Linux?

[matthewmurley]

for about 14 years, i've been using windows, so recently, i decided to switch over to linux after checking it out on other computers, etc., and i'm getting the hang of it, but i can't quite figure out how to install/compile programs, i.e. gFTP, etc. Any suggestions?

[meg]

Matthew: Each type of Linux, called a distribution, handles software installation and updates differently. Which distro are you running (RedHat, Debian, Mandrake, SuSe...)?

Debian is my current favorite: it uses something called apt to update software. I type "apt-get install gftp" and if the name matches, the software is installed.

Lots of Linux newbies like Mandrake, which I've never tried.

Underneath all these packaging and updating systems, most Linux software installation works like this:
1. Get the source code for whatever you want to install.
2. Uncompress the files into a directory.
3. Run a program to configure the software installation for your computer.
4. Run the program to compile the software.
5. Run the installer.

For nearly all Windows programs, you begin at step 5. With the Linux packagers/installers I was describing earlier, you begin at something similar to step 5. This process builds software from the original source code: the 'open source' in open source software.

Best of luck!

[meg]

Oh, and a quick suggestion: if you'd like to learn Linux but don't want to give over your home computer to the cause, check out the free accounts at http://www.freeshell.org.

Learn Unix/Linux
Free email
Practice on a machine you don't have to maintain

[swaddell]

Or look for google for 'live evals ' or ' livecd '

I agree debian is the best flavor, a nice learning version of debian, xandros is worth checking out.

- Scott

[Gooooogler]

I had been using linux for quite some time now.
There are three ways you can install Linux on your system.

1) Remove Windows from youe comp and install only linux. But i am sure you will not take this step and you will not be able to play most of your favorite games. And its really difficult to run Windows base games on linux though software are avalaible for doing so. But its nearly difficult for a newbie to do the same

2) Repartiton your hardisk using a 3rd party partitioning tool. and install Linux on different partition. This is one of the best ways to have fun with linux.

3) Use third party emulation tool like VMAWARE to install Linux on your Windows. But this will surely hamper the performance of your Computer.

[cvrk3]

meg, your clarification was excellant and lucid! keep it up!!

[darrenstraight]

Originally Posted by cvrk3

meg, your clarification was excellant and lucid! keep it up!!

I agree with you on this one cvrk3.

Stay like that meg and your be on your way to the top in no time at all.

[Arisna]

Originally Posted by meg

Debian is my current favorite: it uses something called apt to update software. I type "apt-get install gftp" and if the name matches, the software is installed.

I've been using Debian for 4 months. Aptitude is a lot easier than the usual installation, which I will flesh out in rather more detail shortly. Also, apt-cache search *searchterm* will let you look for packages if you don't have an exact name/the name doesn't get you the package.

Originally Posted by meg

Underneath all these packaging and updating systems, most Linux software installation works like this:
1. Get the source code for whatever you want to install.
2. Uncompress the files into a directory.
3. Run a program to configure the software installation for your computer.
4. Run the program to compile the software.
5. Run the installer.

When I was running Fedora last year, I was thoroughly unimpressed with its package manager. Hence, I know the "old-fashioned" way of installing programs, too:

tar xzfv *whatever*.tar.gz (tar xjfv if the file name ends in .tar.bz2)
cd *directory created by untarring*
./configure
make
su
*Root Password*
make install

Like meg said, this uncompresses the source, sets it up for your system, compiles it, and installs it.

[L4nc3k]

Originally Posted by cvrk3

meg, your clarification was excellant and lucid! keep it up!!

Yea, I do agree with you.
-Lancer