Software installation?

[Lemino]

Hi! (using RH8)
Having trouble understanding the program-installation process in Linux. I understand this package-thing, and also that you might instead download the source and compile it on you own. (although I don't know how to compile) What I don't understand is WHERE you install things. In windows, that is the OS I have previous used, you get to choose where to install during the process. In Linux it seems as if you don't get that choise, or do you? Where does the installed software end up? How is it organised? (A part of the problem might be that I'm not to fly when it comes to Linux's stucture.)

Another thing: how do yo run what you have just installed? Do yo have to manually create a shortcut or does the installation-process automatically create a shortcut/icon in the gnome-menu? How does it work?

/Erik

[trilarian]

Normailly commands to run them are put in /bin or /sbin or /usr/bin. These are pathed sort of like the old Dos days where you would put path=c:\windows in the autoexec.bat. So they are executable from any directory. If you can't remeber the exact command, type what you know and hit tab. It will either fill in the rest or show you the possible options left with what you typed. That is from the console. If you want an icon, I believe you can right click and select new launcher. Then where it says command, just type what you would on the command line.

[Hayl]

Originally posted by trilarian
If you want an icon, I believe you can right click and select new launcher. Then where it says command, just type what you would on the command line.

the process of creating an icon is going to vary quite a bit depending on if you use the KDE or Gnome environments, or just a minimal Window Manager.

[Lemino]

Ok... I guess the reason til why binaries are sorted in different catalogues is because of the nature of the program, am I right? But where are the rest of the installed files stored? Are you able to configure the destination of them?

/Erik