Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible, 3rd Edition

Installing Software

IN THIS CHAPTER

Installing software

Using Debian packages

Working with Red Hat packages

In the old days of Linux, installing software could be a painful experience. Fortunately, the Linux developers have made life a little easier for us by bundling software into pre-built packages that are much easier to install. However, you still have a little work to do to get the software packages installed, especially if you want to do that from the command line. This chapter looks at the various Package Management Systems available in Linux and the command line tools used for software installation, management, and removal.

Package Management Primer

Before diving into the world of Linux software package management, this chapter goes through a few of the basics first. Each of the major Linux distributions utilizes some form of a Package Management System (PMS) to control installing software applications and libraries. A PMS utilizes a database that keeps track of these items:

• What software packages are installed on the Linux system
• What files have been installed for each package
• Versions of each of the software packages installed

Software packages are stored on servers, called repositories, and are accessed across the Internet via PMS utilities running on your local Linux system. You can use the PMS utilities to search for new software packages or even updates to software ...