Add new software to Ubuntu
One of the features I like the most in Ubuntu, is the ease to add software to your distribution. It’s like … child’s play. Even easier than in Windows. And I’ll show you how – a quick HOWTO on adding software in Ubuntu Linux. I’ll use as many pictures as possible – using the Ubuntu Screenshot Taker 
The Add/Remove Wizard is located in your Applications menu. I have a Dutch version of Ubuntu, but the main features (such as this one), stay in English, so most likely, it will look the same in your version.
When it opens up, it will look something like the picture above. This tool you’ll be using a lot, since it is the
main access to new software in Ubuntu.
1 thing I do suggest you do, is choose the option of “All Available Applications”. By default, “Ubuntu Supported Applications” will be selected, which will only give you a selection on the total package which is available.
In this example, I will be looking for Ogle, which is a DVD-player that can handle menus. In my experience, it is also the BEST application on Linux for playing DVD’s (with menus), since the other ones I’ve tried (VLC, Totem, Kaffeine, Xine) all fail terribly at playing menu-driven DVD’s. When you click it, some notification will pop-up, after which it will be selected. However, it is not installed – yet.
To install, you simply have to hit the “Apply” button down below. It will commence to install, and you’ll see some windows pop up with notifications and progress bars. The fun part about this wizard, is the fact that it will download all dependencies too. So, you don’t have to worry about not having certain software you’ll need to run the package you selected. That immediately points out the philosophy behind Ubuntu: Linux for everyone. Where you had to be a brainiac in the old days, installing only through terminal and Google’ing the crap out of the internet, looking for the dependencies; you can just point and click now.
If all goes well (and it probably will), you’ll get a dialog stating where the software is located, and you can start using it. Hooray!
Ubuntu also has a more advanced way of managing packages and installing them, called the “Synaptics Package Manager”. The Add/Remove Wizard is actually more of a very basic GUI frontend for this Package Manager. You’ll find it in System -> Administration (or something like that) -> Synaptics Package Manager (again, I have a Dutch version of Ubuntu).
It will look somewhat less attractive, but they idea is basicly the same: you search for something, you click it (if found), and install it – it will also install all dependencies. The more advanced part is that you can manage seperate packages, where the Add/Remove Wizard only allows you to manage full software solutions. I tend to use it a lot when looking for dependencies for software I’m installing via the terminal.
Et voilà! You’re set to go Now go install all those games!
