The world of Linux distributions is unified by the Unix-like philosophy but divided by practical implementation. Two of the most prominent families are the Debian-based branch (which includes Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian itself) and the Red Hat-based branch (which includes Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL). The fundamental difference between these families, from an end-user perspective, is the package management system. Debian-based systems use .deb packages and tools like dpkg and apt. Red Hat-based systems use .rpm packages and tools like rpm and dnf (formerly yum). For a new user on Fedora 17—a somewhat dated but historically significant release that still used yum as its primary package manager—encountering a .deb file can be a source of confusion. This essay provides a complete guide for that user, explaining what a .deb package is, why it is not natively compatible with Fedora, and the methods—both practical and pedagogical—for handling such a situation.
# Extract the .deb file
ar x your-package.deb
tar -xzf data.tar.gz
Installing DEB Packages on Fedora 17: A New User's Guide
As a new user of Fedora 17, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to install a software package that is only available in the Debian package format, commonly denoted by the .deb extension. Fedora, being a Red Hat-based distribution, uses the RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) package format, which is different from the DEB package format used by Debian and its derivatives. However, there are scenarios where you might prefer or need to use software available in DEB format. This guide will walk you through the process of installing a DEB package on Fedora 17, highlighting the necessary steps and tools. install deb package on fedora 17 user new
The "Do Not Try This" Method (Forbidden for New Users)
You may find a blog post telling you to run this command as root: Beyond the Package Manager: A User’s Guide to
dpkg -i my_program.deb # DO NOT RUN THIS ON FEDORA
Do not do this. Fedora 17 does not have dpkg (Debian package manager), and trying to force-install it will break your library paths and render your system unstable. Do not do this