Installing Software in Ubuntu 13.04
Published on
by Jim Mendenhall
Tags:
Ubuntu,
Linux,
Screencasts
Today I’d like to show you how to install software in the newest version of Ubuntu. One of my favorite features of Ubuntu and other Linux distributions is that they have always come with a huge repository of open source software that you can install and use for free. Ever since the first release of Ubuntu in 2004, users have had access to a massive online repository of apps, something similar to Apple’s App Store for Mac and iOS or the Google Play Store for Android.
In the early days, you had to be a bit of a geek to install apps, either entering commands into a terminal or fiddling with less-than-user-friendly programs like Synaptic. Thankfully, in the latest versions of Ubuntu, things are a lot more user friendly and finding apps to install is easier than ever.
Newer versions of Ubuntu feature the Ubuntu Software Center, which provides a very user-friendly interface to the online software repositories. Here, you can browse and install thousands of free apps by category or use the search feature to quickly find what you’re looking for. You can click on an app to see a description, screenshots and reviews.
Once you find an app you want to try, simply click the “Install” button and the software will automatically be downloaded and installed on your system. After it is installed, you will find your new app in the launcher on the left-hand side of the screen. If you ever decide that you want to uninstall the app, simply click the “Remove” button.
With Ubuntu version 13.04, you can also install apps directly from the Dash. The Dash is the central place to search for things on your computer. Click on the Ubuntu icon at the top left of your screen to launch the dash. To search for apps, click on the Apps lens at the bottom of the Dash, then search for the app you want to install. Clicking on the app’s icon will bring up a preview window with screenshots, information and reviews. Simply click “Free Download” to start the installation process. You can see the progress of your installation in the launcher. Once it’s fully downloaded and installed, simply click on the app’s icon to start using it.
That’s all there is to it! You no longer have to be a Linux geek to browse and install apps in Ubuntu!
