Normally you would run your program by giving 0launch the URL of the feed. This application gives you a way to browse metafeeds ("feeds of feeds"), and run applications - without first having to create a desktop launcher.
Running a program will verify signature, select a matching version, find dependencies, check for updates, download the software if needed, and start it up. (See details.) It does not need to be installed or run as root/administrator.
Distribution applications installers offer to install .desktop files from packages. This requires that distribution packages are available, and authenticating a package installation process to be run as the root user.
Another set of installers offer self-extracting executables or disk images. They are rarely signed for security, and usually do not do dependencies so they need to include everything in the bundle even if already available.
| GNOME App-Install | GNOME PackageKit |  |
 |
|---|---|
| (Ubuntu/Debian) 6.06 LTS |
(Fedora/CentOS) .el6 |
The online application stores such as Apple's App Store gives you a way to purchase and install software, while watching other people's reviews. You can also sort software by their category, rating and popularity.
Normally it also offers a preview in form of application screenshots. The price might be Free, which is often the case for "Lite" variants of software also offering a "Full" variant (so that you can try it out first).
| Software Centre | Software Manager |  |
 |
|---|---|
| (Ubuntu/Debian) 6/squeeze |
(Linux Mint) 10/Julia |
Written by Anders F Björklund, © 2010 afb datakonsult