15

I've just bought a game (Machinarium) which does not come with a deb file neither is it a ./configure, make etc type of application. I can just run it. Where is the best place to put it so i can create a launcher and keep it out of my home directory?

i.e. I'm basically asking where are applications are installed and should i put this game there.

Thanks!

Will
  • 3,263
  • 6
  • 28
  • 28
  • I've left it in home as i've had trouble putting it in opt, the flash files weren't read so I've left it in home at the moment which works with a custom launcher located here "http://ubuntu.stackexchange.com/questions/2058/creating-a-launcher-for-mechinarium" Please give props to the user if it helps you out! – Will Aug 13 '10 at 09:31

2 Answers2

17

Usually you would select /opt or /usr/local as installation path.

You need to use sudo if you want to copy anything into those directories.

Marco Ceppi
  • 47,783
  • 30
  • 172
  • 197
txwikinger
  • 27,944
  • 10
  • 78
  • 101
  • Hmmm i seem to be having trouble copying. In the command line i type "cp -r /home/will/Machinarium /opt" and i get this error: cp: cannot overwrite non-directory `/opt/Machinarium' with directory `/home/will/Machinarium' – Will Aug 12 '10 at 16:47
  • You would declare the installation path to `./configure` – txwikinger Aug 12 '10 at 17:02
  • I would go with `/opt` – myusuf3 Aug 12 '10 at 17:03
  • @txwikinger. This is a windows-like setup for a closed source game. So no ./configure for him. – Javier Rivera Aug 12 '10 at 17:19
  • What kind of games is that? Running under wine? – txwikinger Aug 12 '10 at 17:37
  • No its a flash game, native to linux, the executable is basically just a click and run type thing, it needs to read some folders with .swf files in the same directory – Will Aug 12 '10 at 17:49
  • 1
    I almost exclusively recommend `/opt` - that's pretty much what `/opt` is there for. – Marco Ceppi Aug 12 '10 at 19:14
  • 4
    According to the File Hierarchy Standard (FHS) both are possible. `/opt` was always the option in System V based Unix systems to install [additional software](http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#OPTADDONAPPLICATIONSOFTWAREPACKAGES). However, system administrators often use /usr/local/ instead since it parallels the /usr directory but protects the content of being [overwritten by updates](http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#USRLOCALLOCALHIERARCHY). So both places are really the same, the redundancy exists because of historical reasons. – txwikinger Aug 12 '10 at 19:24
  • I use `/usr/local/` for more "unixy" applications (those that are split in the usual subdirs `bin/`, `lib/`, etc.), and use `/opt/` for more exotic stuff, e.g. Eclipse. – UncleZeiv Aug 12 '10 at 23:34
6

Based on the fact that you have paid money for it, might be a good idea keeping it close to other documents that you will definitely take care of, that is, in the home directory.

~/bin is not widely known location but it is added in the PATH by bash so it looks pretty standard to me.

vava
  • 1,332
  • 12
  • 18
  • Well, I keep a backup on an external HD and i have the emails with the DL links archived so i think it will be fine putting it somewhere else than home, its clogged enough as it is! thanks for the help – Will Aug 12 '10 at 16:34