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I have installed Skype in Ubuntu, but I do not know where to start the installed the Skype application .Similarly I have installed Netbeans and other applications but their icons are not appearing in any menus.

Related: how to uninstall already installed applications?

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  • So how do I find the answers?
    – eddyq
    Feb 11, 2019 at 14:39

4 Answers 4

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You can discover where a package puts its 'stuff' by running:

dpkg -L 'packagename'

There's still a set of 'standard' locations that programs are put into. For example, binaries (in windows parlance 'executables') are put in /usr/bin, and documentation is put in /usr/share/doc in a Ubuntu system.

This is a pretty simplistic answer. For more details about how linux/unix directories are typically structured, see this:

http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html

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The executables are located in the /usr/bin folder. I guess pressing Alt+F2 and typing

skype

will do. It might also fall under the Applications menu > Internet.

To uninstall already installed software, you can:

  1. Go to Software-center. Find the software and remove.
  2. Open a terminal, and type

    sudo apt-get remove <software-name>
    

If you do not know the complete name, just type a few characters of the application, and press tab twice. That will auto complete, or show a list of matching applications.

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  • 2
    You don't need the whole path when using Alt+F2 (or the terminal or desktop/panel shortcuts). Just typing skype will suffice.
    – sepp2k
    Oct 23, 2010 at 11:31
  • Oops, overlooked that! Thanks for the heads-up. But there was a time that I had to give the entire path. Dont remember the applicaton now. Oct 23, 2010 at 11:45
  • You have to give the full path if you don't install it "properly"...
    – 8128
    Oct 23, 2010 at 17:43
  • you can find local software in /usr/local also.
    – Parixit
    Aug 23, 2013 at 7:04
  • Where is installed application's folder?! For example tomcat7 folder.
    – Dr.jacky
    Jun 24, 2015 at 5:43
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There are some very good answers to a similar question to yours over at

What is the Linux equivalent to Windows' Program Files?

But the general idea is that the /bin and /usr/bin are where the start up application files (executables or scripts) are stored. The direct equivalent of "Program Files" though is probably /usr/share this is the directory that contains the various support files for most applications

For a good overview of the Ubuntu file structure check out the link below.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LinuxFilesystemTreeOverview

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  • Many of the files in /bin and /usr/bin are scripts, but more are actual binary executables. Jun 16, 2012 at 4:56
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There is no "Program Files" Directory in Linux. The Application's Parts are distributed according to what they are. There are a lot of explanations of the Directory Structure out there, you can use this one for a start.

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