Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
wiki:package_management [2013/10/22 13:46] – [Installing from a .deb package file] danboidwiki:package_management [2013/10/22 13:51] (current) – [Adding further Personal Package Archives (PPA's)] danboid
Line 35: Line 35:
 There are many reasons why you should always try to install software from the repositories (or PPA's) rather than from .deb package files. Aside from saving time, using repositories ensures you are getting the correct packages for your distribution and then they will be automatically updated. In some cases, a .deb file will automatically install a repository to keep things updated, but not always. You will normally want to find repository versions or add PPA's to get software. There are many reasons why you should always try to install software from the repositories (or PPA's) rather than from .deb package files. Aside from saving time, using repositories ensures you are getting the correct packages for your distribution and then they will be automatically updated. In some cases, a .deb file will automatically install a repository to keep things updated, but not always. You will normally want to find repository versions or add PPA's to get software.
  
-Confusingly, there are multiple version of Ubuntu, many packages are available in 32- or 64-bit flavours. When installing software that is only available in .deb packages (named from Ubuntu's parent distro called Debian), look for the option that best matches your installed system. KXStudio is based upon Ubuntu 12.04 (codenamed Precise) so it is compatible with packages made for that distribution. Make sure you get the 32- or 64-bit package as appropriate. The main Cadence window tells you if you are running a 32 bit (aka i386 or i686) or 64 bit (amd64) system.+Confusingly, there are multiple version of Ubuntu, many packages are available in 32- or 64-bit flavours. When installing software that is only available in .deb packages (named from Ubuntu's parent distro called Debian), look for the option that best matches your installed system. KXStudio is based upon kubuntu 12.04(.3) which is codenamed Precise so it is compatible with packages made for that distribution. Make sure you get the 32- or 64-bit package as appropriate. The main Cadence window tells you if you are running a 32 bit (aka i386 or i686) or 64 bit (amd64) system.
  
 Finding the correct package version is often the hardest part of installing from a .deb package. Installation is then straightforward enough. Firefox may be set to automatically open the installer when the file is downloaded or you can double-click the .deb package in the Firefox Downloads window to start installation. Otherwise, open Dolphin (the file manager), find the package you want to install and left click on it once. This opens the package with a program called gdebi-kde which will present you with an 'Install Package' icon you must click to install the package. What usually happens is you will be prompted for your password, and then you may find you will need to click 'Install Package' a second time before the package gets installed. Finding the correct package version is often the hardest part of installing from a .deb package. Installation is then straightforward enough. Firefox may be set to automatically open the installer when the file is downloaded or you can double-click the .deb package in the Firefox Downloads window to start installation. Otherwise, open Dolphin (the file manager), find the package you want to install and left click on it once. This opens the package with a program called gdebi-kde which will present you with an 'Install Package' icon you must click to install the package. What usually happens is you will be prompted for your password, and then you may find you will need to click 'Install Package' a second time before the package gets installed.
Line 53: Line 53:
 PPA's are especially useful if you want to help do beta testing or try pre-release versions of programs. In other cases, such as for KXStudio, PPA's supply stable releases that aren't maintained or up-to-date in the main system repositories. Installing from a PPA is easier and recommended in most cases over installing from .deb packages or compiling from source. PPA's are especially useful if you want to help do beta testing or try pre-release versions of programs. In other cases, such as for KXStudio, PPA's supply stable releases that aren't maintained or up-to-date in the main system repositories. Installing from a PPA is easier and recommended in most cases over installing from .deb packages or compiling from source.
  
-If a PPA is available, it will be listed either on a software's website or their Launchpad.net page. For example, the latest stable release of LibreOffice isn't in the main repositories because it hasn't had completely thorough testing under this version of Ubuntu. LibreOffice offers a PPA for the stable version and another for beta testing. The address for the stable PPA is: ppa:libreoffice/ppa+If a PPA is available, it will usually be listed on the projects website. For example, the latest stable release of LibreOffice isn't in the main repositories because it hasn't had completely thorough testing under this version of Ubuntu. LibreOffice offers a PPA for the stable version and another for beta testing. The address for the stable PPA is: ppa:libreoffice/ppa
  
 To add the new PPA, open Muon and choose "Configure Software Sources" from the "Settings" menu then enter your password. In the window that appears, choose the tab "Other Software". Click the "Add…" button and enter the PPA's address. To add the new PPA, open Muon and choose "Configure Software Sources" from the "Settings" menu then enter your password. In the window that appears, choose the tab "Other Software". Click the "Add…" button and enter the PPA's address.
wiki/package_management.1382442401.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/10/22 13:46 by danboid