Installing Debian Linux Packages

Corel Linux is based on the Debian GNU/Linux operating system, so Corel Linux uses Debian software packages (If you use Corel Linux, you should avoid installing things that ask you to remove something with the word "corel" in it or you may accidentally remove Corel Linux's special desktop and tools.) The normal way to install Debian packages is with the "apt" program, but Corel Linux users also have the option of using the graphical Corel Update utility. Both approaches have their ups and downs. Corel Update lets you browse around a list of installed and available packages, but apt-get is simpler and more standard across Debian-based systems.

Install Debian packages with apt:

• Login as root
• Open the file /etc/apt/sources.list (it is a text file)
• Add this line to the end of the file:

  deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian potato main contrib non-free

• Save and close the source.list file
• Open a terminal window
• Type "apt-get update" and press enter
• Type "apt-get install " followed by the name of the package and press enter

Install Debian packages with Corel Update:

• Open the main menu (like the "Start" menu except it isn't)
• Select Applications, System, Corel Update.
• Enter the root password when asked for Super User Password
• I recommend adding the official Debian packages at debian.org to your package sources so you can get important developer tools that are not part of the plain old Corel Linux distribution. You only need to do this the first time you run Corel Update:
  • In the Edit menu select Set Package Sources
  • Check the Custom Paths box
  • Un-check the two default custom paths
  • Click on the Add button
    • Set the URL to http://http.us.debian.org
    • Set Distribution to debian
    • Set Version to potato (it's a codename for debian 2.2)
    • You only need 3 Categories: main, contrib and non-free
    • Click OK to return to the Package Sources dialog
  • Click OK to return to the main Corel Update screen
• Click on the first icon, Update Profile (also in File menu) You may need to wait a while for this process to finish
• Select the Available Software tab
• Find the the package you want (Try the Find option in the Edit menu)
• Double click on the package when you find it
• Click on the second icon, Upgrade/Install Packages (This option can also be found in the File menu)
• You may need to wait a while for this process to finish
• Now you are done, so you can close Corel Update