So what's the deal with .bin files and other software packs?

[Ubu4moi]

I'm new with Ubuntu and sometimes I download software that doesn't come in a .deb file. What's the deal with .bin and other packs that come with a makefile file, etc.? Are there any easy instructions to install these?

[The Cog]

See http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware

.bin might be an executable file, like the java installers from Sun. If so, make the file executable with the command:
chmod +x filename
then execute it with the command:
./filename
but only do this if you trust the software source. Doing this kind of thing should really be a last resort.