Installing using Terminal?

Unknown.Nirk · 01-09-2009, 06:11 PM

Does the terminal have to be used for installing?

I haven't quite gotten used to this yet, being nearly 24 hours - 7 of which I had spent in bed.

If it is, how?

Cheers

pljvaldez · 01-09-2009, 06:18 PM

Depends on A) what distribution of linux you're using and B) if you have installed a graphical package management tool.

But typically, no, you don't have to use the terminal for installing anything once you've installed a graphical tool like Synaptic.

pixellany · 01-09-2009, 06:26 PM

Always use the package manager---and the repositories maintained by the distro---before installing SW by other methods.

Some package managers operate only with command-line (terminal), and others have a GUI. Either one is typically pretty easy.

If you can't find what you need with your package manager, then you typically need to enter commands. This depends on what you are installing.

Unknown.Nirk · 01-09-2009, 06:31 PM

I've got Ubuntu 8.10 and Synaptics Package Manager.
I think I see how to use Synaptics.

Thanks.
How do you use Terminal to install anyway?

pixellany · 01-09-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown.Nirk

I've got Ubuntu 8.10 and Synaptics Package Manager.
I think I see how to use Synaptics.

Thanks.
How do you use Terminal to install anyway?

As I said, it depends...

The Debian family (including Ubuntu) has "apt-get", and can also install RPMs using "alien".

Some SW comes with an install script which takes care of everything.

AND--sometimes you have to compile from source code.

The best way to learn all this will be on a case-by-case basis.

Unknown.Nirk · 01-09-2009, 08:31 PM

OK. Cool, thanks for the advice.

knudfl · 01-09-2009, 08:33 PM

.
Synaptic, the package manager, contains 28000 packages,
covering almost anything.

Terminal install : sudo apt-get install package-name .