Linux Help!

[bencallis]

Hi I have put linux on ubuntu and got the internet and everythign working. I have come to download some apps for linux and I cant install things it just oppens them like winzip etc does. I Know it sounds dum but how do instal things?

[Mr_Odwin]

With difficulty, I'm afraid. Try using google or looking on the applications' home pages for some instructions. Or, I think ubuntu can use something called apt-get that can automate a lot of the stuff. Look for System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager or something like that. Or check that the apt-get command works.
Overall, I dunno though, Linux is a toughie, and it's hard from the outset.

[Charlie]

Maybe just drag them to the Programs folder? That's what I do with most of them on OS X...

[Mr_Odwin]

If you change the thread title to 'Linux help' you may get more help from the Linux fanboys (Schpickles, I'm looking at you.)

[Offerman]

I've changed the thread title. Try and be abit more descriptive next time.

[jakeee]

I guess you are talking about tar.gz packages? First you need to unpack it by typing:
tar -xzvf name.tar.gz (you can use some other way to unpack the files if you think it's easier but using that command is the fastest way (imo))
Then you must see what was inside it. Sometimes it's ready to use after unpacking but sometimes you need to compile it. Usually this works:
./configure
make (i'm not sure if this requires sudo or not :/)
sudo make install

I recommend always reading README or INSTALL. They usually will tell you how to install them and help you if you have problems.

I hope that helps :wink:

[craig]

Read this, it will answer your questions.
http://ubuntuguide.org/

Also, just a quick sudo apt-get install <package-name> will install software. Check your /etc/apt/sources.list to make sure it will grab from the internet instead of the cd. I cant remember if it does that by default.

Read the man (manual) pages for command line utilities like tar, bzip etc.
man <application-name>

The best thing about using Ubuntu (well Debian and debian based linux distros) is aptitude.
All your software is managed from one place. A quick apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade will upgrade every bit of software on you computer.

[Schpickles]

as craig's said really. You'll have to get used to looking for help in various places. I've not used ubuntu before so have a look at their docs first and foremost.

Generally speaking you can unzip / unpack libraries (using tar, as described above) as you get them and then read the instructions on how to install and so on. Generally speaking it's not harder than any other operating system, you've just got to learn a different way of doing things.

The main stumbling block you'll come up against in linux is that verious applications and libraries rely on each other for support. So for example, you download a new graphics application, but you find that it in turn requires something like FreeType for its font rendering. You'd then have to get FreeType, and set that up, which may in turn have it's own dependencies. Occasionally this is a pain in the arse, but usually, there's a fairly common set of GNU libraries which are used by most applications out there.

You don't always have to do things from the command line, if - as people have suggested - you use a package management system. If you get hold of a good package manager (e.g. Portage on Gentoo, Fink on OSX) they'll not only get the latest version of the package you are after, but they'll also get and install all the other required packages. This doesn't always give you the flexibility you need if you are building your apps yourself, but it does nicely allow you to set things up without too much hassle.

The massive advantage to such an open system is that applications can be built for any system configuration, if the source is downloaded. For example, application source could be released for PowerPC, x86 and SPARC CPU types, with various types of window manager support and so on, and the user would not only be able to build the application for their own PC, but also have that application optimised specifically for their own PC... very nice!

Couple of bookmarks for you:

http://www.justlinux.com/ <--formerly "linux newbie", has a bunch of good starters guides and reference guides
http://tldp.org/ <-- the linux documentation project

Any specific problems, feel free to post them here, or start rummaging around for some good linux newsgroups or forums

[RoadKill]

Or you know, you could do everything on Windows with the greatest of ease.

[Schpickles]

Well... not everything...

[craig]

Or you know, you could do everything on Windows with the
greatest of ease.

It was only a matter of time before you started posting your pro M$ bullshit. :indeed:

You arent Bill and Steves love child by any chance ?

[RoadKill]

Yeah I am.

You're welcome to call it bullshit, but seriously, you could just have done it on Windows already.

Hell you could have done it on Mac OS X already. Linux simply isn't ready for the desktop unless you've got time to waste getting the same results as someone who used less effort with another OS.

I don't like to beat around the bush, I like to help people.

If you're sure you want to play with Linux, reasearch it well and enjoy your experience, but you really will have to persevere and change the way you think about certain things, which is all good no doubt, but I just like to point people towards the quickest and easiest way to do something.

[Grebe]

Ah, but can you create your own version of an OS which is compact in size, unique to your own specific needs that allows you to access EVERYTHING from one command line, even the internet (in bash code)? One which has only the things that you require instead of bullshit applications that are force fed to your computer by a massive greedy corporate machine like Microsoft?One that comes in a huge variety of distrobutions allowing you to pick and choose at will? One that is not likely to freeze during the everyday usage of applications? One which doesnt need updates every other week to remain free of bugs? One that is free of charge?

Nope? thought not....

[Twozzok]

But, do you actually need to be able to access everything from one command line?

i mean, what average user wants to have to learn lots of commands to do everyday stuff?

[Grebe]

But, do you actually need to be able to access everything from one command line?

i mean, what average user wants to have to learn lots of commands to do everyday stuff?

Thats why its not for the average user, and explains why most applications for linux are much more complex and efficient.

And to add to that, red hat and mandrake are becoming especially good for the visual user, more similar to windows.