https://mullvad.net/en/help/install-mullvad-app-linux
Trying to install VPN and these are the instructions Mullvad is giving me. This is ridiculous. There must be a more simple way. I know how to follow the instructions but I have no idea what I’m doing here. Can’t I just download a file and install it? I’m on Ubuntu.
You should try Linux because you want to and find it interesting to learn. If you are doing it because other people told you to, you are going to have a bad time.
Linux isn’t Windows with different branding. Things work differently, and if you take the time to understand why you’ll usually see the logic eventually, even if you may not to agree with it. I think folks are bristling a bit at your implication that things are hard on purpose somehow. Many experienced users find the terminal easier to use and more efficient; it shouldn’t shock anyone (including you) that it’s going to feel awkward when you don’t understand it yet.
Howtos tend to use the terminal because it’s likely to work the same for everyone regardless of what other choices they’ve made with desktop environment, etc.
You can do nearly everything with a GUI if you choose.