Sick of Windows? How to find and install software on Linux with Ubuntu

2 years ago 267

You've trial driven Linux and installed it. Now it's clip to commencement installing software. Jack Wallen shows you however with the assistance of Ubuntu Linux and a well-designed app store.

Linux written connected insubstantial sitting connected folder

If you've grown sick of the changeless issues recovered successful the Windows operating systems, you mightiness beryllium wondering if there's an alternate different than purchasing costlier Apple hardware. There is. Linux is an operating strategy that outperforms the contention connected galore fronts (such arsenic performance, reliability, ease-of-use and security). Even better, you tin test-drive Linux by installing thing to your drive, truthful if you don't similar it, you tin ever spell backmost to Windows with a elemental reboot. If you bash find that Linux meets (or astir apt exceeds) your needs, the installation is incredibly simple.

SEE: 40+ unfastened root and Linux presumption you request to know (TechRepublic Premium)

But erstwhile installed, you'll astir apt find the request to instal different software. Fortunately, that's conscionable arsenic casual ... depending connected the organisation you chose. Up to this constituent successful this series, I've focused connected simple OS. But with the past entry, you astir apt discovered that a superior deficiency of bundle for that peculiar organisation mightiness marque it a spot of a situation to usage arsenic your regular operating system.

Fortunately, determination are plentifulness of different Linux distributions to take from. This clip around, we're going to crook our sights connected the perennial favorite, Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Linux has been astatine (or near) the apical of each database of astir idiosyncratic affable operating systems connected the planet. Not lone is it precise idiosyncratic friendly, but it's besides astir arsenic unchangeable an operating strategy arsenic you'll find. And with a monolithic magnitude of supported hardware, it should tally connected astir immoderate desktop oregon laptop you brace it with.

But that's not the absorption this clip around. I privation to show conscionable however casual it is to instal bundle connected Ubuntu Linux. We'll instrumentality a look astatine doing this from some the GUI and the bid line. Don't panic, I'm lone going to show the bid enactment to exemplify however casual it is (not due to the fact that you'll request it).

With that said, let's dive in.

How to instal from Ubuntu Software connected Linux

On the Ubuntu Linux desktop (Figure A), you should spot an orangish icon successful the Favorites barroom (left borderline of the screen) with what looks similar a missive A (for Applications). Click that icon to unfastened the Ubuntu Software store.

Figure A

With Ubuntu Software unfastened (Figure B), you'll spot determination are a fewer sections to woody with.

Figure B

At the apical of the window, you'll find 3 tabs:

Explore—This is wherever you find caller software.
Installed—This is wherever you spot each of your installed software.
Updates—This is wherever you update your bundle and system.

The Editor's Picks conception is simply a listing of curated applications that you mightiness find of interest. Below that are the assorted categories. Click connected a class to show each related software. Say, for instance, you're looking for productivity software. Click connected that class and you'll spot each of the disposable bundle related to that category. If this is your archetypal clip opening Ubuntu Software, springiness the categories a infinitesimal to populate.

Let's accidental you privation to instal Slack. There are 2 ways to find this app successful Ubuntu Software. You could either click Productivity and scroll down until you spot it listed (Figure C), oregon you could hunt for Slack connected the Explore tab of Ubuntu Software.

Figure C

Click connected the Slack introduction and past click Install (Figure D).

Figure D

You volition beryllium prompted for your idiosyncratic password. Type the password and either deed Enter connected your keyboard oregon click Authenticate (Figure E).

Figure E

Once Slack is installed, adjacent Ubuntu Software and click connected the tiny quadrate of dots astatine the bottommost near of the screen. In the resulting surface (Figure F), benignant Slack.

Figure F

When the Slack icon appears, right-click it and prime Add to Favorites (Figure G).

Figure G

You should present spot the Slack launcher successful the Favorites back. Click the icon to motorboat the recently installed application.

How to instal apps from the bid enactment successful Ubuntu

Installing applications from the bid enactment isn't hard. The problem, however, is that determination are a mates of antithetic ways to instal bundle from the terminal window. The default bundle manager for Ubuntu (and those based connected Ubuntu) is apt, truthful usually bundle would beryllium installed with a bid like:

sudo apt instal slack

Pretty easy, eh?

However, immoderate applications aren't recovered successful the apt repositories and, instead, are disposable done a antithetic installation system...called snap. The disorder is that you don't cognize which strategy to usage for immoderate fixed application.

Open the terminal model from the Application Overview (open the overview, benignant terminal, and deed Enter connected your keyboard). Attempt to instal Slack with apt similar so:

sudo apt instal slack

You'll find Slack isn't disposable for installation via apt. So, tally the instal with snap, similar this:

sudo drawback instal slack

Since we've already installed Slack, the bid volition fto you cognize it's already installed. Let's accidental you privation to instal the GIMP representation exertion (which is the open-source equivalent to Photoshop). From the terminal window, contented the command:

sudo apt instal gimp

When prompted, benignant y and deed Enter connected your keyboard. The installation volition spell disconnected without a hitch. Interestingly enough, however, GIMP is disposable for installation from either apt oregon snap. I would urge you ever default to apt erstwhile fixed the accidental (for consistency and easiness of system-wide updates).

And determination you person it, you've installed bundle connected Linux without blinking an eye. Chances are beauteous bully everything you request to enactment with tin beryllium installed this easily. And fixed the likes of Ubuntu comes pre-installed with astir of the superior tools you'll request (web browser, email lawsuit and bureau suite), you should beryllium bully to go.

Subscribe to TechRepublic's How To Make Tech Work connected YouTube for each the latest tech proposal for concern pros from Jack Wallen.