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Newbie curiosity

  • 02-10-2008 10:56am
    #1
    toiletduck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭


    Hey, newish to linux (am running the latest Ubuntu). Having no trouble so far and am really getting to like it.

    One thing that's bothering me though, is installing new programs. No, it's not any specific issue (I'm managing it grand) but for instance yesterday I wanted to check if Java paths etc were set up on the machine so I typed "Java" into the terminal. Got a long string of installations (e.g. "The following packages contain java: j2re1.4.... Use sudo apt-get install <package>...). Now that's all well and good, but where is that info coming from? Where is the machine connecting to to get that list of software?

    I just did the same for vlc there and it was a similar response. I'm wondering what are the stages it goes through when I type in an unknown command to getting the list of info on screen :) I've done a search but keep getting directed to people having trouble installing stuff!


Comments

  • #2
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Linux uses software repositories. Which are updated when you start up and you can force an update also. If you attempt to run an application that isn't installed it checks the repository to see if that program is there and suggests it to you. You can view the Repositories to see what software is available in them in System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager.


  • #3
    toiletduck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭toiletduck


    Cheers! That's pretty cool.


  • #4
    An Fear Aniar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,377 ✭✭✭An Fear Aniar


    A handy thing to look at is
    dpkg -l

    It lists all the installed packages.

    Another good one is
    locate [filename or package name]

    Tells you where your stuff is stashed.

    Also, you can simulate an installation without actually installing by inserting -s in the install command:
    sudo apt-get -s install [package name]

    This is handy as it shows you what other dependencies might be installed with it. For example, if you're using Gnome and you want to install Amarok, you find it wants to install a whole bunch of KDE packages.


    .


  • #5
    Steveire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,421 ✭✭✭Steveire


    An Fear Aniar wrote: »
    This is handy as it shows you what other dependencies might be installed with it. For example, if you're using Gnome and you want to install Amarok, you find it wants to install a whole bunch of KDE packages.

    Not that that's a problem at all. You can interchange gnome workspace/ kde workspace/ gnome apps/ kde apps in your distro which may have originally been gnome based/ kde based.

    Also, that information when you type vlc etc is coming from a package called Package not found, not from the internet each time you type it. That package has a list of all the executables available in the repos, and looks it up.


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