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submitted 10 months ago by Critical_Insight@feddit.uk to c/linux@lemmy.ml

https://mullvad.net/en/help/install-mullvad-app-linux

Trying to install VPN and these are the instructions Mullvad is giving me. This is ridiculous. There must be a more simple way. I know how to follow the instructions but I have no idea what I'm doing here. Can't I just download a file and install it? I'm on Ubuntu.

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[-] Aggravationstation@lemmy.world 33 points 10 months ago

I don't want to sound arrogant but is reading a few paragraphs then copying and pasting 3 different commands into a terminal really that difficult?

It will make life easier in the long run as having a repo added will update the software with sudo apt upgrade in the future.

[-] Critical_Insight@feddit.uk 20 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's not difficult. I've installed several apps that way already. I just don't like blindly following instructions while having zero understanding of what I'm actually doing here. Also, in this case the instructions are unhelpful because nowhere it tells me to install curl first and because of me not having it the first command just comes back with an error.

[-] Shihali@sh.itjust.works 12 points 10 months ago

cURL is a very commonly used program to download individual files from the command line and worth installing to have it around in the future.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl

The first command tells your package manager to update its list so you ask for the latest version. You can skip it if you've already updated today. The second command tells your package manager to install cURL.

This will happen every now and then, especially when building a package from source. You won't have some common utility that the documentation writer assumed you had, and you will need to find what package provides it and install the package.

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The way to solve that problem is to read the commands and look up what they do. The installation method they describe is pretty standard and inoffensive. And provides automatic updates. The commands used aren't complicated and they're some of the system fundamentals for Debian/Ubuntu systems so it's a good idea being familiar with them.

[-] Coreidan@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

In the time it took you to write this shit post and respond to all the comments you could have spent a couple of minutes reading and educating yourself on the process. It’s legit pretty simple especially if you’re willing to do a little research.

Kids these days i swear.

[-] lefixxx@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Yes people would assume you have curl. Curl is often used to install programs. And curl is definitely one of the things that can do malicius things this way. So you are right to be hesitant to use commands that you don't understand. Most Linux users have forgotten how hard it is to learn the first stuff with no preaquired knowledge.

If you have googled "what is curl and how is it used" you may have found some relevant info.

I have given up on Linux because installing was hard in the past

There are some tools that make installing software easier. Like "appimage" files that are single files that (after you make executable) are completely self contained.

Flatpacks and snaps have an "store" like experience.

.deb files are also sometimes simple (also need to be made executable) (depends on the distro)

Unfortunately there is no .exe file experience.

[-] princessnorah 14 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

And if you read a few paragraphs more, there’s a Download and install the app section too, rather than add their repos. Which is what the OP wanted anyway…

Edit: Here’s the link for the package download: https://mullvad.net/en/download/vpn/linux

[-] UnixWeeb@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 10 months ago

Gotta consider users on windows download random programs and blindly follow an installation wizard.

[-] ulterno@lemmy.kde.social 1 points 10 months ago

"follow an installation wizard" <-- I know people just out of uni (having completed BTech), who can't even do that. Keeping that in mind, I can have way more patience towards OP.

this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2024
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