I've been curious about the terminal and its relationship with software installation. When I run commands to install or download applications, where exactly does it pull those files from? Is it straightforward like a web browser that retrieves stuff from specific sites, or is it more complex?
4 Answers
It all depends on the command you're using to install the software. For instance, when you perform a command like `apt install package`, your package manager connects to repositories configured in your system, typically HTTP servers maintained by your Linux distribution. These repositories can include anything from official sources to community mirrors. The package manager downloads a list of available software and chooses packages from there. So, in simpler terms, it's all about what repositories you have set up on your system!
Initially, software developers create their applications and upload them to 'repositories.' This could be platforms like PyPi for Python packages or tailored repositories for different Linux distributions. Each repository contains versions of software, and the package manager like dnf or apt pulls from these repositories when you run an install command. Also worth noting, not all package managers operate the same way; some like snap only work with their designated store.
The terminal itself doesn’t download anything directly; it’s the commands you run that do the work. For example, when you use a package manager to install software, it pulls files from 'mirrors'—these are servers that host the software. If you're on Ubuntu, it might connect to a nearby university mirror, while Arch-based systems could get downloads from a research institution's server. If you're using Flatpak to install an app, it likely comes from Flathub. Plus, if you’re dealing with Docker images, they usually come from Docker Hub or specific project sites. So, the source depends largely on the command you’re using!
Right! And if you’re using wget or curl, it can be pointed at any URL on the web. You can even grab files from private servers using SSH and FTP!
Simply put, it all boils down to where you tell the terminal to fetch files. Generally, software comes from your distribution's official repositories unless you've added others. In the case of special downloads, commands like wget can grab files from anywhere on the internet.
True! It’s good to remember that if you’re pulling from your distro's repos, it’s probably safe, but pulling from random places on the internet could be risky.
Exactly! And most distributions update their repository lists automatically, making sure your package manager has the latest software available.