffrent file extenshions? When i open the files i download all i get is the diffrent files within a folder, and when i click on the diffrent files i get a load of gobaldy gook up!

Please Help!

Zmyrgel · 09-24-2006, 10:51 AM

Install files using the apt tool. You can check more info about it with "man apt-get".

To update repositery:
apt-get update

To install program:
apt-get install firefox

Check this link for APT.

bigjohn · 09-24-2006, 10:53 AM

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/

and no, you don't need to download and then get stuck.

The package manager is the place to focus, your start menu should have adept in there, I posted the command to install synaptic in your other post (I even stuck to synaptic when I changed from Kubuntu to Kanotix).

You just select the package you want to install and hit OK/install etc (you might have to put your password in though), the main system of the package manager (apt) knows where to install the package, and whether it needs any dependant packages to be installed etc etc.

It's gonna take you a bit of time to get used to ubuntu (well, linux in general), cos it's mega different from windows - well how all the guts of it work anyway.

If you only just moved over from windows, you may feel more comfortable with the KDE desktop

Code:

sudo apt-get install kde

(erm if it errors, it maybe that it's called kde-desktop or something like that).

ttfn

John

jstephens84 · 09-24-2006, 10:54 AM

Yes it does depend on the package type.

tar.gz files

Code:

tar -zxvf <filename>
./configure --help  (This will show you the arguments you can use)
./configure 
make 
make install

tar.bz2 files

Code:

tar -jxvf <filename>
same as above.

.tgz (Mainly slackware and Zenwalk packages

Code:

install pkg <filename>

.rpm (used by Red had, Fedora, SuSE and other distros)

Code:

rpm -Uvh <filename>

that is how you can install those particular files.

Since you are using Ubuntu I would look at using apt-get. http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper This should also help you out.

sumguy231 · 09-24-2006, 10:59 AM

Way back in the day, most installation was done by hand compiling each program. However, the Modern distros in use today have 'package managers' that will do the work for you; a program such as apt-get will fetch the installation files it needs, fetch the packages the program you're installing need for installation, and install it for you.
And if you want to do it graphically, you can use Synaptic for the same thing. It's somewhere in your menus, I use Kubuntu so I wouldn't know.
Edit: I was way late, but I'll leave my post in in case it isn't too redundant.

Tobywuk · 09-25-2006, 03:53 AM

first i tried the apt-get update command and i got this

Code:

toby@linuxlap:~$ apt-get update
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the list directory
toby@linuxlap:~$

Then i tried apt-get install and i got the same thing

Code:

toby@linuxlap:~$ apt-get install nmap
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the list directory

i also tried using the "gnome app install" program, but it seems as if i can only install programs from a list within the program. iv also tried "open with" with this program, but it just opens the application and its exactly the same.

edit - i have successfully set up and am now running the synaptic package manager. im trying to find a way to point the program to open/install the .rpm files i downloaded, but for some reason i can not. it only seems to be a list of available applications that i can download and install.

The file type that i am tyring to isntall is RPM, i dont know if this is going to make much diffrence? When i try and extract this RPM file, it says that archive manager does not support this file type.

Thank you for all the help so far, you have all been very helpfull!

craigevil · 09-25-2006, 05:05 AM

You have to be root in order to run any apt commands

Try typing sudo apt-get update

Ubunut is based on Debian which uses .deb file NOT rpms

Tobywuk · 09-26-2006, 07:44 AM

When you say i have to be "root" in order to run apt commands, does that mean that you have to be logged in as a user called "root" or you have to be in the /root directory?

If im running Ubuntu, does this mean that i am unable to run or use .RPM files full stop, and only able to install .dep packages? As most of the file extenshions i have seen are .rpm

I did download a .dep vershion of it, even though it is an older vershion of the program, but i also had problems doing this. i am unable to report exactly what problem i got when running that as i currently in college.

thank you, Toby

Nylex · 09-26-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobywuk

When you say i have to be "root" in order to run apt commands, does that mean that you have to be logged in as a user called "root" or you have to be in the /root directory?

The former. On most distros, you can "become" root with "su" (or "su -"), but in Ubuntu, you get root privileges with sudo. You simply put sudo before any commands that you need to be root to run, then you supply your user's password when prompted.

Quote:

If im running Ubuntu, does this mean that i am unable to run or use .RPM files full stop, and only able to install .dep packages? As most of the file extenshions i have seen are .rpm

They're called ".deb" files, first of all. I believe you can use software called Alien to convert .rpm to .deb, though don't know how well it works and if it causes any problems.

Tobywuk · 10-01-2006, 05:40 AM

Sorry to be a pain, but im still struggaling, but im begining to understand how it works now.

I tried

Code:

sudo apt-get install nmap

Im getting, "couldent find package"
Does this command search online for the file name? or does it search your computer? also do you have to put the full file name of it in, or just the first several charicters?

is there any way to enter the dir that the package i want to install is in?

I have both a .rpm and a .deb file of the same applicaton, but i cant get either to install for me.

Also i put "sudo apt-get install Alien" in to try and see if i could get hold of that program that was stated above to convert .rpm to .deb files, but it said the same error.

Sorry to be a pain, and please help

dogged28 · 10-01-2006, 08:46 AM

linux is case sensistive. if you typed sudo apt-get install Alien, it won't work. i typed sudo apt-get install alien and did my password and it installed clean. you also may need to add some repositories. check this link:
http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_boo...uide/ch02.html

it's an easy setup to do and should solve some if not most of your install problems. i had the same issue awhile back until i did the repositories. now all is fine. good luck.

craigevil · 10-01-2006, 10:14 AM

You really need to take the time to read the documentation available.

Chapter 2. Adding, Removing and Updating Applications
https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/deskt...lications.html

APT HOWTO
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap....html#contents

"Unofficial Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake) Linux Starter Guide"
http://easylinux.info/wiki/Ubuntu_dapper

Linux package formats - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_package_formats

The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Basics of the Debian package management system
http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkg_basics

Try to stick to using APT/Synaptic/Adept when you can. Ubuntu like Debian comes with over 15k packages. RPM packages will NOT work although you can try to convert a rpm to a deb file using "alien". Also I wouldn't suggest mixing Ubuntu and Debian packages if you can help it, otherwise you will run into problems.