Three Ways to Install Software

In Linux, there are three primary methods for installing software. Using a package manager is almost always the best choice, but understanding all three is key to being a versatile system administrator. Select a method to learn more.

Live Example: Installing `htop`

Let’s see a practical comparison. Here’s how you would install `htop`, a popular interactive process viewer, using each of the three methods on a Debian/Ubuntu system. Notice the difference in complexity and number of steps.

Method 1: Package Manager

Clean, simple, and recommended.

1. Update package lists

sudo apt updateCopy

2. Install htop

sudo apt install htopCopy

Method 2: Compile from Source

More complex, requires manual dependency handling.

1. Install build tools

sudo apt install build-essential libncurses-dev autotools-dev automakeCopy

2. Download & Extract

wget https://github.com/htop-dev/htop/releases/download/3.2.2/htop-3.2.2.tar.xz
tar -xf htop-3.2.2.tar.xz
cd htop-3.2.2Copy

3. Configure, Make, Install

./configure
make
sudo make installCopy

Method 3: Manual Placement

Quick for single binaries, but less common.

1. Download pre-compiled binary

# (Assuming a pre-compiled binary exists)
wget https://example.com/htop-linux-amd64Copy

2. Make it executable

chmod +x htop-linux-amd64Copy

3. Move to PATH

sudo mv htop-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/htopCopy

Troubleshooting Guide

Even with the best methods, you can run into issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions, visible for quick reference.