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dear users. I am extremely new to Linux. I just migrated away from windows and I had a question regarding installation of software programs in linux. some may recall that windows usually installs files in windows/program files whenever you install new software. However, I was wondering where is the best directory to install software packages such as *.tar.gz or *.rpm if someone could please point me to where I could get this infor or learn more abt the linux filesystem I would appreciate it. thank you.
A better approach is to use packaged applications (.rpm, .deb), which will take care of it for you.
Otherwise, manual installs typically go somewhere of your choosing in /usr or /usr/local. It doesn’t make a lot of difference where you put it, because it will work from almost anywhere.
Packages in Linux (such as RPMs) usually specify where they put each of their files in the system; you don't manually tell them where to go. It works best this way, so that programs can expect where to find files they need; and when you remove or update stuff they will know where to look. The organization of the filesystem is really complicated, and I don't usually bother to figure out why things are where; but the basic specifications are laid out in the Linux Standard Base.
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