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Installing software in Linux

  • 29-11-2001 4:05am
    #1
    Baz_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,660 ✭✭✭


    Have mandrake Linux 8.x and have a little question about installing software.

    When installing stuff is it better to do it as root or as a user, I have a feeling that the answer is as a user, but what if you add more users, is it then possible to use the same installation.

    It's quite confusing, you get so many warnings when you try to log in as root, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to fück up the system, but when installing software, you don't really have control. But anyway thats my question. And to reastate it, in case it became a bit muddled.

    When installing stuff is it better to do it as root or as a user???

    ta

    Baz_


Comments

  • #2
    logic1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,859 ✭✭✭logic1


    Well it's best to log in as a user then su to root to install anything. If you don't install the software as root if won't be available globally, e.g. It will only be available for the user you installed it as. Also anysoftware that needs to access system files usually will give you errors if u try to install as a user.

    .logic.


  • #3
    Baud
    Closed Accounts Posts: 117 ✭✭Baud


    When installing stuff is it better to do it as root or as a user,

    depends on what you're installing. If it's an rpm, then you have no option. They can only be installed by root (unless you give full write access to the rpm database, which is a bad thing to do).

    If it's a tar.gz that doesn't want to put itself in /usr/local, then it's best to do it as a user, try it out, and make sure it does what you want.

    For reference, what I tend to do with source programs is:
    ./configure
    make
    sudo make install (only this bit is run as root)

    though I try very hard these days to use distribution programs, as keeping source up to date is a pain.

    running programs should only be done as root if you really have to.

    (Oh yeah, you can install stuff as a user, and anyone can run it. They just have to have their path set to see the binaries)


  • #4
    Isegrim
    Closed Accounts Posts: 77 ✭✭Isegrim


    i have mandrake 8.1
    i really loved mandrake 7.1 but some changes on 8.1 are a real pain in the a***
    they have complicated many things.
    one example
    during the installation it just switches the used cd drive (i have two) without a warning
    and then tells me that there is no installation disk.
    so i am forced to put the cd in the second drive at a special point of time.

    isegrim


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