Having downloaded the latest distribution of Ubuntu – Karmic Koala a few week ago, I have invested considerable time in tweaking the best configuration for my needs. This, rather technical post lists a number of applications that I’m running on my Ubuntu laptop. I will add/remove applications over time, so this post is likely to be updated. I hope you find it useful.
Essentials
1. Install the Latest Updates
As with most modern operating systems, applying the latest updates should be top of the agenda list after installing Ubuntu. This can be achieved in two ways, either click on System > Administration > Update Manager. Alternatively, launch a Terminal window and the choose Applications > Accessories > Terminal.
Next enter in the following command:
sudo apt-get update
Enter your password if prompted. After the $ prompt, enter the following:
sudo apt-get upgrade
Enter Y if prompted to proceed.
2. Install Restricted Extras
Restricted updates contain a number of key enhancement to the system that Ubuntu are unable to ship as part of the distribution. However, there are key bits of software here including Adobe Flash Player, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (sun-java-jre) with Firefox plug-ins (icedtea), a set of Microsoft Fonts (msttcorefonts), multimedia codecs (w32codecs or w64codecs), MP3-compatible encoding (lame), FFMpeg, extra Gstreamer codecs, the package for DVD decoding.
Enter the following Terminal command to install these extras:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Again, enter your system password if prompted. You may need to do this going forward after running each sudo command!
Security
3. Install a Firewall
Ubuntu isn’t prone to attacks as some other operating systems. However, I think it is worth installing nevertheless.
Enter the following Terminal command to install the firewall.
sudo apt-get install gufw
The firewall can be configured by navigating to System > Administration > Firewall Configuration
4. Antivirus
Generally speaking, Ubuntu users do not need install antivirus software. However, you can install the ClamTK Virus Scanner.
Enter the following Terminal command to install the client:
sudo apt-get install clamtk
5. Install Backup Software
Use the following Terminal command to install backup software
sudo apt-get install backintime-gnome
Media Players and Codecs
6. Media Player – VLC
Simply the best open source media player there is. It will play virtually any kind of media you can throw at it.
Enter the following Terminal command to install VLC
sudo apt-get install vlc
7. MPlayer
Another great media player worth installing is MPlayer
sudo apt-get install mplayer smplayer
8. AmaroK
AmaroK integrates with Wikipedia, lyrics and album cover look-ups! It should also sync with your iPod too
sudo apt-get install amarok
Most commercial DVDs are encrypted with Content Scrambling System (CSS), which attempts to restrict the software that can play a DVD. You’ll need to install libdvdcss if you want to play them. Type the following Terminal command:
sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
Then enter:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
10. K9copy
K9copy is a free open source DVD backup, copying, compression, and authoring utility that requires libdvdcss. You can easily create MPEG-2. MPEG-4, or DVD videos with this utility. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install k9copy
11. DVD::RIP
DVD::Rip is a DVD backup/copy program, written in GTK-based perl, that uses the transcode video/audio processing and conversion tools. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install dvdrip rar
MSN Messenger Client
12. Emesene
Emesene is an MSN messenger client that uses a simplified interface similar to the original messenger client. To install it type:
sudo apt-get install emesene
FTP Clients
13. Filezilla
Filezilla is the ubiquitous free open-source FTP client and server for all platforms.
sudo apt-get install filezilla
Microblogging
14. Gwibber
Gwibber is a small microblogging client for people who frequently use sites such as Twitter, Identi.ca, Jaiku, Facebook, Digg, and more.
sudo apt-get install gwibber
Utilities
15. Webcam
Cheese is an Apple Photobooth inspired application for taking pictures and videos from a webcam.
sudo apt-get install cheese
16. Compiz Fusion
Compiz Fusion allows you to use interesting desktop effects such as a rotating cube desktop.
sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main\
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common fusion-icon
Run Applications > System Tools > Compiz Fusion Icon. A blue icon will appear in the tray. From here you can configure Compiz-Fusion.
17. Conky
Conky is a light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any information on your desktop.
sudo apt-get install conky
18. Screenlets
Screenlets are small applications that are laying on your desktop. Eye candy stuff and useful in many ways. Just type:
sudo apt-get install screenlets
Go to Applications > Accessories > Screenlets and choose the screenlet that you want click launch/add.
Additional screenlets can be downloaded from www.gnome-look.org or from http://screenlets.org/index.php/Category:UserScreenlets
Web Browsers
19. Google Chrome
To add the repository, open the source list :
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Add these 2 lines at the end of the sources.list
For Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala :
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
Open the terminal and add the GPG key
sudo sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 0xfbef0d696de1c72ba5a835fe5a9bf3bb4e5e17b5
Now update the cache
sudo apt-get update
Google Chrome can be installed with the following command:
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser
Utilities
20. ntfs-3g
ntfs-3g allows you to read and write data to NTFS formatted drives and can be installing with the following command:
sudo apt-get install ntfs-config
Then type the following command:
gksu ntfs-config
21. Mount Windows Hard Drives on Startup
Mount your Windows HDD ‘s on Ubuntu startup with PySdm. You can install Pysdm with Ubuntu Software Center or with your terminal:
sudo apt-get install pysdm
Next run the app with
sudo pysdm
On the partition list you can found all of your hard drives. Click on the drive you want to mount, then on general preferences tab click Mount and apply. If the disks are not mounted on startup, start your Pysdm again and select Mount on startup options then apply. Be careful, don’t play with the rest options if you are not experienced user because you can damage your Ubuntu system.
22. Unrar
sudo apt-get -y install unrar
23. Beagle
Similar to Google Desktop Search and Mac OS Spotlight, Beagle offers a great desktop search tool for Ubuntu, and can be installed with the following command:
sudo apt-get install -y beagle
24. Gnome Deskbar Applet
The Gnome Deskbar Applet is a cross between Spotlight and Quicksilver. Basically it’s a great app launcher and then some, with plugins designed to integrate more search options than you can shake a stick at, from live Google searches to integration with Beagle.
To use the Deskbar Applet, right-click the top panel and select Add to Panel… and find Deskbar Applet (incidentally, there are a lot of other great tools in the Add to Panel… dialog worth checking out). It’s no Quicksilver, but it’s better than any app launcher/search tool available on Windows.
apt-get install deskbar-applet
25. UNetbootin
Unetbootin allows you to install Ubuntu from a USB Drive. Install the app with the following command:
sudo apt-get install unetbootin
26. Search App Explanation
apt-cache search xxxxx
(Where xxxxx is the name of app that you wish to learn more about).
27. Skype
sudo apt-get install skype
28. Clipboard
sudo apt-get install parcellite
29. Add/Remove App
The Add/Remove app is a great app for installing and removing applications. It can be easily installed, by following the instructions below:
Applications > Ubuntu Software Center then search for “Add/Remove” without quotes. Double click on Add/Remove Applications and hit install
30. Wine (Windows Compatibility Layer)
sudo apt-get install wine1.2
31. Adobe Air
sudo apt-get install adobeair1.2
Optionally, install the Twitter client Twhirl
sudo apt-get install twhirl
Blogging Clients
32. Lekhonee – A WordPress Client
sudo apt-get install lekhonee-gnome
ScreenSavers
33. Cool ScreenSavers
sudo apt-get install stellarium
Bittorrent
34. Bitorrent Client
sudo apt-get install deluge
Sun Java
35. Java Client
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin
Email Readers
36. Thunderbird
Thunderbird from Mozilla is one of the best email client applications available, it can be installed with the following command:
sudo apt-get install thunderbird
Virtualisation
37. Sun’s Virtualbox
Sun’s Virtualbox offers free virtualisation software. Install the latest build below
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
Themes
To add the repository, open the source list :
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Add these 2 lines at the end of the sources.list
For Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala :
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/bisigi/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/bisigi/ppa/ubuntu karmic main
Open the terminal and add the repository verification key server
gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371 --recv-key
881574DE && gpg -a --export 881574DE | sudo apt-key add -
Now update the cache
sudo apt-get update
Type in the following commands to install the required themes:
sudo apt-get install balanzan-theme
sudo apt-get install infinity-theme
sudo apt-get install wild-shine-theme
sudo apt-get install exotic-theme
sudo apt-get install tropical-theme
sudo apt-get install bamboo-zen-theme
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-sunrise-theme
sudo apt-get install aquadreams-theme
To remove the themes you have just installed, use the command :
sudo apt-get remove “theme-name”
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