Ubuntu – Ways to Install and uninstall programs in deb format

11.10installation

What are ways to install/uninstall programs in Ubuntu. I will mention only .deb since it is the official package format and for example installing a .sh or .run program can typically be as simple as (In latest Ubuntu) ./program.sh or sh program.run.

Also note that am talking about HOW to install packages IN Ubuntu, not talking about downloading a new installer (Like some Super Cow Software Center Duke Nukem version from sourceforge or something). Only tools that already come in the repositories (In any of the 4 standard ones, main, universe, restricted or multiverse).

Take into consideration all GUI and terminal ways of doing it, with basic format of doing the installation. With this in mind I am talking for example about Software Center, synaptic, apt-get, aptitude, dpkg, etc… a way to show all tools that are available in Ubuntu to install deb packages.

NOTE – Forgot, this should be Community Wiki since it will have all ways a user can install/uninstall something. Like a friendly guide on doing that.

UPDATED question to remove the confusion some are having about sh/run files.

Best Answer

Ways to Install & Uninstall .deb packages in Ubuntu:

SOFTWARE CENTER

This is the default GUI installer/uninstaller for Ubuntu to search, install and remove applications.

enter image description here

SYNAPTIC

This was the old way which can still be used by installing the synaptic package. It works similar to Software Center with a few differences like installing multiple packages at the same time and other details..

enter image description here

APT-GET & APT-CACHE

This are the default terminal ways in Ubuntu to search, install, update and remove applications.

Searching & Installing
Search & Install

enter image description here
Remove an application

enter image description here
Remove an application COMPLETELY (Including config files)

enter image description here
Update Repositories

APTITUDE

This was the old terminal way of searching, installing, updating and removing applications. Can be used by installing the aptitude package.

enter image description here
Search & Install

enter image description here
Remove an application

enter image description here
Remove an application COMPLETELY (Including config files)

enter image description here
Update Repositories

DPKG

enter image description here
Installing a package

enter image description here
Removing a package

enter image description here
Purging a package

There are other cases like dselect, PackageKit and GDebi. For Kubuntu you have alternatives like Kubuntu's Adept Manager, newer KPackageKit or Muon.

As an alternative to DEB packages you have alien which can installed RPM packages (Not to be confused with Revolutions Per Minute since that would make Fedora really fast ;) )

Related Question