How to Install software in Ubuntu

A decade ago, installing software in Unix based system was a nightmare. Where you have to compile the source code, build the package and install all by manually. But as at today the GNU/Linux system have evolved a lot and have become more user friendly. New GUIs being developed. Any non-tech user can install and run a GNU/Linux system in couple of minutes without any issue.

Ubuntu is the most popular GNU/Linux Distribution available in today’s FOSS world. And today I’ll show you couple of methods you can use to install software in an Ubuntu System.

1. Using apt.

Apt (Advanced Packaging Tool) is the most favourite method of software installation in Debian based systems. You have so many repositories where you can download more than 60,000 software. This repositories are referred in the sources list at /etc/apt/sources.list.

Eg: Install VLC player
#apt-get install vlc

2. Using Synaptic Package Manager

Synaptic Package Manager will allow you to install software by searching the repositories. It’s a GUI based package manager. You can view the software by category and by clicking on Apply button you can easily install the software.

3. Downloading Deb packages.

You can download .deb packages and install them using command line and also using GDebi GUI tool.

Eg: Install Skype
#dpkg -i skype-ubuntu-intrepid_2.1.0.47-1_i386.deb

In GDebi, you can just right click on the .deb package and open it in GDebi, then you can install it from there.

These are the three main ways to install software in Ubuntu. But you can still use the traditional source installation too, but the life has being lot more easier with Ubuntu these days.

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