Installing Apps On Linux? 4 Ways It's Different Than Any Other Os - And Mistakes To Avoid

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

When I first started utilizing Linux successful nan precocious 90s, location was really only 1 measurement to instal an application. You would download nan app, unpack nan archive, tally nan ./configure command, build nan app pinch make, and past instal it pinch make install. Inevitably, erstwhile you ran done that course, you would stumble because of limitations and person to find nan dependency, tally done nan aforesaid process arsenic you conscionable did (only pinch nan caller software), and past find retired nan caller dependency had limitations of its own.

That was ever a nosy time.

Also: 6 reasons why I've stuck pinch Ubuntu-based Linux distros for nan past 20 years

Modern Linux distributions don't require users to instal applications from source, which is simply a bully thing. Imagine if users still had to jump done those aforesaid hoops to get package installed. If that were nan case, Linux wouldn't person yet surgery nan 5% marketplace stock obstruction recently. Thankfully, Linux distributions now vessel pinch their ain built-in package managers that grip nan analyzable process of installing software. For instance, apt and dnf are very bully astatine checking for limitations and past installing them for you.

Although simplicity is simply a very bully logic to usage nan built-in package managers, location are different reasons for doing so, and those reasons are much important than you mightiness know.

1. Keeping it each successful cheque

If there's 1 logic why you should usage nan built-in package head to instal each of your software, it's this. When you usage nan distribution's package manager to instal an app, nan package head is past alert of nan exertion it installed. Because of that, immoderate clip nan app has an disposable update, nan package head does its point by downloading nan updated package (and immoderate required dependency), and past upgrades nan app.

Your distribution's package head is very bully astatine keeping tabs connected what's installed connected your system, what type of nan app is connected your system, and erstwhile aliases if location are disposable updates.

If you were to compile and instal that app from source, location would beryllium nary automatic updates. Instead, you'd person to download nan latest type and spell done nan aforesaid process. Even worse is nan truth that you'd person to manually cheque to spot if there's a caller type by going to nan tract for nan app, locating nan latest version, uncovering nan type you person installed, and past compiling and installing nan latest.

Also: The easiest measurement to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

Updates are a cardinal constituent of keeping your strategy safe and moving smoothly. Updates often incorporate information patches, which could forestall unwanted users from breaking into your machine and doing bad things. You want updates, and you want them regularly (and easily).

That's not nan only logic to instal package this way.

2. Security is cardinal

Generally speaking, package disposable from nan modular repositories for your distribution has been vetted, truthful it is acold little apt to incorporate problems. The package you downloaded from immoderate rando website and installed from root isn't. When installing from root that was created by an chartless developer, you tally nan consequence of adding malicious codification to your system.

It's for illustration downloading an Android APK from immoderate chartless tract and installing it arsenic if it's perfectly good to do so.

Also: While Windows 10 users panic, Ubuntu makes extending support easy - here's how

It's not. It seldom is. Because of this, you should ever usage your package head for installing applications. Speaking of which...

3. Unknown repositories

Almost each Linux distribution uses a modular repository. What does that mean? Think of it arsenic a benignant of "official repository" that is maintained by a group of trusted group who really person your champion interests successful mind.

But conscionable because your distribution has an charismatic repository, it doesn't mean you can't adhd different repositories. When you do, you return a consequence that nan package contained wrong could see malicious code.

Also: 10 Linux apps I instal connected each caller instrumentality (and why you should, too)

Recently, it was discovered that nan Arch AUR repository (a community-driven repository) contained a fewer malicious packages that included a distant entree trojan. Those packages were librewolf-fix-bin, firefox-patch-bin, and zen-browser-patched-bin. Immediately upon discovery, nan packages were removed, but there's nary telling if nan malicious codification was installed connected anyone's machine.

Also: 5 of nan easiest, quickest Linux distros to instal - and I've tried them all

I'm not saying that you should never adhd a non-standard repository to your system, but you should ever vet immoderate repository you see because not doing truthful could origin immoderate number of headaches.

4. Uninstalling apps

Finally, uninstalling applications is acold easier pinch nan default package manager. If you installed nan app from source, you'd person to manually region nan exertion and each of its dependencies, which tin beryllium a superior problem because really would you retrieve each of nan limitations you had to install? On apical of that, you mightiness accidentally region a cardinal portion of software, rendering different package incapable to run.

You don't want that.

Uninstalling applications pinch nan built-in package head is not only easy, it's clean. And immoderate package managers moreover person an autoremove usability that will region each unnecessary package that remains connected your system. That's smart.

Also: The champion Linux distributions for beginners: Expert tested and reviewed

How you instal applications connected Linux is acold much important than connected immoderate different system, mostly because you person options available, but not each options are ever nan champion route. If you instal applications connected Linux nan correct way, you'll bask a problem/worry-free strategy for a very agelong time.

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