Reza

Install app on linux

3 min read

The best path to install or place applications in Linux Mint depends on whether the software is system-wide, user-specific, or manually managed. Here are some recommended paths:

1. /opt/

  • Purpose: For manually installed software that isn’t managed by the package manager (e.g., tarballs, binaries).
  • When to use:
  • For proprietary software (e.g., Chrome, Discord, VS Code).
    • For large, standalone applications.
  • How to use:

    1. Extract or install the application into /opt/:

      bash

      Copy code

      sudo tar -xvf app.tar.gz -C /opt/

    2. Create a symbolic link to make it accessible:

      bash

      Copy code

      sudo ln -s /opt/<application-folder>/bin/<binary> /usr/local/bin/<application-name>

  • Example:
    • Installing a standalone binary like Slack or IntelliJ IDEA.

2. /usr/local/

  • Purpose: For software manually compiled and installed by the user.
  • When to use:
    • For custom-built or compiled-from-source applications.
    • For user-specific software that doesn’t interfere with system-managed /usr/.
  • How to use:

    1. Install binaries to /usr/local/bin/:

      bash

      Copy code

      sudo make && sudo make install

    2. Place libraries in /usr/local/lib/ if needed.

  • Example:
    • Manually compiling software like htop or ffmpeg.

3. $HOME/.local/

  • Purpose: For user-specific applications (no root required).
  • When to use:
    • If you don’t want to affect system-wide configurations.
  • How to use:
    • Install binaries in ~/.local/bin/.
    • Place libraries or dependencies in ~/.local/lib/.
  • Example:
    • Python virtual environments or local user-only programs.

4. /srv/

  • Purpose: For web services or server-based applications.
  • When to use:
    • For server-related software or content (e.g., web servers like Apache, Nginx).
  • Example:
    • Hosting a web app in /srv/http/.

Best Practices:

  • Use /opt/ for proprietary or precompiled software.
  • Use /usr/local/ for compiled software or tools you want available system-wide.
  • Use ~/.local/ for user-specific tools.

Let me know if you need help setting up a specific directory structure or permissions!

apt access this route? /opt/

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Yes, apt does not access directories like /opt/ or your home directory (~/.local/) by default. When you install software via apt, it typically installs packages in standard system directories such as:

  • /usr/bin/ (for executables)
  • /usr/lib/ (for libraries)
  • /etc/ (for configuration files)

However, directories like /opt/ or ~/.local/ are commonly used for manual installations, such as when extracting a .tar.gz file, like Postman, or when installing software that isn’t included in the official repositories.

To clarify:

  • If you use apt, it will install packages in system-wide directories (e.g., /usr/ or /opt/ if it’s configured that way).
  • If you install Postman manually by extracting it to ~/.local/ or /opt/, apt will not automatically manage it because it doesn’t track software installed outside of the package management system.

If you’re referring to accessing Postman in your home directory or /opt/ via the terminal or application menu:

  1. Accessing via Terminal: You would run Postman directly from the path where you extracted it, for example:

    • From /opt/:

      bash

      Copy code

      /opt/Postman/Postman

    • From ~/.local/share/Postman:

      bash

      Copy code

      ~/.local/share/Postman/Postman

  2. Accessing via Application Menu: If you create a .desktop entry for Postman (as described earlier), it will show up in the application menu regardless of whether it’s installed in /opt/, /usr/local/, or ~/.local/.

If you’d like to automate installation with apt (e.g., Postman is available as a package in some repositories), the software would need to be available in those repositories, or you would have to add a custom repository or download a .deb package to install it.

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