this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2024
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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 27 points 1 year ago (10 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

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.

[–] lefixxx 2 points 1 year 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.

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