Re: A very simple question...

From: ac (aecnews_at_candt.demon.co.uk)
Date: 01/26/05 

Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:19:17 +0000

LinuxNovice wrote:
> Okay, I will be the first to say that I am very new to Linux. I am
> beginning to work with it because I am (like so many of us) sick of M$.

Welcome. Me too, although I am some months in now, and feeling a bit
more relaxed.

> My question is this. How do you install applications such as a DVD
> player, Mozilla, etc?

For suse (for example version 9.2) you will find a *lot* of other
applications on the CDs, or available for download. I know that 9.1
included say, Firefox (version 0.8-44) on the CDs, which I installed via
yast very easily, and later when wanting the version 1.0, uninstalled
0.8 just as easily via yast. Happy dreamland as far as I am concerned -
a long time windoze user and wanting a good distro to use seriously at
the same time as learning basics in slower time.

I first uninstalled the old firefox, no point in a complicated life for
me just yet.

Since firefox 1.0 (for example) had to be downloaded, I went to find a
suse-specific file to download (in this case) is:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/mozilla/firefox/1.0/

(note the machine is suse.com in this case)

and the file I was interested in was seen listed as
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/mozilla/firefox/1.0/MozillaFirefox-1.0-2.1.src.rpm

(note - the .src part of the filename suggests to my inexperienced eyes
'source' which I would normally steer well away from at present, but
konq knows what it is doing more than I do.....)

:-)

Using (suse linux) web browser Konqueror, I clicked on the file in the
listing. It automatically downloaded (note 38Mb). It downloaded into a
konqueror defined tmp (temporary?) area, in fact into
file:/tmp/kde-user1/konqueror1zSGYb.0-2.1.src.rpm
(later automatically deleted)

Then, when downloaded, the konq screen indicates three tabs -
description, change log, and long files list. Presumably of the
effective contents.
However, at the top of the konq screen there is a button named
'install package with YAST'

I click it.....
I am asked to enter the root password and do so.
yast starts up. Indicates installing firefox 1.0 with no action from me.
yast completes by re-writing the system configuration, then closes.

With no further action by me, firefox now starts when I click the name etc.

I have not counted the clicks to find and install this, but it astounds
me that it is so easy. And jam/jelly on it - no re-boot.

=================
An alternative, less purist approach is to obtain the straight rpm file
for your suse version, I believe it is a file such as
MozillaFirefox-1.0-2.1.i586.rpm (it is 8Mb only)
and save it to your (home) directory, then using konq, guess what -
click on the file.

Again, choose to install using the yast button. Similar consequent
activities.

:-)

   I do know that the executable in Linux is .run

don't know about that, talk to me next year when I know more.

> but if I download an application it typically is compressed into a .gz
> file.

may be or maybe not

Well, after I download this file what do I do with it? Do I
> have to put it into a specific directory?

it is usual to run linux as a user (*not* root), so you have access to
saving stuff in your home/user/ areas.

I ask because I have
> discovered that Linux (or at least Suse) will not allow me to simply
> try to conduct an installation as I would in Windows.

:-)

I can understand
> why Linux would have a different installation procedure since it makes
> the OS more secure.

mmm.

However when it comes to doing this simple task I
> cannot find suitable documentation.

My sympathies. This group is very good. As a previous 'doze user I know
it can be hard to even ask the right questions.

However, with hindsight :-) searching in google web for the string
     download install using konqueror suse
gave a pretty good answer on the first page, fifth listing.

Have fun, enjoy 

--
AlanC