New Linux user here. Is this really how I'm supposed to install apps on Linux? - eviltoast

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.

  • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
    44·
    10 months ago

    then every week or so go back to the website, check if a new version was released, if so download it and install it again

    Don’t know what kind of program you’re running but… No.

    Also if you want adoption you need to make your product easy to use and not ask them to become experts at how things work. Do you think all bike riders know how to adjust their derailer or even care to know? No, because people have other things they care about. Same guess 6 for computers, if Linux requires users to understand how to do things manually in the terminal then the “year of the Linux computer” will never happen.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
      42·
      10 months ago

      the “year of the Linux computer” will never happen.

      It won’t, that’s fine. People who don’t want to lean anything about computers use iOS and Android now. And that’s fine. I never want Linux distros to become like that.

      • someacnt_@lemmy.world
        1·
        10 months ago

        Honestly the more I hear “year of linux will never happen”, the more I am convinced it might come. I see ppl being defensive against a new trend

    • Nibodhika@lemmy.world
      2·
      10 months ago

      Don’t know what kind of program you’re running but… No.

      My Linux has updates every week, which means that if I was on Windows to keep everything the same up to date I would need to check every website to see which app released this week, maybe this week Firefox had a new release, maybe next week it’s mullvad VPN, and next week is the NVIDIA driver, but if I hadn’t checked all of them I would not know which ones have a new release.

      Also if you want adoption you need to make your product easy to use and not ask them to become experts at how things work

      Agreed, but also you should have options so that power users can take advantage of it.

      Do you think all bike riders know how to adjust their derailer or even care to know?

      Do you think that bikes should not have gears since most people don’t know how they work? No, because even if you don’t understand the mechanics you can understand the general terms, and even if you don’t understand gears you can just not use them, same as a package manager. Options is always better.

      if Linux requires users to understand how to do things manually in the terminal then the “year of the Linux computer” will never happen.

      It doesn’t require it, you’re ignoring the fact that OP could have just clicked download and download an installer same as he would on Windows. But if you can use the terminal and understand package managers you can use Linux in a way that Windows is impossible, if you can’t you can still use Linux in the same way you would windows with all of the sales downsides.