Trying to relocate where software is installed is a very bad idea especially since you are new to using Ubuntu
*NIX and Windows are very different from each other. Windows software tends to include everything it needs, but a lot of software in Ubuntu rely on shared relationships between packages (dependencies). *NIX also has a fairly rigidly prescribed directory structure and relies on things like ownership and permissions for security and stability. These concepts don't really exist in Windows.
If you are new to learning Linux, it's really good that you are already doing research to learn how Linux works rather than trying to "swim against the current". You will definitely have a better experience with this mindset.
I also sense a question that wasn't asked from reading in-between the lines, and that involves how to install software. It's best if you find software in the Ubuntu software center (or learn to use apt
). Many new users get into trouble when adding a bunch of PPAs, downloading a lot of .deb
files, or trying to manually compile software. These are more advanced tasks. Not all PPAs are equal and some can even mess up your system especially if they are outdated or come from sources that are not regularly audited. See: Are PPAs safe to add to my system and what are some "red flags" to watch out for?.
In terms of WINE, know that WINE is merely a compatibility layer to allow you to run some Windows applications with sometimes wildly different results and implementations.
Ironically, one of the biggest difficulties for a lot new users stems from one of the biggest strengths of Linux: an abundance of choice. You have a lot of freedom with what you can do with your system, there are a lot of people online posting about doing wacky things, and it can be hard to tell what you should and shouldn't do.
Definitely avoid blindly running commands in your terminal from websites or guides you see online. It's a really good learning opportunity to research each command so that you know exactly what it does, and the consequences of those actions. It's also a good idea to keep a journal or log of anything you do off the beaten path so that you might revert those changes if needed.
If for some reason, you have an application that does not show up in your list of applications, you can manually create .desktop
files, which are similar to application shortcuts in Windows. .desktop
files can reside in /usr/share/applications
if you want them to be available for all users, or ~/.local/share/applications
if you want them to be available just for your user. For more details about this, see: Creating a .desktop file for a new application.
You can also edit existing .desktop
files to customize these shortcuts, which can give you a lot of flexibility if you want to use different icons, change their labels, or add new actions.
So to reiterate, a good rule of thumb when you are learning is to try to find the software you need that is available in Ubuntu's repositories. This software will be highly tested to be safe, stable, and polished. It will also be easy to locate in your system search bar and your application list.