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Installing Software from the KDE System Settings Menu

Posted by scrubs on · 8 comments
Free Software Magazine; By Gary Richmond 		Mail this story
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Think "installing software in distros like Debian and Ubuntu", and you think automatically of Synaptic, apt-get on the command line or the new kid on the block, Unbuntu Software Centre. Sometimes, you just overlook the obvious. Did you know that you can also install and remove software using the KDE System Settings Menu? Thought not. Me neither, until I accidentally stumbled upon it--and I wasn't even in the KDE desktop at the time. I was using the LXDE desktop when I spotted it in the Preferences section of the Start menu. Curious? Me too. Let's take a look.

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Comments (8)

Fettoosh ·
That is all changed in KDE 4.9

In Hierarchical & Application Launcher Kmenu, "Software Management" is no longer under "System Administration" in "System Settings" . Now there are three entries under "System" 
KMenu => System =>
    Muon Package Manager
    Muon Software Center
    Muon Update Manager


I am not sure why the change/split, but do share some of functions

claudecat ·
I've only seen Software Management in System Settings in distros that use apper/packagekit (openSUSE), never in a 'buntu or Debian. Am I missing something here? Maybe installing synaptic makes it go away?
Fettoosh ·
I am using Kubuntu with KDE 4.9, which brought such various changes. What you see is how it was in KDE 4.8.5 and before.

I don't think Suse has it yet.

You can obtain KDE 4.9 for K/Ubuntu by adding backports

http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/backports/ubuntu precise main

or by using

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

claydoh ·
Kubuntu used KPackageKit (now called Apper) as it's package manager until 11.10 (KDE 4.7). Apper is still available in the standard Ubuntu repos.

There are 3 entries mostly because Muon has separate components for different uses. Muon Software Center is a lot like Ubuntu Software Center, while Muon package Manager is the full-featured advanced interface. The Update Manager is self explanatory. In Kickoff's "Computer", the Muon Software Center has an entry as well.
claudecat ·
Software Management in System Settings doesn't appear in either of my Kubuntu installs - 4.8.4 or 4.9 (not that I want it to... I prefer synaptic). It does appear there in openSUSE 12.1 - even in Tumbleweed (labeled as Apper Software Management there). I don't think KDE version matters as much as the presence of apper as far as whether the entry under System Settings is present , but I could be wrong.

I just found it odd that the author pointed to this being in System Settings in Debian/Kubuntu when I've not seen it.
Fettoosh ·
Quoting:I just found it odd that the author pointed to this being in System Settings in Debian/Kubuntu when I've not seen it.


@claudecat,

"System Administration" may not have been in KDE 4.8.x but As I recall, it used to be in "System Settings" in earlier versions. If you look closely at one of the snapshots in the article, it definitely shows it was part of "System Settings". Well, unless s/he is faking it.

Fettoosh ·
@claudecat,

I have an older system that I use for testing. I checked it and sure enough, it does have "Software Management" in "System Settings" even though it is running KDE 4.9.

You are right, it doesn't depend on KDE version. It somehow was put there by a package manager and never removed by upgrades.

patrokov ·
Now I remember why I liked Slackware so much. Didn't monkey with the menu trying to be "helpful".

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