How to install Applications using the Command Line in Ubuntu

While it is true that Ubuntu has an App Store that makes installing compatible apps a breeze, sometimes you come across an app that you must install from the command line.

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The command line is the way you can use the O/S by completely bypassing the GUI.

Even though this how to focuses on Ubuntu, this should work with other flavors of Linux as well.

1. Open Terminal (CTRL + ALT + T).
2. Navigate to the directory where you’ve downloaded the file (usually cd/username/download).
3. To install any software on Linux, you must have administration rights (also known as a Super user or Root).
4. At the prompt, type: su –
5. When prompted, enter the root password.
6. If all goes well, you’ll see another prompt that should look like: #root@username >
7. To find the name of the package that you’ve downloaded, issue the command ls
8. When you find the file, then it’s time to unpack it and install the included installer.
9. Type: sudo dpkg -I filename.deb
10. The above command will unpack the necessary files from the .deb file and put them in the same directory.
11. Then (if it finds an install package) will go ahead and install the app for you.
12. You’ll see each file being unpacked and installed in their correct locations.
13. That’s it. 

Again, this should work with all flavors of Linux (and possibly Unix as well).

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Dan Uff

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