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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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New Linux user here. Is this really how I'm supposed to install apps on Linux? (feddit.uk)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

260 comments fedilink hide all child comments

https://mullvad.net/en/help/install-mullvad-app-linux

Trying to install VPN and these are the instructions Mullvad is giving me. This is ridiculous. There must be a more simple way. I know how to follow the instructions but I have no idea what I'm doing here. Can't I just download a file and install it? I'm on Ubuntu.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

to be fair all of that should be a flatpak you click once to install

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Frankly in this case even a simple bash script would do the trick. Have it check your distro, version, and architecture; if you got curl and stuff like this; then ask you if you want the stable or beta version of the software. Then based on this info it adds Mullvad to your repositories and automatically install it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

nowadays they always come across as lazy to me, when a bunch of options are available to make installing software on linux painless.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I like them, even for software installation. Partially because they're lazy - it takes almost no effort to write a bash script that will solve a problem like this.

That said a flatpak (like you proposed) would look far more polished, indeed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

oh i meant devs who provide packages but don't bother with install scripts.

bash scripts are fine when they exist.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Ah, got it. My bad. Yeah, not providing anything is even lazier, and unlike "lazy" bash scripts it leaves the user clueless.