Install Additional Programs

Debian Xfce

Install Additional Programs

Thousands of Programs Available

When Debian is installed, the most commonly used programs are automatically installed. However, you may want others. There are thousands of additional programs which may be installed.

Many additional programs can be installed from the Debian DVD. Others can be downloaded and installed from the internet.

Programs may consist of one, or several packages. If you select a package to install, all of the other packages needed to make that program work will also be installed.

Root Terminal

Additional programs can be installed using the Root Terminal.

If you are not sure of the exact name of a package, type:

apt-cache search (partial name of package)

To install a package, type:

apt-get install (name of package)

To remove a package, type:

apt-get remove (name of package)

Synaptic Package Manager

If you prefer a graphical interface, with a list of packages and a discription of what each program does, you can use Synaptic Package Manager.

To install Synaptic Package Manager, Open the Root Terminal and type:

apt-get install synaptic

Once installed, to start Synaptic Package Manager, click "Run Program," or press "Alt+F2," and type:

gksu synaptic

Another option is to open the Root Terminal and type:

synaptic

You can look through the list of available packages. If you click on a package, a description will be displayed at the bottom.

If you want a shorter list of only certain types of programs, you can click on "Search," or press "Ctrl + f," then type in key words. For example, if you type in Education, it will list all of the packages relating to educational programs.

Once you have chosen a package to install, click on the square preceeding the name of the package. Then click "Mark for Installation."

You can select more packages if you want.

When finished selecting packages, click "Apply." You will get another window, where you click "Apply," again. The programs will then be installed.

Some programs will work immediately when installed. With others you need to turn the computer off and restart before they will work.

It will take time to become familiar with the many different programs available. You may try various programs and see which you like.

You can also remove programs using Synaptic Package Manager, by clicking the square preceeding them, and clicking "Mark for Removal." Then clicking "Apply."

Adding Repositories

Until now, you may only be installing packages from the DVD.

To download and install packages from the internet, it is necessary to add repositories. It is also necessary to be connected to the internet.

In Synaptic Package Manager, click "Settings," then "Repositories."

Click on the tab "Debian Software."

Click on the square preceeding "Officially supported (main)," so it has a tick in it. You may also click on squares preceeding the others, and include them.

Click on the tab "Updates."

Click on the square preceeding "Security updates."

Click "Close."

Now that you have included additional repositories, click "Reload." This will download lists of the latest packages available, and may take some time, the first time you do it. Next time, it will only download lists that have changed since last time, and be quicker. Synaptic Package Manager and Update Manager use the same lists, so if you update one, the other will be up to date.

You can now select and install packages, using the method discussed previously.

If you are connected to the internet and have the DVD in the drive, any packages which have not been updated will be installed from the DVD, and any packages which have been updated will be downloaded and installed from the internet.

Downloading packages from the internet may take time.

If you are disconnected from the internet while the packages are partly downloaded, or you click "Cancel," the partly downloaded files remain in the computer. When you reconnect, you can select them again and continue downloading and installing.

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