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The Linux tool you forgot about: How Synaptic makes software installation a breeze
I’ve been around Linux long enough to have experienced nearly every package manager (GUI or not) ever created.
I remember, in 2001, when a particular GUI frontend for the apt package manager was first released. I had become so accustomed to installing software from the command line that a GUI tool seemed like crazy talk.
But I decided to give this new kid on the block a try and see how it fared.
I was impressed and glad not to always have to type commands to install the software I needed.
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Back then, Synaptic was a welcome and modern change. It seemed, dare I say, fancy!
Since Synaptic was released, other software centers, such as GNOME Software and Discover, have arrived, causing me to leave Synaptic behind. However, I have come across a few Linux distributions lately that default to Synaptic, so even though this package manager GUI is long in the tooth, it’s still very relevant.
So, how do you install software with Synaptic? Let me show you.
How to install software with Synaptic
What you’ll need: The only thing you’ll need for this is an Ubuntu/Debian-based distribution that includes Synaptic. If your distribution of choice doesn’t use this GUI and you’d like to try it, you can install it with the command:
sudo apt-get install synaptic -y
Click your desktop menu icon and search for Synaptic. Depending on the Linux distribution you use, the location of Synaptic may vary. When you open Synaptic, you’ll be prompted for your user password. After successful authentication, the Synaptic main window will appear.
Synaptic might not have the most modern looking GUI, but it’s effective at what it does.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Click Search in the upper-right corner of the Synaptic window, then type the name of the software you want to install. For example, if you want to install the Audacity audio recorder, type “Audacity” when prompted and hit Enter on your keyboard.
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From the results, click the checkbox associated with Audacity, then, from the drop-down, click Mark for Installation. Audacity will return with several dependencies that must be installed. Click Mark to confirm the installation of the dependencies.
You have to manually mark packages for installation with Synaptic.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Finally, hit Apply, and then, when prompted, click Apply a second time. The installation will begin and should finish without issue.
How to upgrade with Synaptic
You can also upgrade your installed software with Synaptic. Here’s how to do that.
1. Open the Upgrade window
Click Mark All Upgrades in the toolbar and a new pop-up will appear listing all of the additional required changes.
2. Mark the changes
If you’re OK with what’s about to be installed, click Mark. A new pop-up will appear. Click Mark in the new pop-up, then, when prompted, click Apply a second time. This will launch the upgrade process. When the upgrade is complete, click Close to dismiss the “Changes applied” pop-up.
Preparing to Upgrade Ubuntu Linux.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
How to fix a broken installation
Every so often, an installation might go sideways. With the apt-package manager, this is resolved with the -f option, as in:
sudo apt-get install -f
That usually fixes things.
Synaptic has an option for that very thing. If you are notified that a package is broken, click “Edit” > “Fix Broken Packages.” Once you’ve done that, click “Apply,” and the fix will be taken care of.
Other Synaptic tricks
There are a few other cool tricks you can pull off with Synaptic. Here’s a short list:
Also: How to install Arch Linux without losing your mind
- Lock a package version – Say you want to make sure a particular piece of software isn’t upgraded (I’ve done this with the likes of Python). If you search for the software you want to lock, select it, and then click “Package” > “Lock Version,” the software won’t upgrade until you unlock it.
- Purge an app – You can also purge an app, which uninstalls the app and removes all configuration and cache files as well. To do that, search for the app in question, select it, and then click “Package” > “Mark for complete removal.”
- View app properties – If you select a particular app and then click the “Properties” button, a pop-up will appear that lists the application’s common information, dependencies, installed files, available versions, and a description. This is a great way to get more information about an app before you install it.
- View a screenshot of the app – If you want to see a screenshot of the app you’re about to install, mark it for installation and then click “Get Screenshot” from the application description. This will download and open a screenshot so you can see what the application looks like.
If you find your distribution of choice includes the Synaptic GUI, I’d highly recommend you consider using it, as it’s generally faster than more modern GUIs, makes it easier to view details about packages, helps fix things (should they go awry), and can purge applications (which other GUIs can’t do).
