The Linux and Open Source world is an ecosystem that is constantly evolving. Every day thousands of passionate people worldwide are working alone or together in groups to improve the kernel, the distributions, the desktop environments and applications. There are a huge number of applications available for the Linux platform for different use cases. Some of these applications are dedicated for a specific distribution, but most of these applications can be used under any Linux distribution. The great thing about a Linux distribution like Zorin OS is that it has some sort of app store from which it is very easy and convenient to search for, install or remove applications. But there are also other ways to search and install applications, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this first part I will explain which ways applications are being distributed to the users, how these different ways work and what you need to do to enable these different approaches.
Different ways to install applications
As mentioned in the introduction, there are several ways to install applications under Zorin OS. You may be wondering why there isn’t just one way. In a world where software is not developed for commercial reasons but from an open source community perspective, there are many people involved with many opinions that can lead to many different approaches and different solutions This can be a good thing, but it can also lead to confusion and decision-stress for the end user, especially for beginning Linux users. The good thing is that there are multiple levels of convenience, simplicity and safety, but the question is what approach is the best for you. Some users just need stable software that they can install in a simple way, similar to a Google Play store or an Apple App store. Other users feel the need to always install the latest bleeding edge versions of software, perhaps those even still under development, and find it less important that software is stable. That is why there are different approaches for different users.
For Zorin OS we can distinguish the following software distribution methods:
- Software center
- Synaptic Package Manager
- PPA Personal Package Archives
Software installation via the Zorin OS Software center
The Zorin OS Software center is probably the most convenient software platform and offers the simplest way to search for, install and remove software. If you are very visually oriented and you appreciate the way in which the Google Play store or the Apple App store works, you will also appreciate the software center. The software center shows you by means of different categories, such as Accessories, Games, Graphics, Office, Programming and Sound and Video, which applications are available in the repository. It gives a short description and screenshots of each application, it shows how popular an application is and gives user reviews if available. But there is a catch.
What is important to know is that Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu and uses the Ubuntu software repository (you can read more on the release cycle of a Zorin OS distribution in an earlier lesson of this course). Zorin OS 16.X is based on the previous LTS (Long Term Support) stable base of Ubuntu 20.04. In older versions of Zorin OS, the software (based on .deb format) in the LTS based repository of Ubuntu was not changing until the next LTS release. There is a two years release cycle for the LTS releases, so at the first day the LTS version of Ubuntu is being released, most software in the repository is up to date. But it takes two years before the software in the repository will be updated again and this also applies to Zorin OS. If that is not a problem for you the software center should be your first choice as it is convenient, but more important, it is safe. You can trust that the software in this repository is not being compromised by viruses and other nasty things. But you still had to deal with older applications.
But things have changed. Zorin OS is currently the distro with the broadest set of application formats directly available from the Software center, because it enables you to install applications from the Ubuntu repository, the Zorin OS repository, Flathub, and the Snap Store out of the box. More about these different formats in the remainder of this lesson, but for now it is important to know that for example Snap packages are always updated directly, so you never have old software based on this format.
So how can we use the Zorin OS Software center?
1) Click on the Zorin OS menu item to open the application main menu.
2) Click on Software.
Note: You can also just search for “Software” to find the Software app.
The following screen will be opened.
In this screen you can just browse through different categories, or if you know the name of the application you need, you can directly search for it. As an example, let’s look for the application Krita. You just type Krita in the search area and as you type, the result becomes more accurate until you end up with only Blender.
Now click on the krita icon / result bar and all kinds of nice details will be presented to you about this application, like a description, multiple screenshots, a link to the website, details about size and the age rating.
You also see in the right top corner a button with the label Source and current value Flathub. When you click on it you see two options, Flathub and format Package. This is what I mentioned before. Depending on the application, there can be different sources: Ubuntu repository, Zorin OS repository, Flathub, and the Snap Store.
To install the application simply click on the Install button and the installation process starts. When you choose the Package format, probably a pop up will be shown that asks to confirm that some additional software will be installed required by the application selected by you. Then the system will ask for authentication, so you need to give your password. And then the application will be installed in a short time. When you select the Flathub format, this will not happen because it is a containerized format containing all required dependencies, that has no direct impact on the operating system and other applications, so no sudo confirmation is required.
After the installation is finished, you will see two new buttons: Launch and Remove.
You can start the application by clicking on Launch. But as you normally will do, you can also open the Zorin OS application menu and search for the application. And if you want to get rid of the application in the future, just go back to the software center, search for Krita and hit the Remove button. Very simple stuff.
Software installation via Synaptic Package Manager
A somewhat longer existing alternative to the Software center is the Synaptic Package Manager. The software center and the Synaptic Package Manager actually work in the same way, but there is a big difference in the presentation. The Synaptic Package Manager feels much more technical than the software center and may seem less friendly to the beginner. But on the other hand, the Synaptic Package Manager offers many more options to be in control of what you do and do not want to install. The Synaptic Package Manager also provides much more detailed insight into what is installed on your system and more advanced functions such as software package repair.
As I already explained in the section on the software center, you should be aware that Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu and uses the Ubuntu software repository for the standard package format. The software in the LTS based repository of Ubuntu will not change between two LTS releases, so it takes two years before the classic package based software in the repository will be updated again. This means that the same pros and cons as described earlier, also apply for the Synaptic Package Manager.
So how to use the Zorin OS Synaptic Package Manager?
1) Synaptic is not standard available in Zorin OS, so we have to install it first. Open Software center and search for Synaptic.
2) Install Synaptic Package Manager.
3) Start Synaptic Package Manager.
The following screen will be opened.
As you can see, the Synaptic Package Manager has a much less friendly interface and looks a bit technical and outdated.
In this screen you see different sections. The menu bar for all menu options, the toolbar for the main actions, the category selector with different scopes on the software packages, the package list, the description field that shows the description of the selected package, and the status bar.
For this lesson it goes too far to discuss each individual option of Synaptic Package Manager. For now it is more important to follow an example that explains searching for applications, the installation itself and removing packages. Let’s for example try to install the application hugin, which is designed to stitch photos.
4) Click on Search.
5) Type “Hugin” and click Search.
Now you see the following screen:
In this screen you see multiple packages that show up because of your search criteria.
6) Select the package “hugin” by clicking on the selection box.
A pop up screen opens.
7) Select the option “Mark for installation”.
Another pop up opens which indicates that there are other packages that will be affected and that there are more packages that need to be installed because of your selection of Hugin.
8) Click on “Mark”.
Now you are back on the main screen and additional packages are selected.
9) In the toolbar click on “Apply”.
A summary will pop up.
10) Click on “Apply” again to install the selected packages.
11) When the “Changes applied” screen is visible click on “Close”.
Now Hugin has been installed including all dependencies and is ready for you to use.
If you want to remove the application again, just right click on hugin, select Mark for removal, and click on Apply.
Software installation via PPA Personal Package Archives
I already indicated earlier in this lesson that the Zorin OS repository contains a huge number of applications, but that they are not always up to date. In addition, there are many applications, but also for example drivers, available for Linux that are not in the standard repository, but are offered through alternative repositories. These alternative repositories, also known as PPA or Personal Package Archives, can be added to Zorin OS so that it is clear to the operating system where these sources are located.
Adding a PPA to Zorin OS can be done in two ways, namely via Software & Updates or via the command line. As an example, let’s try to set up the PPA for the application Blender, which is “ppa:thomas-schiex/blender”.
Adding PPA via Software & Updates
1) Open the Zorin OS main menu and search for “Software Updater”.
2) Start “Software Updater”.
The following screen shows up:
3) Click on “Settings…”.
4) Select tab “Other Software”.
The following screen shows up:
5) Click on “Add…”.
6) Enter “ppa:thomas-schiex/blender”, and click on “Add Source”.
Now the PPA has been added to the “Other Software” list.
7) Click on Close.
The following pop up will be shown:
8) Click on Reload to update your system based on this change.
You will get a message that the software on your computer is up to date. Now we can install Blender.
9) Start Software center and search for Blender.
Now we see the Blender version provided via the PPA we just added.
Adding PPA via the the command line
On my website I mentioned many times that I try to stay away as much as possible from the command line, if there is also a graphical alternative available. But sometimes the command line is without a doubt simpler to use. As an example let’s have a look again at the application Blender. So do the following:
1) Open the terminal via keyboard combination Ctrl + Alt + T.
2) Type the following command to add the PPA to your system:
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:thomas-schiex/blender && sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y blender
just by this single command string, which actually combies 3 individual commands, you can do the same as described in the previous section.
Final words
In this first part of the lesson on application distribution and formats, I have shown several ways how you can search, select, install and remove new software under Zorin OS or whatever other Ubuntu based distribution. Often you will not use just one method. Personally, I always like to go to the website of an application developer first. There I find all information about how it works and about updates and it is usually explained what the recommended method is to install the software.
Go to the Zorin OS Course overview:
Zorin OS Course – Overview of all lessons
Note: This course was written some years ago based on Zorin OS 16.1, but it still fits mostly fine with the most recent 18.1 version. I am currently writing a new book on the most recent Zorin OS, so keep checking this website for updates if you are interested.
Have a look at my latest book on Linux, in Paperback or Kindle format.
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