gvim vim -g
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Some apps I install on a Linux system
Since November 2021, I’ve been trying Linux distributions and writing about that on Notes About Choosing a Linux Distribution🐧︎. On each distro[2] that I try, I install…
On every distro I’ve tried so far, it’s been a pain to figure out how to get a recent version of these apps.
Below is the algorithm I’m currently using to install an app on a Linux distro.
0. See if the app is already installed
Before I use a package manager
to install an app, I see if it’s already
installed by trying to launch it from
either
the
built-in app launcher
or
a
command line.
For example, to see if gvim
(GUI Vim)
is installed, I try
to run
the following
two
commands
from a command-line prompt.
1. Try the distribution’s default package manager
If it’s not already installed, I first try the distribution’s default package manager. For example, on openSUSE I install gvim with this sequence of commands:
zypper search gvim zypper info gvim sudo zypper install gvim
ℹ | On some
Linux distributions, the GVim package
is called
vim-gtk
or
vim-gtk3
rather than gvim. |
2. Look at the app’s primary website
If the default package manager…
does not have the app
or does not have a recent version of the app
…then, I go to the app’s website and see what they suggest.
ℹ | Because I use lots of Linux distros, I usually prefer distro-independent installers (Eget, Flatpak, Homebrew, Snap, etc.). |
2.1. Eget
If an app is available as a single binary with no dependencies and is on GitHub, you can install it with Eget. For example, you can install the latest version of micro editor[3] with this sequence of commands:
cd ~/bin eget zyedidia/micro
To learn about Eget, see Infinite Ink’s Eget: Easily Get & Install Some Apps (featuring installing the latest Hugo).
To learn more about installing micro with Eget, see github.com/zyedidia/micro#eget.
2.2. Flatpak and Flathub
qutebrowser.org’s Installing qutebrowser suggests using Flathub. Details are at…
To learn about Flatpak and Flathub in general, see:
💡 | To update a flatpak-installed app, you can usually use your system’s software store, for example KDE Discover. |
2.3. Homebrew on Linux
Hugo’s Install Hugo article suggests this Homebrew command:
brew install hugo
This installs extended Hugo.
To upgrade this brew-installed hugo, run:
brew upgrade hugo
To learn about Homebrew on Linux, see docs.brew.sh/Homebrew-on-Linux.
2.4. Snap
Hugo’s Install Hugo article also suggests the following Snap command.
snap install hugo --channel=extended
To learn about Snap, see snapcraft.io.
3. Look at Repology
3.1. qutebrowser @ repology.org
Information about qutebrower’s packaging status is at repology.org/project/qutebrowser/versions and right here in this Repology badge:
3.2. Hugo @ repology.org
Information about Hugo’s packaging status is at repology.org/project/hugo-sitegen/versions and right here in this Repology badge:
See also
For more related to nix-nux, see Infinite Ink’s…
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