Installing Programs

[Andruk Tatum]

I'm a definite n00b, sorry guys. How do you install programs, like Firefox and Thunderbird? I don't know any command prompts, but I do know what root is and a few other things. I do want to install it to the "Applications" bar, though, if that helps. Please be detailed. TIA.

[Acron_0248]

Well, under debian are two general ways to install a package (if is a .deb package)

One is using Apt with any of the front-ends and command lines for it (synaptic, dselect, wajig, apt-get, aptitude....)

They are used to drown packages from the network using the APT system and the repositories configured in /etc/apt/sources.list

The other one is the dpkg method that is used to install packages already in your hard drive

In example of two ways:

Form the network:

Code: Select all

apt-get install firefox

From the hard drive, lets just say that you have a package named firefox-1.5.0.1-i386.deb, so, the command to install it would be:

Code: Select all

dpkg -i firefox-1.5.0.1-i386.deb

To get more info about this to commands (and anyother you need to know), from the console, type:

Code: Select all

man dpkg

and

Code: Select all

man apt

To install tarball packages (.tar.gz, .tar.gz2) you use other command to uncompress them first, then you have to compile it and install it

For a .tar.gz in example:

Code: Select all

tar -xzvf package.tar.gz

Then, you go to the folder package and do:

Code: Select all

./configure

then

Code: Select all

make && make install

This is the general way

And for a .tar.gz2 the compile procedure is the same, but to uncompress it you use:

Code: Select all

tar -xjvf package .tar.gz2

If you want more information 'bout installing packages on debian, you should read this


Reegards


Bye

[Andruk Tatum]

Thanks! Thats better!

[simen]

Andruk,

If you prefer a GUI, try Synaptic, which you should find in your applications menu. This lets you do basic stuff like searching for software, downloading and installing deb packages etc.

Regards,
--Simen

[ph7klw]

so, where does the library installed when I use dkpg -i

[ph7klw]

what are the differences between .deb and .tar and .gz?
Do the library files (eg abc.deb) will be deposited on a folder where the compilers can find the libraries?

[jasonzhang]

Well, under debian are two general ways to install a package (if is a .deb package)

One is using Apt with any of the front-ends and command lines for it (synaptic, dselect, wajig, apt-get, aptitude....)

They are used to drown packages from the network using the APT system and the repositories configured in /etc/apt/sources.list

The other one is the dpkg method that is used to install packages already in your hard drive

In example of two ways:

Form the network:

Code: Select all

apt-get install firefox

From the hard drive, lets just say that you have a package named firefox-1.5.0.1-i386.deb, so, the command to install it would be:

Code: Select all

dpkg -i firefox-1.5.0.1-i386.deb

To get more info about this to commands (and anyother you need to know), from the console, type:

Code: Select all

man dpkg

and

Code: Select all

man apt

To install tarball packages (.tar.gz, .tar.gz2) you use other command to uncompress them first, then you have to compile it and install it

For a .tar.gz in example:

Code: Select all

tar -xzvf package.tar.gz

Then, you go to the folder package and do:

Code: Select all

./configure

then

Code: Select all

make && make install

This is the general way

And for a .tar.gz2 the compile procedure is the same, but to uncompress it you use:

Code: Select all

tar -xjvf package .tar.gz2

If you want more information 'bout installing packages on debian, you should read this


Reegards


Bye

For the tarball packages, after I unpack the files, and go the folder i just unpacked, how can you execute
./configure
and how do you
make && make install

it always syas errors.

[nayoo]

so, where does the library installed when I use dkpg -i

To list files belonging to a package :

Code: Select all

dpkg -L your_package_name

To see what packgage(s) a file belongs to :

Code: Select all

dpkg -S your_file_name

To show complete package information :

Code: Select all

dpkg -s your_package_name

[ajdlinux]

For the tarball packages, after I unpack the files, and go the folder i just unpacked, how can you execute
./configure
and how do you
make && make install

it always syas errors.

The problem is that you are missing the development files that are needed. Can you show us exactly the error you get?

[Harold]

so, where does the library installed when I use dkpg -i

Libraries that support the basic operation of Linux are installed into /lib/. A library which supports one or more applications that run on Linux will be installed into /usr/lib/.

[jasonzhang]

For the tarball packages, after I unpack the files, and go the folder i just unpacked, how can you execute
./configure
and how do you
make && make install

it always syas errors.

The problem is that you are missing the development files that are needed. Can you show us exactly the error you get?

problem solved, thanks~~