Where is better to install new software?

[gemm]

Hello,

I recently switched to linux and I have started upgrading it with some programs, which I need. I have looked through some tutorials, but I still cannot understand where exactly is best to install my program, and whether it makes any difference. Whether under root, und under my user profile. I mean, any programs, which I will need (and which are not included as packages of the linux distribution): i.e. Eclipse, Prolog, R, JaxFront .... Java, XML parser, etc. ..... games, music related stuff ....

If it's under root, should I make a new directory, or put them in some of the already existing ones? I have read what the directories in root contain, but I am still a little confused: should I put them in the /opt directory? It is written that /opt contains any optional software packages, and I am free to add anything I want there. As for the /bin directory: I understand that I should leave it as it is, and it should be changes only if the packages (programs) in it are upgraded. I assume the same is for the /sbin directory (?). Actually, the difference between the /bin and /sbin directory is that the programs in /sbin are intended to be used by the root (administrator), right?

I will be happy to get any advice and comments. Thank you.

[Dapper Dan]

Hi gemm and welcome to the forums.

There are of course some exceptions but by and large you'll want to install these programs as root and let the install scripts put the files where they go by default. Unless you just have some special custom need to do otherwise, that should be sufficient. The best way to install packages is through your distribution's package manager, and that will require you to either install as "sudo" or as root depending. Tell us what distro you are using and we likely can assist you further.

Dapper

[oz]

For new users, it's usually best to use the default package tool for whatever distribution you are running. The package tool will automatically install any packages to the correct location. You need root permissions to install software and you can get that by using the su command, or by using sudo if you have that installed and properly configured.

[gemm]

Hi again,
thanks a lot for the replies. I am using Slackware, with KDE (KPackage as package manager). Yes, I have seen that even if I am in my profile, I am always asked for the root password, when I want to install something.

One more question: the /bin directory looks different than the directory, which I have created to download the .tar or .rpm packages in, and then install them. For example, I've downloaded
vpnclient-linux-x86_64-4.8.01.0640-k9.tar.gz*
and saved it in my_user_profile/my_programs. I've extracted it there, then in the newly created 'vpnclient' folder, I've install it (without package manage, just ./configure, make, make install). And I expect that when I type 'which', I will get the path to this folder, namely: my_user_profile/my_programs/vpnclient. What I get when I type 'which vpnclient', however, is /usr/local/bin/vpnclient. Why is this like that? What do I have in /usr/local/bin/vpnclient - it is not exactly the vpnclient directory ... ?

[oz]

For Slackware, pkgtool is the default utility.

You can find more on package management under Slackware here:

Slackware Package Management

In fact, you might want to read the entire Slackware Linux Essentials book when you have some spare time.

In addition, you can find lots of ready-to-go Slackware packages here if you should need them:

LinuxPackages: View

These packages come in handy when you can't find what you want in the official Slackware repositories.

Best of luck with it.