Stuck on the basics: Installing and running downloaded applications
 

As a long time Windows user, I am stuck on the basics of installing and running downloaded Linux applications. I've tried to read a few tutorials but am still baffled.

I am using a Puppy based boot CD and, of course, the applications that come with the Puppy all work fine. It is when I try to add something new that I become lost. Example: I just downloaded a Linux version of the Firefox browser. I click on the downloaded file in the Download Manager and kinda expect the thing to give me a executable set-up file, but just get a whole bunch of files. One available option is to "extract" them. I create a folder to extract them to and "extract". With Firefox I see nothing in that folder. With a few other applications, I see an extracted list of files but and try to find one file that will magically start and install or boot an application, but nothing ever happens.

So, how does one download , extract, install, and then run a basic application? The references I have found on the Internet tend to be rather old or more complex that my brain can handle.

Thanks

Most distros come with firefox. But what is the file you are downloading? You can pm me via MSN or Yahoo if you would like for help

My contact info is in my profile by the way

Most distros (Puppy included) use a package manager to ensure all dependencies are satisfied - best to use that usually. And usually have a wiki - again Puppy has, but generally just for its own packages.
For most (source) packages, once you explode the tarball, you'll have a README - take that as a hint. It will explain the configure, make [install] sequence necessary. There will also be generic howto's out there, but they tend to be distro specific depending on what the author used.

Any reason you chose Puppy - is this a limited spec system ?.

The Puppy came with Seamoney not Firefox, I am having some issues with Seakmoney and Gmail. so would like Firefox. The puppy has a special application that the author made for me so I could run and test his application that requires Linux. It was his easiest way of getting me over the Linux hurdle. I had previously tried to install Ubuntu 9.04 from an ISO and ran in to some odd partitioning issues .

So, lets use Firefox as an example. If I download it in Linux, what specific things do I need to learn to get it running ?

For example if you download it to your /home directory

you would

When you run tar xvf firefox-3.5.3.tar.bz2 besure to read the readme and/or install file in filrefox-3.5.3 for further information.

Everything (i.e. packages) tends to be different - Linux is all about choice as they say. Have a read of this - not the normal way to install a tarball, but do as they say.
Note the requirement to ensure all required libraries are installed.

Seems someone has tried it already - see this forum entry.

This won't work I just opened up the contents of the tar ball.

Review this http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/...refox+on+Linux

Please do not do this. LQ is not a referral service to facilitate private conversations--We need to keep the questions and answers on the forum so that everyone benefits.

Have you ever installed FF this way??? I sure haven't. <<i see that you corrected your mistake--please edit your first post to remove the wrong information>>

First, welcome to LQ!!

A quick summary of some basic points:

1. The first thing to try is always the package manager. I'm not familiar with Puppy, so I cannot go further on this---have you tried a Google search using--eg--"firefox for puppy linux"?

2. If you are not using the package manager, then there are MANY ways of installing SW---some easier than others. You simply have to follow the directions supplied. Very often these directions come with the downloaded package.

3. You will quite often see packages supplied with the suffix ".tar.gz" or ".tar.bz2" These are simply compressed archives and can contain just about anything. There is a common misconception that ".tar.gz" always means source code, but that is incorrect.

4. In the case of Firefox, the compressed archive is NOT source code. After extracting, you should see a README file, but I'm pretty sure that you will be able to install it by simply running the "firefox" executable file.

When installing SW that is not from the distros official repositories, I alway put it in /opt. You can then "connect" it to the system in a variety of ways. Probably the simplest is to just create soft links---or perhaps make custom menu entries with the correct path to the executable file.

Puppy Linux Discussion Forum :: View topic - Firefox 3.5 Final and Firefox 2.0.0.20 and Firefox 1.5.0.12 - http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=30434

Just grab the firefxo3.5 pet package