Tiny app brought to you by Canonical LTD. that allows you to install .DEB files on your system more efficiently
Ever found it a bit awkward to install .DEB files using the Ubuntu Software Install/Software Center? If the answer is yes, then read on, as there’s another, better, and more efficient way of doing just that.
This is possible with the help of a little, open-source tool called GDebi, an Ubuntu-only app that’s built by Canonical LTD.
Why would you bother?
Ubuntu Software Center is decent when it comes to installing .DEB packages, especially considering the fact that it also allows you to search for apps and install them from Snapcraft sources.
Be that as it may, it’s not exactly a flawless experience. Ubuntu Software Center is known for being a bit sluggish, with somewhat big loading times (especially if you’re running Ubuntu on an older machine).
GDebi solves this problem. It’s extremely lightweight, and it’s also blisteringly fast, making the whole installation of.DEB files a lot more efficient.
There’s another good reason to swap from Ubuntu Software Center to GDebi when installing DEB files. That reason is that GDebi can resolve and install various required dependencies. In short, it takes care of all the potential problems for you, and you can see exactly what is installed on your system.
Installation, usage, and other information
GDebi can be built from its sources found on the official LaunchPad repository. It can also be installed from the command line by using the following command “sudo apt install gdebi”.
To install a DEB file with GDebi, simply right-click on the file, select “Open with other applications,” and select GDebi from the list. Another option is to open the app directly and load the DEB file in its minimalist GUI.
The third, and last option is to use it from the command line. Simply open a Terminal session, and type “sudo gdebi <path_of_the_deb_file>”
Conclusion
GDebi is a very neat little tool for Ubuntu users. It’s not as hardcore/complex as, say, Synaptic Package Manager, but when it comes to helping you install DEB files, there’s no faster option out there.
