I wish there was a right click install button for deb files (programming.dev)

submitted 1 day ago by RommieDroid@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev

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I know it's not that hard $ dpkg -i but opening the terminal gives normies an aneurysm and thanks to the crazy gatekeeping gen alpha doesn't know what a file type is now.

I use Ubuntu btw. Personally, the App store's on Linux confused me a ton, setting up Flatpak and some other package repositories. I much preferred the windows way, shocker, with just downloading and double-click the exe file.

Do I have to make a pull request myself to get this done, or what is the debate on this?

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[-] manxu@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago

Installing a random .deb comes with enormous security implications. I am not sure that making the process more beginner friendly is a really good idea.

"Beginner friendly" should be limited to things from the main repositories, and for that there is the Software Center.

[-] obsoleteacct@lemmy.zip 4 points 16 hours ago

What linux does and does not protect the user from is endlessly hilarious to me.

Hey linux, I want to install a file you downloaded.

Linux: Sounds risky man

I'd like my file explorer to have super user privleges.

Linux: Are you out of your god damned mind?

Hey linux, I want to delete the kernel that I'm actively using right now.

Linux: Hell yeah. I'll go to the looney bin with you.

[-] dev_null@lemmy.ml 3 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Not any more dangerous than installing a random exe. And a GUI that opens when you click one could explain that danger much better than what currently happens: people blindly use sudo dpkg and that's it.

[-] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 15 hours ago

That is fair, I suppose being able to click and run stuff like Appimages has less security issues because in theory they are isolated? But don't the appimages get to decide their own permissions?

[-] rikudou@lemmings.world 2 points 11 hours ago

It's not any more secure. The point that "installing random debs is insecure" has been running around for at least the last 16 years I've been a Linux user.

While it's technically true, AppImages are as secure as random debs. Same with random repositories that are not provided by your system. Same with flatpaks.

And unless you're an extremely basic user, you'll eventually have to install an application not in your repositories. The method doesn't really matter, it's all equally (in)secure.

[-] PatrickYaa@feddit.org 1 points 23 hours ago

It's the same thing with .exe on windows. It's potentially dangerous and people need to be mindful what they download and install.

this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2025

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