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Packages

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6 (KJV)

Software for GNU/Linux is usually in a “packaged” format. The default package file format in Ubuntu is a Debian file, most often with the .deb extension. You may use the low-level package tool dpkg to install a .deb file.

package

Install a .deb file
sudo dpkg -i example.deb

Remove a .deb file with dpkg (removes only the package)
sudo dpkg -r example.deb
Purge a .deb (removes the package, it’s dependencies and configuration files)
sudo dpkg -P example.deb

A .deb file usually has dependencies; it depends on shared libraries and / or other packages to function. However, dpkg doesn’t automatically download and install those. You may use the high-level package tool apt-get for that.

.deb


After installing a .deb file with dpkg, resolve dependency issues with apt-get
apt-get install -f



APT, the Advanced Packaging Tool, is the main command-line tool for working with dpkg. The older, all-encompassing apt-get and the newer, bundled, most common apt commands make command-line dpkg management much easier.

Some of the most common apt-get commands:

Synchronize your local copy of the package repository database
sudo apt-get update
Install a single software package
sudo apt-get install example-package
Install a multiple software packages
sudo apt-get install example-package-1 example-package-2
Upgrade a single software package
sudo apt-get upgrade example-package
Upgrade all packages
sudo apt-get upgrade
Upgrade all packages and remove unused dependencies
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Remove a single software package
sudo apt-get remove example-package
Remove multiple software packages
sudo apt-get remove example-package-1 example-package-2
Purge a package (remove a package, it’s dependencies and configuration files)
sudo apt-get purge example-package
Automatically remove all unused packages, libraries and configuration files
sudo apt-get autoremove

apt

Some of the most common apt commands:

Synchronize your local copy of the package repository database
sudo apt update
Install a single software package
sudo apt install example-package
Install a multiple software packages
sudo apt install example-package-1 example-package-2
Upgrade all packages
sudo apt upgrade
Upgrade all packages and remove unused dependencies
sudo apt full-upgrade
Remove a single software package
sudo apt remove example-package
Remove multiple software packages
sudo apt remove example-package-1 example-package-2
Purge a package (remove a package, it’s dependencies and configuration files)
sudo apt purge example-package
Automatically remove all unused packages, libraries and configuration files
sudo apt autoremove


AptURL is a simple GUI front-end to APT that allows packages to be installed by clicking on a webpage link. Click the image below or the aptURL link at the end of this sentence to download and install BibleTime.

BibleTime

If AptURL is already set up, you’ll be asked, Allow this site to open the apt link with AptURL?

Allow this site to open the apt link with AptURL?

If you chose to [Open Link], the second pop-up dialog box will ask if you’d like to [Install] BibleTime

Do you want to install package 'bibletime'?


If AptURL isn’t set up already, the first pop-up dialog box will instead ask, Allow this site to open the apt link with System Handler? Click Choose a different application to set up AptURL.

Allow this site to open the apt link with System Handler?


For this example, we’ve clicked the SuperTux AptURL link on the AptURL Community Help Wiki. Click the Choose other Application [Choose…] button.

Choose other Application [Choose...]


On the bottom of the left pane, click + Other Locations, then on the top of the right pane, click the Computer icon

+ Other Locations, On this Computer


Double-click the usr folder, bin folder and then the apturl file

Double-click the usr folder, bin folder and then apturl


Check the Always use this application to open apt links check box (for future AptURL links) and click the [Open link] button.

Always use this application to open apt links, [Open Link]


SuperTux (2) in the menu

SuperTux 2 in the Games menu



Snap is a packaging format containing all the dependencies needed to run (instead of relying on shared libraries). Snaps are designed to be Linux ubiquitous; working on every *buntu derivative (L/K/X/Ubuntu), as well as Arch, Debian, Fedora and more. Snaps are also sandboxed – providing and extra layer of security.

Snap

Find available snap(s) by category or key word(s)
snap find category or keyword

Some Known Categories and Key Words: art, art and design, audio, books, books and reference, browser, business, chat, cloud, communication, database, development, design, devices, devices and iot, design, education, entertainment, extensions, finance, fitness, game, gaming, health and fitness, iot, message, music, music and audio, network, news, news and weather, personalisation, personalization, photo, photo and video, productivity, productivity and science, reference, science, security, server, server and cloud, social, time, utilities, video, weather

snap find category or keyword


Some of the most common snap commands:

Find a snap you know the name of
snap find example
Install a snap
sudo snap install example
Run a snap (simply type the name)
example
Uninstall a snap
sudo snap remove example
List all your installed snaps
snap list
Check your snaps for available updates
snap refresh --list
Update an installed snap
sudo snap refresh example
Revert a snap to a previous version
sudo snap revert example
Update all installed snaps
sudo snap refresh


Install the GUI Snap Store
sudo snap install snap-store

Snap Store


Search collect manage (to find an application appropriate to manage a video collection)

Search


Tellico looks perfect for this. Click [Install]

Tellico Collection Manager description


And begin adding videos to the database



(GNOME) Software features a very similar GUI to the Snap Store. Browse categories, search, install and uninstall .deb files and snaps.


Search lyric projection (for an application to project song lyrics onto a screen at a church)

Searching lyric projection


And [Install] Quelea

Quelea Snap


Quelea in the menu

Quelea in the menu


A GUI front-end for APT, Synaptic Package Manager makes it easy to search for, install, upgrade and downgrade almost 30,000 software packages. You can also use Synaptic to remove, reinstall and / or fix broken packages.

Synaptic


Go to Menu > System > Synaptic Package Manager

Menu > System > Synaptic Package Manager


Provide your password and click [Authenticate]

Authenticate


Click the [Reload] button to synchronize your local copy of the package repository database

Reload


Click the [Search] button

Search


Type the word Church and search

Search term(s)


9 packages are found

Found packages


Click the check box for Lyricue and choose Mark for Installation

Mark for Installation


Synaptic lists the dependencies. Click [Mark]

dependencies listed


Click [Apply]

Apply


Synaptic shows you exactly what will happen (click the triangle next To be installed for more detail). Click [Apply]

Apply


Synaptic shows each package and process (click the triangle next Details for more detail)

progress bar along with other details


Lyricue (and any other installed package) shows the check box in Synaptic now filled in green

Lyricue shows the check box filled in green


Lyricue in the menu

Lyricue in the menu


More Information | dpkg Read the Beginners guide to dpkg Linux command on LinuxConfig and dpkg Command in Linux With Examples on phoenixNAP. apt-get Check out Linux apt-get command on ComputerHope and Using apt-get Commands In Linux [Complete Beginners Guide] on It’s FOSS. apt See How to use apt Package Manager on Ubuntu Command Line on VITUX and How to use APT to manage packages on Ubuntu? on Techtown. AptURL Read AptURL on the Ubuntu Community Help Wiki and check out the appnr website of AptURL links. snap Read A Comprehensive Guide to Using Snap Packages on Ubuntu on phoenixNAP and see the Snapcraft app store. Software Check out Software and the Software Project Homepage on GNOME.org Synaptic Package Manager See the Synaptic homepage, the SynapticHowTo on the Ubuntu Community Help Wiki and Using the Lightweight Apt Package Manager Synaptic in Ubuntu… on It’s FOSS.

Two other package format options | AppImage See AppImage.org, appimage.github.io and What is AppImage? How to Run It on Linux on Make Use Of. Flatpak See Flatpak.org, Flatpak :: Fedora Docs and Flatpack on Linux: What Is It and How to Install Apps with It on Linuxiac.