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by dirtlover on September 21st, 2003

dirtlover

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How do you install programs on Linux? Can I run Windows programs (.exe) on Linux?

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  • by Dan Whitacre on December 29th, 2003

    Dan Whitacre

    True, it is not as easy as in some other, more co$tly operating systems. But the trade-off is worth it (IMHO, of course).

    Easy answer:

    Use an RPM file for your software, and use a package manager. This will automate lots of normally tedious stuff, and keep you well isolated from scary things deep in the bowels of your machine.

    What always works:

    If you can compile source code, get the source tarball and make your software from the bare keystrokes of the programmers! This is what makes GNU/linux so very, very cool. The same program can run on almost anything, since each machine can make its own version of the executable! (Do the appropriate research, and learn about make, make config, make install, etc.) You can even (gasp!) _make your very own custom-for-you linux KERNEL!!! It is fun, educational, and can speed up your machine in CRAZY ways! (Module support for the linux kernel have been a big boon, making custom kernels a bit less enticing, but, man, what fun!)

    The best thing to do its track down a package (the software to be installed) for your distribution (the logo you see when you start the GNU/linux operating system). Some distributions have made it easier to manage installing and removing software. Most notably (to me) the RPM, or RedHat Package Manager, does a good job. It is very popular, and, unless your running Slackware or Debian, you have it.

    The surest, and some may say safest, and best way to learn (why run GNU/linux if you want to be in the dark?) is to read the install faq/howto for your package, or dig deeper, and learn about compiling and configuring and the like.

    Anything you want to install is already an RPM, or will have step-by-step instructions for installing the software. Remember, they wrote all that code, they want it to work for you! (Unlike some ..., okay, okay...)

    Bottom line, don't fear GNU/linux or anything about it. It is amazingly good, stable, and safe. Just be **careful** when doing things as root. If you are trying to install something as a user, hammer away!

    Comments

    • Spot-on. Compiling's not as hard as it sounds, and everything runs so much faster... And, Wine is good.

      zeropointburn

      by zeropointburn on April 21st, 2005

    • Mostly true except that not all packages are RPMs. Redhat isn't the only Linux out there.

      8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009

      by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on December 8th, 2006

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