Installation of new software it’s essential task for average Linux user (especially Arch or Gentoo) and furthermore, there are hundreds or thousands of methods “how to install” the program. Although but how to do it from archived files like .tar, .tar.gz, .zip or any other might be not so obvious. When I used Debian based Linux distributions, mostly I’ve installed external software in /opt directory and there are few reasons to do it here:

• /opt stands for “optional add-on software packages”, so basically anything that is not part of system
• the most evident location for multi-users programs

Example scenario

As an example app, I’ll install simple SQLiteStudio to edit SQLite database files.

To do so:

• Extract archive /opt directory where are usually stored external apps.
• Download the icon program (format png or xpa) and save in /usr/share/pixmaps/ directory to with chmod 644.

• Create new file for ex: sqlitestudio.desktop into /usr/share/application and paste below entry:

  [Desktop Entry]
  Name=SqliteStudio
  Comment=SQLite editor
  Exec=/opt/SQLiteStudio/sqlitestudio
  Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps/sqlite.png
  Terminal=false
  Type=Application
  Encoding=UTF-8
  Categories=Network;Application;
  Path=
  

That’s pretty much it. Good job! You’ve correctly installed your external program for multi-users architecture and probably any graphical interface (Gnome, Unity, XFCE) should read it properly.