7/21/2008

Install softwares downloaded from other sites to Linux

How to install softwares downloaded from other sites to Linux (Ubuntu)?

save yourself a lot of hassles and use the package manager. Linux doesn't install software in the same way as windows. With windows,you just download the file and its all there. Run the setup executable and it installs. easy. With linux, there's the software (tar.gz etc) that you've downloaded and then there may be up to 5, 10, + packages that need to be installed so that the file can run. These include libraries, programming languages, etc. You also have to make sure you obtain the correct version of each dependency. It can be a real pain in the butt.

The package manager makes all the calculations for you. You just tell it what you want to install and it gets all the dependencies and sets them all up for you. Ubuntu has a great range of packages already available. Only go the downloading and installing non .deb files if you really have no alternative or if you can see that the dependencies required are either already installed or easy to obtain.

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