Linux help

I've just installed Kubuntu on a partition on my PC to get a feel for how useable it is as a home OS.

I have to admit I've run in to problems already. ie why is just about any software you want to install so damn complicated to do so. With windows at the worst all you had to do was unzip a package and run the set up .exe and you were away. In all the Linux stuff I've read you have to run all manner of command lines and edit files that are hidden deep in the unfathomable directory structure.

Anyone out there know how I go about doing this? I'm sure it's not as complicated as it appears to be, (surely??).

For those of you that aren't familiar Kubuntu is a KDE Desktop distro based around Debian.

Any pointers would be much apreciated.

GTM

 

Hi GTM,

I run ubuntu and am very happy with it. Installing software is very (too) easy as long as you pick it from the installation database. Anything unusual then as you mention, it can be painful. Just just DOS and Windows used to be. Linux, any flavour, has a bit of catching up to do.

Before I replaced my graphics card I simply could not get my soundcard to work because it couldn't detect it properly. I posted my predicaments here and on PFM. Try PMing sideshowbob with the specific problem, he may be able to help. I also received very helpful tips from coredump on PFM (there are quite a few Linux users there). I think he is registered here as well.

 

GTM,
I've just moved over to a Linux only laptop after several months with the laptop configured to boot into XP or Ubuntu and I find most of my MS specific knowledge gained over many years is now not much use.

I found that the information concerning Multimedia was all that was needed to bring a smile back to my face and give me back the functionality missing from a bog standard vanilla flavoured install. Yes things do have odd names, yes they do at first seem to be hidden in odd out of the way places but persist and use the ubuntuforums as they are packed with good ideas, tips and howto help links and should fill the gaps in your knowledge.

I try and point you in the right direction so if you have any questions post them and I'll try to help.

Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-GB; rv:1.8.1.1) Gecko/20060601 Firefox/2.0.0.1 (Ubuntu-edgy)

 

Check the repo's to see if the app you want is in the list, otherwise yes you have to create a .deb file in order for tha package manager to install it.

The reason, as I understand it, for this is to control the applicaitons that are installed on the system, these applications have been tested with the OS thus are supported.

I like this idea, this means that the appliations in the Repo's hae been tested they will work with the OS.

Unlike Windows where you can install what you like which sounds good on the surface, but when it starts replacing system dll's and you start getting the Bsods, blaming windows for being $h1t, but really its got the bespoke app you've installed has buggers up the dll's.

If you want a stable OS (like I do) then a 'controlled' set of apps is the way to go.

Have a good route around for the app you want, it may not be int he main repos, try the multiverse ones (enable in the package manager).

But be warned install something non standard it could make the system unstable.

 

as has already been mentioned enable the extra repositories and see if the software is there, falling that see if theres a a debian or autopackage of the software avaliable,double clicking a deb package should do most of the work for you ,with autopackages you need to change the rights (under propites) to exucute, then double click again,select run and things should start to work.if all eles fails then its time to get yer hands dirty,download the source code,in the terminal navigate to were the code is stored and type

./configure

once thats finished enter

make

and finally

make install

and thats it,however youll often get errors saying file or libary xyz is missing,so you have to manually install any missing stuff and try again

 

It may be worth looking at the likes of Crossover or Vmware as both these bits of code may allow you to run your favoured windows applications under Linux.

 

Anyone use automatrix?

 

To answer my own question, I just did and highly recommend it. It found the correct drivers for my graphics card rather than rely on generic ones and as a result scrolling up down pages is much much faster. So if any of you guys are having problems with ubuntu (only tried it with ubuntu, but runs under other distributions as well) not recognising hardware correctly, give it a go. Also helps with installing apps and sorting out dependencies.