Hey everyone! I'm currently using Linux Mint and thinking of switching to Arch or Cachy eventually, but I'm struggling with managing applications right now. Some apps are easy to install through the software manager, which is great! But others require manual downloads, and each one seems to have its own installation method. I've seen instructions like, "Copy this command line!" or "Use the installation wizard!" and even directions including checking if I'm using an Ubuntu-based OS.
While I usually manage to get it done without too much hassle, updating software is where I get really confused. For instance, Visual Studio Code keeps prompting me to update, but when I follow the link, it leads to a page with two different file types. Do I just overwrite the old files? It's a bit overwhelming for someone who's used to Windows, where the file structure isn't something I constantly have to think about. Is keeping track of all these files a normal part of using Linux, or am I overthinking this?
2 Answers
The best practice on Linux is to use the package manager for everything. If you install software through an executable outside the package manager, you'll need to manually check for updates later. Generally, if you installed using `apt`, you can just update it all with `sudo apt upgrade`. But some software, like certain executable files, may not come with auto-update features, so you might have to reinstall or check their website for updates.
You might want to look for an official repository for your software. For example, Microsoft provides a repository for VS Code, which could simplify updates for you. That way, you just need to add the repo, and your package manager handles the rest!
That makes sense! I'll check if VS Code has a repo option.