Install Applications in Ubuntu

Repositories

"Installing Linux software used to be a pain... now with repositories, it is easier than Windows... "

Now, the process of installing free and legal software is almost seamless with the use of repositories. A repository is a collection of software ready for download and installation for that version of Linux. Also, there are many different repositories that are also available in addition to the "default" repository...

Using the Synaptic Package Manager

The Synaptic Package Manager is a graphic tool to allow the user to search for, select, then automatically download and install applications in Ubuntu Linux. Basically, most current Linux distributions have a graphical software installation tool. For example, Yast (which stands for "Yet Another Setup Tool") contains a section to install software from repositories in SuSE Linux - Pirut is the software installation tool for Fedora Linux...

Let's demonstrate my installing the games "Planet Penguin Racer", "Frozen Bubble", and "Open Area" on your Linux system by using the Synaptic Package Manager.

Steps to Install an Application with the Synaptic Pacakage Manager:

1. Click SYSTEM -> ADMINISTRATION -> Synaptic Package Manager.
2. Enter your user password to confirm you are the administrator.
3. Click on the Settings menu, and select "Repositories. This will display a dialog box to allow you to select various software repositories. Some repositories only contain open-source software, while other repositories may contain proprietary software (for example, for hardware drivers). If in doubt, just keep the default selections... When you have made your repository selections, then click close.
4. In the Synaptic Package Manager dialog box, click on the Search button.
5. Type in the text: Planet Penguin Racer - the package should appear in the application window.
6. Click on the check box that appears to the left of that application to select that application for download and install. A content menu will appear.
7. Select the menu item called "Mark for Installation". There may be an additional window indicating other software applications that need to be installed as well - just click on the "Mark" button.
8. Click on the "Apply" button. In a few moments, that application will automatically be downloaded and installed on your system.
9. When completed, close the Synaptic Package Manager application window.