How do I install software on Linux.?

First of all, I'm new to Linux but not stupid (I hope).





Now, I've installed openSUSE in the past and always have the same problem when installing software. I can never find all the dependencies to install one simple program. For example:





If I want to install Program A, it needs Program B first. But Program B needs Program C. But Program C needs Library X. But Library X needs Compiler Z, etc etc etc. And then I forget what I was trying to install in the first place.





Does anybody else have this problem? Or am I doing something VERY wrong?

How do I install software on Linux.?
Normally, if you use for example YaST for installing your software. This is one of the advantages of the RPM files, which is used by openSUSE. But it depends where and how you get your software. If you use YaST for downloading your software from the repositories, it will resolve the dependencies automatically. It's the same with downloaded RPM files from a website. But if you get TAR.GZ or TAR.BZ2 files (source code), which need to be compiled, there could be some problems. So until you cannot avoid it, use the repositories or use the RPM files. If encounter again problems, please specifiy your program.





Using YaST is mainly self-explaining - start the dialog to install the software and search for it. For RPM files a double-click should be fine. If you want to use the terminal, you can use zypper, whose use is explained here: http://en.opensuse.org/Using_zypper





For the TAR.GZ files: Extract them with a double click, open the terminal, switch with using "cd" to the directory of the extracted files, type "su" and your password (for getting admin rights), and use "sh ./configure" or something like this. There could also be a file called INSTALL... after having used this, type "make" and then "make install". But it's not always the same so that you should read the README before.





As you can see RPM files are a lot easier to use...





Regards.
Reply:It depends how you are installing the software. Generally the best way to install software on linux is to use some software getting method. You can install the SUSE version of "apt". Then you can command line "apt-get install xxxx" and it will install that piece of software as well as all its dependancies.