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installing .deb, .rpm, .tar or .bin files - which?

Asked by ovc89

I want to install software from internet sites, but most of them offer more than one option - you can generally download a .deb file, a .rpm or a few others. What's the difference between them? How do I tell which one I should use on my computer?

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arochester (arochester) said : 		#1

Deb=Debian

Ubuntu is dased on Debian.

RPM=Redhat Package Managerment

Ubuntu is not RPM. Although some packages can be converted using an app called: alien

Get a deb file where possible. RIGHT click on the deb and choose: Install with Gdebi

Have you checked out the THOUSANDS of files available from Repository? Open Synaptic and have a look...

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#2

New to Ubuntu: read the Ubuntu Manual, it's very informative: http://ubuntu-manual.org/
Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.
The online help https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/index.html

Relax and fun:
http://planet.ubuntu.com/ and Full Circle Magazine http://fullcirclemagazine.org/

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ovc89 (ovc89) said : 		#3

Thanks arochester, that solved my question.

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ovc89 (ovc89) said : 		#4

To arochester: if I hadn't checked it, I wouldn't be looking online or posting here. Thanks for your input.

To marcobra: I've read the manuals, they weren't very explicit. That's the reason I'm asking.

To all: What happens when .deb files aren't available? What do you know about .run files?

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#5

The .run files are special install files different from .deb files,
usually we need to be made them executable with chmod terminal command and then we must to run them from terminal to install.

Hope this helps

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

You can use .bin files but go for debs if you can. If you use .bin you will need to mark them as executable using chmod then run it in a terminal.

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