Your primary method of installing programs is going to be apt-get, especially if your new to linux. Apt is in essence a front end that runs ontop of dpkg and uses remote repositories to fetch, install, remove, and upgrade programs, including the dependences of those programs. This is a major advantage nowadays because before programs like apt all you had was dpkg and you had to work out the dependences yourself, many times layers of dependences. (e.g. Program you want depends on lib-x, which in turn depends on lib-y, which in turn depends on lib-z, and so forth)
Aptitude, synaptic, and the like are in turn front ends to apt, user interfaces to make it easier to manage packages. It's your choice as to whether you wish to use a front end or apt directly, I guess some are intimidated by the command line and apt's many commands (apt-get, apt-cache, apt-key, etc.) Personally I have studied and use apt directly but that's because graphical interfaces change too much for me, you upgrade a system and all the sudden you find the programs you like have totally changed, or have depreciated and been replaced. The Command Line isn't as fluctuate, it's practically universal, regardless of whether your system is debian based, red hat based, unix based, whatever... TeddyB -----Original Message----- From: Rob Hurle <rob1...@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:22:13 To: <debian-user@lists.debian.org> Reply-To: rob1...@gmail.com Subject: Packages - what's the best way? I'm quite new to debian and I'm getting my head around dpkg, apt-get, aptitude and synaptic. Does anyone have advice on the best way to handle a .deb package? Can I make up my own repository of .deb packages and point apt-get at that to install packages? I've installed one or two small things (gcc and gnu make) using dpkg, but I wondered if there was a better way to do this. I've just downloaded opera and it comes in a .deb package, so this is my next task. apt or dpkg - or even synaptic? Thanks for any help. Rob Hurle -- ----------------------------- Rob Hurle ANU, College of Asia and the Pacific School of Culture, History and Language Histories of Asia and the Pacific e-mail: rob1...@gmail.com Telephone (ANU): +61 2 6125 3169 Mobile (in VN): +84 948 243 538 Mobile (in OZ): +61 417 293 603 ----------------------------- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/aanlktikprdp6ux8zrc2aql+e6lmnueymqyxafzypo...@mail.gmail.com
