[SOLVED] How do I install a .tar.xz file in Ubuntu 16.04. Need it in simple terms, like Ubuntu for dommies

Benadel · 03-03-2017, 06:40 AM

How do I install a .tar.xz file in Ubuntu 16.04. Need it in simple terms, like Ubuntu for dummies.
Thks for the help.

mats_b_tegner · 03-03-2017, 06:44 AM

This looks like an archive.
Open up a terminal and extract the file with:

Code:

tar -xJf filename.tar.xz

There is probably a README or INSTALL text file in the archive.

Ztcoracat · 03-03-2017, 06:51 AM

Hi & Welcome to LQ.

Once you have the tar.gz downloaded you will need to untar it. To do that run this command to untar it.

Code:

tar xvf <name of tar.ball>

After it's untarred you'll need to locate the README file or the INSTALL file that will explain how to install it.

Change to the directory that the file is in and run the commands to install it.

Code:

cd Downloads (directory that the tar file is in)

Generally it's:

Code:

./configure
make 
(as root) make install

Here's a few examples:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/75307...ll-tar-gz-file

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njqib0fzE9c

Turbocapitalist · 03-03-2017, 06:52 AM

The simple way is to find the application in the repository (Software Center) and install from there. If you need a newer version, hunt down the PPM.

If you are going from a tarball, the INSTALL or README file will tell you but you are 10000% better off rolling that into a package yourself and using your custom package rather than trying to install it from raw source.

Ztcoracat · 03-03-2017, 07:06 AM

What are you trying to install Benadel?

jefro · 03-03-2017, 03:41 PM

I'll second the question of what are you trying to do. I assume you have a program that you got from someplace but that may be wrong. Is this a program or just a set of files?

In a very general sense a tar file is a set of files strung one behind the other to make a single file. The .xz tells us it is most likely been compressed like using zip on windows. When un-compress them and separate them out you get a collection of files usually. I try to put those files in a unique place so they won't get posted all over the drive.

In many cases, when you have a program in this manner it will have some sort of read me file in it to help the user install it.

Habitual · 03-03-2017, 04:28 PM

On Ubuntu, the package format is .deb
There are few occasions, IMO for a user to install anything from tar.xz

http://xyproblem.info/

In Simple terms,
Start with the Software Manager

Shadow_7 · 03-03-2017, 07:12 PM

$ tar -xJvpf file.tar.xz

Requires some things that may not be installed by default. Package xz-utils in debian for that compression type.

$ cd file/
$ ./configure --prefix=/usr
$ fakeroot debian/rules binary

This should create the .deb packages in the ../ path. Which you can dpkg -i ../*.deb as root (sudo). Assuming there is a ./debian/rules and it functions, and no other .deb things in ../

$ sudo dpkg -i ../*.deb

Making a lot of assumptions there, but enough to be functional in some cases. Some things use build steps other than the traditional ./configure && make && sudo make install. So YMMV. Some have pre-scripts to build the Makefile and configure scripts which can be handled with dh_autoreconf in debian. And probably some other tools. Some use scons, cmake, m4, and other build methods. Basically extract the source and read through the ./doc/ or README or INSTALL documentation (or scripts). Or google for blogs and stuff detailing the steps.

rokytnji · 03-03-2017, 07:34 PM

If me. I'd start with

Code:

apt-cache policy build-essential

To make sure I had the tools to install from source 1st.

But

Quote:

Need it in simple terms, like Ubuntu for dummies.

Hearing that

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post5678750

That is best advise in this thread.

frankbell · 03-03-2017, 09:24 PM

Here's information on how to compile from sources on Ubuntu.

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