How to Create a Text File for Multiple Software Installations on Linux

Hello everyone,

Today, I'll show you a simple way to automate the installation of multiple software packages on a newly installed Linux system — by using a text file and a shell script.

If you've just installed a Linux distribution, especially Fedora or Ubuntu-based, you might find it time-consuming to install all your essential tools one by one. Let's solve that with a batch installation script.

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Step 1: Create a .txt or .sh File

Open any text editor and create a file named example.txt (or better, example.sh if you're writing a shell script).

Paste the following commands into the file:

bash

# Update system
sudo dnf -y update
echo "================================================================"
echo "                      Update Successfully Installed             "
echo "================================================================"

# Install Google Chrome
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_x86_64.rpm
sudo dnf -y install ./google-chrome-stable_current_x86_64.rpm
echo "================================================================"
echo "                    Chrome Successfully Installed              "
echo "================================================================"

# Install Vim
sudo dnf -y install vim
echo "================================================================"
echo "                    Vim Successfully Installed                 "
echo "================================================================"

# Install VLC Media Player
sudo dnf -y install vlc
echo "================================================================"
echo "                  VLC Player Successfully Installed            "
echo "================================================================"

# Install Skype
sudo dnf -y install skype
echo "================================================================"
echo "                  Skype Successfully Installed                 "
echo "================================================================"

# Install Atom Editor (if available in repo or via RPM)
sudo dnf -y install atom
echo "================================================================"
echo "                  Atom Successfully Installed                  "
echo "================================================================"

# Install Aptitude (for Debian-based systems only)
# You can skip this if you're on Fedora
sudo apt-get -y install aptitude
echo "================================================================"
echo "              Aptitude Successfully Installed                  "
echo "================================================================"

⚠️ Note: The commands above are primarily for Fedora (dnf). If you're on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, replace dnf with apt.

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Step 2: Save the File

Save the file as example.sh (recommended since it's a shell script, not just plain text).

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Step 3: Make the Script Executable

Now, open your terminal and run the following command to make the script executable:

bash

chmod 744 example.sh

This sets the file permissions so that:

• You (the file owner) can read, write, and execute the script.

• Others can only read it.

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Step 4: Run the Script

Execute the script by running:

bash

./example.sh

This will start installing all the listed software, one by one, automatically.

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Final Notes

• Make sure your internet connection is active.

• You may need to enter your password when prompted by sudo.

• You can always add or remove software commands to suit your preferences.

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Summary

Using a script file for software installation saves time and ensures consistency every time you set up a new system.

Let me know if you'd like a follow-up post on writing cross-platform install scripts for both Ubuntu and Fedora systems.