How to install an application for all users

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On Linux and Centos and Fedora in particular it is quite easy to install an application and make it available for all users if the application does not exists in the usual repros.

As root:

  • Install the application - I suggest in /opt/<application-name>
  • Create a fake executable in /usr/bin/<exec-name>
    • Make it executable (chmod +x /usr/bin/<exec-name>
  • Create an desktop entry in /usr/share/applications/kde or .../gnome

The fake executable shall look as shown below, where eclipse shall be changed to a relevant name.

#!/bin/sh
export ECLIPSE_HOME="/opt/eclipse"
 
$ECLIPSE_HOME/eclipse $*

The <application.desktop> file shall have this content - again change to relevant application name.

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Eclipse
Comment=Eclipse IDE
Exec=eclipse
Icon=/opt/eclipse/icon.xpm
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;Development;
StartupNotify=true

It might be necessary to log out and log in again to have the menu entry appear in the menu.