2
Installing Ubuntu and Adding Software
IN THIS CHAPTER
Installing Ubuntu
Working with software repositories
Getting software with APT
Managing software with Debian package tools
Extracting files from other package formats
Time-tested tools for initially installing Ubuntu, and later adding and managing software, include the APT (Advanced Package Tool) and dpkg (Debian package) utilities. These are some of the standard packaging utilities that serve as a back end to the more familiar desktop GUI tools for managing software on Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems. These package utilities interact with .deb files from online repositories, or local .deb files you've downloaded and have sitting on your hard disk.
This chapter highlights critical issues you need to know during Ubuntu initial installation. It covers information about online Ubuntu software repositories. Detailed examples of APT, dpkg, tasksel, and related command line utilities including aptitude are given later in this chapter.
Obtaining and Installing Ubuntu
Ubuntu and its close cousins Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu are all designed with ease of use and familiarity in transition in mind. These distributions focus on keeping things simple and clean to help smooth out the learning curves when you are adapting to a new system.
The Ubuntu installer (Ubiquity) is a prelude to the simplicity of the Ubuntu system, breaking down the install process into about 10 clicks. With an Internet connection, you can download one ...
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