Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating system that’s lightweight and easy to use. It offers a wide range of applications, utilities, and services. The software is available in several different versions, each with its package manager that lets you install or remove packages from the operating system. Suppose you’re installing a new application on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS or earlier versions. In that case, you can install it using the dpkg command in the terminal window or via the Ubuntu Software Center app, as shown here:
1. Using The Dpkg Command To Install A Deb File
- Install deb files using dpkg
- How to install deb files using dpkg?
- How to install deb files using the apt-get
- Install deb files using the aptitude command:
# First, you will need to use a terminal window to enter the following command: $ Sudo aptitude install tar -xf /path/to/tarball/file.tar.gz
# After that, run this command from your terminal window: $ tar –create –verbose –wildcards *.tar | dd of=/dev/sda
2. Install Via Ubuntu Software Center
If you’d like to install a deb file from the Ubuntu Software Center (and if you need help to open it, check out our tutorial on how to open an application in Ubuntu), then this is your best option. To do so:
- Open the Unity Dash by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or clicking Applications > System Tools > Dash on the launcher bar at the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll down until you find an icon labeled “Software,” and click on it
3. Install From Source Code
- You can also install deb files from the source code. You only need to download the source code, install the required dependencies, and run an installation script.
- Once installed, open your browser and type in http://deb.torproject.org/tor-browser/. Scroll down until you find [Tor Browser], click on it, then click the Install button or press Enter key on the keyboard (if there is no “Install” option for some reason). You should see an Install Successful message indicating that Tor Browser has in your system!
4. Extracting The .Deb Package And Installing The Files Manually
You can extract the files from the deb package and install them manually. In this case, you will have to use your judgment on whether or not to install a package that is not available in your distro.
5. Installing .Deb Using Apt-Get From The Command Line
- An apt-get command is a tool for installing and upgrading software on your Linux system. You can use it to install packages from the command line, or you can run it from a terminal window using sudo.
- The easiest way to install .deb files using apt-get is by typing this command: apt-get install package-name
6. Converting The .Deb Package To Other File Formats
- Converting the .deb box to different file formats
- You can convert a .deb file to RPM format using the following command:
- run the following command: $ tar -xvzf deb-archive-name.tar.*
7. Installing .Deb Files Using Debian Package Installer (Gdebi)
- Install GDebi.
- Open GDebi and create a new package source:
- Select “Package Source
- Enter a name and location for your new package source in the fields provided. For example, enter the following information:
[Source] Name = Debian Packages (default) Repository = deb http://ftp5[server].debianbackports[your_debian_version].org/Debian Jessie main contrib non-free component Release = Jessie/Jessie Version = wheezy/sid
8. Installing .Deb Packages Using The “Ar” Command
- First, we will need to install a package manager using the “apt-get” command.
- To install a .deb file using the ar command, you must use the following syntax:
ar []
9. Installing With Alien Command Line Tool
You can use the Alien command line tool to install deb files in Ubuntu. It’s similar to the APT tool, but instead of using apt-get or synaptic, you run it from a terminal window.
To install deb files with Alien:
- Run “Sudo apt-get install alien.”
- In your terminal window, type “alien” (or press Ctrl+Alt+T) and press Enter on your keyboard
10. Use The Checkinstall Tool To Install Deb Packages
Checkinstall is a tool that creates packages for local installation and distribution. This tool is also possible with Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS or a higher version. Still, it will only work with older distros such as Ubuntu 14.04 LTS or 12.04 LTS due to the dependency issues in some cases with those versions of Linux distributions.
Conclusion
Installing deb packages is a reasonably straightforward process, and with the right tools, easily. The best way to install any software is by using the dpkg command, which will automatically download and install the files in the Ubuntu system folder. But if you are using another Linux distribution, you can use apt-get or aptitude command with their library files to perform this task.
