Install Applications

antiX Linux, like most linux based distributions, has access to a repository which stores the most basic form of a software, named "packages".

A repository is a collection of software packages for a Linux distribution. antiX is based in Debian, so it uses the Debian repositories and it’s own antiX repository.

A package is a type of archive containing computer programs and additional metadata which are read by a package manager. The package manager reads the instructions and information contained in the packages to perform different operation (like installing and removing). Most packages require other packages (named dependencies) for them to properly work.

In Debian, software is packaged in a .deb file format, and can be easily installed by using the package manager. Most of the sofware a user may need will be packaged and accessible from the repository but, depending on the user's needs, they may need to find other sources for the software the want on their system.

Some of the different ways to access and install software in antiX Linux are described in this article.

Package Installer
All gui flavors of antiX Linux come with a Package Installer already available. It is similar to a small “antiX app store”, where any user will find a list of over a hundred of the most installed software applications, divided into categories. It is fully searchable and is generally updated every few month to add new selections requested by the community.

The most used browsers (like Firefox, Google Chrome or Opera), text editors (like the latest version of Libreoffice), the most used Video and Audio players (VLC, mplayer or Spotify), email clientas, Window managers and software from other categories can be easily installed and uninstalled using the Package Installer.

It can be launched from the antiX Control Centre (System section), called using App Select or launched from the menu (Applications > System > Package Installer)

Synaptic package manager
Synaptic package manager is a very powerful application that allows you to install and manage any software application available from the Debian repositories. You can search for any package indexed by APT, from any of the sources added to the system.

Synaptic is included in the Full edition of antiX Linux, and if installed, can be launched from the Control Centre (System section, under the name "Package Manager"), or from the menu (Applications > System > Synaptic Package Manager).

cli-aptiX
Included in all of antiX Linux' editions, cli-aptiX is a command line wrapper around the basic "APT" commands. It shares with the Package Installer the idea of easily presenting a selection of popular programs, both graphical and terminal based programs.

Its also present an easy way to search for antiX specially built Linux kernels, and install them (with their headers). cli-aptiX can be launched from the Control Centre (when Synapticis not installed, from the System section, under the name "Package Manager"), from the menu (Applications > antiX > CLI APT-based Package Manager), or directly from terminal.

Manual installation of .deb packages
Some packages are not available to download directly from the repos (or newer versions of a program has been packaged elsewhere), so there is also the posibility of downloading .deb packages and wanting to install them on the system.

GDebi
GDebi is an APT tool that can install a local .deb file the same way a dpkg command would, but with access to repositories to resolve dependencies.

With Gdebi, installing .deb packages in a graphical environment is easy. With your file manager, move to the directory that hosts the .deb package you want to install, right-click it and Open the .deb file with GDebi. Then click install and it will try to figure out what dependencies it needs to download for the package to work and do it for you.

dpkg command
Using dpkg command will only install the package to your system. You will then need to fix the dependencies needed for the package to work.

apt install local packages
This is the preferred way to install local packages in antiX, as it will update the Applications menu automatically and add the new program there (to the corresponding category). It will also automatically check for the needed dependencies and isnatll them for you.