If you’re trying out Linux—or switching to it entirely—after getting used to Windows or macOS, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with how software is installed on the open-source operating system. It’s not a difficult process, but it doesn’t work quite the same as it does on the Microsoft and Apple platforms.

There are also some new terms to get to know, which may confuse you at first. Here, then, is your complete guide to installing software on Linux: This guide looks specifically at Ubuntu, but many of the same principles apply to all other Linux distributions, and the steps shouldn’t be too different if you’re using something different.

The first word you need to know is “package”—that’s what applications are called on Linux, and package managers are used to… well, manage them. Much like an app store front-end on your phone, package managers are used to find new software, make sure the software is installed correctly, and automatically update it in the background.

These package managers also save you from having to mess with the source code or compile programs yourself. This has traditionally been the way to get programs running on Linux, and it's still an option for developers and power users who want more control over their installations.