Install Software in Debian Linux

Debian is the basis of Ubuntu, Knoppix, MEPIS, Kanotix and Aptosid. If your distro doesn't include all the software you want, you can install additional software from the internet (whether you have broadband or dial-up) or removable media. This can be accomplished graphically or using the command line.

Steps

Understand that in Linux, software is bundled in packages which can be downloaded from repositories (repos). Installation tools are called package managers which automatically resolve dependencies on other software libraries.

Command line

  1. Open a root shell/terminal.
  2. Type the root password (in Ubuntu prefix the following commands with sudo, in MEPIS or Aptosid, first become root by typing su).
  3. To update the package lists type apt-get update.
  4. To search for a package type apt-cache search followed by a keyword such as spreadsheet.
  5. Type apt-get install "program name".
  6. For example, to install the Dillo web browser, you would type apt-get install dillo.
  7. Confirm by pressing Y.
  8. You're done.

Graphical

  1. Consider KPackage.
  2. Consider Klik.
  3. Consider Autopackage.
  4. Consider Bitnami.
  5. Consider Click N Run.

Synaptic

  1. Click Synaptic.
  2. Enter the root password.
  3. Click Reload to reload the package list.
  4. Click on search and type the software you want to find.
  5. Click on package check box then "Mark for installation".
  6. Click Apply then wait.
  7. You're done.

Adept

  1. Adept is even easier than Synaptic.

Warnings

  • If you're on dial-up check the size of software before you attempt to download it over the internet, OpenOffice.org is quite large for example.
  • Klik and possibly Bitnami install to the /home directory rather than the traditional Linux install to the /opt directory.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Install_Software_in_Debian_Linux&oldid=317796"