How do you install programs using Linux?

Several imporant answers:

this doc looked good

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper

you might want "the" book

"Official Ubuntu Book, The"

* By Benjamin Mako Hill, Jono Bacon, Corey Burger, Jonathan Jesse, Ivan Krstic. * Published by Prentice Hall.

The "Ez" way to install a UbuntuPackage/program is to go to System->preferences->Synaptic Package manager - then you can search on the package you might want

The "Ez" way to get started using IM is to use gaim ..it works great, is probably already installed, is installable by synaptic. Then later install the program you want.

The AIM for linux page has instructions for AIM .. but I probably would not use it. There is a chance that the Debian 3+ deb file will work, but you probably want the "other os"

Installation Instructions for TGZ (All other OS)

1. Log in as root.

2. cd /

3. Download AIM onto your system

4. On the command line, type gunzip command as shown in the example: gunzip -c aim-1.5.286.tgz | tar xvf -, where 1.5.286 represents the AIM version and release numbers

5. To run AIM, log in as a regular user, and type "/usr/local/bin/aim" on the command line.

http://www.aim.com/get_aim/linux/latest_linux.adp

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6. You soon will want to install the Ubuntu Backports pointers .. this will make installation easier. learn more here

backports.ubuntuforms.org

7. Eventually you will want to install a .deb file.manally .. say you download one:

Using dpkg manually

The simplest way to install a single package you've downloaded is the command dpkg -i (short for dpkg --install). Say you've downloaded the package icewm_0.8.12-1.deb and you'd like to install it. First log on as root, then type:

dpkg -i icewm_0.8.12-1.deb

and icewm version 0.8.12 will be installed. If you already had an older version, dpkg will upgrade it rather than installing both versions at once.

If you want to remove a package, you have two options. The first is most intuitive:

dpkg -r icewm

more here:

http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-tutorial/...

Linux programs usually come in .tar.gz format. At the terminal, type "gunzip <file". That will produce a slightly larger .tar file. Un-tar the file, then enter the folder it creates. Nano the config file and change any settings you have to, then type "make".

Windows installer programs will NOT work in Linux.

Ubuntu should have GAIM preinstalled.

GAIM will connect with AIM.

For Limewire, it may be tricky, you'll need the Java RPM.

You can install rpm's by typing the following.

"rpm -i fdjsklfjdslkfjsd.rpm" without the quotes. Replace the fjdsklfjdslkfj with the file name.

Read Chapter 2 of https://help.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/desktopguide/C/inde...

Also good to read are https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ and http://ubuntuforums.org/