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Just as the title says. I'm pretty new to Ubuntu, but I've used it before about a year ago. I had help then, but now this seems pretty confusing. I've already read the Installing Software article, I'm currently trying to install Steam and when I do:

cd ~/downloads/
sudo dpkg steam_latest.deb

I get a error saying that I need python-apt and I tried doing

sudo apt-get python-apt

but it says invalid operation can you guys list the ways to install an application, and describe it like I'm five? Thanks.

Edit: I'm not talking about using wine in this case, just using the actual package from Valve themselves.

Andreas Hacker
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Knight
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    Programs like dpkg, apt-get, etc generally rely on arguments to specify the requested action. You can always use man <program-name> (e.g. man dpkg) to get more information about how they can be used properly. – code_dredd Jun 02 '16 at 09:13
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    Install steam directly from Ubuntu repo. There are some problems with the official, for example it opens every start a window with "please update steam" even when you the latest version – Motte001 Jun 02 '16 at 10:35

2 Answers2

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You nearly had it correct, to install steam you need to add the -i flag to dpkg like this:

sudo dpkg -i steam_latest.deb

And if that still fails you can install python-apt this way, which you as well had almost right:

sudo apt-get install python-apt
Videonauth
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    sudo apt install on current versions on Ubuntu. – Boris the Spider Jun 02 '16 at 07:54
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    @BoristheSpider you still can use both and will be able to use both untill EOL of 16.04 LTS which will be in 04/2021. – Videonauth Jun 02 '16 at 07:56
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    apt alone has a nifty progress bar though – myol Jun 02 '16 at 07:58
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    @myol apt-get --show-progress – Motte001 Jun 02 '16 at 10:37
  • @Motte001 Really? sudo apt-get --show-progress install 2048-qt outputs something like Avanzamento: [ 0%] Avanzamento: [ 16%] Estrazione di 2048-qt (0.1.6-1)... Avanzamento: [ 33%] Avanzamento: [ 50%]. No progress bar, just more and more lines telling you the progress (sorry for the Italian btw). Using sudo apt install 2048qt produces an actual coloured progress bar using ncurses (I guess). – Bakuriu Jun 02 '16 at 17:44
  • @Motte001 I think effort needed to type sudo apt-get --show-progress install is not worth the output. A rather easier approach is sudo apt install. – rancho Jun 06 '16 at 10:43
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As you are trying to install Steam, here is a different approach: Install Steam directly from Ubuntu's multiverse repository

sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install steam

Reference: https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-steam-on-ubuntu-16-04-xenial-xerus

Community
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Andreas Hacker
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    This is by far the easiest option, as it will also automatically install dependencies (including python-apt) and updates, whereas the answer by Videonauth won't do so. – Paddy Landau Jun 07 '16 at 10:51
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    @PaddyLandau If you have a look at the edit history of the question itself you will see why my answer isn't satisfactory anymore. Its mostly because people edited the questions to something totally new. – Videonauth Jun 12 '16 at 23:45