How To Add/Remove Software
Written by Robert Clipsham
If you are new to K/Ubuntu, you may be wondering 'How do I install software? Where can I find it? Is it easy?' To put things simply for you: If you have used windows it will be a doddle.
Installing software is easy. From the menu, simply select Applications -> Add/Remove
in Kubuntu, Kmenu -> Add/Remove programs
There will then be a message saying 'Checking installed and available applications', and a loading bar.
After a few seconds, you will be presented with an easy to use interface, with categories down the side and a list of applications and a description on the right. At the top you will find a search box, which you can use to search for software.
Lets say you want to design graphics for a website, and have tried the GIMP, but don't think it has the features you need. Simply open the Add/Remove applications program, or in Kubuntu, Adept Installer, and either choose a category from the left, or use your own search terms, for example, "graphics." You can now sort the programs alphabetically or in Ubuntu by popularity. NOTE: Popularity is the number of times a program has been downloaded. Don't ignore a program just because it has a low rating. It just means it hasn't been downloaded a lot. You can also search within the graphics section for 'design' or 'web', to narrow your results more. Read the description, to find out more about a program.
Once you have found a program you would like (for web graphics I recommend Inkscape), simply click the check box next to a program and click on Apply or Next. The program will ask you if you are sure, then for your administrator password, and automatically download and install it for you.
You will get a message telling you where the shortcut is. For Inkscape it will be under Applications -> Graphics. That's it. The program has been installed and is ready for use. You will be provided with free program and security updates, without cost!
It's just as easy to remove a piece of software, if you don't want it. Simply remove the tick in the checkbox, and click Apply or Next.
There are lots of other ways, other than Add/Remove Applications, to install packages and applications on K/Ubuntu. In Ubuntu you can use Synaptic Package Manager, which gives you control over individual packages. Synaptic can be found under System -> Administration. If a program, that you want can't be found under Add/Remove Applications, but it is on the internet, you can get the packages it depends on from synaptic.
