General steps for installing software under Linux

Directory one, the analysis of Linux application software installation package II, to understand the contents of the package three, the use of TAR packaging application software Four, the use of RPM packaging applications Five, take care of using Deb packaged applications First, the analysis of Linux application software installation package (headings record)

There are typically three installation packages for Linux applications:

• Tar packages, such as software-1.2.3-1.tar.gz. It is packaged using a UNIX-system packaging tool, tar.
• RPM packages, such as software-1.2.3-1.i386.rpm. It is a package encapsulation format provided by Redhat Linux.
• DPKG packages, such as Software-1.2.3-1.deb. It is a package encapsulation format provided by Debain Linux.

The naming of most Linux application packages also has a certain regularity, which follows:

Name-version-Fixed version-type

For example:

• The software-1.2.3-1.tar.gz means:
  • Software name: Software
  • Version number: 1.2.3
  • Fixed version: 1
  • Type: tar.gz, description is a tar package.
• sfotware-1.2.3-1.i386.rpm
  • Software name: Software
  • Version number: 1.2.3
  • Fixed version: 1
  • Available platforms: I386 for the Intel 80x86 platform.
  • Type: RPM, description is a RPM package.
  Note: Because the RPM format is usually a compiled program, you need to specify the platform.
• For Software-1.2.3-1.deb, let's practice for ourselves.

Second, understand the contents of the package (headings record)

A Linux application package can contain two different types of content:

• One is the executable file, that is, the unpacked package can be run directly. All packages in Windows are of this type. After installing this program, you can use it, but you can't see the source program. Also, please note that the software is the platform you use, otherwise it will not install properly.
• The other is the source program, and after you unpack the package, you also need to compile it into an executable file using the compiler. This is almost impossible in Windows systems, because the idea of Windows is not open source programs.

In general, it is the source program that is packaged with tar, while the RPM and dpkg are often executable programs. In general, self-compiled source programs can be more flexible, but also easy to encounter a variety of problems and difficulties. Instead, downloading those executable packages makes it easier to install the software, and of course, that's a lot less flexible. So generally a software will always provide a variety of packaging format of the installation program. You can choose according to your own situation.

Third, the use of TAR packaging application software (headings record)

• Installation

  The entire installation process can be divided into the following steps:

  1. Obtain the application software: Obtain by downloading, buying the CD-ROM method;
  2. Unzip the file: The General tar package, will do another compression, such as gzip, bz2, etc., so you need to extract the first. If it is the most common GZ format, you can do the following: "TAR–XVZF package Name", you can complete the decompression and unpacking work in one step. If not, the first with the decompression software, and then perform "TAR–XVF decompression after the tar package" to unpack;
  3. Read the attached install file, Readme file;
  4. Execute the "./configure" command to prepare for compilation;
  5. Execute "make" command to compile the software;
  6. Perform "Make install" to complete the installation;
  7. Perform "Make clean" to delete the temporary files that are generated when the installation occurs.

  Well, that's it. So we can run the application. But then, some readers will ask, how do I do it? This is also a problem with Linux features. In fact, in general, Linux application software executable files will be stored in the/usr/local/bin directory! However, this is not a "all-in-one" truth, the most reliable or look at the software install and readme files, generally will be explained.

• Unloading

  Usually software developers rarely consider how to uninstall their own software, and tar is only to complete the packaging work, so does not provide a good way to uninstall.

  So it is not possible to uninstall it! In fact, no, there are two software to solve this problem, that is kinstall and kife, they are the TAR package installed, uninstall the Gold partner. The use of their methods, the author will be introduced in separate text. We will not repeat them here.

Iv. take care of applications using RPM packaging (headings catalogue)

RPM is a major contributor to the Redhat company, making Linux software installation easier.

• Installation

  Perform:

  RPM–IVH RPM Package Name

  For more advanced, see the following table:

  rpm Parameters	parameter Description
  -I.	Installing the Software
  -T	Test the installation, not the real installation
  -P	Show installation Progress
  -F	Ignore any errors
  -U	Upgrade Installation
  -V	Test kit is installed correctly

  These parameters can be used at the same time. For more information, refer to the RPM command help.

• Unloading

  I just need a simple sentence to finish. Perform:

  Rpm–e Software Name

  Note, however, that the software name is used later, not the package name. For example, to install software-1.2.3-1.i386.rpm This package, you should do the following:

  RPM–IVH software-1.2.3-1.i386.rpm

  When uninstalling, you should do the following:

  Rpm–e software.

  In addition, graphical RPM tools like gnorpm, KPackage, etc. are also available in Linux, making the process easier. The specific application of these software, the author will be introduced in separate text.

V. Take care of applications that use Deb packaging (headings catalog)

This is a package manager provided by Debian Linux, which is very similar to RPM. However, because RPM appears earlier, it is often seen in various versions of Linux. The Debian Package Manager dpkg only appears in Debina Linux, and no other Linux versions are available. Let's briefly explain here:

• Installing the Dpkg–i deb package name

  Such as:

  Dpkg–i Software-1.2.3-1.deb

• Uninstalling the Dpkg–e software name

  Such as:

  Dpkg–e Software

General steps for installing software under Linux