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I would like to install a bunch of packages (glogg, libprotobuf7, libleveldb1, libsnappy1, libhdf5-7) on an Ubuntu system on which I do not have root privileges. (I understand that this can be achieved by forcing the downloading and installation to take place on my home directory for example).

I would like to do this as fast as possible, e.g using apt (rather than manually searching the web for a link address to the package, then wget-ing it, then opening the tarball, then reading the INSTALL file to install correctly etc).

Is there a way to do this?

How can I install a package without root access? has a 1st answer that assumes that we have the .deb file already downloaded. This is not my case (and if you know of a way to get it quickly without scouring the web, I'd love to know).

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Alexandre Holden Daly
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  • For the record, `aptitude` and `apt-get` are two different frontends. – saiarcot895 Jul 08 '14 at 16:47
  • The `deb` packages that are downloaded for installation don't contain `INSTALL` files, and are meant to be read by `dpkg` to be parsed and installed. Also, note that the packages contain two files: `data.tar.xz`, which contain the files to be installed relative to `/`, and `control.tar.xz`, which contain metadata about the package (package name, dependencies, installed size, etc.) and any configuration scripts. – saiarcot895 Jul 08 '14 at 16:51
  • what are you trying to install – Find Me In The Woods Jul 08 '14 at 16:52
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    You can download the package by using `apt-get download ` without root access and follow the answer in that question – M.Tarun Jul 08 '14 at 17:08
  • I've modified the proposed duplicate to make it one by adding how to get the .deb from the repositories. – Warren Hill Jul 15 '14 at 12:25

2 Answers2

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As mentioned in one of the comments, use apt-get just to download, then dpkg -i to install.

mkdir $HOME/.local
apt-get download <package_name>
dpkg -i --force-not-root --root=$HOME/.local <package_name.deb>

Note: what's nice is that apt-get automatically picks the package that fits your Ubuntu distribution and your architecture.

Alexandre Holden Daly
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I guess the following would work to install the package to a directory: ~/local/

Download the package as package.deb using :

apt-get download <package_name>

Then run

dpkg --install package.deb --instdir=~/local
M.Tarun
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