Installing Software Through the Command Line Using APT

The Advanced Package Tool (APT) is a command line (terminal) tool for managing DEB packages. It handles everything from downloads and dependency resolution for complex applications to updating all your software and even the operating system Ubuntu itself.

A Quick Guide to APT

Before installing anything, it's always a good idea to update your package list to ensure access to the latest versions:

sudo apt update

To install a package, use the following command:

sudo apt install package-name

For example, the popular video player VLC:

sudo apt install vlc

If you no longer need a package, uninstall it with:

sudo apt remove package-name

For example, to remove VLC:

sudo apt remove vlc

You can have APT search for and install updates for all packages on your system (including Ubuntu system packages):

sudo apt upgrade

APT will also be responsible for Automatically clean and delete packages that are no longer needed:

sudo apt autoremove

Installing Software from Third-Party Sources

Occasionally, you'll encounter software distributed by its authors or a third-party organization that isn't available in the Ubuntu Software Center. This software can be in a variety of formats, but most commonly you'll need to download a DEB package or add a PPA location to your system.

Adding a PPA (Personal Package Archive)

PPAs are repositories maintained by developers to distribute the latest versions of their software. They work exactly the same way as Ubuntu's software repositories, but are privately managed by a third party. After adding a PPA, APT will automatically include its contents in all future operations. You can install software from the PPA using the same commands listed above. Any software that you add to the PPA will be downloaded from the Ubuntu PPA. You install it will be included in the updates when they are run also. You can add a new PPA and Install software from it with just three quick commands at the terminal:

To add a new PPA, use the following command:

sweat add-apt-repository ppa:repository-name

Then, Updates the software information cache to include data of the new PPA:

sudo apt update

Finally, install the software as if it were any other package:

sudo apt install package-name

For example, if you wanted to add the official PPA for the popular web browser Firefox and then install it, you would enter the following commands in the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa sudo apt update
sudo apt install Firefox

Firefox is would automatically update along with all your software when the software updater runs. Firefox comes pre-installed on Ubuntu, of course, but this example illustrates the steps to add a new PPA to your Ubuntu system's repositories.

Installing From a Downloaded DEB File

Some applications provide standalone DEB files. Here's how to install them from the Ubuntu terminal:

Download the DEB file from a source that you trust and save it to a destination you can remember, such as your Downloads folder. In your terminal, change to the directory where you saved the file and use dpkg to install it.

CD ~/Downloads
sweat dpkg -Yo file name.deb

If dpkg returns any error indicating issues of dependencies, you should be able to fix them with the following command:

sudo apt 

Best Practices for Software Management in Ubuntu

• Keep your system up to date: Snaps should automatically update as new versions become available. You can also run “Software Updater” from the launcher of applications to check and update all DEB packages on your system.
• Use reliable sources: Installing software potentially means giving it full access to all the data on your computer or even your network. Don't install anything you're not sure about. You should always verify the legitimacy of any third-party app you find.
• Beam backup your data: Before experimenting with new software, make sure your critical data is backed up. Small mistakes can cause big losses. 📂💾

You are now well equipped to explore the vast world of the Ubuntu software ecosystem. You should be able to find, install, and remove any software you need with ease. From simple task-tracking programs to fully functional office suites and exciting games, Ubuntu has you covered. 🌟