How to install programs
 

How can you install pograms from like the internet for instance I wanted to install filezilla i extracted ???? nd try to see if there was an install file so my question is if i were to install programs which file extensions should i look for and how to install them.

It always helps if you tell us what distro and version of that distro you are using, to help us help you. There are different ways to do things depending on what version and distro of Linux you are using. If you want an fpt client I'd suggest gftp, it's just as easy to use, and most likely comes in your distro's package manager, if you are using a debian or red hat based distro. (Ubuntu and Fedora being the most popular, at the moment.) Most versions of Linux use a package manager to install programs for you, so you don't have to worry about the messy details. If you just want to use your computer to get work done, this is the best way to go. If you want to learn by screwing things up, (I'm not putting you down, this is the way many geeks, myself included, learned Linux), without a lot of hand holding, then slackware or gentoo might be more your cup of tea.

The file you downloaded, with the .tar.bz2 extension, is almost certainly for debian, from the filezilla website. Are you using debian ?

Well, I'm using a debian derivative called ubuntu. I downloaded the same file you did. I right clicked on it, and chose, "extract here". (You can uncompress it with command line tools, just ask if you want us to look up the exact command.) Looks like the filezilla folks have included a binary that you just need to click on to launch filezilla. It's in the "bin" folder. It worked fine for me, though I prefer gftp.

Let us know if this makes sense to you....

David

When you post a question here you should include the name of the Linux distribution and version that you are using. That would be particularly helpful in this case for the following reasons.

Different open source projects do things in different ways. Also, different Linux distributions do things in different ways.

Your best bet is to see if the software that you want to install is already included in your distribution's package list. That will allow you to use your distribution's package manager to install the software.

If the application is not in your distribution's package manager repository then the web site that hosts the application may have several different installation files. Each file is for a different Linux distribution. You would download the software and then use your distribution's package manager to install the application from the downloaded installation file.

If the application doesn't have an installation file specifically for your distribution then they will probably have a generic archive file. This may contain the binaries that can simply be extracted and run as is. In the worst case the installation file just contains the source code which is geared toward a generic Linux system. This is often the most difficult type of installation.

I just checked the filezilla web site. There is a link to download Filezilla client for all versions and platforms, then there is a link to download the Filezilla server for Windows.

When I clicked on the link to download Filezilla client a page was loaded that showed different download kits. The one that you listed in your post has a description. It says that it is geared to be installed on Debian Lenny. That suggests to me that the installation file contains binaries that are arranged to work on a Debian Lenny system.

Do you have Debian?

I would ask that you open your Linux application manager and see if Filezilla client is already available. If it is available then I strongly urge you to use that method to install the version of Filezilla that is available in your distribution's package manager repository.

Write back to let us know what course of action you have taken and if you need further assistance. :)

, will give you that info in most any distruriobuton

I found out lol guys ty for the support. I was using Jaunty Jackalope

In the menues on your Ubuntu installation (Jaunty Jackalope being the latest version) you'll find a program called Synaptic. Thats a graphical interface to your package manager. It will search the online repository of all the software prepared by the Ubuntu team.

Search there for filezilla and/or gftp. Most likely both are there. Much easier than trying to download and install from the website. I hardly ever have to go to the actual websites, only use my distro's package manager.

Mons

As monsm says you should use a Package Manager. Your first choice should always be to use tha Package Manager. Your last choice should be to untar or compile.

Have a look at "Installing Software in Ubuntu" and "Extra Repositories" at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware. Also look at "How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu!" at http://amitech.50webs.com/installing/index.php.html

don't be affraid of the terminal either

you can also look and see what's available

I think I would take exception to this statement expressed in the absolutist terms that it is (always). If you replaced "always" with "normally" or "usually" I could go along with you. I quite frequently install tarballs with executables and compile source code for a wide variety of reasons. Linux, for me at least, has always been about freedom, as in speech. I do things the way that I want; not the way some software company wants.
Cheers,
jdk