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.

  • intensely_human@lemm.ee
    3·
    10 months ago

    A “package” goes beyond library or app, basically by being part of a package management system:

    • I has a version number in a standardized format, which package managers can use to reason about dependencies
    • It declares its own dependencies, with version constraints. It will have entries like “In order to run I need a copy of jsonReader version at least 0.12.1”

    I think that might be it.

    Just in the same way both rice and bread come in a package at the grocery store, and both of their packaging has nutrition info, UPC barcode, and net weight printed on it. The packaging itself allows these goods to be distributed through a particular system.

    The barcode is part of the packaging standard, and then the “package management” processes of retail use that barcode for their own inventory management, checkout, etc.