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software and packaging 56
Removing Software
If you thought installing an application was easy enough, try removing one.
To remove an application, follow this instructions:
1. Find the application you want to remove (either by using the search bar or by filtering
through categories).
2. Go to its page by clicking on the á button to its right, on the application list.
3. Click the Uninstall button. If you are not running as root, you will be asked to input
your password. If your authentication was granted, you will be taken to the In Progress
section while your application is installed. Your application will now be either in process
of removal or waiting in line for it, in the In Progress section.
Now, as with when you install a new application, when you remove one the menus get
updated too. This is one of the assets of having an organized software management system
on your side.
Making More Software Available
The Software Center will only list the applications available in the repositories of your
software sources. To add more, or learn more about this, visit the Software Center section.
Synaptic Package Manager
The Synaptic Package Manager serves practically the same purpose as the Ubuntu Software Center. Continue reading and you will determine whether you should use this application
or the Software Center application in the previous section.
The Synaptic Package Manager is the most complete visual package manager available
in Ubuntu. Through it, you will be able to access any package in your repositories; not just
user applications.
This application will come in handy when you are looking to perform actions other than
just installing and removing packages. The Synaptic Package Manager lets you:
Install any package in your repositories. You can even select which version of a package
to install, but note that this option is not available for all the packages.
Reinstall in case the package’s contents have been damaged, or you just want to get the
default version back.
Update every time a new version of the package is released.
Remove any package you no longer need.
Purge when you wish to remove completely a package, including saved preferences and
stored configuration files.
Note: You can open
Software Sources from the
Software Center. Simply
go to Edit ä Software
Sources.
Note: If you are not very
familiar with advanced
computing in Ubuntu you
may probably want to stick
with the Software Center.