Where do you install software?

rcockrell · 11-01-2004, 10:50 PM

Is there a specific location where new software should be installed? For example, I downloaded Firefox and it wants to install it in the current folder ("/home/rodney")...it doesn't seem logical to put generic applications everyone would use in my home folder. Should I be using something like /opt?

IBall · 11-01-2004, 10:57 PM

You can use /opt or /usr/local. Obvously you will need to be root to install to these locations.

If you install firefox to /usr/local/firefox, you will need to create a symbolic link to the executable in /usr/bin

Code:

ln -s /usr/local/firefox/firefox /usr/bin

This is beacause the executable needs to be in your PATH so that you can type "firefox" in an xterm to start it.

I hope this helps, and welcom to LQ
--Ian

rcockrell · 11-01-2004, 11:29 PM

Thanks for the help, it's working great!