what to do with.tar.bz2 files?!

[jehan60188]

I recently downloaded a file called kaffeine-0.5.tar.bz2, because I want to install kaffeine on my computer. What do I do with it now?!

[Markus]

tar xvf filename.tar
tar xvzf filename.tar.gz
tar xvjf filename.tar.bz2
unzip filename.zip -d /path/folder
unrar -x filename.rar

So for your file open a console and do: tar xvjf kaffeine-0.5.tar.bz2

That said, you should actually install kaffeine with apt:
su
dselect update
apt-get install kaffeine -s
If the output looks ok, remove the -s for simulation.

[jehan60188]

ok, cool. so let me break these commands down (just so I can check my understanding)

it looks like "su" puts me in root/administration mode
"dselect update" runs an updating script
and "apt-get install kaffeine -s" installs the program using apt, which is a software management utility, right?[/quote]

[Markus]

ok, cool. so let me break these commands down (just so I can check my understanding)

it looks like "su" puts me in root/administration mode

Correct

"dselect update" runs an updating script

Yep again, it updates your local database with what's available from repositories in your /etc/apt/sources.list

and "apt-get install kaffeine -s" installs the program using apt, which is a software management utility, right?

Yep, except that the -s simulates it first to check for problems.
If you want a GUI for this you can try K.menu -> System -> KPackage
Have a look also at http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2638 for info about apt.

So to install kaffeine I would:
su
dselect update
apt-cache search kaffeine (to look for the package)
apt-cache policy kaffeine (if I want to see which version is installable)
apt-cache show kaffeine (to have a look at what it's about)
apt-get install kaffeine -s (to see if it would install ok)
apt-get install kaffeine (to actually install it)