How To Install Ubuntu Packages Without Root Access

In this article, we will explore various methods to install Ubuntu packages without root access. This can be particularly useful when you’re working on a shared system where you don’t have administrative privileges. Let’s dive in.

Method 1: Using .deb Files

One of the simplest ways to install a package without root access is by using the .deb file for the package. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Download the .deb package file. You can do this using the apt-get download command followed by the package name. For instance, if you want to download the nano package, you would use:

   apt-get download nano

2. Extract the package. Once you have the .deb file, you can extract its contents using the dpkg -x command. This command needs two arguments: the package file and the directory where you want to extract the package. For example:

   dpkg -x nano.deb dir

   In this command, nano.deb is the package file and dir is the directory where you want to extract the package.
3. Set the PATH variable. After extracting the package, you need to set the PATH variable to include the directory where the binary of the package is located. You can do this using the export command:

   export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/dir

   In this command, /path/to/dir should be replaced with the actual path to the directory where you extracted the package.

Please note that this method requires you to manually install all the dependencies of the package.

Method 2: Using schroot

schroot allows you to create a non-root chroot environment. This involves setting up a chroot environment with the necessary dependencies and then running the package within it. This method requires more setup but can be useful for compiling code or running applications that require a specific environment.

You can learn more about schroot and how to set up a chroot environment in the Ubuntu documentation.

Method 3: Using apt-get source

The apt-get source command allows you to fetch the source code of a package and configure it to install locally. This method requires the development environment and may involve compiling multiple packages to resolve dependencies.

Here’s how you can use apt-get source to install a package:

1. Download the source code. You can do this using the apt-get source command followed by the package name:

   apt-get source nano

2. Configure the package. After downloading the source code, navigate to the package directory and configure it to install in your home directory:

   cd nano
   ./configure --prefix=$HOME

3. Compile and install the package. Once the package is configured, you can compile and install it using the make command:

   make
   make install

Method 4: Using a Custom Linux Distribution in Your Home Directory

Tools like JuNest allow you to have a minimal Linux distribution inside your home directory. This enables you to install packages without root privileges. However, this method may have limitations depending on the Linux kernel version.

Here’s how you can use JuNest to install a package:

1. Install JuNest. You can download and install JuNest using the instructions provided on its GitHub page.
2. Create a new environment. Once JuNest is installed, you can create a new environment using the -f option:

   junest -f

3. Install the package. After creating the environment, you can install the package using the pacman -S command:

   pacman -S nano

4. Run the package. Once the package is installed, you can run it just like any other command:

   nano

Please note that these methods may have limitations and may not work for all packages or scenarios. Additionally, you may need to resolve dependencies and paths manually. However, they provide a good starting point for installing packages without root access on Ubuntu.