The way to install/uninstall applications in an operating system provided by Linux keeps it more secure. Basically, there are lots of ways to install/uninstall software, some of which are listed below.
1. Using the Software Center[Recommended]
The easiest and most convenient way to find and install the software in Ubuntu is by using Ubuntu Software Center. In Ubuntu Unity, you can search for Ubuntu Software Center in Dash and click on it to open. You can think of the Ubuntu Software Center as Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. It showcases all the software available for your Ubuntu system. You can either search for an application by its name or just browse through various categories of software. You can also opt for the editor’s pick. Your choice mainly.
1. Using the Software Center[Recommended]
The easiest and most convenient way to find and install the software in Ubuntu is by using Ubuntu Software Center. In Ubuntu Unity, you can search for Ubuntu Software Center in Dash and click on it to open. You can think of the Ubuntu Software Center as Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. It showcases all the software available for your Ubuntu system. You can either search for an application by its name or just browse through various categories of software. You can also opt for the editor’s pick. Your choice mainly.
Once you have found the application you are looking for, simply click on it. This will open a page inside the Software Center with a description of the application. You can read the description, see its rating, and also read reviews. You can also write a review if you want.
Once you are convinced that you want the application, you can click on the install button to install the selected application. You’ll have to enter your password in order to install applications in Ubuntu.
you should enable the Canonical partner repository. By default, Ubuntu provides only those software's that come from its own repository (verified by Ubuntu).
Once you are convinced that you want the application, you can click on the install button to install the selected application. You’ll have to enter your password in order to install applications in Ubuntu.
you should enable the Canonical partner repository. By default, Ubuntu provides only those software's that come from its own repository (verified by Ubuntu).
But there is also a Canonical Partner repository which is not directly controlled by Ubuntu and includes closed source proprietary software. Enabling this repository gives you access to more software.
2. Install the software in Ubuntu using apt commands [recommended]
You might have noticed a number of websites giving you a command like “sudo apt-get install” to install the software in Ubuntu. This is actually the command-line equivalent of what we saw in section 1. Basically, instead of using the graphical interface of Ubuntu Software Center, you are using the command-line interface. Nothing else changes.
Using the apt-get command to install software is extremely easy. All you need to do is to use a command like:
sudo apt-get install package_name
Here sudo (means superuser do) gives ‘admin’ or ‘root’ privileges. You can replace package_name with the desired software name.
apt-get commands have auto-completion so if you type a few letters and hit tab, it will provide all the programs matching with those letters.
3. Using Synaptic Package Manager:
Synaptic Package Manager is a great alternative to the Ubuntu software center. It can help you to install various software in Ubuntu Linux. You can install Synaptic Package Manager from the Ubuntu software center or by using the command. Run the below command to install it:
sudo apt-get install synaptic
3. Using Synaptic Package Manager:
Synaptic Package Manager is a great alternative to the Ubuntu software center. It can help you to install various software in Ubuntu Linux. You can install Synaptic Package Manager from the Ubuntu software center or by using the command. Run the below command to install it:
sudo apt-get install synaptic
Do the following things to install an app from Synaptic Package Manager.
Search for the software or package
Check “Mark for Installation”
Press “Apply”
4.Install applications in Linux using PPA
PPA stands for Personal Package Archive. This is another way that developers use to provide their software to Ubuntu users.
The repository basically contains a collection of software. Ubuntu’s official repository has the software that is approved by Ubuntu. The canonical partner repository contains the software from partnered vendors.
In the same way, PPA enables a developer to create its own APT repository. When an end-user (i.e you) adds this repository to the system (sources.list is modified with this entry), software provided by the developer in his/her repository becomes available for the user.
Why we need PPA?
Because all software automatically not get added to Ubuntu’s official repository. Only the trusted software make it to that list. Imagine that you developed a cool Linux application and you want to provide regular updates to your users but it will take months before it could be added to Ubuntu’s repository (if it could). PPA comes handy in those cases.
Apart from that, Ubuntu’s official repository often doesn’t include the latest version of the software. This is done to secure the stability of the Ubuntu system. A brand new software version might have a regression that could impact the system. This is why it takes some time before a new version makes it to the official repository, sometimes it takes months.
But what if you do not want to wait till the latest version comes to the Ubuntu’s official repository? This is where PPA saves your day. By using PPA, you get the newer version. Typically PPA is used in three commands. First to add the PPA repository to the sources list. Second to update the cache of the software list so that your system could be aware of the newly available software. And third to install the software from the PPA.
I’ll show you an example by using GIMP PPA:-
Search for the software or package
Check “Mark for Installation”
Press “Apply”
4.Install applications in Linux using PPA
PPA stands for Personal Package Archive. This is another way that developers use to provide their software to Ubuntu users.
The repository basically contains a collection of software. Ubuntu’s official repository has the software that is approved by Ubuntu. The canonical partner repository contains the software from partnered vendors.
In the same way, PPA enables a developer to create its own APT repository. When an end-user (i.e you) adds this repository to the system (sources.list is modified with this entry), software provided by the developer in his/her repository becomes available for the user.
Why we need PPA?
Because all software automatically not get added to Ubuntu’s official repository. Only the trusted software make it to that list. Imagine that you developed a cool Linux application and you want to provide regular updates to your users but it will take months before it could be added to Ubuntu’s repository (if it could). PPA comes handy in those cases.
Apart from that, Ubuntu’s official repository often doesn’t include the latest version of the software. This is done to secure the stability of the Ubuntu system. A brand new software version might have a regression that could impact the system. This is why it takes some time before a new version makes it to the official repository, sometimes it takes months.
But what if you do not want to wait till the latest version comes to the Ubuntu’s official repository? This is where PPA saves your day. By using PPA, you get the newer version. Typically PPA is used in three commands. First to add the PPA repository to the sources list. Second to update the cache of the software list so that your system could be aware of the newly available software. And third to install the software from the PPA.
I’ll show you an example by using GIMP PPA:-
Open your terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste one by one.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gimp
In the above example, we added a PPA provided by otto-kesselgulasch project. And after updating the software information (sources.list file), install the GIMP application.
Tip: Security of PPA has often debated. My advice is that you should add PPA from a trusted source, preferably from the official sources.
Remove applications installed using PPA:-
I have discussed removing PPA in Ubuntu in detail earlier. You should refer to that article to get more insights about handling PPA removal.
To remove the PPA from sources.list, you can use the following two commands.
sudo apt install ppa-purge
sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
The first command removes the software installed via the PPA. The second command removes the PPA from sources.list.
5. Install .DEB file in Linux
Again there are many ways to install a .deb file in Linux some are listed.
1. Open with Software Center:-
Just download the desired .deb extension package from a web site and make sure that the web site is a trusted site. After downloading the package
>go to the download directory
>select the package
>right click on it
> choose to open with the software install.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gimp
In the above example, we added a PPA provided by otto-kesselgulasch project. And after updating the software information (sources.list file), install the GIMP application.
Tip: Security of PPA has often debated. My advice is that you should add PPA from a trusted source, preferably from the official sources.
Remove applications installed using PPA:-
I have discussed removing PPA in Ubuntu in detail earlier. You should refer to that article to get more insights about handling PPA removal.
To remove the PPA from sources.list, you can use the following two commands.
sudo apt install ppa-purge
sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
The first command removes the software installed via the PPA. The second command removes the PPA from sources.list.
5. Install .DEB file in Linux
Again there are many ways to install a .deb file in Linux some are listed.
1. Open with Software Center:-
Just download the desired .deb extension package from a web site and make sure that the web site is a trusted site. After downloading the package
>go to the download directory
>select the package
>right click on it
> choose to open with the software install.
After that, u get an option to install that package. In case if u get the error like software repository not identified then you should enable the canonical partner repository as mentioned in section one.
2. Using dpkg:-
Installing a deb package through dpkg is a bit for advanced users but the most reliable one. To install a deb file, open the Terminal and run the following command:
sudo dpkg -i packagename.deb
2. Using dpkg:-
Installing a deb package through dpkg is a bit for advanced users but the most reliable one. To install a deb file, open the Terminal and run the following command:
sudo dpkg -i packagename.deb
Example:-
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb
Resolve Dependency Errors:-
Run the below command if you get any dependency errors. It will fix all the errors.
sudo apt-get install -f
Remove the application:-
If you want to uninstall a software, run the command into the Terminal.
dpkg -r packagename.deb
To Reconfigure/Repair the deb installation:-
sudo dpkg-reconfigure packagename.deb
3.Using Gdebi installer:-
Gdebi is a simple app that helps you install deb files more effectively by handling all its dependencies. Apt does the same, but only for remote (HTTP, FTP) located package repositories. It has a graphical user interface but can also be used in your terminal.
Install the gdebi Installer:-
To install gdebi open your terminal [Ctrl+Alt+T] and run the following commands
Open your file contained folder and from there direct open the terminal by right click and choose the open terminal option.
In terminal confirm your .deb file by typing "ls" command and press Enter.
To install the .deb file just type the following command in your terminal in that file contained directory.
watch the below video if you are still confused.
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb
Resolve Dependency Errors:-
Run the below command if you get any dependency errors. It will fix all the errors.
sudo apt-get install -f
Remove the application:-
If you want to uninstall a software, run the command into the Terminal.
dpkg -r packagename.deb
To Reconfigure/Repair the deb installation:-
sudo dpkg-reconfigure packagename.deb
3.Using Gdebi installer:-
Gdebi is a simple app that helps you install deb files more effectively by handling all its dependencies. Apt does the same, but only for remote (HTTP, FTP) located package repositories. It has a graphical user interface but can also be used in your terminal.
Install the gdebi Installer:-
To install gdebi open your terminal [Ctrl+Alt+T] and run the following commands
sudo apt updateInstall the .deb file:-
sudo apt install gdebi
Open your file contained folder and from there direct open the terminal by right click and choose the open terminal option.
In terminal confirm your .deb file by typing "ls" command and press Enter.
To install the .deb file just type the following command in your terminal in that file contained directory.
sudo gdebi packagename.deb
watch the below video if you are still confused.
6. Install Software in Ubuntu Using the Source Code
Installing software using the source code in Ubuntu Linux is a bit complicated and not recommended for the newbie. There is much software that comes with source code, and in Linux, many users prefer to use it. Most of the source code comes in a compressed file as .tar.gz, tgz, tar.bz2, .zip, etc. You have to follow few steps to install this sort of file.
>Download the source code file.
>Extract it.
Go to the extracted folder and look for a README or INSTALL file if any which will let you know how to install or remove the specific software. A well-developed software may include such a file to provide installation and/or removal instructions
By using 3 commands we can install the source file.
./configure
make
sudo make install
First look for a file called configure. If it’s present, run the file using the command: "./configure" This will check if your system has all the required software (called ‘dependencies’ in software term) to install the program. Note that not all software include configure file which is, in my opinion, bad development practice.
Installing software using the source code in Ubuntu Linux is a bit complicated and not recommended for the newbie. There is much software that comes with source code, and in Linux, many users prefer to use it. Most of the source code comes in a compressed file as .tar.gz, tgz, tar.bz2, .zip, etc. You have to follow few steps to install this sort of file.
>Download the source code file.
>Extract it.
Go to the extracted folder and look for a README or INSTALL file if any which will let you know how to install or remove the specific software. A well-developed software may include such a file to provide installation and/or removal instructions
By using 3 commands we can install the source file.
./configure
make
sudo make install
First look for a file called configure. If it’s present, run the file using the command: "./configure" This will check if your system has all the required software (called ‘dependencies’ in software term) to install the program. Note that not all software include configure file which is, in my opinion, bad development practice.
If configure notifies you of missing dependencies, install them.
Once you have everything, use the command "make" to compile the program.
Once the program is compiled, run the command "sudo make install" to install the software.
7.Installing Packages via Your Web Browser
The APT protocol (or apturl) is a simple and hassle-free way to install the software in Ubuntu Linux. This way basically uses your web browser to deliver the software packages to the users. In this case, you just need to click on apturl, and it will prompt the installation process. Below is an example for installing synaptic package manager using apturl:
Once you have everything, use the command "make" to compile the program.
Once the program is compiled, run the command "sudo make install" to install the software.
7.Installing Packages via Your Web Browser
The APT protocol (or apturl) is a simple and hassle-free way to install the software in Ubuntu Linux. This way basically uses your web browser to deliver the software packages to the users. In this case, you just need to click on apturl, and it will prompt the installation process. Below is an example for installing synaptic package manager using apturl:
Apart from these 7 processes, there are a few other methods like:
Ubuntu’s new Snap Packaging
Using flatpak
Using AppImage
pip: used for installing Python-based programs
Ubuntu’s new Snap Packaging
Using flatpak
Using AppImage
pip: used for installing Python-based programs
