Obtaining and managing libraries seems unusually complicated.
 

I'm an old DOS guy and I sold out and I use Windows 7 now but I am very new to Linux and I am already in love.
It seems to me that installing software is unusually complicated in Linux. I think I understand what Libraries do but why isn't there just one massive download with all the most common libraries known to man - it's not like we are hurting for disk space these days. I understand about dependencies but why is it so difficult to satisfy them or am I doing something very wrong. And if I am being an id10t please give it to me straight :) Keep in mind that I am trying not to use a point-and-click GUI package manager. Thank you in advance for anyone who wants to voice an opinion on the subject.

Then don't use a point-and-click GUI package manager. But do use a CLI package manager! It's there to keep you sane and prevent you from pulling your hair out.

If you're an Ubuntu guy, you're probably going to want to install and use aptitude(8):

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptitudeSurvivalGuide

-------

Oi, that URL I provided is not great. Here is further reading for you:

• http://ubuntu-for-humans.blogspot.co...in-ubuntu.html
• http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=4180

I can't for the life of me see what's hard about installing software in Linux.
With the major distributions a pretty good selection of general purpose software comes as standard; and there's a lot of other stuff on the repos.
In the case of Ubuntu, if you know the name of the package you want, what's hard about typing "sudo apt-get install <package>"?
And if you don't know, Synaptic, with its filters and short descriptions, is a great way of finding what might be useful. You can always look at the website or Wikipedia if you need more info. And similarly, mutatis mutandis, for the other distros.
You don't really need to know about libraries. Modern package managers look after dependencies very well. Where's the problem?

Really I do not known what are you doing, that for you installing software is complicated. Can you give detailed example? As I am using aptitude, apt-get, synaptic and KPackageKit without problems. You can choose to automatically resolve dependencies taking into account suggested and recommended packages. You mentioned about installing every library, if you like you can, they have individual category in package system, but it is not good practice - installation of not needed components. So can you more precisly write example problem?

Thanks for the replies guys. I am in sort of a strange situation at this point: I can only get internet on my Windows 7 laptop and not on the 2 Ubuntu desktop boxes at home so I am learning in a hybrid environment. You gave me what I wanted which is a dialogue on the topic. I can get the nuts and bolts but the top-level stuff is eluding me for some reason. Anyone else that has any advice or technique that they think I might need please feel free to join in. I will say to all that I appreciate sites like LQ and people like you guys that are willing to help people that are completely ignorant without being overly critical. I hope to be able to help others soon. thanks again.

If you do a full install of Slackware, you get TONS of libraries, compilers, interpreters, etc. Try it.

Ubuntu is designed for a computer connected to the internet, this will allow you to use Ubuntu Software Center, or Synaptic, or apt-get, or aptitude... these are called "package managers" and will automatically install all libraries and dependencies for you.

If for some reason you cannot connect to the internet and use Ubuntu as it was designed to be used, you may be interested in this project: http://keryxproject.org/