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.

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 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.

1. From the menu on the bottom left we go to menu System Tools / Synaptic Package Manager.
2. 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.
3. We press the Reload button on the upper left, to update the package list with the latest available versions.
4. We click on Search and type gimp. Alternatively there are sections on the left pane. Gimp in particular is in section Graphics Multiverse.
5. 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.
6. We click on Apply button. All needed packages are downloaded and installed.
7. After installation is finished, we can start Gimp application from Start button on the bottom left on the menu Graphics.

Let's say we want to install scratch

1. From the menu on the bottom left we select menu System Tools / Software.
2. On Gnome Software Center, we go to Updates and we update the package list with the latest available versions.
3. We type scratch on search.
4. From the list we select scratch and click on Install
5. 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.
6. 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.

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 Install Windows software) and we follow the instructions we have for the custom installation of the specific software.