Is there a "proper" directory where I'm supposed to be installing programs from tar.gz files?
You know how when you install Windows programs, the proper directory are either the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders by default?
Is there a proper default directory for installing software from tar.gz files in Linux? Or I am supposed to just extract them to any folder I want and thus the software is installed?
10 Replies
he .tar.gz file format is a tar archive that has been compressed with gunzip compression, they not linux version of .exe but more like .rar or .zip
software shared in tar usually is meant to be compiled in the users PC, they usually come with instructions how to compile and dependencies are needed to be pre-installed. others already come with an install script that does it all automatically
Post what you're actually trying to install
@Sybad You don't need to install it in a "proper" directory and linux doesn't truly have a directory like
Program Files or Program Files (x86) or Program Data. There are a few locations if you want to drop them there, that are standard-like, like /home or /usr/bin.
For example, flatpak (a software manager / handler) installed in /usr/bin/flatpak. I moved my steam directory to /var/mnt/games which is handled on another drive in my computer. Some software is installed in /usr/bin/env. Some are installed in /var/home/[yourusername]/.local/share/.
You could technically create your own in a separate drive and unzip the software into that location and alias to it in your .bashrc file.
Hope that helps a bit.I'm not trying to install anything specific right now, just wanted to understand what tar.gz is and how to install apps from those files when I come across one
Sort of, what are
alias and bashrc?
If they're meant to be compiled, does that mean they contain the source code for the app being installed?Give me a moment and I'll be able to help.
@π’ππ΅π²πͺ ππ»πͺπ
Alias is kind of like... a short cut but at command line. Bashrc is a file that boots up / starts up on your linux distro.
For example...
This is my "start up" file. This file has a few aliases in there so when I go to my bash command line, I can do this:
calling "toolbox" booted up my jetbrains toolbox
then it's not possible for this help thread to be answered
closing it to avoid wasting people's time