Project 9E: Converting RPMs to DEB Packages Using Alien
While it is true that not all DEB packages make their way into the Ubuntu repositories, it is also true that some, albeit few, applications are not available as DEB packages at all. Some, however, are available as RPMs, which are the packages used in Red Hat, Fedora, Mandriva, and a few other Linux distributions. While this may not sound particularly promising to you as an Ubuntu user, there are a few rays of hope emanating from a handy utility by the name of Alien.
If you haven't guessed already, what Alien does is convert RPM packages to DEB packages that you can install and run in your DEB-based system. It doesn't work perfectly 100 percent of the time, and it isn't as desirable an alternative ...
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