Book Image

Linux Mint Essentials

By : Jay LaCroix
Book Image

Linux Mint Essentials

By: Jay LaCroix

Overview of this book

A task-oriented look at Linux Mint, using actual real-world examples to stimulate learning. Each topic is presented in an easy-to-follow order, with hands-on activities to reinforce the content. If you are starting out with Linux from a different platform or are well versed with Linux Mint and want a guide that shows you how to exploit certain functionality, this book is for you. No previous Linux experience is assumed.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
16
Index

Managing packages in Linux Mint


A concept known as package management separates the method by which software is distributed in Linux versus other platforms. If you've used other environments such as Windows or Mac OS X, you may have become very familiar with their methods of installing new programs. With Windows, you typically download an executable installer (for example, .exe or .msi) and navigate through an installation routine known as a wizard. On Mac OS X, you can download installation images (.dmg or .iso files) and install them into your Applications folder. Linux, on the other hand, uses packages that are downloaded from repositories.

What may be confusing to new users is the fact that not only is the method of obtaining new software very different in the Linux world, but also, each distribution has its own way of handling packages. In fact, a distribution's method of package management is one of the biggest differences that sets each of the distributions apart from one another....