where to install programs

[thebluejay]

I want to install Firefox 3.5. If I create a folder in the home folder called programs and put the downloaded file in there and try to run it with tar, I am told that the directories required cannot be opened and I don't have permissions. If I run it in different folders, like usr/lib or something sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Are there particular folders that can be used to install programs?

Jay

[mick55]

Things may appear random but they are not.
It depends on permissions, ownership and path.

However if you would like to install the latest version of firefox,
there is an easier way.If you use Ubuntuzilla it will upgrade
your existing firefox keeping all settings and branding.
Installing from a tarball will install a separate version of firefox,
so for example you would have firefox 3.0 and firefox 3.53.

Here is the link for Ubuntuzilla

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ubuntuzilla/

It is a .deb file which is like a windows exe file.
Just double click it and follow the instructions.

[Old Marcus]

If you install the official firefox version to a folder in your home folder, you get all permissions, and can update it separately to the other updates.

Though I recommend Swiftfox, an optimized and sped up version of Firefox for Linux, with its own repository and up to date.

[DrHu]

If I run it in different folders, like usr/lib or something sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Are there particular folders that can be used to install programs?

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/download- ... -os-x.html
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... 04-735616/
Some applications can be run without being installed (shared globally for other users), and could run in your /home directory, but not all (many) Linux applications would be like that

Best answer, wherever the package manager wants to install the files to, if you check in Mint menu>Package manager>(enter your admin password) Reload, search for Firefox

• Using Firefox 3 as an example, mark to install
• Apply
  --check Properties to see which directories (folders) are going to be used
• Check before continuing, where files will be installed to
  --don't install Firefox 3, it wasn't the one you wanted anyway

Yes, based on the FHS (File Hierarchy Standard) in Linux
--there are some common locations, such as /home for user data (settings, profiles, application links)

Linux FHS..or a specific distribution style Red hat based (.rpm); Debian base (.deb)
http://wiki.debian.org/FilesystemHierarchyStandard
http://en.kioskea.net/contents/linux/linarb.php3
http://www.rwxrwxrwx.com/ch4.php
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4121
magazine article on FHS..
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Vbsj-yhipTw/R ... ucture.jpg
--picture (image) of FHS..

[thebluejay]

I think I get it now. I need to download the tarball to a temporary directory and then use cp to tell tar to install the app to the required location. In this case, I found that the old firefox was installed in /usr/lib/firefox-3.0* so I installed it there.
Worked. Phew!
However, when I clicked on Help>About in Firefox 3.5, I got this weird message:

XML Parsing Error: undefined entity
Location: chrome://browser/content/aboutDialog.xul
Line Number 40, Column 9: &logoCopyright;
--------^

Oh, my, here we go again! LOL

BTW, I guess the firefox installation in /tmp was copied using cp to the rquired directory. I still see the original firefox folder containing the contents of tarball as well as the tarball itself in /tmp. Is it safe to delete those?


Jay

[thebluejay]

However, when I clicked on Help>About in Firefox 3.5, I got this weird message:

XML Parsing Error: undefined entity
Location: chrome://browser/content/aboutDialog.xul
Line Number 40, Column 9: &logoCopyright;
--------^

Here is the answer for the Help>About problem in Firefox 3.5. It's been reported as a bug.
http://www.mail-archive.com/universe-bu ... 06395.html

[rlindsey0]

Why not just install FF 3.5 from the repository? It should be there under the name "Shiretoko," if memory doesn't fail me. You do end up with a 2nd FF, as this doesn't overwrite your 3.0, but it works, if you just remember to click Shiretoko rather than FF whenever you want to browse. IIRC, it even picked up all my 3.0 bookmarks. You'll have to reinstall any add-ons or plugins, I believe.

[thebluejay]

The install went fine with the upgrade from Mozilla and I avoided having two versions installed. The practice using the tarball was good for me too.

jay