ManagingSoftware
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There are several ways to manage applications in Kubuntu. A convenient way to add or remove applications is with a package manager.
Graphical Clients
If you prefer the Ubuntu-style "Software Center", Kubuntu also has a user-friendly package manager called Muon Software Center with a clear user interface.
Both package managers might provide information about required dependencies. Once this information is acknowledged, the required packages will begin downloading. When the installation process is complete, the software will be ready to use. It is rarely necessary to restart the system after software installation or updates. If it is, the system will warn you and give you a restart icon to do the restart at your convenience.
Muon also provides an easy method to remove software that is no longer needed.
How-to: Start Muon Software Center with Kickoff Application Launcher (K menu), click on 'Installed Software' and find the application you want to remove. Click 'Remove' and Muon Software Center will remove the application.
Muon is an advanced program with a graphical user interface (GUI) for installing and removing applications. Muon Package Manager can be started with Krunner or using Kickoff.
How-to: You can search for applications with the search box on the top and the filters on the left side of the window. The application information will be displayed in the large white space below the search area. Click on the application title to be installed. Click the 'Install' button to start the installation process.
Command Line
For managing software with the CLI (the command line) Kubuntu uses APT (Advanced Packaging Tool). It is a powerful package management system which is the basis for the graphical software management applications like Muon Software Center. APT automatically handles dependencies and performs other package operations that are required for package installation. To use APT most people use Terminals to issue the commands.
Running APT requires administrative privileges, Entering commands with "sudo" generates a password prompt. Several of the commands below will not run without sudo.
Common commands used with APT are:
- Install packages: sudo apt-get install 'packagename'
- Remove packages: sudo apt-get remove 'packagename'
- Remove package dependencies that are no longer needed: sudo apt-get autoremove
- Search for packages: apt-cache search 'keyword'
- Retrieve the current list of available packages: sudo apt-get update
- Install the latest available updates for the applications currently installed: sudo apt-get upgrade
- Clean downloads, useful when disk space is getting short: sudo apt-get clean
To list further commands and options: apt-get help
For more information about the use of APT read the comprehensive APT - Debian Wiki User Manual
For more information on the Command Line see here
CategoryDocumentation
Repositories
Thousands of programs are freely available to install in Kubuntu. These programs are stored in software archives ("repositories") and are made available for installation over the Internet. Installing new programs in Kubuntu is quick, reliable, and secure because each program is built specifically for Kubuntu and is checked thoroughly before it is made available. Kubuntu repositories are categorized into four groups:
- Main
- Restricted
- Universe
- Multiverse
Two factors are used to determine categories:
- The level of support provided for a program by its software development teams.
- The level of compliance the program has to the Ubuntu Free Software Philosophy.
More information about the Repositories is available on the Ubuntu Community Help Wiki on Repositories website.
The standard Kubuntu LiveDVD contains some software from the "Main" and "Restricted" categories. Once a system has information about the Internet-based locations for these repositories, more programs are available for installation. Using the software package management tools installed by default, it is possible to discover, install, and update any piece of software directly over the internet without the need for the LiveDVD.
For more information about managing repositories, click here.
Manual Installation
Although the preferred method of installing programs is with the package manager, individual software package files can be downloaded and installed. Several kinds of package files are available for Linux systems. Generally, these file types are associated with the package managers of specific Linux distributions.
To install a particular application, it is preferable to select a Kubuntu package of the application, and install it with a package manager. This ensures that the program is compatible with other software on the system. If there is no version of the package available through a package manager, it may be possible to install it manually. The installation procedure depends on the type of package file.
Install/Uninstall .deb files
The package files associated with Kubuntu have the ".deb" suffix because of Kubuntu's close relationship with the Debian GNU/Linux distribution. Individual ".deb" files can be downloaded and installed. Humble Bundles, for instance, distribute debs. Administrative privileges are required.
How-to: simply left-click on the ".deb" file to initiate the installation process. A prompt will appear for a password associated with the necessary administrative privilege.
Install from Source
Files with the ".tar.gz" or ".tar.bz2" suffix are package files known as "tarballs" or "source" packages. These are widely used in Linux. If there is no native Kubuntu package available in any of the repositories, it may be possible to compile and install the package from source. For tips on compiling software, look at the Compiling Software page on the Ubuntu Wiki.
Updating
Kubuntu developers release feature and security updates for applications and packages within the Kubuntu system. When updates become available, Kubuntu will display a message in the System Tray. To update the system, open Muon Update Manager and click the "Install updates" button. After installing some updates, it may be necessary to restart the computer. If so, Kubuntu will display a pop-up and an icon in the System Tray.
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