Windows it was easy. Just type the program path in run. Even DOS was easy! click on the .exe or .bat files.
I have down loaded a couple programs in puppy. 6.xxx. When I had 5.xxx, same problem. I am presented with a drag box, which does nothing when I drag to, or open with a long list of apps. Which one starts programs? What is the file extension(s) do I drag or try to open using what app??
How about starting using the terminal? Please give me an example or two. Is it the run command and then the path as I saw on a help page? What file ext. What are .so or .so.0.0 files with a puzzle piece icon? These are in the last directory of one of the program.

-Where are you downloading from?
-How did you download?
-What program(s) are you downloading?
-Can you provide links to the website you downloaded from?

You need to take about 10 steps back. Package management in Linux is fundamentally different than in Windows. 99.99% of the time you DO NOT go to a website, download a package, and run it. That is the Windows way, and that's how you get viruses, malware, cryptolockers, etc. Linux does not work that way (thank god), which is a big reason why those kinds of problems are practically non-existent on Linux.

So stop what you're doing, back up, and revisit the question from the start. WHAT are you trying to install? WHY are you downloading something from a website to do it? Lastly, did you read the documentation that came with the package (usually a README or INSTALL file in the tarball) that tells you exactly what steps to follow to install it?

1 members found this post helpful.

Steady on! He may be talking about "downloading" from the repository rather than from the Web. It's far from clear what he is talking about, but the reference to "dragging" suggests to me that he has the program installed and is now trying to create a desktop icon for it. The last time I used Puppy (and that was a few years ago), it was using Rox as its desktop and Rox has a rather eccentric way of creating icons: you have to open /usr/share/applications in a Rox-Filer window and drag the application's .desktop file out.

Doug, can you be a bit more specific about what you have done? How exactly did you install these programs, and what are you trying to do now?

Why the hell hasn't someone made it as easy as windows yet?
One was an attempt a year or so ago that was the old 5.xxx slacko. Don't remember where I got the app from. But that version would not upload a newer of firefox that so many sites said needed for their content. So I went to the puppy site and installed slacko64 6.xxxxx. Firefox is working better because it is newer. I downloaded a html editing program from a Best free html programs for puppy linux site. It did not auto start so I extracted it into a file. Then tried to get it to install. Also a flash to satisfy some video sites from adobe's site. It may have started but I am still getting some sites saying I need a plug. Not telling what plugin??
So I am back to the same question asked before. And where do I go to get such programs. The list of depositories in the distrib. did not have a html viewer that I can tell. Some of the names I have no clue what they are. What is a good free html editor, FTP, viewr combo.
Is there another option as not to use the Rox-filter?

it is EASIER!!!!!!! than windows for almost every program

firefox should be AUTO!!!!! updated on a system update !
that is if a newer version is out
and if you are NOT using the EXTENDED service release


why would it auto start ?

auto start is a thing that VIRUSES DO ON WINDOWS

HOW ????

and why did you NOT use the package manager to install it ?

from the package manager

for most normal everyday things the software is in the distros repos

you might want to , well actually READ SOMETHING , and read the puppy docs
the package manager
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/PPM

the user MANUAL that you NEVER READ
http://puppylinux.org/main/Manual-English.htm

Linux is much easier and safer than Windows when it comes to installing the vast majority of programs you might want/need. The problem is you're still stuck in the Windows mindset of the OS including nothing useful, forcing you to go to websites to find and download anything you might need. It's "difficult" because you're currently working against the system design instead of with it.

You need to shift your entire perspective of how software should be found and installed on Linux. Software on Linux is centralized, pretty much everything you need is available from a central, tested, and secure repository that's specific to your exact version of your distribution. You do not go download executables from the web and run them. What you do is search your distribution's software repository and install it from there. If you can't find what you're looking for, see if there's a trusted 3rd party repository for your distribution that includes that software. If there is, add that repo to your system and then install the software. If there is no 3rd party repo with the software you're looking for, you should take a long hard look at what you're trying to install, why, and if there's a better alternative. If you absolutely must have that specific program and there are no alternatives, then you might consider downloading a tarball from the web and installing from that, but this should only be used as a last resort.

What do you mean an html editor? html is plain-text, you can edit it with any text editor. An html viewer is just a web browser. I'm sure Puppy has an FTP client available, just search the software center (or whatever Puppy calls it) for a GUI FTP client.

Please stick with Windows. Dont waste our time. You asked for help, I asked questions to be able to help, and you continue ranting. Wasting my time.

Relevant: Linux is not Windows.


_

I have been using puppy for the last two and a half years for your snooby information. Don't ass-ume you know anything about me.

I don't recall assuming anything about you at all. You asked why Linux isn't as easy as Windows, there's the answer.

No one has answered my specific questions: What are .so files. what are those depository sites? examples of terminal run commands?
What file extensions do I run?. And, how do you say linux is easier than Windows auto start? May be safer but not easier. Some smart developer hasn't come up with an as easy and safe way yet?

My last reply was not directed at urbanwks. but rather erik2282. Got the wrong post reply.

if after 2 YEARS you should already know that

shared object( .so) -- about the same as a Dynamically linked library ( .dll)
and WHY can you NOT use google or wikipedia to find out ?

the "net" is the WORLDS BIGGEST!!!!!!!! library of information there even HAS BEEN
and the "card catalog" is google , bing- yuck!!! , duck duck go , and the others

??? depository ???

you mean the SOFTWARE repositories
i guess you never read the puppy documentation in the last 2 years then

RTFM!!!!!
read the friggin manual !!!!

after 2 years you SHOULD know that linux os's do NOT CARE about file extensions
-- there really are none !!!

F'ING BULL SHIT% !!!!!!!
and good day sir -- good BY !!!!

1 members found this post helpful.

What do you mean file extension are not used? try .gif .jpeg .gz .sfs and don't forget .so

Linux uses "magic". While it can use extensions to identify file type, it's much more common to use a files magic pattern or MIME type.
http://www.howtogeek.com/192628/mime...le-extensions/