Where to install programs/how?
 

Hi,

I'm hoping to get some experience with installing programs by using something fairly inocuous, like Firefox. When I open the tarball and double-click the installer, it wants to install in my home folder by default. This can't possibly be right. Where would be a good place to install progs?

The second question: OK, I get this thing downloaded and installed, but how do I get a "shortcut" into the dock /quick launch/ panel at the bottom? What happened to the program's icon? I've messed with "get properties" function and used a "custom icon" from the firefox/icons/ folder, but can't seem to get that icon into the dock, and can't get it to load.

I think if I can learn this, I can really take off.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm running Fedora Core 1, kernel 2.4.22-1.2115.nptl

If you need more info, please post here and I'll be happy to work with you.

-Marc

/usr/local and /opt are good directories for installing locally. For firefox, I would install in /usr/local/firefox. As for icons in the panel, you just drag them from the menu or desktop to the panel.

Thanks! I was able to get things downloaded, unpacked, and installed. I got the "shortcuts" installed in the launcher panel. My only question: Why doesn't the program get a shortcut installed to the main menu?

-Marc

It depends on the program you install. Some create menu entries and some don't. Also the method of installation can determine whether a menu entry is made or not.

Thanks again for helping a noob. I appreciate the help.

-Marc

I install my firefox in /usr/share made a symlink in /usr/bin works for me

I think you need to take a look at this article which shows the purpose of /usr/share and why you shouldn't install programs in there (even though they may work).

Well since this is my home pc and im the only user and its not on a network that setup will work for me but ill keep what you said in mind if things change.

Even on a home PC I think its important that you get used to doing things the correct way (but then again its your PC and you can do whatever you want with it).

Speaking of installing programs, how would we un-install them?

Thanks :)

If you have installed them using your distros package manager, then uninstall using the package manager. If you have compiled from source, just run "make uninstall" as root from the directory where you installed from. If you installed apps like firefox using their installer, you can safely delete the whole directory. Some applications installed from *bin files, have uninstallers in their directories.