3.6.2. Installing a Debian package

To demonstrate the steps involved in installing a Debian package, I will download and install RStudio Desktop — an IDE for R, distributed as a Debian package.

1. Downloading Debian package

Open the RStudio project’s download page in a web browser.

Under Choose Your Version, click on the download button below RStudio Desktop (Open Source License) (Fig. 65).

Fig. 65 Download RStudio Desktop (Open Source License)

This will take you to the installers section with information on the current version (Fig. 66).

Fig. 66 RStudio Desktop installers

Note

Although the instructions in Fig. 66 state that you will need to install R before installing RStudio, you can safely skip that step.

The Gdebi program used here, will automatically install R, while installing RStudio.

Scroll down to the All Installers section.

Click on the download link corresponding to Ubuntu 18/Debian 10 (Fig. 67).

Fig. 67 RStudio installers for different operating systems

In the dialog window that appears, select Save File and then click on the OK button (Fig. 68).

Fig. 68 Save installer file

Once the file download is complete, you can find it in your Downloads directory.

2. Installing downloaded package

Open file manager and navigate to your Downloads directory.

Double-click on the downloaded file (Fig. 69).

Fig. 69 Downloaded Debian package

This will open the Gdebi application. Click on the Install Package button (Fig. 70).

Fig. 70 Gdebi: Click on the Install Package button

You will be prompted to enter your password. Type in your password and click on the Authenticate button to proceed (Fig. 71).

Fig. 71 Enter your password when prompted

As this package has additional dependencies, another dialog will appear listing these packages, which need to be installed in order for it to work.

Click on the Continue button to proceed (Fig. 72).

Fig. 72 Additional dependencies to be installed

Installation will now proceed (Fig. 73).

Fig. 73 Installation progress

When installation is complete, you will see a message Same version is already installed, at the top of the window (Fig. 74).

Fig. 74 Package installed successfully

3. Launching installed programs

You can launch installed programs from the Applications Menu (Fig. 75).

Note

This only applies to applications with a graphical user interface.

Fig. 75 Launching installed program from applications menu

The main window of the program will be displayed (Fig. 76).

Fig. 76 Main window of RStudio Desktop