How do you install softwares downloaded from other sites to Linux (Ubuntu)?

Pls tell me in detail, step by step, as I have downloaded .tar %26amp; .tar.gz files on my ubuntu linux desktop. I am new to linux and i only know that I have to open terminal and type the codes. Tell me how to open, how to install and where to install.

How do you install softwares downloaded from other sites to Linux (Ubuntu)?
save yourself a lot of hassles and use the package manager. Linux doesn't install software in the same way as windows. With windows,you just download the file and its all there. Run the setup executable and it installs. easy. With linux, there's the software (tar.gz etc) that you've downloaded and then there may be up to 5, 10, + packages that need to be installed so that the file can run. These include libraries, programming languages, etc. You also have to make sure you obtain the correct version of each dependency. It can be a real pain in the butt.





The package manager makes all the calculations for you. You just tell it what you want to install and it gets all the dependencies and sets them all up for you. Ubuntu has a great range of packages already available. Only go the downloading and installing non .deb files if you really have no alternative or if you can see that the dependencies required are either already installed or easy to obtain.
Reply:You shouldn't need to...but you can if you want. First you have to type in:





sudo apt-get install build-essential





To get the programs you need on your system. After that, you follow this pattern in the terminal:





tar -xvf %26lt;filename%26gt;.tar.gz


cd %26lt;filename%26gt;


./configure


make


sudo make install





But that's doing it from scratch. There may be (should be) a .deb package for the software you want to install. In that case, it's just a matter of double-clicking on the .deb file and letting the GUI install it for you.





Either that, or it might already be in the Ubuntu repositories. Go to System %26gt; Administration %26gt; Synaptic Package Manager. Then, click search and type your program name in. That's how you would do it the easy way. If you don't find it, you can try enabling the Universe and Multiverse repositories in the Package Manager.