Seven newbie tips for installing Linux apps

[ Thanks to Arthur Marsh for this link. ]

"Don't think of Linux as Windows
Numerous people wrote to say that for installing and updating software, it's a mistake to think of Linux in the same way as one thinks of Windows. In Windows, you often install software via a self-contained installer file. Seth Rattan was particularly helpful in explaining that Linux uses a repository system in which software necessary for installation or update is stored in an online repository, which your version of Linux then contacts. At that point, installation or update should be simple and automated. More on this when I write a follow-up article.

"Know your distro
Unlike in Windows, you'll generally need to install a version of software specific for the Linux distribution you're using. Once you know that, you can seek out software specifically written for your distro. As "Luis" puts it succinctly in a comment: "The Ubuntu default package is .deb. Download anything with this extension and Ubuntu will install it. Just click on it."

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