Installing Software on openSUSE

There are a number of ways to install the software. The two main ones arethe graphical YaST2 tool (generally referred to just as YaST) and the command-line tool zypper. Others include various other KDE and Gnome-based package managers including new packagekit-based installers. However, only YaST and Zypper are installed by default so they will be explained here.

Graphical Installation

There are two ways to open the graphical tool. Either you can open the software installation program directly, or you can open the YaST administration tool. I recommend opening YaST since a large portion of this guide will involve tools that are accessible from there. To open YaST in various desktop environment click the following sequence of icons:

  • KDE 3 or KDE 4
    • suse or kickoff-style (Default) application launcher – Computer – YaST
    • kde or classic-style application launcher – System – YaST Administration Tools
  • KDE 4 only
    • lancelot application launcher – Applications – System – YaST
  • Gnome:
    • Computer button – YaST

If you can’t find the button, look on the taskbar (or panel), near where the start button would be on windows. In KDE it will probably be a green lizard head or a blue “K” while in gnome it will probably be the icon of a computer with the word “computer” next to it. It is basically the same for KDE 3 and KDE 4 by default.

Another, perhaps easier way to launch YaST is through the search bar in the Gnome menu, suse or kickoff-style KDE menu, or lancelot KDE menu. Start typing “Administrator Settings” and it should eventually show a list of just a few items. You want the one with that exact title, or the one called “YaST” or “YaST2”. In KDE4 there is also a built-in launcher called “krunner” or the “run command” interface. It can be access by either right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “run command…” or through a keyboard shortcut (alt+F2 by default).

Enter the root password if prompted for it. In the bar on the left click “Software” if it isn’t already highlighted. Then click “Software Management”. The “YaST2” program should open. Wait for it to refresh the software database if necessary. In KDE click the dropdown menu on the left select “Search”. In gnome you enter the search terms in the filter box. In KDE check the box next to those entries if it isn’t already. In GNOME only packages that aren’t already installed will appear. If the program appears click on it then click “install” in the lower-right corner of the window. When they are all selected click “Accept” or “Apply”. Accept the list of dependencies it wants to install if it asks, then click “Accept” or “Apply” again if necessary. Then wait for the installation to finish. If it asks if you want to install any additional software, click “No”. openSUSE versions 11.1 and later do not ask, so if the window just disappears do not worry about it.

Using the search tools mentioned above, it is also possible to launc individual YaST modules. Just start typing the module’s name in the search bar and the list should eventually narrow to that module and perhaps a few other items. You can then click the appropriate module to launch it. Note that you will have to enter you administrator password every time you launch a module in this manner, as opposed to just entering it once to launch the YaST2 program. If you are using more than one module it is probably easier to launch YaST2, if you are only using one it is probably easier to launch the module directly.

Command-line Installation

The command-line installer for openSUSE is called zypper. To open a terminal click the following sequence of icons:

  • KDE 3 or KDE 4
    • suse or kickoff-style (Default) application launcher button – Applications – System – Terminal – Terminal (Konsole)
    • kde or classic-style application launcher – Applications – System – Terminal – Konsole Terminal
  • KDE 4 only
    • lancelot application launcher button – Applications – System – Terminal – Konsole (Terminal)
  • Gnome
    • computer – more applications – system – gnome terminal

Once there run the following command, replacing packagename with the names of one or more packages (wildcards are supported).

sudo zypper in packagename

Accept the installation and any additional package it wishes to install.