07 January, 2024
How to install tar.xz files in ubuntu
To install a package with the `.tar.xz` extension in Ubuntu, you generally need to extract it and then compile or run the software contained inside, as `.tar.xz` is a compressed file format, not a direct package format like `.deb`. Here are the general steps you would follow:
1. Install xz-utils
First, ensure that you have the necessary tools to deal with `.xz` compressed files. `xz-utils` is the package in Ubuntu that provides support for xz compression. You can install it using the following command:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xz-utils
2. Extract the .tar.xz File
Once you have the necessary tools, you can extract the `.tar.xz` file using the following command:
tar -xf filename.tar.xz
Replace `filename.tar.xz` with the actual file name of your `.tar.xz` file.
3. Change to the Directory
After extraction, there will typically be a directory with the same name as the archive. Change to that directory:
cd extracted_folder
Replace `extracted_folder` with the name of the folder created after extraction.
4. Read the Documentation
Before proceeding, it's essential to read any available documentation. Most source distributions include a `README` or `INSTALL` file with instructions:
cat README
cat INSTALL
5. Compile and Install
The exact steps can vary depending on the software, but commonly, software distributed in source form uses the following pattern:
./configure
make
sudo make install
- `./configure` prepares the software to be compiled on your specific system.
- `make` compiles the software.
- `sudo make install` installs the software.
Caveats and Considerations:
- Dependencies: The software might depend on other packages being installed. Check the documentation for a list of dependencies and ensure they are installed beforehand.
- Check for a PPA or Deb: Before going through the process of compiling from source, check if there's a Personal Package Archive (PPA) or a `.deb` package available for the software. It's usually simpler and safer to install software through package managers.
- Security: Ensure that the source you're downloading and installing is legitimate and secure. Compiling and installing software from source means you're trusting that the code is safe to run.
- Updates: Software installed from source won't automatically update. You'll need to manually repeat the process for future updates.
By following these general steps, you should be able to install most software distributed as `.tar.xz` on Ubuntu. Always refer to the specific instructions provided with the software you're installing, as steps can vary between different programs.