Revision of Installing, Updating and Removing Software from Sun, 01/09/2011 - 08:36

Software on GNU/Linux systems is typically installed by one of several methods.

• Using the simple Add/Remove Applications program found in the Main Menu.
• Using the more advanced Synaptic Package Manager.
• Typing sudo apt-get [command] [package name] commands into a non-graphical console (located in the Main Menu at Accessories → Terminal). Type apt-get -h for a full list of commands. The most important commands include:
  • sudo apt-get install [package name] to fetch and install a package
  • sudo apt-get remove [package name] to uninstall a package
  • sudo apt-get upgrade to update packages. This is the same as using the graphical Update Manager.
  • sudo apt-get autoremove to remove unnecessary leftover packages
• Downloading a .deb archive and installing it using the graphical GDebi installation wizard.
• Adding a Launchpad PPA to your Software Sources (located in the Main Menu at System → Administration → Software Sources).
• Building from a source archive (generally in .tar.gz format). This is the most advanced method. You will likely never need to install software this way, and because you could mess up your installation if you do something wrong, it's suggested you avoid this method if you are new.

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Note: This manual does not aim to provide comprehensive documentation for any of the software applications mentioned. Rather, it is a beginner's introduction to their most basic features. Detailed user manuals for each programs are available elsewhere.

If you're new to GNU/Linux, you may be unfamiliar with the way software is installed. It is usually done by one of the following methods.

The application we will download in the examples in this manual is Audacity, a popular sound editing and recording program.

Installing From the Repos

The simple way

Using Synaptic Package Manager

Using the command line

Adding Packages to the Repos

Installing From Archives

.deb archives

Converting .rpm to .deb

Perhaps the package you want is available only in .rpm format and not .deb. RPM is an alternate package management system that many distributions (not including Triquel) use by default. To convert .rpm archives to .deb, there is a tool called alien which is already installed in Trisquel.

Download the .rpm package you want to convert. Audacity .rpm's can be downloaded here. The version we are using in this example is 1.3.12-0.6.beta.fc13.i686.

Open a terminal.

Use ''cd [directory] to go to the directory the .rpm was downloaded to. For example, if it is in your Downloads folder, run the following command:

cd /home/[username]/Downloads

Afterwards, run:

sudo alien -k audacity-1.3.12-0.6.beta.fc13.i686.rpm

A .deb will be created in the same directory. Now you can install from your new .deb!

Building from source code