===== Install Linux software =====

Software we will install on Linux virtual machine will show up **on all Client PCs** of the laboratory and can be used **by all users**. So we maintain **one Linux installation** for many workstations. 

==== Software Center ====

<note>Installing software on Linux is different than installing on Windows. Available software is located on **software repositories on the Internet** and we can easily **install new** or **update** existing, from a **Software Center**. This installation method, exists and evolves for over 20 years on Linux. This is similar to the way we install software on our smartphones.</note>

There are at least 2 available Software Application Centers, **Synaptic**, **Lubuntu Software Center** and **Gnome Software Center**. We can try them and use the one we prefer.

=== Synaptic ===

Synaptic is the oldest Software Center. Less beautiful, but equally practical and with the most options. We will install **gimp**, an application with a lot of image editing abilities, similar to Photoshop.

  - From the menu on the bottom left we go to menu **System Tools / Synaptic Package Manager**.
  - We are asked to select the **user** with permissions to install software and type user password. Our personal network account should already have administrative rights on Linux.
  - We press the **Reload** button on the upper left, to update the package list with the latest available versions.
  - We click on **Search** and type **gimp**. Alternatively there are sections on the left pane. Gimp in particular is in section Graphics Multiverse.
  - From the result list, we find gimp and check it. All additional packages that need to be installed are shown. We click on **Mark for Installation**.
  - We click on **Apply** button. All needed packages are downloaded and installed.
  - After installation is finished, we can start **Gimp** application from Start button on the bottom left on the menu **Graphics**.


=== Gnome Software Center ===

Let's say we want to install **scratch**

  - From the menu on the bottom left we select menu **System Tools / Software**.
  - On Gnome Software Center, we go to Updates and we update the package list with the latest available versions.
  - We type **scratch** on search.
  - From the list we select scratch and click on **Install**  
  - We are asked to select the **user** with permissions to install software and type user password. Our personal network account should already have administrative rights on Linux.
  - All necessary packages are downloaded and installed. After installation is finished, we can start **scratch** application from Start button on the bottom left on the menu **Programming**.

We try to install other software either using **search** if we know their name, or selecting them by browsing per **software category**.

<note tip>Other useful education software we can check out are : **geany, klavaro, tuxmath, childsplay, audacity, dia.** 

==== Custom installation ====

Installing software on linux is **rarely done with a standalone installation file**, downloaded from internet, copied from usb or uploaded by ftp. However if a custom installation is needed, we transfer the file with a similar way (see [[en:quickstart:installapptowinvm]]) and we follow the instructions we have for the **custom installation** of the specific software.