Front Cover

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Copyright

First published on Amazon.com by Morgan Partridge in 2024

This edition was published in 2024 by Morgan Partridge

Copyright © 2024 Morgan Partridge

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author, nor otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Disclaimer

The information contained in "Ubuntu Unleashed: Mastering 24.04 LTS" (the "Book") is for general information purposes only. The author and the publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information within this Book as of the date of publication.

However, software, technology, and the field of information technology are constantly evolving. Therefore, the author and publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the content of the Book for any purpose. Any reliance placed on such information is, therefore, strictly at the reader's own risk.

Neither the publisher nor the author shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or programs contained herein.

This Book is not intended as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed professional or technician. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Every effort has been made to make this Book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information is provided on an "as is" basis.

The author and publisher have no responsibility or liability to any person or entity concerning any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the content of this Book.

Acknowledgments

To my family without whom none of this would have been possible.

Linus Torvalds is the creator of Linux and holder of the Linux trademark and is acknowledged as such, and he does not support or sponsor this self-help learning book.

Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries

Canonical. and the community, for developing and maintaining Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Blizzard for developing and publishing World of Warcraft that I really love and enjoy.

WINE or Wine Is Not An Emulator for the compatibility layer.

Lutris making it far more accessible to Install and play games and software.

Gabe Newell and Valve for developing and publishing the Steam Store.

The OpenDyslexic font in the Dyslexic-friendly edition this book is written in was made by Abbie Gonzalez at https://antijingoist.gumroad.com/l/OpenDyslexic and https://opendyslexic.org/.

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Front Cover

Copyright

Disclaimer

Acknowledgments

Table Of Contents

Introduction

What Is Ubuntu 24.04?

Install Test Machine Details

System Requirements

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Recommended Hardware Requirements

System Requirements Explanation

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Pre-Install

Downloading Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

Selecting Installation Media

USB Drives: Type A and C

Ventoy

Installing Ventoy And Copying Over The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

For Linux Systems:

For Windows Systems:

DVD-R/RW Discs

Brasero

Installing Brasero And Burning The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

CDBurnerXP

Installing CDBurnerXP And Burning The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

Setting Boot Order In Motherboard BIOS

Booting Into Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO Installation

Using A Ventoy Powered USB Drive

DVD Disc Burned By Brasero/CDBurnerXP

Ubuntu 24.04 LTD Installation Using Flutter-based Graphical Installer

Select A Language

Accessibility In Ubuntu

Select Your Keyboard Layout

Connect To The Internet

Try or install Ubuntu

Type of Installation

What apps would you like to start with?

Install recommended proprietary software?

How do you want to install Ubuntu?

Manual Installation

Create Your Account

Review your choices

Installation complete

Brief Idiosyncrasies Overview

Entering Your Password for Special Commands

Updating Ubuntu Over Mobile Broadband

Fixing Login Screen Glitches with NVIDIA Cards

Resolving Missing .deb Packages

Making Snap Shortcuts Show Up

First Time Logging Into Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Wayland Compositor NVIDIA Glitches

For AMD/Intel/Other Graphics Cards

Welcome To Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Ubuntu Pro

Ready to go

Adding Users To The Sudoers File

Suspending Root Account In Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Modifying /usr/sbin/nologin:

Modifying /etc/ssh/ssh_config:

Modifying /etc/shadow:

Ubuntu 24.04 Repositories

Software & Updates GUI

Sources.list Command Line and GUI

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

App Centre Updates GUI

APT Update & Upgrade Command Line

Disabling Update Notifications

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Software Sources

Setting Software Install As Default For .deb

Setting gdebi As Default For .deb

Flatpak

Flathub

Snap

Snap Packages Command Line

Snap Store

.AppImage

Example AppImage .desktop Shortcut Creation

AppImageLauncher

Pip

Node.js & npm

NVM

pnpm

Homebrew

Software & Hardware Security

UFW (User Friendly Firewall)

UFW TCP & UDP Ports

TCP Ports Needed for Gaming:

UDP Ports for Smooth Online Play:

Importing Custom UFW Rules

UFW - Single Port Rules

UFW - Multi-Port Rules

UFW - Range Port Rules

UFW - Multi-Port & Range Port Rules

Removing UFW Port Rules

GUFW (Firewall Configuration)

GUFW Single Port Rules

GUFW Multi Port Rules

GUFW Range Port Rules

GUFW Multi Port Rules & Range Port Rules

GUFW Add Rule From Report

GUFW Remove Port Rules

ClamAV

clamd .conf Command Line & GUI Setup

Automatic ClamAV Updates And Daily Scans

ClamTk

Chkrootkit

Chkrootkit Daily Scans

Rkhunter

rkhunter Daily Update & Scans

Firejail

Firetools

OSSEC

OSSEC Systemd Service

DNS Over TLS

Google DNS

Cloudflare DNS

Quad9 DNS

Control D DNS

Ultimate Hosts Blacklist DNS

DNS.WATCH DNS

Hosts

Hosts.deny

Hosts.deny

Air Gapping

Unplugging Wired & Wireless Network Connections

Removing Unnecessary USB & PS/2 Devices

Get A Technical Professional To Help Remove Internal Network Adapters

Analog Media

Anti EMF Paint

EMF Shielding Fabric

3.5 MM Speakers

USB Keyboard & Mouse

Carrier Pigeons

Learning Ancient Languages

Manual Compiling

Duct Tape For Covering The Webcam & Microphone

Virtual Private Networks

Proton VPN

NordVPN

Private Internet Access

Drivers

NVIDIA

AMD

Radeontop

Printer Driver All

Office Suites

LibreOffice

Apache OpenOffice

Calligra Suite

OnlyOffice

Softmaker FreeOffice

WPS Office

Email Clients

Thunderbird

Betterbird

Mailspring

Image Editing Software

Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)

Blender

Pinta

Krita

Inkscape

Darktable

Tuxpaint

Audio Editing Software

Audacity

Ardour

MIXXX

Video Editing Software

OpenShot

Kdenlive

Shotcut

Pitivi

Integrated Development Environments (IDE’s)

Visual Studio Code

Atom-ng

VSCodium

Atom

Geany

Bluefish

Live Streaming Software

OBS Studio

Owncast

Personal Data Privacy

Searx

OpenStego

Tor Browser Launcher

I2pd

Hyphanet

ZeroNet

Web Browsers

Chromium

Ungoogled-Chromium

Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge

Thorium

Vivaldi

Brave

Firefox

Firefox ESR

Waterfox

LibreWolf

Pale Moon

Mullvad Browser

Basilisk

Password Managers

LastPass

Bitwarden

KeePassXC

Buttercup

Media Players

VLC

Parole Media Player

SMPlayer

Haruna

Dragon Player

System Utilities

QDirStat

Psensor

Stacer

Bleachbit

SoundConverter

Converseen

GParted

Hardinfo

Gpustat

Czkawka

Instant Messaging

Discord

ICQ

Skype

Session

Pidgin

Ferdium

Signal

Telegram

Remote Working

Zoom

Slack

Citrix Workspace

Cloud Office Suites

Google Docs Editors Suite

Microsoft 365

Zoho Office Suite

AI Content Generation

Easy Diffusion

oobabooga (Text Generation GUI)

Negative Prompts For Stable Diffusion

Upscayl

Stable Diffusion Web UI

Unofficial ChatGPT Desktop Application

System Settings

Night Light (GNOME)

Night Light (Cinnamon & Redshift)

Possible PipeWire Sound Crackle & Popping Fixes

Xanmod

Liquorix

Debian 12 System Variables

Setting Image As Background

mount_options.conf

Adding Startup Applications In Cinnamon

Adding Startup Application in GNOME

Auto Mount Partitions Using GNOME Disks

Cinnamon Screenshot Keybindings

Changing flashspot Color Attribute Via Command Line & GUI:

Creating Screenshots Folder Via GUI:

Focused Window Screenshot Via GUI:

Fullscreen Screenshot Via GUI:

GNOME Overview & Windows Keybinds

Changing Show The Overview Keybind Via GUI:

Changing Switch Windows Keybind Via GUI:

GNOME Screenshot Keybinds

Changing Take A Screenshot Keybind Via GUI:

Changing Take A Screenshot Of A Window Via GUI:

Changing Take A Screenshot Of A Window Interactively Via GUI:

Default Systemd Timeout

Making Files And Folders Immutable

ffmpegthumbnailer

Removing .desktop files

Power Settings

GNOME Extensions

GNOME Shell Extension Manager

GNOME Shell Integration

User Themes

ArcMenu

Dash to Panel

Desktop Icons (NG)

Tray Icons: Reloaded

Cinnamon Applets

Grouped Window List

Cinnamon Windows Alt-Tab Switcher

Cinnamon Menu Applet

Cinnamon Calendar Applet

Desktop Environments

GNOME

Tasksel

KDE Plasma

LXDE

XFCE

Programming Languages

Zig

Go

Rust

Lua

OpenJava

Imageboards

YChanEx

Ebook Readers

Calibre

Bookworm

Virtualization

Oracle VirtualBox

Adding User To The Vboxusers File

Virt-manager

Gaming

Wine-Staging

Lutris

ProtonUp-Qt

Steam

DXVK

Vkd3d-proton

World Of Warcraft

Battle.net

Possible Fix For Lutris World of Warcraft Black Screen In-Game Store Issue

Possible Fix For WINE-Staging World of Warcraft Black Screen In-Game Store Issue

Possible Fix for DirectX 12 Graphics Error

Retail World Of Warcraft Vanilla AddOn Suite

Curseforge

Running Battle.net From The Command Line

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Command Reference

Essential System Commands for File and Directory Management

Mastering APT: Advanced Package Management Techniques

Mastering Flatpak: Installation, Management, and Beyond

Snap Operations: A Comprehensive Guide to Installing, Managing, and Exploring Snap Applications

Mastering File Ownership Modification

Mastering File Permissions: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Access and Security Settings

Exploring dpkg: A Comprehensive Guide to Package Management

Efficient File Retrieval with wget

Introduction

“Ubuntu Unleashed: Mastering 24.04 LTS” is your go-to guide for the latest Ubuntu version. It’s perfect for both experts and newcomers to Linux. This book takes you through every step, from setting up to managing your system.

Make sure your computer meets Ubuntu’s hardware needs. Follow clear instructions to get the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO file and prepare your installation media, like USBs or DVDs. Learn to create bootable media with Ventoy or CDBurnerXP and adjust your BIOS settings for a hassle-free install.

Enjoy the easy Flutter-based installer to set up Ubuntu. You can pick your language, keyboard, and internet settings. Choose the installation type that fits you and consider adding extra software.

After installing, learn to log in and use the Ubuntu desktop. Set up user accounts and permissions safely, including sudo access.

Keep your system safe with a guide on security tools like UFW and ClamAV. Set up firewalls and antivirus to protect your computer.

But there’s more than just security. The book covers software management, office programs, email, and photo editing. It introduces IDEs, streaming tools, and privacy software to boost your work and keep your data safe.

For gamers, remote workers, and cloud users, this book offers tips on system customization and using Ubuntu’s features to the fullest.

With “Ubuntu Unleashed: Mastering 24.04 LTS,” you’ll fully explore what Ubuntu 24.04 LTS offers, enhancing your computing power and flexibility.

What Is Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04, known as Noble Numbat, is a culmination of two decades of innovation aimed at empowering developers. This version promises to push the boundaries of open-source development for the next 12 years. It’s built on the robust Linux 6.8 kernel, ensuring compatibility with a vast range of hardware. The release isn’t just a checkpoint; it’s a springboard for continuous improvement and expansion within Ubuntu’s lifecycle and beyond, always striving to fulfill its mission and uphold the values of the Ubuntu Desktop.

The new release simplifies the process of getting Ubuntu onto machines, whether they come pre-installed from OEM partners like Dell, HP, and Lenovo, or are installed by users. The desktop installer has been revamped, now sharing the same Subiquity backend as the server version for consistency and easier maintenance. A fresh Flutter-based frontend enhances user experience, while new encryption options and autoinstall support streamline the installation process. The App Center, also Flutter-based, offers a sleek interface for app management, and the introduction of GNOME 46 brings performance and usability enhancements to the desktop environment.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS doesn’t just stop at installation convenience; it extends its reach into secure software management. Personal Package Archives (PPAs) have been fortified with stronger signing protocols, and unprivileged user namespace creation is now tightly controlled for added security. The proposed pocket for software updates has been refined, allowing users to test specific features without risking system stability. This LTS release is not just an update; it’s a commitment to building a future-proof platform that will serve as a foundation for open-source projects to come.

Install Test Machine Details

Hardware
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core
GraphicsNVIDIA Gigabyte RTX 3060 12GB
Memory64GB RAM
Storage3TB SSD with DRAM Cache
Display1080p Resolution Monitor

Our test rig packs a punch with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor and a NVIDIA RTX 3060 card. With 64GB RAM and 3TB SSD, including a DRAM Cache, it handles data smoothly. The 1080p monitor brings out sharp, lively visuals, perfect for intense computing needs.

System Requirements

HardwareMinimumRecommended
Processor9th Gen Intel Core or 1st Gen AMD Ryzen Hex or Octa-Core CPU (64-bit)10th Gen Intel Core or 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen Hex or Octa-Core CPU (64-bit)
GraphicsNVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB or equivalent AMD or Intel graphics cardNVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB or equivalent AMD or Intel graphics card
Memory16GB RAM32GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD with DRAM Cache512GB SSD with DRAM Cache
Display1080p Resolution Monitor

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS calls for a robust setup to run smoothly. Your machine should have at least a 9th Gen Intel Core or a 1st Gen AMD Ryzen Hex or Octa-Core CPU, ensuring swift and responsive computing. The graphics need to be on par with an NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB, or its AMD or Intel counterparts, for crisp and vivid visuals. A minimum of 16GB RAM is essential for multitasking without hiccups, while a 256GB SSD with DRAM Cache will offer ample and speedy storage. Lastly, a 1080p monitor will display the clarity and detail you expect from such a powerful system.

Recommended Hardware Requirements

For Ubuntu 24.04, the ideal setup includes a 10th Gen Intel Core or a 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen Hex or Octa-Core CPU, paired with an NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB or a similar AMD or Intel GPU. It should be complemented by 32GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD that has a DRAM Cache. This combination ensures a smooth and responsive experience, catering to both computing power and efficient data access, providing users with a reliable and robust system for various tasks.

System Requirements Explanation

The system requirements for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS were based on a variety of sources including the official Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system requirements, viewable at:

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop#system-requirements

in addition to the Official World of Warcraft System Requirements, which are shown at:

https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/76459

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Pre-Install

Downloading Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

To download Ubuntu 24.04 ISO files, here are simple steps:

For the Standard Ubuntu 24.04 ISO with Flutter-based Graphical Installer:

Go to:

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Click "Download 24.04 LTS" to download ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso from this page.

Selecting Installation Media

USB Drives: Type A and C

Type A USBs are widely recognized and cost-effective, making them a practical choice for general use. They’re not reversible, which can be a minor inconvenience. On the flip side, Type C USBs boast faster data transfer and power delivery, suitable for modern needs. They’re reversible, easing connectivity, but come with a higher price tag and may not mesh with older devices.

Ventoy

Ventoy is a versatile, open-source tool that simplifies creating bootable USB drives. It supports a wide range of file formats and operating systems, allowing multiple bootable files to be stored and selected from a menu. With Ventoy, there’s no need for repeated disk formatting—just copy your files to the USB and boot directly. It’s compatible with various BIOS and UEFI types and even supports network booting with iVentoy. Its user-friendly design, coupled with robust features like secure boot and persistence support, makes it a go-to solution for booting and installing operating systems efficiently.

Installing Ventoy And Copying Over The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO
For Linux Systems:
  1. Visit Ventoy’s GitHub page at: https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases.
  2. Download the latest file, like ‘ventoy-1.0.97-linux.tar.gz’.
  3. Locate and extract this file in your file explorer.
  4. Open the folder named ‘ventoy-1.0.97’.
  5. Find the file ‘VentoyGUI.x86_64’ inside.
  6. Launch a terminal.
  7. Navigate to the folder with cd ~/Downloads/ventoy-1.0.97.
  8. Check the contents with dir.
  9. Start VentoyGUI with sudo ./VentoyGUI.x86_64.
  10. Select your USB drive in Ventoy.
  11. Save any important USB files elsewhere.
  12. Hit ‘Install’ and approve the action.
  13. Update Ventoy when prompted.
  14. Move the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO to the Ventoy partition (avoid the EFI partition).

Remember to back up your data.

For Windows Systems:

To set up Ventoy for Ubuntu 24.04, follow these easy steps:

  1. Go to the Ventoy releases page on GitHub at: https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases
  2. Download the ‘ventoy-1.0.97-windows.zip’ for Windows.
  3. Find the ‘ventoy-1.0.97-windows.zip’ file you downloaded.
  4. Open the zip and look for the ‘ventoy-1.0.97’ folder.
  5. Inside, run the ‘Ventoy2Disk’ program.
  6. Click the refresh icon in Ventoy2Disk.
  7. Pick your USB drive from the ‘Device’ list.
  8. Install or update Ventoy on your USB.
  9. Move the Ubuntu 24.04 ISO file to the Ventoy partition, but not the EFI one.

That’s it! Your USB is now ready for the Ubuntu installation on either Linux or Windows.

DVD-R/RW Discs

DVD-R/RW discs offer a nostalgic charm and are great for archival storage, as they’re less prone to data loss from electromagnetic interference. However, they’re fragile and the storage capacity is limited compared to USB drives. Type A and Type C USBs boast faster data transfer speeds and a sturdier build, making them ideal for frequent use and portability. The downside? They can be pricier and more susceptible to data corruption from viruses or hardware failure. In essence, DVDs are your go-to for long-term storage on a budget, while USBs shine for efficiency and durability in everyday tasks.

Brasero

Brasero is a user-friendly GNOME application for burning CDs and DVDs, offering a variety of features for easy and quick disc creation. It supports editing disc contents, multisession, and Joliet extensions, and can write images to the hard drive. For audio CDs, it handles a wide range of formats and allows detailed editing of track silences. Additionally, Brasero can copy discs, save projects, erase rewritable media, and preview multimedia files. Its interface is customizable and supports drag-and-drop actions, ensuring a smooth disc-burning experience.

Installing Brasero And Burning The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

To set up Brasero and burn the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO, follow these steps:

For Ubuntu and Ubuntu:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo apt install brasero and press Enter.

For Red Hat and Fedora:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo dnf install brasero and press Enter.

For Gentoo:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo emerge brasero and press Enter.

For CentOS 8 and older:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo yum install brasero and press Enter.

For openSUSE:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo zypper install brasero and press Enter.

For Arch Linux:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo pacman -S brasero and press Enter.

Next, grab a blank DVD+R disc (4.7GB) and make sure your DVD writer is compatible. Launch Brasero from your applications menu or by typing brasero in the terminal. In Brasero:

  • Choose “Burn image”.
  • Find and select the “ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso” file.
  • Insert your disc into the drive.
  • Hit “Burn” to begin the process.

CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP is a handy tool for burning CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, supporting many formats for robust data storage. It crafts audio CDs, bootable media, and spans data over discs. Features include instant burning, verifying data, and saving projects. It also erases, copies, and fetches disc info, creates ISOs, supports LightScribe, and updates in multiple languages.

Installing CDBurnerXP And Burning The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO

Download and Install CDBurnerXP:

  1. Go to the CDBurnerXP website.
  2. Click on ‘CDBurnerXP’ to find the software.
  3. Download the file named ‘cdbxp_setup_4.5.8.7128_x64_minimal.exe’.
  4. Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Burn the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO:

  1. Insert a blank DVD-R/RW disc into your DVD writer.
  2. Open CDBurnerXP from the Start Menu.
  3. Choose ‘Burn ISO image’ and click ‘Browse’ to select your Ubuntu ISO file.
  4. Tick options like ‘Verify data’ and ‘Finalize disc’.
  5. Press ‘Burn disc’ to begin.

If you run into any problems, the CDBurnerXP site has resources and a support team to help. Enjoy your Ubuntu experience!

Setting Boot Order In Motherboard BIOS

  1. Insert the USB with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS into your motherboard.
  2. Power on or restart your computer.
  3. Enter BIOS by pressing DEL, F2, or F10 as the computer starts.
  4. Change the boot order in BIOS to put the USB or DVD first.
  5. Prioritize the USB in the boot menu.
  6. Disable Secure Boot by going to ‘Settings’ in Advanced mode, then ‘Windows OS Configuration’, and set ‘Secure Boot’ to ‘Disabled’.
  7. Save your BIOS settings and exit.
  8. Reboot your computer to apply the new settings.
  9. Press F10 for a quick save and restart.
  10. That’s it! Your motherboard is now prepped for the Ubuntu installation.

Booting Into Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO Installation

Using A Ventoy Powered USB Drive

To boot into the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with a Ventoy USB, follow these easy steps:

  1. Turn on your computer and make sure to boot it from the Ventoy USB. You can do this by selecting the USB drive in your computer’s BIOS or boot menu.
  2. Find the Ubuntu 24.04 ISO on the list that Ventoy displays. Just use the arrow keys to navigate, select it, and hit ENTER.
  3. Go for Grub Mode right after you’ve chosen the Ubuntu ISO. It’s another simple press of the ENTER key.
  4. Launch the Graphical Installer to get Ubuntu onto your machine. Press ENTER one more time, and you’re on your way to installation!

DVD Disc Burned By Brasero/CDBurnerXP

To install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS using a DVD:

  1. Insert the DVD into your computer’s drive.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Make sure your computer boots from the DVD, which should be the first boot option.
  4. The Ubuntu installer will start immediately, offering a straightforward setup without additional menus, unlike Ventoy.

This method is easy and direct, perfect if you prefer a no-fuss installation. It’s all about what works best for you!

Ubuntu 24.04 LTD Installation Using Flutter-based Graphical Installer

Make sure to back up all your needed data securely, both locally and online, so it’s always within reach.

Select A Language

First, pick a language you’re comfortable with from the list, then click ‘Next’ to go to the following step.

Accessibility In Ubuntu

To adjust Ubuntu’s accessibility to your preference or for someone you’re assisting, simply select the options that work best. Once you’re satisfied with the settings, go ahead and hit ‘Next’.

Select Your Keyboard Layout

To set up your keyboard, simply scroll through the list and pick the layout you like. If needed, use the drop-down menu to fine-tune your choice. Then, give it a try in the text box below. Happy with how it feels? Click ‘Next’ to continue. Short, sweet, and to the point—no fuss, no muss!

Connect To The Internet

Decide how to connect your device to the internet: wired or wireless. You can choose visible or hidden SSIDs. Alternatively, select ‘Do not connect to the internet.’ After making your choice, click ‘Next.’

Try or install Ubuntu

Choose to either start installing Ubuntu immediately or test it first using the live desktop. When you’re ready, click ‘Close.

Type of Installation

For a guided setup of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, pick ‘Interactive Installation’. If you prefer to customize the installation using ‘autoinstall.yaml’ files, choose ‘Automated Installation’. After making your selection, click ‘Next’.

What apps would you like to start with?

Ready to set up your apps? Choose ‘Basic’ to install key tools like web browsers and utilities, or ‘Extended’ for a broader set of programs including office software. Just click your preference and hit ‘Next’ to proceed. Simple, right?

Install recommended proprietary software?

Want better graphics and Wi-Fi, plus more media options? Just check the boxes for third-party software and media format support, then click ‘Next’. Easy!

How do you want to install Ubuntu?

Choose your path:

  1. Option 1: Install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS alongside Windows for a harmonious dual-boot experience.
  2. Option 2: Erase the whole disk and embrace Ubuntu in its entirety.
  3. Option 3: Dive into the manual installation process, tailor-made for advanced users who relish designing their own disk setups. Ready? Click ‘Next’! 🚀

Manual Installation

Here’s how to partition your drive, step by step:

  1. Pick your device to partition.
  2. Clear existing partitions using the ‘-’ button.
  3. Select ‘Free Space’ and hit ‘+’.
  4. For the EFI partition, enter ‘1024’ in size, choose ‘EFI’ from the menu, and click ‘OK’.
  5. Hit ‘+’ again, input ‘71680’ for the Swap space, select ‘Swap’ from the menu, and confirm with ‘OK’.
  6. Choose the remaining space, click ‘+’, and it should auto-fill the size. Pick ‘Ext4’ and ‘/ (root)’ as the mount point.
  7. Review your layout to make sure it’s all good.
  8. Tick ‘Format’ for the new partitions, and you’re set to go. Click ‘Next’ to continue.

Just follow these steps, and you’ll have your drive set up in no time! 👍

Create Your Account

Let’s personalize your computer! Enter your name, then pick a name for your computer. Next, create a username for signing in. Choose a strong password—mix up letters (both upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols, aiming for at least 16 characters. Confirm your password, check the box for password login, and you’re all set. Click ‘Next’ to finish up. Simple and secure!

Review your choices

Let’s review your choices before taking the plunge. Double-check your installation settings, ensuring they align with your preferences. Once you’re satisfied, hit that ‘Install’ button. Ready? 🚀

Installation complete

Installation complete! Now, it’s decision time:

  1. Continue testing Ubuntu 24.04 LTS: Explore, tinker, and get a feel for the Linux goodness.
  2. Restart the computer: Dive into the Linux-based operating system proper. Ready to take the plunge? 🚀

Brief Idiosyncrasies Overview

Entering Your Password for Special Commands 

When you run commands that require extra permissions—like ‘su -’, ‘sudo apt update’, or ‘sudo snap install’—you’ll need to type in your password. This is the same password you chose during the initial setup of your system, or a new one if you’ve updated it in your account settings. It’s a quick security step!

For instance, you’d see something like this:

example@example:~$ sudo apt update

[sudo] password for example: ********

Remember, it’s all about keeping your system safe!

Updating Ubuntu Over Mobile Broadband 

When I update my Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with mobile broadband, I often need to run the update process twice to get all the packages. This extra step isn’t needed with other internet types like ADSL or fiber. It’s a unique hiccup with mobile connections.

Fixing Login Screen Glitches with NVIDIA Cards

If you’re using NVIDIA graphics cards like the MSI 1060 6GB or Gigabyte RTX 3060 12GB and see glitches at the gdm3 login, don’t worry. The default Wayland might not gel well with NVIDIA. Just click the little gear icon at the bottom right of the screen and choose “GNOME on Xorg” before you log in. This quick switch helps you log in smoothly, as Xorg gets along better with NVIDIA cards.

Resolving Missing .deb Packages

Installing .deb files is easy! Just type sudo dpkg -i example.deb in the terminal. If it says you’re missing packages, no problem—just run sudo apt install -f. It’ll grab what you need. This works great if you’re not on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with GDebi. The terminal is your friend for quick fixes, even if you installed the .deb through the Software Install app. Sometimes, you still need to use the terminal commands to get everything right.

Making Snap Shortcuts Show Up

Sometimes on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Snap shortcuts don’t show up right away. To fix this, open the terminal and type:

cd /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications

sudo cp discord_discord.desktop /usr/share/applications

This moves your Snap shortcuts to the main applications folder, so they pop up in your menu like they should.

First Time Logging Into Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Wayland Compositor NVIDIA Glitches

If you’re using an NVIDIA card and see weird screen issues, here’s a quick tip: At the login screen, click the gear icon at the bottom right and select “GNOME on Xorg.” Do this every time you log in for a smooth experience. It’s a one-click wonder that sorts out those pesky glitches!

For AMD/Intel/Other Graphics Cards

If you have an AMD, Intel, or other graphics card, logging in is a breeze. Just type in the password you made when you first set up your account. It’s a quick step to get started with your system.

Welcome To Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

To see the updates from the last version to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, just hit the ‘view changelog’ button. Once you’re done, click ‘next’ to continue.

Ubuntu Pro

If you’re online, you can turn on Ubuntu Pro for security updates until 2034 and to meet security standards. If not, just skip it for now. Then hit ‘next’ to go on.

Ready to go

After setting up, you can check out the app center to find new programs, or click ‘finish’ to jump straight into Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Easy and quick!

Adding Users To The Sudoers File

To give a user sudo access, open the terminal and type:

su -

sudo usermod -aG sudo [your-username]

sudo reboot

Just replace “[your-username]” with the actual username. It’s a quick way to make sure they can run admin commands!

Suspending Root Account In Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Modifying /usr/sbin/nologin:

To change the login shell to ‘nologin’ for the root user, here’s what you do:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type sudo gedit /etc/passwd.
  3. Find the first line about the root user, which ends with /bin/bash.
  4. Change /bin/bash to /usr/sbin/nologin.
  5. Save it with CTRL + S and close the editor.

That’s it! Now the root user can’t log in directly, which is safer.

Modifying /etc/ssh/ssh_config:

To update your SSH settings and disable root login, here’s a quick guide:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter sudo gedit /etc/ssh/ssh_config.
  3. Go to the end of the file, or line 54.
  4. Add PermitRootLogin no. If it’s already there, change it from ‘yes’ to ‘no’.
  5. Save with CTRL + S and close the editor.

This will help keep your system secure by not allowing root login over SSH.

Modifying /etc/shadow:

To update the /etc/shadow file, follow these steps:

Open your terminal.

  1. Type sudo gedit /etc/shadow and press Enter.
  2. Find the first line that starts with root:.
  3. Put a ! right before root:, making it !root:.
  4. Save your changes by clicking “Save” or pressing CTRL + S.
  5. Close the editor by clicking the “✕” button or exiting normally.

This will prevent the root user from logging in directly, enhancing your system’s security. Remember, handle system files with care! If you need more help, just let me know. 

Ubuntu 24.04 Repositories

In Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, you can manage software sources in two ways. First, use the Software & Updates tool to remove the CD-ROM source, which sometimes blocks updates. Then, you can add more sources to get new software. If you prefer the hands-on approach, open the terminal, edit the sources list with gedit, and disable the CD-ROM line. Add any extra lines you need for more software options. After editing, always refresh your sources to apply the changes.

Software & Updates GUI

To adjust your software sources in Ubuntu’s Software & Updates GUI, here’s a simple guide:

  1. Open the Software & Updates from the application menu.
  2. Go to the Ubuntu Software tab.
  3. Check the boxes for:
  • Canonical-supported software (main)
  • Community-maintained software (universe)
  • Proprietary drivers (restricted)
  • Copyrighted software (multiverse)
  • Source Code

Switch to the Other Software tab.

Uncheck the box next to the # deb cdrom: entry.

Click Close and then Reload to refresh your software sources.

This will ensure your system can install a wide variety of software, keeping it versatile and up-to-date.

Sources.list Command Line and GUI

To update your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS sources, you can use the command line or the GUI. Here’s a simpler version of the command line steps:

Command Line:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt install gedit && sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list to install and open the editor.
  3. Replace the file’s content with the new repository lines for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, including noble and its updates, security, and backports.
  4. Save your changes by clicking “Save” or using the menu options.
  5. Close the editor.
  6. Run sudo apt update in the terminal to refresh your package lists.

This will set up your system to receive the latest software from the Ubuntu repositories.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS makes updating easy. You can update apps or the whole system with the GNOME Software app. If you like using commands, the terminal is there for you. It also has automatic security updates to save you time. Want to manage updates yourself? Just turn off the update alerts and update when you feel like it.

App Centre Updates GUI

To update your apps through the App Centre, follow these easy steps:

  1. Open the App Centre from your application menu.
  2. Click on the ‘Updates’ tab to see your options.
  3. To update a single app, find it on the list and hit the ‘Update’ button beside it.
  4. If you want to update everything at once, just press the ‘Update All’ button located near the top, under ‘Application Updates’.

This will get all your apps up to speed with the latest versions.

APT Update & Upgrade Command Line

To update your system, open the terminal and type:

sudo apt update

Then, to upgrade the software, enter:

sudo apt upgrade

If you want to update and upgrade without confirming each time, use this:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This way, your system will be refreshed and improved with just a few commands.

Disabling Update Notifications

To stop update notifications, let’s tweak your system settings. Here’s how to do it in easy steps:

  1. Open the terminal and type:

sudo nano org.gnome.software.gschema.xml

  1. Change the following lines to stop updates:

<key name="allow-updates" type="b">

<default>false</default>

<key name="download-updates" type="b">

<default>false</default>

<key name="download-updates-notify" type="b">

<default>false</default>

<key name="show-ratings" type="b">

<default>true</default>

  1. Save your changes with CTRL + S and exit with CTRL + X.

Next, make your changes take effect:

  1. Run this command:

sudo glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/

  1. To restart GNOME, press ALT + F2, type r, and hit Enter.

That’s it! You’ve successfully disabled update notifications.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Software Sources

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS offers a wide range of software options without needing virtualization. For example, Distrobox and BoxBuddy let you run different Linux filesystems like Arch or openSUSE.

For .deb files, you can set ‘Software Install’ as the default opener with a simple double-click to install, which is easier than using the command line. Similarly, GDebi can be your go-to for .deb files, as it fetches required packages automatically, unlike the manual terminal commands.

Flatpak installation on Ubuntu ‘Numbat’ is streamlined with GNOME Software’s plugin, making software browsing a breeze. You’ll find basic Flatpak commands listed for everyday use.

Adding the Flathub repository expands your Flatpak app options, easily explored through GNOME Software.

Snap protocol installation connects you to Canonical’s Snapstore, home to many apps like Discord and Steam, using less bandwidth than Flatpak. Managing snaps is straightforward, and you can even install the Snap Store graphically.

.AppImages can be made runnable with a few clicks in Nautilus, and creating shortcuts for apps like Curseforge is simple. You’ll get a rundown of what each shortcut field means.

AppImageLauncher’s latest .deb can be installed with GDebi, ensuring all dependencies are covered, unlike with GNOME Software.

Pip, the Python package manager, links to PyPI for easy software installs via the terminal.

Node.js and npm installation is done through APT, giving you access to a vast library of packages.

NVM allows you to use different Node.js and npm versions on Ubuntu, though not system-wide. It includes instructions for switching versions.

Lastly, pnpm, another Node.js package manager, centralizes packages for efficient management and is installed via terminal commands.

Setting Software Install As Default For .deb

To set a program as the default for opening .deb files, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Files application.
  2. Press CTRL + L to go to the location bar.
  3. Enter ~/Downloads and hit Enter to jump to the Downloads folder.
  4. Find and right-click your .deb file, like google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb.
  5. Choose Open With, then Software Install.
  6. Toggle the switch next to Always use for this file type to the right.
  7. Click Open to finish.

This will make sure .deb files always open with the Software Install program.

Setting gdebi As Default For .deb

To set GDebi as the default application for opening .deb files, you can follow these easy steps:

  1. Open the terminal and type:

sudo apt install gdebi

This installs GDebi on your system.

  1. Next, open your file manager and press CTRL + L. This lets you type in the address bar.
  2. Enter ~/Downloads to go to your Downloads folder.
  3. Find a .deb file, like openstego_0.8.6-1_all.deb, and right-click on it.
  4. Choose ‘Open With’ and then select ‘GDebi Package Installer’.
  5. Look for the option ‘Always use for this file type’ and slide the switch to the right.
  6. Click ‘Open’ to finish the setup.

That’s it! Now, whenever you double-click a .deb file, GDebi will open it up for you. 

Flatpak

Getting Started with Flatpak:

  • Open your terminal.
  • Update your system with sudo apt update.
  • Install Flatpak using sudo apt install flatpak.
  • Add the software plugin with sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak.

Using Flatpak:

  • To add an app, type flatpak install flathub ch.tigerjython.TigerJython2.
  • To get rid of an app, enter flatpak remove ch.tigerjython.TigerJython2.
  • To see your Flatpak sources, use flatpak remotes.
  • To delete a source, go with flatpak remote-delete flathub.

Removing Flatpak:

If you want to uninstall Flatpak from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ‘Noble Numbat’, just run sudo apt purge flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak.

For more details, check the Flatpak website at

https://flatpak.org/

Flathub

To add Flathub to your system, simply open the terminal and type in:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command ensures Flathub is added only if it’s not already set up, keeping things tidy. It’s a quick step to access a wide range of applications! 

Snap

To set up Snap on your system, you’ll want to open the terminal and type in these commands. First, update your package list with sudo apt update. Next, install Snap itself by entering sudo apt install snapd. Then, to manage Snap packages through the GNOME interface, add sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-snap. Finally, to get the core Snap system, type sudo snap install core. That’s it! You’re all set to use Snap packages now.

Snap Packages Command Line

To add Discord: Open the terminal and type:

sudo snap install discord

To uninstall Discord: Type this in the terminal:

sudo snap remove discord

To delete Snap completely from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS: Enter the following:

sudo apt purge snapd

To set up a Discord shortcut for all users: First, go to the Snap applications folder:

cd /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications

Then, copy the Discord shortcut to the system’s applications folder:

sudo cp discord_discord.desktop /usr/share/applications

Snap Store

To get the Snap Store set up on your computer, you’ll want to open the terminal and type in two commands. First, use sudo snap refresh to update any snaps you already have. Then, type sudo snap install snap-store to install the Snap Store itself. It’s a straightforward process, and once you’ve entered these commands, you’ll have access to a wide range of applications through the Snap Store.

.AppImage

To make a .AppImage file ready to run, here’s a simple guide:

  1. Open your file manager.
  2. Press CTRL + L to type in a location.
  3. Enter ~/ to go to your home folder.
  4. Right-click and choose New Folder.
  5. Name it Applications and hit Create.
  6. Move your CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage from Downloads to the new Applications folder.
  7. In Applications, right-click on the CurseForge file and select Properties.
  8. Find the option Executable as Program and turn it on.
  9. Double-click the CurseForge file to run it.

If you want to keep the file unchanged, open a terminal in the Applications folder and type:

sudo chattr +i CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage

This locks the file until you decide to update it, which is handy since CurseForge updates might break your shortcuts if the file name changes. Just remember, you’ll need to remove the lock to update the file later.

Example AppImage .desktop Shortcut Creation

To create a shortcut for an AppImage, open the terminal and type:

cd /usr/share/applications

sudo gedit curseforge1.desktop

Then, fill in the curseforge1.desktop file with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Curseforge

Comment=This app manages game mods.

Exec=./Applications/CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

Remember to save your changes before closing the editor.

Here’s a quick guide to what each field means:

  • Name: The name you’ll see for the app.
  • Comment: A brief description that appears when you hover over the app.
  • Exec: Path to the app’s executable file.
  • Icon: The picture representing the app.
  • Terminal: Whether it opens in a terminal window (True/False).
  • Type: Typically “Application”.
  • Categories: Menu categories where the app appears.

AppImageLauncher

To install AppImageLauncher, follow these easy steps:

  1. Visit the AppImageLauncher GitHub releases page at:

https://github.com/TheAssassin/AppImageLauncher/releases

  1. Look for the latest release section.
  2. Download the file named appimagelauncher_amd64.deb.
  3. Go to your Downloads folder.
  4. Find and right-click on the appimagelauncher .deb file.
  5. Choose Open With and then GDebi Package Installer.
  6. If you see an option for Always use this file type, slide the switch to the right.
  7. Finally, click Open and then Install.

That’s it! You’ve got AppImageLauncher ready to use. 

Pip

To install pip, the Python package installer, you’ll want to open your terminal and update your system’s package index first. Here’s how you can do it:

sudo apt update

Once the update is complete, you can proceed to install pip by typing:

sudo apt install pip

This will download and set up pip on your system, allowing you to manage Python packages easily. 

Node.js & npm

To set up Node.js and npm on your system, simply open your terminal and enter:

sudo apt install nodejs npm

This command installs Node.js, the JavaScript runtime, and npm, its package manager, swiftly and effortlessly. It’s the first step to enjoying the vast ecosystem of Node.js packages! 🚀

NVM

Here’s a simplified guide to get NVM set up and running:

Update your system:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install curl wget

Install NVM:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.3/install.sh | bash

Set up the environment:

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"

[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"

[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"

Restart your computer:

sudo reboot

To install Node.js version 16:

nvm install 16

To switch to Node.js version 16:

nvm use 16

This will get you up and running with NVM and Node.js on your system. 

pnpm

To install pnpm, you’ll want to open your terminal and update your package list first. Just type in:

sudo apt update

Next, to get pnpm onto your system, copy and paste this line:

curl -fsSL https://get.pnpm.io/install.sh | sh -

Once you’ve run that, just follow the prompts on your screen, and you’ll be all set!

Homebrew

  1. Update your system with the command: sudo apt update.
  2. Install Git using: sudo apt install git.
  3. Install Homebrew by running the script: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)".
  4. Set up Homebrew in your shell by adding the following line to your .bashrc file: echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> /home/username/.bashrc and then activate it with: eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)".
  5. Remember to replace ‘username’ with your actual username.
  6. Get the build essentials with: sudo apt-get install build-essential.
  7. Finally, install GCC by typing: brew install gcc.

Keep it handy, and you’ll have Homebrew set up in no time! 

Software & Hardware Security

For Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ‘Noble Numbat’, secure your system with these steps:

UFW: A user-friendly interface for iptables, UFW comes with Ubuntu’s Linux 6.8 kernel. Install and manage it using the apt command. Forward necessary ports for online services and games, and set up custom rules for robust security.

GUFW: The graphical counterpart to UFW, GUFW simplifies firewall interactions. Easily add or remove port rules with a few clicks, enhancing your system’s defense.

ClamAV and ClamTk: Use ClamAV for command-line virus scanning and ClamTk for a graphical approach. Schedule scans, check file statuses, and manage updates with ease.

chkrootkit: This tool scans for rootkits from the command line. While it can’t remove them, it’s vital for detection, and other utilities can handle the cleanup.

rkhunter: Install via APT to find and remove rootkits. Set it to update and scan daily, keeping your system clear of these threats.

Firejail and Firetools: Firejail sandboxes applications, isolating them from the rest of your system. Firetools provides a graphical interface for easy sandbox management.

OSSEC: An open-source HIDS, OSSEC monitors system processes and software. Install it and set up a systemd service for continuous security checks.

DNS Over TLS: Protect against MITM attacks by encrypting DNS requests with TLS. Use secure DNS servers like Quad 9 to maintain privacy.

Alternative DNS Services: Choose from various no-log DNS options like Google DNS, Cloudflare DNS, and others, ensuring encrypted and private internet access.

Hosts File Management: Locate and install custom hosts files to map hostnames to IP addresses correctly. Back up and replace the original file carefully.

hosts.deny and superhosts.deny: Use these to block unwanted IP addresses and domains. Back up the original files before installing custom versions for enhanced security.

Keep your system safe with these straightforward measures, and enjoy a secure Ubuntu experience.

UFW (User Friendly Firewall)

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Navigate to the /etc directory with cd /etc.
  3. Remove the existing UFW directory using sudo rm -r ufw.
  4. Return to your home directory with cd.
  5. Purge the current UFW installation with sudo apt purge ufw.
  6. Install UFW again using sudo apt install ufw.
  7. Enable UFW with sudo ufw enable.
  8. Finally, check the status of UFW with sudo ufw status.

Remember, each step is important and contributes to the successful setup of your firewall.

UFW TCP & UDP Ports

TCP Ports Needed for Gaming:

  1. Common ones: 53, 80, 443
  2. Game-specific: 1119, 1120, 1935, 2099, 3074-3075, 3216, 3478-3479, 3724, 4000, 5060, 5062, 5222-5223, 6012, 6112-6114, 6250, 8080, 8088, 8094, 8097, 9946, 9988
  3. Range blocks: 14000-14024, 17502-17504, 18000-18120, 22990, 27900, 29810, 29900, 42124-42130, 20000-20100, 25000-25099, 27014-27050, 30000-30099, 42100-42200, 7777-7780, 8393-8400, 9960-9969

UDP Ports for Smooth Online Play:

  1. Essential ones: 67, 68, 80, 443, 546, 631
  2. For specific games: 1119, 1120, 1716, 3074, 3126, 3478, 3659, 3724, 4000, 5060, 5062, 6012, 6112-6114, 6120, 6250, 8080, 8088, 8125, 9565, 9570, 18000, 27036, 29900
  3. Broad ranges: 10000-19999, 1024-1124, 12000-64000, 14000-14016, 21000-26000, 22990-23006, 25000-25099, 25200-25300, 27000-27031, 30000-30099, 3074-3083, 3478-3479, 37000-40000, 4379-4380, 5000-5500, 6112-6119, 9000-9999

These ports were compiled from the help sections and forums of major gaming companies like Blizzard, Activision, Microsoft, EA, Riot, and Amazon. They’re essential for connecting to game servers and ensuring a good online experience. 

Importing Custom UFW Rules

To import custom UFW rules, follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Change to the etc directory:

cd /etc

  1. Remove the existing UFW and GUFW directories:

sudo rm -r ufw gufw

  1. Uninstall UFW and GUFW:

sudo apt purge ufw gufw

  1. Reinstall UFW:

sudo apt install ufw

  1. Remove the UFW directory again:

sudo rm -r ufw

  1. Navigate to the location where you’ve downloaded the custom UFW rules. Replace the placeholder with the actual directory path:

cd ~/Downloads/customufw

  1. Copy the custom UFW folder to the etc directory:

sudo cp -r ufw /etc

  1. Go back to the etc directory:

cd /etc

  1. Change the owner of the UFW directory to root:

sudo chown -R root ufw

  1. Set the correct permissions for the UFW directory:

sudo chmod -R 755 ufw

  1. Enable UFW:

sudo ufw enable

  1. Check the status of UFW:

sudo ufw status

Make sure to replace ~/Downloads/customufw with the actual path where your custom UFW rules are located.

UFW - Single Port Rules

To let web traffic through on port 80 using TCP, type this in your terminal: sudo ufw allow 80/tcp. For streaming or gaming traffic on the same port with UDP, use: sudo ufw allow 80/udp. These steps will set up your firewall to let in both types of traffic. Just so you know, TCP is mostly for browsing websites, and UDP is for live streams or online games.

UFW - Multi-Port Rules

To let web traffic through on port 80 and 443 using TCP, type this in your terminal: sudo ufw allow 80,443/tcp. For streaming or gaming traffic on the same port with UDP, use: sudo ufw allow 80,443/udp. These steps will set up your firewall to let in both types of traffic. Just so you know, TCP is mostly for browsing websites, and UDP is for live streams or online games.

UFW - Range Port Rules

To let web traffic through on port 1119 to 1120 using TCP, type this in your terminal: sudo ufw allow 1119:1120/tcp. For streaming or gaming traffic on the same port with UDP, use: sudo ufw allow 1119:1120/udp. These steps will set up your firewall to let in both types of traffic. Just so you know, TCP is mostly for browsing websites, and UDP is for live streams or online games.

UFW - Multi-Port & Range Port Rules

To let web traffic through on port 80 and 443 and 1119 to 1120 using TCP, type this in your terminal: sudo ufw allow 80,443,1119:1120/tcp. For streaming or gaming traffic on the same port with UDP, use: sudo ufw allow 80,443,1119:1120/udp. These steps will set up your firewall to let in both types of traffic. Just so you know, TCP is mostly for browsing websites, and UDP is for live streams or online games.

Removing UFW Port Rules

  1. Check Current Rules:
  2. Open your terminal and type:

sudo ufw status numbered

  • This command will display all the current UFW rules, listed in the order they were added.
  1. Delete a Specific Rule:
  2. To remove a specific rule (e.g., rule number 33), use:

sudo ufw delete 33

  • Replace “33” with the actual rule number you want to delete.
  1. Verify Deletion:
  2. Confirm that the rule has been removed by running:

sudo ufw status numbered

  • The updated list should no longer include the rule you deleted.

GUFW (Firewall Configuration)

Visit the official GUFW website at https://costales.github.io/projects/gufw/ for all things GUFW.

To install GUFW from the App Center using a DEB package:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Type “GUFW” in the search bar.
  3. Click “Firewall Configuration.”
  4. Select “deb” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install gufw to install GUFW.

GUFW Single Port Rules

Setting up a single port rule in GUFW is straightforward. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Start GUFW from your apps, look for “Firewall Configuration.”
  2. In the “Profile” section, pick “Home.”
  3. Enable the firewall by switching “Status” on.
  4. Set “Incoming” to “Deny” and “Outgoing” to “Allow.”
  5. Head to “Rules,” hit the “+” to add a rule.
  6. On the “Simple” tab, type “HTTP” in “Name.”
  7. In “Policy,” choose “Allow” and set “Direction” to “In.”
  8. Select the protocol: “Both,” “TCP,” or “UDP.”
  9. Enter “80” in the “Port” field.
  10. Click “Add” to finish.

That’s it! Your firewall is now tailored to your needs with the new port rule.

GUFW Multi Port Rules

  1. Open GUFW: Start by launching GUFW from your application menu. Make sure you select “Firewall Configuration” and not a similarly named application.
  2. Navigate to Rules: Once in GUFW, head to the “Rules” section. Click the “+” button to add a new rule.
  3. Choose Simple Tab: In the rule creation window, select the “Simple” tab.
  4. Name Your Rule: Enter a descriptive name in the “Name” field. For instance, you can use “HTTP/HTTPS.”
  5. Policy Selection: From the “Policy” dropdown menu, choose “Allow.” This permits traffic for the specified ports.
  6. Direction: Set the “Direction” to “In” for incoming rules.
  7. Protocol Selection: Depending on your needs, select:
  • “Both” if you require both TCP and UDP.
  • “TCP” for TCP-only.
  • “UDP” for UDP-only.
  1. Specify Ports: Input the ports you want to allow, separated by commas. For example, “80,443.”
  2. Finalize and Apply: Click “Add” to apply the rule.

By following this approach, you’ll efficiently set up firewall rules for multiple ports in GUFW, simplifying network traffic management for your system.

GUFW Range Port Rules

  1. Open GUFW: Navigate to your application menu and select the “Firewall Configuration” option. It’s like finding a hidden path in a dense forest—once you locate it, you’re on the right track.
  2. Rules Section: Imagine GUFW as a well-organized library. Head over to the “Rules” section—it’s like browsing through neatly labeled bookshelves. Now, press the “+” button to create a new rule. It’s akin to pulling out a fresh, crisp page from an ancient tome.
  3. Simple Tab: In the rule creation window, switch to the “Simple” tab. Think of it as choosing the simplest path through a labyrinth—no need for cryptic symbols or secret handshakes.
  4. Name Your Rule: Give your rule a name, like “HTTP Range”. It’s like christening a ship before it embarks on its voyage across the digital seas.
  5. Policy and Direction: From the dropdowns, select “Allow” for the policy (because we’re hospitable hosts) and “In” for incoming traffic (like welcoming guests at the front door).
  6. Protocol: If you’re setting up TCP ports, choose “TCP”; if it’s UDP ports, well, you guessed it—pick “UDP”. It’s like selecting the right spice for your culinary masterpiece.
  7. Port Range: In the “Port” field, specify the range of ports you wish to open—say, “1112:1114”. It’s like unlocking a series of secret chambers, each guarded by a different number.
  8. Click “Add”: Imagine you’re sealing an ancient scroll with a mystical sigil. Click “Add” to apply and save your new range port rule. Voilà! You’ve woven a protective spell around your network.

Remember, this method grants you the power to wield port ranges within GUFW like a seasoned sorcerer—precise control over your network traffic permissions. 🌐🔒

GUFW Multi Port Rules & Range Port Rules

  1. Launch GUFW: Open GUFW from your application menu by selecting “Firewall Configuration.”
  2. Add a New Rule: Navigate to the “Rules” section and click the “+” button to create a new rule.
  3. Choose the Simple Tab: In the rule creation window, select the “Simple” tab.
  4. Name Your Rule: Enter a descriptive name, such as “HTTP.”
  5. Policy Selection: Choose “Allow” from the “Policy” dropdown to enable traffic.
  6. Direction: Set the “Direction” to “In” for incoming rules.
  7. Protocol Selection: Depending on your requirement, select “TCP” for TCP ports or “UDP” for UDP ports.
  8. Specify Ports and Ranges: In the “Port” field, input the ports and ranges you need to open (e.g., “1111,22:24”).
  9. Apply the Rule: Click “Add” to apply the rule.

GUFW Add Rule From Report

  1. Open GUFW: Navigate to your application menu and select “Firewall Configuration.”
  2. Report Section: Once in GUFW, head to the “Report” section.
  3. Choose a Rule: From the list provided, pick a rule number.
  4. Add Rule: Click the “+” button to initiate adding the rule.
  5. Confirmation: Confirm by clicking “Add.”

This streamlined method efficiently implements firewall rules directly from GUFW reports, enhancing your network security settings.

GUFW Remove Port Rules

  1. Open GUFW: From your application menu, launch GUFW.
  2. Navigate to Rules: Click on the “Firewall Configuration” option.
  3. Access the Rules Tab: Once inside, head to the “Rules” tab.
  4. Select the Rule: Highlight the specific rule you want to remove by clicking on its corresponding number.
  5. Delete the Rule: Click the “-” button to delete the rule.

Remember to double-check that you’ve chosen the correct rule before deletion, as GUFW doesn’t prompt for confirmation. Stay vigilant! 🔍🔒

ClamAV

Visit the official ClamAV website at https://www.clamav.net/ for all things ClamAV.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install clamav clamav-daemon to install ClamAV.

clamd .conf Command Line & GUI Setup

To set up clamd, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Open the config file: Type sudo gedit /etc/clamav/clamd.conf in the terminal.
  2. Make these updates:
  • Set the max file size: OnAccessMaxFileSize 101M
  • Enable scanning: ScanOnAccess yes
  • Include all paths: OnAccessIncludePath /
  • Exclude these paths: OnAccessExcludePath /home/.wine /mnt
  • Turn on prevention: OnAccessPrevention yes
  • Save by clicking “Save”.
  1. Prepare the environment:
  • Create a directory: sudo mkdir /run/clamav
  • Give full permissions: sudo chmod 777 -R /run/clamav
  1. Start clamd: Simply run sudo clamd.
  2. Secure the directory: Change permissions back with sudo chmod 755 -R /run/clamav/.

That’s it! Your clamd should now be configured and running securely.

Automatic ClamAV Updates And Daily Scans

To keep your computer safe with ClamAV, you’ll want to update it and scan regularly. Here’s how to set it up simply:

  1. Update ClamAV Daily:
  • Open your terminal.
  • Type sudo crontab -e to edit your schedule.
  • Pick nano by typing its number.
  • Add this line: 2 3 * * * /usr/bin/freshclam
  • This updates the virus database every night at 11 PM.
  1. Daily Scans:
  • Still in the crontab, add another line:
  • 0 0 * * * /usr/bin/clamscan --log --infected --remove -r /home /usr /etc /bin /sbin
  • Your computer will scan at midnight, check for viruses, log the activity, and remove any bad files.

Remember to save your work with CTRL + S and exit with CTRL + X.

ClamTk

Visit the official ClamTk website at https://github.com/dave-theunsub/clamtk for all things ClamTk.

To install GUFW from the App Center using a DEB/FLATPAK package:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Type “ClamTk” in the search bar.
  3. Click “Firewall Configuration.”
  4. Select “deb” or “FLATPAK” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install clamtk to install ClamTk.

For terminal installation with FLATPAK:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type flatpak install flathub com.gitlab.davem.ClamTk to install ClamTk.

Chkrootkit

Visit the official chkrootkit website at https://www.chkrootkit.org/ for all things chkrootkit.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install chkrootkit to install Chkrootkit.

Chkrootkit Daily Scans

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Execute the following command: sudo crontab -e.
  3. In the crontab file, insert this line:

2 22 * * * /usr/sbin/chkrootkit -x -q -r / >> /var/log/chkrootkit.log 2>&1

  1. This command sets up a daily scan at 10:02 PM, quietly logging the results to /var/log/chkrootkit.log.
  2. Save your changes by pressing CTRL + S, then exit with CTRL + X.

Rkhunter

Visit the official Rkhunter website at https://sourceforge.net/projects/rkhunter/ for all things Rkhunter.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install rkhunter to install Rkhunter.

rkhunter Daily Update & Scans

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Execute the following command: sudo crontab -e.
  3. In the crontab file, insert this line:

2 21 * * * /usr/local/bin/rkhunter --cronjob --update --quiet --remove

  1. This command sets up a daily scan at 10:02 PM, quietly logging the results to /var/log/chkrootkit.log.
  2. Save your changes by pressing CTRL + S, then exit with CTRL + X.

Firejail

Visit the official Firejail website at https://firejail.wordpress.com/ for all things Firejail.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install firejail to install Firejail.

Firetools

Visit the official Firetools website at https://github.com/netblue30/firetools for all things Firetools.

To install GUFW from the App Center using a DEB/FLATPAK package:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Type “Firetools” in the search bar.
  3. Click “Firetools.”
  4. Select “deb” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install firetools to install Firetools.

OSSEC

Visit the official OSSEC website at https://www.ossec.net/ for all things OSSEC.

For terminal installation with APT & NVM:

To set up OSSEC, follow these steps003A

  1. Get ready: Go to the OSSEC website to learn more.
  2. Install dependencies: Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt-get install make gcc libc6-dev libssl-dev zlib1g-dev libpcre2-dev libevent-dev build-essential zlib1g-dev libpcre2-dev libsqlite3-dev libssl-dev libevent-dev libsystemd-dev curl wget git libxslt-dev python3-dev python3-babel python3-venv python3-pip

  1. Set Node version: Switch to Node version 16 with nvm use 16.
  2. Download OSSEC: Grab the OSSEC 3.7.0 package:

wget https://github.com/ossec/ossec-hids/archive/refs/tags/3.7.0.tar.gz

  1. Extract files: Unpack the archive with tar -xzvf 3.7.0.tar.gz.
  2. Enter OSSEC directory: Move to the folder using cd ossec-hids-3.7.0.
  3. Start installation: Begin the setup with sudo ./install.sh.

During installation, you’ll answer prompts:

  • Pick English with en.
  • Choose a local install with local and set the path to /var/ossec.
  • Say n to the first question and y to the rest, except for email notifications and IP whitelisting, which are optional.

Press Enter to finish. This will install OSSEC smoothly on your machine.

OSSEC Systemd Service

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Type sudo gedit /etc/systemd/system/ossec.service to edit the OSSEC service file.
  3. Add this to the file:

[Unit]

Description=OSSEC service

After=network.target

[Service]

Type=simple

ExecStart=/var/ossec/bin/ossec-control start

ExecStop=/var/ossec/bin/ossec-control stop

TimeoutStartSec=0

Restart=on-failure

StartLimitInterval=0

[Install]

WantedBy=multi-user.target

  1. Save the file.
  2. Back in the terminal, run these commands:
  • sudo systemctl enable ossec.service to enable the service.
  • sudo systemctl start ossec.service to start the service.
  • sudo systemctl status ossec.service to check the service status.

That’s it! Your OSSEC service should be up and running.

DNS Over TLS

To set up DNS Over TLS, start by updating your system with sudo apt update, then install systemd-resolved using sudo apt install systemd-resolved. Open the configuration file with sudo gedit /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.

Make these changes:

  • For DNS servers, write DNS=9.9.9.9#dns.quad9.net 2620:fe::fe#dns.quad9.net.
  • For backup DNS, change it to FallbackDNS=149.112.112.112#dns.quad9.net 2620:fe::9#dns.quad9.net.
  • Enable DNSSEC by setting DNSSEC=yes.
  • Turn on DNS Over TLS with DNSOverTLS=yes.
  • Ensure the system reads the hosts file with ReadEtcHosts=yes.

Save your edits by clicking “Save” or using the “File” menu. Close the editor when done.

Refresh the system settings with sudo systemctl daemon-reload, restart the DNS service using sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved, and then the network manager with sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.

To confirm your DNS settings are working, check https://dnscheck.tools/#results.  

Google DNS

Google DNS is at http://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns. Its main addresses are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. For newer networks, use 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844.

Cloudflare DNS

Cloudflare DNS is found at http://cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-1.1.1.1. It uses 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, or 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001 for IPv6.

Quad9 DNS

Quad9 DNS is available at http://quad9.net/service/service-addresses-and-features. Its addresses include 9.9.9.11 and 149.112.112.11, plus 2620:fe::11 and 2620:fe::fe:11 for IPv6.

Control D DNS

Control D DNS can be accessed at http://controld.com/free-dns. Use 76.76.2.0 and 76.76.10.0, or 2606:1a40:: and 2606:1a40:1:: for IPv6.

Ultimate Hosts Blacklist DNS

Ultimate Hosts Blacklist DNS is at http://github.com/Ultimate-Hosts-Blacklist/Ultimate.Hosts.Blacklist#dns-server. It offers 88.198.70.38 and 88.198.70.39, with IPv6 options 2a01:4f8:140:5021::38 and 2a01:4f8:140:5021::39.

DNS.WATCH DNS

DNS.WATCH DNS is found at http://dns.watch. Its IPv4 addresses are 84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40, and for IPv6, use 2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b.

Hosts

  1. Get the new hosts file:
  • Go to the Ultimate Hosts Blacklist repository at:

https://github.com/Ultimate-Hosts-Blacklist/Ultimate.Hosts.Blacklist?tab=readme-ov-file#raw-file-sources

  • Locate the ‘hosts’ file.
  • Right-click ‘Download’ and choose ‘Save link as…’ to download it.
  1. Prepare for the update:
  • Open your terminal.
  • Enter cd /etc to go to the etc directory.
  • Back up the old hosts file with sudo mv hosts hosts_backup.
  1. Install the new file:
  • Switch to the Downloads folder: cd ~/Downloads.
  • Copy the new hosts file to /etc: sudo cp hosts /etc.
  • Go back to the etc folder: cd /etc.
  1. Set permissions:
  • Make root the owner: sudo chown -R root:root hosts.
  • Update permissions: sudo chmod 755 hosts.

That’s it! Your hosts file should now be updated. Remember, it’s important to back up the old file before making changes, just in case you need to revert to it later.

Hosts.deny

  1. Get the new hosts.deny file:
  • Go to the Ultimate Hosts Blacklist repository at:

https://github.com/Ultimate-Hosts-Blacklist/Ultimate.Hosts.Blacklist?tab=readme-ov-file#raw-file-sources

  • Locate the ‘hosts.deny’ file.
  • Right-click ‘Download’ and choose ‘Save link as…’ to download it.
  1. Prepare for the update:
  • Open your terminal.
  • Enter cd /etc to go to the etc directory.
  • Back up the old hosts file with sudo mv hosts.deny hosts_deny_backup.
  1. Install the new file:
  • Switch to the Downloads folder: cd ~/Downloads.
  • Copy the new hosts file to /etc: sudo cp hosts.deny /etc.
  • Go back to the etc folder: cd /etc.
  1. Set permissions:
  • Make root the owner: sudo chown -R root:root hosts.deny.
  • Update permissions: sudo chmod 755 hosts.deny.

That’s it! Your hosts.deny file should now be updated. Remember, it’s important to back up the old file before making changes, just in case you need to revert to it later.

Hosts.deny

  1. Get the new superhosts.deny file:
  • Go to the Ultimate Hosts Blacklist repository at:

https://github.com/Ultimate-Hosts-Blacklist/Ultimate.Hosts.Blacklist?tab=readme-ov-file#raw-file-sources

  • Locate the ‘superhosts.deny’ file.
  • Right-click ‘Download’ and choose ‘Save link as…’ to download it.
  1. Prepare for the update:
  • Open your terminal.
  • Enter cd /etc to go to the etc directory.
  • Back up the old hosts file with sudo mv superhosts.deny superhosts _deny_backup.
  1. Install the new file:
  • Switch to the Downloads folder: cd ~/Downloads.
  • Copy the new hosts file to /etc: sudo cp superhosts.deny /etc.
  • Go back to the etc folder: cd /etc.
  1. Set permissions:
  • Make root the owner: sudo chown -R root:root superhosts.deny.
  • Update permissions: sudo chmod 755 superhosts.deny.

That’s it! Your superhosts.deny file should now be updated. Remember, it’s important to back up the old file before making changes, just in case you need to revert to it later.

Air Gapping

Air gapping means separating a computer from the internet to block hackers. Even so, clever attacks can still sneak through using sound, heat, and radio waves. For example, malware can use USBs to steal data, showing no system is totally safe.

To air gap a device, you disconnect it from all networks. It’s like making it invisible to hackers, protecting your important data.

Even if a computer isn’t online, it can still track when you plug in USBs or keyboards. Removing these can help keep your information safe.

Sometimes, to really secure a computer, you might need to take out parts that connect it to the internet. It’s tricky and can be costly, but you can also find old laptops online that already don’t connect, which is a cheaper option.

For data you really want to keep safe, you can store it on old tapes. It’s a cool way to use old tech to protect against modern threats.

There’s also special paint that blocks radio waves. It’s pricey, but you can buy it online and it helps keep your devices private.

Wrapping your computer in a special fabric can also protect it from radio waves. It’s a good idea to paint it first, then add the fabric.

Using speakers with a 3.5mm jack instead of USB can help keep your audio secure. And choosing wired USB keyboards and mice over wireless ones is safer too.

Believe it or not, carrier pigeons can be used for private messages. They’re old-school but can’t be hacked.

Learning ancient languages is another way to keep secrets. Not many people understand them, so your messages stay private.

When you compile software yourself, you can make it just right for your computer. It’s a bit of work, but it means your system runs smoothly without extra stuff you don’t need.

Even something simple like covering your webcam with tape can help protect your privacy. It’s an easy and cheap fix.

So, air gapping is all about keeping your computer and data safe from hackers in different ways, from simple tape to learning old languages. It’s about finding the right balance for your security needs.

Unplugging Wired & Wireless Network Connections

Unplugging your computer from all networks, like Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet, and Fiber Optic, cuts off hackers. It’s a key step for safety. For extra security, buy fake network and USB covers. They block open ports, keep out dust, and help your computer last longer. Plus, they deter tampering. You can shop for these on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dummy+network+plugs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dummy+usb+plugs

Always check your computer’s ports. It’s a simple but crucial habit to stop sneaky, harmful hook-ups.

Removing Unnecessary USB & PS/2 Devices

Keep only what you need, like your keyboard and mouse. Be careful with USB hubs; they can break your computer’s ports and are costly. Once you unplug what’s not needed, use dummy plugs for USB and PS/2 ports to keep out dust. You can find these on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=usb+dust+cap

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ps%2F2+port+dust+cap

They add security and make your computer parts last longer. Remember to check your ports often to make sure nothing harmful gets plugged in.

Get A Technical Professional To Help Remove Internal Network Adapters

If you want to disconnect a computer from the internet, hiring a tech expert is a good move. They can safely remove or turn off the parts that connect to the internet without harming the computer. But, it might cost a bit more because it’s a specialized job. A cheaper way is to buy a second-hand laptop from eBay that doesn’t connect to the internet anymore. This is a smart way to get a computer that’s already offline. Check out eBay for options at:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/

Analog Media

Storing data on tapes like VHS or cassettes is a practical choice. They can keep data safe for 5 to 10 years, sometimes even longer. The key is how you store them and how much you use them. People on YouTube have shown how you can use these tapes to save photos, videos, and even games. You can find these tapes on eBay at:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/

For those who need something more current, LTO tape drives are a good option. They are used more often and you can buy them on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=tape+drive

Both old-school tapes and LTO drives offer ways to save your data that mix the old with the new.

Anti EMF Paint

If you’re worried about privacy, Anti EMF Paint can help. It shields your computer from radio waves. Experts say three coats, with a primer, block about 60 decibels of EMF. You can find studies on this at EMF Academy’s website at:

https://emfacademy.com/emf-paint/

Remember the “Father Of The Bride” from “Last Of The Summer Wine”? Seymour’s remote electronic meddling? That’s not just TV stuff. Strong antennas might mess with your computer.

Cost-wise, painting your computer case with Anti EMF Paint isn’t cheap. It’s about $300 for just the paint. Doing it yourself saves money, but for a top-notch job, get a pro. They know how to handle this special paint.

Looking to buy? Check online shops like Amazon or eBay. They’ve got lots of choices. Amazon is easy for shopping and delivery.

To sum up, Anti EMF Paint is pricey, but for the privacy it gives, it’s worth thinking about.

EMF Shielding Fabric

EMF Shielding Fabric is a practical choice for safeguarding your computer. It’s designed to block out harmful radio waves. Here’s a simple plan: first, apply three layers of Anti EMF Paint as a base. Then, have a skilled tailor precisely cut the EMF Shielding Fabric to size. You can attach it with strong adhesive or choose self-sticking options.

A great advantage of this fabric is its cost-effectiveness. Compared to Anti EMF Paint, a good-quality EMF Shielding Fabric starts at around $50 on retail sites, making it an economical option for protection.

Further information is available at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=EMF+Shielding+Fabric

3.5 MM Speakers

PC speakers with a 3.5mm jack are safer than USB ones because they only send sound, not data. This lowers the chance of data leaks. For more safety, choose speakers with a removable power cable that you can swap for one with better shielding against interference and spying. You can find good 3.5mm PC speakers online at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=mains+powered+pc+speakers+3.5mm+jack

While powering speakers with just a 3.5mm cable is possible, it may affect sound quality. If saving power matters to you, it’s an option. Otherwise, for clear sound without using too much power, consider the earphones I often use, which are available at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CBU0IV8

USB Keyboard & Mouse

I like USB keyboards and mice better than PS/2 ones because they’re more reliable. PS/2 can have issues on old computers. Wireless ones, like Bluetooth or 2.4Ghz, can be hacked, so they’re not as safe. Projection keyboards are cool but cost a lot. I use the steelseries APEX 3 TKL keyboard because it’s tough and doesn’t miss keys when I type fast. I also use the steelseries Rival 3 mouse because it’s solid and the scroll wheel is quiet. You can find them on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=steelseries+keyboard+and+mouse

They’re good if you want stuff that’s safe and works well.

Carrier Pigeons

Carrier pigeons offer a private way to send messages. They’re out of reach from digital snooping, making them a secure choice. These birds cost between $300 to $1,000, depending on their breed and training. You can buy them from:

  • http://www.pigeonfarms.com
  • http://www.racinghomer.com

In the USA, if owning a pigeon is too costly, try PigeonGram. It’s a service where pigeons carry your message to a loft, and then it’s mailed to its final destination with USPS tracking.

Find out more at http://www.pigeongram.com.

This service combines old-school charm with modern reliability for safe messaging.

Learning Ancient Languages

Studying ancient languages such as Sumerian, Luwian, and Old Chinese is a way to privately connect with history and culture. It’s rare to find someone fluent in these languages today, which adds to their charm. For those interested, there are plenty of resources online. For example, you can find books and materials on Amazon with prices from $20 to $200. Learning these languages helps keep them alive and brings a rich cultural experience. Here are the links to get started:

For Sumerian language resources:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sumerian+language

For Luwian language resources:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=luwian+language

For Old Chinese language resources:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=old+chinese+language

Manual Compiling

Building software yourself is important but takes a lot of time, especially for computers without internet. You have to look closely at the code and pick the right settings to work well with your system. You can make it fit what you need, like setting up your computer’s look without extra parts you don’t use, and turning off annoying update messages.

Sometimes, programs have cool features that aren’t usually turned on. Take Chromium, for example; you can switch on options to make it use your computer’s graphics card more. This can make your computer quieter and run smoother. When you compile software yourself, you can make it just right for what you need, which can make your computer faster and nicer to use.

Duct Tape For Covering The Webcam & Microphone

For privacy, stick duct tape over your webcam and microphone. It’s a low-cost solution, with prices starting around £5. Tech experts, including Mark Zuckerberg, recommend this method. It’s an effective and universal fix. Additionally, consider upgrading to high-quality external webcams and microphones for better sound and picture.

Purchase duct tape at

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=thick+duct+tape

For superior webcams and microphones, go to:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=hd+webcam+and+microphone

Virtual Private Networks

VPNs connect your devices to the internet securely. They let you use private networks from far away and join different networks, like offices in different places. VPNs make things safer, save money, and let people work from anywhere. They work by making a protected virtual link. This helps both people and businesses with different needs, like connecting computers or whole networks.

Proton VPN is from Switzerland and keeps your internet use safe and private on many devices. It doesn’t track what you do online. It has free and paid options, fast and safe connections, and lets you see blocked content from anywhere. It’s easy to use, supports up to 10 devices, works with Tor, and has extra security features. Proton VPN comes from the same people who made Proton Mail, and they want to make the internet safer for everyone.

NordVPN is a full security service that keeps you safe online every day. It’s more than just a VPN. It has tools to block malware and ads, lets you make private networks, warns you if your account is in danger, and gives you a steady online identity. It has strong security features like encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, extra encryption, and SmartDNS for streaming. NordVPN values your privacy, has fast connections all over the world, supports many devices, and is easy to use. It has browser extensions and is there to help you anytime.

Private Internet Access (PIA) has been a trusted VPN since 2010. It’s known for having lots of servers and not keeping logs of what you do. Kape Technologies owns it. PIA works on many platforms and lets you connect as many devices as you want. It’s great for privacy, has good features for downloading, a tool for scripting, and has been checked for security.

Proton VPN

Visit the official Proton VPN website at https://protonvpn.com/ for all things Proton VPN.

To install Proton VPN using the DEB file, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Proton VPN setup page at:

http://protonvpn.com/support/official-ubuntu-vpn-setup/

  1. Click on ‘Download the Proton VPN DEB package’ to start downloading.
  2. Open your ‘Files’ and navigate to the ‘Downloads’ folder or ~/Downloads.
  3. Find and double-click on protonvpn-stable-release_1.0.3-3_all.deb.
  4. Press ‘Install’ to begin the installation process.

NordVPN

Visit the official NordVPN website at https://nordvpn.com/ for all things NordVPN.

To install NordVPN on your system, follow these straightforward steps:

  1. Go to NordVPN’s download page:

http://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian/pool/main/

  1. At the bottom of the page, find and click on the latest file named nordvpn_amd64.deb to start the download.
  2. After downloading, navigate to your Downloads folder by going to ~/Downloads.
  3. Locate the downloaded file, nordvpn_3.17.4_amd64.deb, and double-click it.
  4. A window will pop up; simply click on the Install button to begin the installation process.

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed NordVPN.

Private Internet Access

Visit the official Private Internet Access website at https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/for all things Private Internet Access.

To install Private Internet Access on Linux, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Private Internet Access download page at:

http://www.privateinternetaccess.com/download/linux-vpn

  1. Click on ‘Download VPN for Linux’ to start downloading the installer.
  2. After downloading, navigate to your Downloads folder by going to Files > Downloads.
  3. Right-click in an empty area and select ‘Open In Terminal’.
  4. In the terminal window, type the command sudo chmod +x pia-linux-3.5.7-08120.run to make the file executable.
  5. Then, run the installer with sudo ./pia-linux-3.5.7-08120.run.

That’s it! Just follow these steps, and you’ll have Private Internet Access set up on your Linux system.

Drivers

Drivers are the go-betweens for your computer and hardware like printers. They’re split into two kinds: basic and device-specific. You need to install them yourself. They make sure everything works together well, from surfing the web to watching videos. If they’re old or wrong, your computer might not work right. You get new ones from the maker’s website to keep things running smoothly and safely. Without drivers, your computer won’t work with its hardware, which can cause big problems. Signed drivers are safer because they’re checked for being genuine. It’s important to update drivers so your computer can work well with Windows.

NVIDIA drivers connect your computer to its graphics card. They’re key for playing the latest games well. You get them from NVIDIA or your computer’s maker. They help make games look better and run smoother.

AMD drivers let your computer talk to its AMD parts, like the graphics card. They’re needed for games and apps to work best. You can get the newest ones from AMD’s website. They can update on their own and help your computer run better and more safely.

Radeontop is a tool for checking how much your AMD graphics card is being used. It shows you live data on how the card is doing. It works best with open drivers but can also work with AMD Catalyst. You need special access to use it, which helps you see how well things like games are running.

Printer drivers let your computer talk to your printer. They change digital info into something the printer can understand. This means your documents print out just how you want them. Printer drivers know what your printer can do and make it easy to print from any program. They work with different systems and can do extra things like stapling. Drivers for brands like Brother and HP make sure your printer works with your computer and give you more options for printing.

NVIDIA

Visit the official NVIDIA website at https://www.nvidia.com/ for all things NVIDIA.

Installing NVIDIA Drivers Through Software & Updates

To set up the NVIDIA driver, simply open ‘Software & Updates’ from your apps. Click on ‘Additional Drivers’, choose the latest NVIDIA driver (currently version 550), and hit ‘Apply Changes’. Finish by restarting your computer. That’s it!

Installing NVIDIA Drivers:

  1. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt update

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-550 libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386

Setting Up NVIDIA Developer Repository:

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Add 32-bit architecture support:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt update

  1. Import NVIDIA’s GPG key:

curl -fSsL http://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ ubuntu2404/x86_64/3bf863cc.pub | sudo gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg > /dev/null 2>&1

  1. Add NVIDIA’s repository:

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/nvidia-drivers.gpg] http://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ ubuntu2404/x86_64/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nvidia-drivers.list

sudo apt update

  1. Check for NVIDIA driver packages:

apt-cache search nvidia-driver

  1. Confirm the repository list:

cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d

dir

sudo nano nvidia-drivers.list

(Make sure it shows the correct repository line, then exit with CTRL + X.)

  1. Install the NVIDIA driver and Vulkan libraries:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install nvidia-driver libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386

Follow these steps, and you’ll have the NVIDIA driver and Vulkan support installed for top-notch performance with your applications and games.

AMD

Visit the official AMD website at https://www.amd.com/en.html for all things AMD.

The Latest stable Open Source AMD Drivers are included as standard with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

To set up the latest unstable graphics drivers:

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Type sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oibaf/graphics-drivers and press Enter.
  3. Update your system with sudo apt update.
  4. Upgrade your system with sudo apt upgrade.

To uninstall the drivers:

  1. Navigate to the sources list by typing cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d.
  2. Delete the oibaf sources file.
  3. Update your system again with sudo apt update.
  4. Finish by upgrading with sudo apt upgrade.

Remember, each command should be entered separately, and you’ll need to confirm some of them with your password.

Radeontop

To get Radeontop, head to its official site at http://github.com/clbr/radeontop. Want it via App Center? Just search for Radeontop there, pick your package format—deb, and click install.

For terminal lovers, it’s as easy as:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install radeontop

Setting up the amdgpu-fan.yml? Open a terminal and type:

sudo gedit /etc/amdgpu-fan.yml

Then, fill it with:

speed_matrix:

- [0, 0]

- [30, 15]

- [50, 30]

- [70, 70]

- [90, 100]

Save and close to finish.

For the amdgpu-fan service, open the terminal again and edit the service file with:

sudo gedit /etc/systemd/system/amdgpu-fan.service

Paste this in:

[Unit]

Description=Service for controlling AMDGPU fan

After=syslog.service

[Service]

Type=simple

User=root

ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/amdgpu-fan

Restart=always

[Install]

WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save, close, and back in the terminal, run:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo systemctl enable amdgpu-fan.service

sudo systemctl start amdgpu-fan.service

To check the service status, use:

sudo systemctl status amdgpu-fan.service

Printer Driver All

Visit the official Printer Driver All website at https://packages.ubuntu.com/noble/printer-driver-all for all things Printer Driver All.

Installing Printer Driver All via APT in the Terminal:

To update your system and install all available printer drivers, you can enter the following commands in the terminal:

  1. Update the package lists:

sudo apt update

  1. Install the printer drivers:

sudo apt install printer-driver-all

Office Suites

Office suites are vital for work, combining tools like text editors and spreadsheets. They boost efficiency. Microsoft Office was once only offline, but now there’s Google Docs online. People like Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac, and also free ones like LibreOffice and OpenOffice for different systems. Apple’s iWork is for Mac users, with text, data, and slide tools.

LibreOffice is free and works with many file types, including Microsoft’s. It started from OpenOffice in 2010 and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s in 115 languages and has mobile apps. It’s popular for teamwork and easy to use, especially on Linux. It has a strong community and over 200 million users worldwide.

Apache OpenOffice is free and has a text tool, data tool, and slide maker. It works with many file types. It came from OpenOffice.org and IBM’s Lotus Symphony. It’s for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It’s still important for work software, even though it’s hard to find people to help make it and keep it safe.

Calligra Suite is made by KDE and has many tools for computers, tablets, and phones. It has text, data, slides, drawing, and database tools. Calligra Words makes nice documents, and Sheets is good for data with formulas and charts. It also has KEXI for databases, Karbon for drawing, Plan for projects, and Stage for slides. Gemini makes it work well on devices that are both tablets and computers.

OnlyOffice, once called TeamLab, is free and has online tools for text, data, slides, forms, and PDFs. It works well with others and supports many file types like DOCX and XLSX. It’s good with Microsoft Office files. You can use it on the web or in your own network. It has lots of features for styling, data functions, slides, and editing PDFs and forms.

SoftMaker FreeOffice is always free and has text, data, and slide tools. It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s good for both work and personal use. You can change how it looks with ribbons or menus and it’s easy to use on touch screens. It’s great for making documents, doing math, and making slides. It shares files easily with Microsoft Office, so it’s a good free choice.

WPS Office has text, data, and slide tools. It’s a good choice for Linux and works with DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. It has many features for writing, analyzing data, and making slides, including a PDF toolkit. There’s a free version and a paid one. It has lots of users and keeps getting better. It’s made by volunteers for Linux.

LibreOffice

Visit the official LibreOffice website at https://www.libreoffice.org/ for all things LibreOffice.

To install LibreOffice through the App Center using DEB/FLATPAK:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “LibreOffice.”
  • Click on it and select your package type (DEB, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Press “Install.”

To set up LibreOffice with APT in the terminal:

  • Run sudo apt update.
  • Then sudo apt install libreoffice.

To get LibreOffice from the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Find “LibreOffice.”
  • Choose it and pick the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click “Install.”

To install LibreOffice with Snap in the terminal:

  • Type sudo snap install libreoffice.

For Flatpak installation in the terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.libreoffice.LibreOffice.

Apache OpenOffice

Visit the official Apache OpenOffice website at https://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html for all things Apache OpenOffice.

To install Apache OpenOffice using an AppImage, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the OpenOffice AppImage release page at http://github.com/area-of-dev/OpenOffice.AppImage/releases.
  2. Click on “The Assets” to see the available files.
  3. Choose the most recent OpenOffice.AppImage file.
  4. Save it in your ~/Downloads folder.
  5. Find the file in Downloads, right-click, and pick “Properties.”
  6. Under “Permissions,” make it executable.
  7. Double-click the file to begin installation.

For a shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications to go to the applications folder.
  3. Create a new shortcut with sudo gedit openoffice1.desktop.
  4. Add these lines to the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Apache OpenOffice

Comment=OpenOffice application

Exec=./Applications/OpenOffice.AppImage

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

Save your changes and exit the editor.

Calligra Suite

Visit the official Calligra Suite website at https://calligra.org/ for all things Calligra Suite.

Want to install it via App Center? Here’s how:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Calligra Suite.”
  3. Click on it and select your preferred version: deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  4. Press “Install” to start the process.

Prefer using the Terminal? No problem:

  1. Open your Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to refresh your package list.
  3. Then, install Calligra Suite with sudo apt install calligra.

That’s it! You’re all set to use Calligra Suite on your device.

OnlyOffice

Visit the official OnlyOffice website at https://www.onlyoffice.com/en/ for all things OnlyOffice.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “OnlyOffice.”
  3. Click on “OnlyOffice.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install.”

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “OnlyOffice.”
  3. Click on “OnlyOffice.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install.”

Via Terminal with Snap:

  • Run the command: sudo snap install onlyoffice-desktopeditors

Via Terminal with Flatpak:

  • Enter the command: flatpak install flathub org.onlyoffice.desktopeditors

Softmaker FreeOffice

Visit the official Softmaker FreeOffice website at https://www.freeoffice.com/en/ for all things Softmaker FreeOffice.

  1. Visit the download page at http://www.freeoffice.com/en/download/applications.
  2. Click on the ‘Download’ button.
  3. Select the ‘.deb package for DEB-based systems’ to initiate the download of Softmaker FreeOffice.
  4. Once downloaded, navigate to the ‘~/Downloads’ folder.
  5. Locate and double-click on ‘softmaker-freeoffice-2021_1068-01_amd64.deb’.
  6. Press the ‘Install’ button to begin the installation process.

WPS Office

Visit the official WPS Office website at https://www.wps.com/ for all things WPS Office.

To install WPS Office using a .deb file, follow these straightforward steps:

  1. Visit the WPS Office Linux version page at http://www.wps.com/office/linux/.
  2. Click on the ‘Deb Package’ to start downloading WPS Office.
  3. Open your ‘Downloads’ folder, usually found at ~/Downloads.
  4. Find and double-click on the file named wps-office_11.1.0.11719.XA_amd64.deb.
  5. A window will pop up; simply click ‘Install’ to begin the installation process.

Email Clients

Email clients help you manage your emails better. They work offline and can have calendars. They’re easy to use and safe.

Mozilla Thunderbird is free and helps you keep track of your calendar and contacts. It works on many devices and is made by MZLA Technologies. It’s safe to use and even the French military uses it.

Betterbird adds new things to Thunderbird, like better views and colors for accounts. It’s easy to try out and fixes some problems that Thunderbird doesn’t.

Geary is simple and fast. It’s free and works well with all the big email services. It keeps your emails in order and safe.

Mailspring is good for work and works on Mac, Linux, and Windows. It has many features like undo send and read receipts. It also lets you change the look and language of your emails.

These clients make emailing easier and more secure. They offer different features to fit your needs.

Thunderbird

Visit the official Thunderbird website at https://www.thunderbird.net/en-GB/ for all things Thunderbird.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Thunderbird.”
  3. Click on Thunderbird.
  4. Select ‘deb’, ‘Snap’, or ‘Flatpak’ from the source box.
  5. Press ‘Install’.

Via APT in the Terminal:

  • Run sudo apt update.
  • Then, install with sudo apt install thunderbird.

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Thunderbird.”
  3. Click on it and choose the latest/stable version under ‘Snap’.
  4. Hit ‘Install’.

Installing from the Terminal with Snap:

  • Simply input sudo snap install thunderbird.

For Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Type flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.Thunderbird.

These methods will get Thunderbird up and running on your system. Choose the one that suits you best!

Betterbird

Visit the official Betterbird website at https://www.betterbird.eu/ for all things Betterbird.

To install Betterbird through the App Center:

  • Launch the App Center.
  • Look up “Betterbird.”
  • Select it, then pick your preferred package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Click “Install.”

For Terminal installation with Flatpak:

  • Enter the command: flatpak install flathub eu.betterbird.Betterbird

Mailspring

Visit the official Mailspring website at https://www.getmailspring.com/ for all things Mailspring.

To install Mailspring using App Center:

  • Open App Center.
  • Search for “Mailspring.”
  • Click “Mailspring.”
  • In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  • Press “Install.”

To get Mailspring from the Snap Store:

  • Go to Snap Store.
  • Find “Mailspring.”
  • Click “Mailspring.”
  • In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click “Install.”

To install Mailspring via Snap in the Terminal:

  • Run: sudo snap install mailspring

To install Mailspring via Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub com.getmailspring.Mailspring

Image Editing Software

Image editing software lets you change digital pictures by cutting, fixing, and tweaking colors. It uses vector, raster, and 3D tools to improve or make images from scratch. Mainly for 2D work, it helps resize, filter, and convert formats.

GIMP is a no-cost photo editor that also does image composition. It has painting tools, layers, and can be customized with plugins. It works on many systems and handles lots of file types, perfect for both easy and complex edits.

Blender is a free tool for 3D design, animation, and video effects. It’s for pros and hobbyists, runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and has a full toolset for various media projects. Its community offers great support and learning resources.

Pinta is a free image editor like Paint.NET but more accessible and with more features. It’s easy to use, supports layers, and has a workspace that you can change to suit your style. It’s known for being simple but powerful.

Krita is a free art and animation editor for digital creators. It works on Linux, Windows, and macOS, and has a fast canvas, lots of brushes, and flexible layers. It’s great for artists who want control and variety in their work.

Inkscape is a free vector graphics editor that works on many systems. It’s great for making clear, scalable drawings like cartoons and logos. It uses SVG mainly and has lots of design tools for detailed work.

Darktable is a free photo app that’s all about non-destructive editing. It’s good at managing lots of images and makes editing easy with real-time changes and support for many formats. It has a user-friendly interface with different modes for editing and organizing.

Tux Paint is a free drawing app for kids 3 to 12. It’s fun and easy, works on many devices, and helps kids learn about computers and art. Teachers and parents can add new content to make it even better for learning.

Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)

Visit the official Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) website at https://www.gimp.org/ for all things Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).

To install GIMP using the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “GIMP.”
  • Click on GIMP, then choose your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Click “Install.”

To install GIMP using APT in the terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gimp

To install GIMP from the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Find “GIMP” and select it.
  • Pick the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click “Install.”

To install GIMP using Snap in the terminal:

  • sudo snap install gimp

To install GIMP with Flatpak in the terminal:

  • flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

Blender

Visit the official Blender website at https://www.blender.org/ for all things Blender.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Blender.”
  3. Click on Blender.
  4. Pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Run sudo apt update
  2. Then, sudo apt install blender

Using the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Blender.”
  3. Click on Blender.
  4. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using Snap from the Terminal:

  • Simply input sudo snap install blender

Using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Just type flatpak install flathub org.blender.Blender

Pinta

Visit the official Pinta website at https://www.pinta-project.com/ for all things Pinta.

To install Pinta using the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Pinta.”
  • Click on “Pinta.”
  • In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  • Press “Install.”

To get Pinta from the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Find “Pinta.”
  • Click on “Pinta.”
  • In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click “Install.”

To install Pinta via Snap in the Terminal:

  • Run the command: sudo snap install pinta

To install Pinta using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter the command: flatpak install flathub com.github.PintaProject.Pinta

Krita

Visit the official Krita website at https://krita.org/en/ for all things Krita.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Krita.”
  3. Click on “Krita.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install Krita with sudo apt install krita.

Using the Snap Store:

  1. Open the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Krita.”
  3. Click on “Krita.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable version under Snap.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using Snap from the Terminal:

  • Run sudo snap install krita.

Using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.kde.krita.

Inkscape

Visit the official Inkscape website at https://inkscape.org/ for all things Inkscape.

To install Inkscape using the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Inkscape.”
  • Click on “Inkscape.”
  • Pick “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak.”
  • Press “Install.”

To get Inkscape via APT in the terminal:

  • Type:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install inkscape

For Inkscape from the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Find “Inkscape.”
  • Click on it.
  • Choose the “latest/stable” Snap version.
  • Click “Install.”

To install Inkscape with Snap in the terminal:

  • Enter:

sudo snap install inkscape

For Inkscape via Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Type:

flatpak install flathub org.inkscape.Inkscape

Darktable

Visit the official Darktable website at https://www.darktable.org/ for all things Darktable.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Darktable”.
  3. Click on “Darktable”.
  4. Select “deb”, “Snap”, or “Flatpak”.
  5. Press “Install”.

Via APT in the Terminal:

  • Run the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install darktable

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Darktable”.
  3. Click on “Darktable”.
  4. Choose the “latest/stable” version under “Snap”.
  5. Click “Install”.

Installing from the Terminal with Snap:

  • Enter the command:

sudo snap install darktable

Using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Type the command:

flatpak install flathub org.darktable.Darktable

Tuxpaint

Visit the official Tuxpaint website at https://tuxpaint.org/ for all things Tuxpaint.

  • To install Tuxpaint using the App Center:
  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Tuxpaint.”
  • Click on “Tuxpaint.”
  • Select the source: DEB, Snap, or Flatpak.
  • Press “Install.”

For Terminal installation with Flatpak:

  • Enter the command: flatpak install flathub org.tuxpaint.Tuxpaint

Audio Editing Software

Audio editing software lets you shape sound. You can import, export, and record audio, adjust timing, and change volume. It’s great for mixing tracks, adding effects, and switching file formats. Digital audio workstations are full packages for making music, easy to use, and allow for detailed sound editing, both live and pre-recorded.

Audacity is a free audio editor that works on many operating systems. It’s been downloaded over a billion times since 2015. It supports all the main audio formats and plugins like VST3. It’s known for its deep analysis tools that show you sound in new ways.

Ardour is a digital audio workstation that’s all about recording, editing, and perfecting sound. It works on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It gives you endless tracks and ways to connect them. You can move, cut, split, and stretch sounds with precision. Ardour is also great for finalizing music, working with JACK for more complex sound work, and it can even prepare audio for CDs.

Mixxx is a free DJ software that’s open to everyone. It can match beats and keys to blend tracks perfectly, handle up to four songs at once, and works with many DJ controllers. You can map it how you like and add effects for extra style. If you love the feel of vinyl, it has you covered with timecode records. Mixxx is made by DJs for DJs who want to mix music digitally for free.

Audacity

Visit the official Audacity website at https://www.audacityteam.org/ for all things Audacity.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Audacity.”
  3. Click on it and select your package format (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

Terminal (APT):

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update your system with sudo apt update.
  3. Install Audacity with sudo apt install audacity.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Audacity.”
  3. Click on it, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  4. Click “Install.”

Terminal (Snap):

  • Run sudo snap install audacity.

Terminal (Flatpak):

  • Use flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity.

Ardour

Visit the official Ardour website at https://ardour.org/ for all things Ardour.

To install Ardour from the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Ardour.”
  • Click on “Ardour.”
  • Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Box.
  • Press “Install.”

To install Ardour using APT in the Terminal:

  • Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install ardour

To install Ardour using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter this command:

flatpak install flathub org.ardour.Ardour

MIXXX

Visit the official MIXXX website at https://mixxx.org/ for all things MIXXX.

  • To install MIXXX from the App Center:
  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “MIXXX”.
  • Click on “MIXXX”.
  • Pick “deb”, “Snap”, or “Flatpak”.
  • Press “Install”.

To get MIXXX using APT in the terminal:

  • Run sudo apt update.
  • Then sudo apt install mixxx.

To find MIXXX in the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Search for “MIXXX”.
  • Click on “MIXXX”.
  • Choose the “latest/stable” version under “Snap”.
  • Click “Install”.

To install MIXXX with Snap in the terminal:

  • Type sudo snap install mixxx.

To install MIXXX with Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.mixxx.Mixxx.

Video Editing Software

Video editing software helps you change video clips, mix in music, and control the timing. It’s key for making movies, TV, ads, and online videos, and it works well on home computers. You can split videos, add music, and save your work as a video file. It’s great for anyone who wants to improve their video skills, from pros to beginners, and lets you try different styles.

OpenShot is a no-cost video editor available for Linux, macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS. Created in 2008 by Jonathan Thomas, it’s good for editing on different systems, works with many video formats, and lets you work on many layers for big projects. It has cool features like animation, easy clip handling, resizing, transitions, 3D titles, precise timeline control, speed adjustments, sound mixing, and effects like green screen.

Kdenlive, started in 2003, is also free and open for editing multiple video tracks. It works with many video types and lets you change the look and shortcuts of the program. It has a tool for making titles, lots of effects, and transitions. It’s efficient with proxy editing, saves your work automatically, and has online help and previews. You can animate effects and change the theme. It’s made by a small team and fits both simple and advanced editing needs.

Shotcut is another free editor that started in 2011 for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports many video formats and has multi-track editing with fast, GPU-powered processing. Shotcut has filters for video and audio, can record from webcams and microphones, and plays network streams. It has pro tools like color correction, animation, motion tracking, and works with professional hardware for monitoring. It’s flexible, with batch processing and checks, good for both newbies and experts.

Pitivi is a user-friendly video editor for Linux that’s also free. It lets you work with as many video and audio tracks as you want, undo and redo changes, and has animatable effects. It supports different video formats and is designed to be easy to use, with stepping, cutting, and sound mixing. It’s made by the community and focuses on being easy and innovative in multimedia.

OpenShot

Visit the official OpenShot website at https://www.openshot.org/ for all things OpenShot.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “OpenShot.”
  3. Click “OpenShot,” then select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK).
  4. Press “Install.”

APT (Terminal):

  1. Run sudo apt update.
  2. Install with sudo apt install openshot.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “OpenShot.”
  3. Choose the latest version under SNAP.
  4. Click “Install.”

Snap (Terminal):

  • Use sudo snap install openshot.

Flatpak (Terminal):

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.openshot.OpenShot.

AppImage (GUI):

  1. Visit the OpenShot download page at:

https://www.openshot.org/download/

  1. Under ‘Linux Downloads,’ click ‘Download v.’
  2. In your file manager, press CTRL + L and type ‘/’.
  3. Make a new folder ‘Applications’ in your home directory.
  4. Move the downloaded file from ‘/Downloads’ to ‘~/Applications’.
  5. Right-click the AppImage, go to ‘Properties,’ and make it executable.
  6. Double-click the AppImage to start OpenShot.

Creating a Shortcut (Command Line & GUI):

  1. Open terminal, go to /usr/share/applications.
  2. Create a file with sudo gedit OpenShot1.desktop.
  3. Fill it with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=OpenShot

Comment=Edit videos with OpenShot

Exec=/home/yourusername/Applications/OpenShot-v3.1.1-x86_64.AppImage

Icon=application-default-icon

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Video;AudioVideoEditing;

  1. Replace “/home/yourusername” with your actual path.
  2. Save and close the editor.

Kdenlive

Visit the official Kdenlive website at https://kdenlive.org/en/ for all things Kdenlive.

To install Kdenlive via App Center:

  • Open App Center.
  • Search for Kdenlive.
  • Click on it, then choose deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  • Press Install.

To install Kdenlive using APT in Terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kdenlive

To get Kdenlive from the Snap Store:

  • Open Snap Store.
  • Find Kdenlive.
  • Click on it, select the Snap version.
  • Hit Install.

To install Kdenlive using Snap in Terminal:

sudo snap install kdenlive

To install Kdenlive with Flatpak in Terminal:

flatpak install flathub org.kde.kdenlive

Shotcut

Visit the official Shotcut website at https://www.shotcut.org/ for all things Shotcut.

To install a package using the App Center:

  • Launch App Center.
  • Search for the software you want.
  • Click on it and select the source (DEB, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Press Install.

To install using APT in the terminal:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  • Install the software with sudo apt install shotcut.

To get a Snap package from the Snap Store:

  • Go to the Snap Store.
  • Find Shotcut.
  • Choose it and pick the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click Install.

To install Shotcut with Snap in the terminal:

  • Type sudo snap install shotcut --classic.

To install Shotcut with Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.shotcut.Shotcut.

Pitivi

Visit the official Pitivi website at https://www.pitivi.org/ for all things Pitivi.

To install Pitivi using the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Pitivi.”
  • Click on “Pitivi.”
  • Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Selection Box.
  • Click “Install.”

For APT installation in the Terminal:

  • Enter sudo apt update.
  • Then, sudo apt install pitivi.

For Flatpak installation in the Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.pitivi.Pitivi.

Integrated Development Environments (IDE’s)

IDEs are software suites that help developers code more efficiently. They combine editing, debugging, and building tools. Some, like IntelliJ IDEA, even have built-in compilers. They’re user-friendly and support many programming languages.

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a Microsoft editor that works on various operating systems. It’s customizable and supports many languages through extensions. It’s open-source and collects data transparently.

Atom-ng is a text editor that’s easy to customize and use. It works on many operating systems and has been updated for better performance and usability. VSCodium is like VS Code but without telemetry, respecting user privacy.

Atom, created by GitHub, was a flexible editor that could be customized with web technologies. Though no longer available, it was known for its adaptability.

Geany is a fast, open-source editor with basic IDE features. It supports many languages and works on several operating systems, though some features are limited on Windows.

Bluefish is a fast, lightweight editor for coding and web development. It supports many languages and runs on various platforms. It has many features for efficient coding and project management.

Visual Studio Code

Visit the official Visual Studio Code website at https://code.visualstudio.com/ for all things Visual Studio Code.

For App Center:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Visual Studio Code”.
  3. Click on it and select your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install”.

Via APT in Terminal:

  1. Update packages: sudo apt update.
  2. Install necessary tools: sudo apt-get install wget gpg.
  3. Add Microsoft’s GPG key:

wget -qO- http://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > packages.microsoft.gpg

  1. Move the key:

sudo install -D -o root -g root -m 644 packages.microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/keyrings/

  1. Add VS Code repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg] http://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'

  1. Install VS Code: sudo apt install code.

For Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Visual Studio Code”.
  3. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  4. Click “Install”.

Via Snap in Terminal:

  • Run sudo snap install code --classic.

Via Flatpak in Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub com.visualstudio.code.

Via .deb from GUI:

  • Visit the release page: http://code.visualstudio.com/#alt-downloads.
  • Download the .deb file.
  • In your Downloads folder, double-click code_1.88.1-1712771838_amd64.deb.
  • Click “Install”.

Atom-ng

Visit the official Atom-ng website at https://thorium.rocks/atom-ng/ for all things Atom-ng.

  1. Go to the Atom-ng release page at http://github.com/Alex313031/atom-ng/releases.
  2. Download the latest version by clicking on atom-ng_AVX.deb.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Find and double-click atom-ng_1.66.12_AVX.deb.

Press the Install button to start the installation.

VSCodium

Visit the official VSCodium website at https://vscodium.com/ for all things VSCodium.

Through App Center:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “VSCodium”.
  3. Click on it and select your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install”.

Using APT in Terminal:

  1. Run sudo apt update.
  2. Add the repository with:

wget -qO - http://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo dd of=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg

  1. Add VSCodium to your sources:

echo 'deb [ signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg ] http://download.vscodium.com/debs vscodium main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.list

  1. Install with sudo apt update && sudo apt install codium.

Through Snap Store:

  1. Find VSCodium in Snap Store.
  2. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  3. Click “Install”.

Via Terminal with Snap:

  • Use sudo snap install codium --classic.

Via Terminal with Flatpak:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub com.vscodium.codium.

Installing .deb from GUI:

  1. Visit the releases page: http://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/releases
  2. Download the latest “codium_amd64.deb”.
  3. In your Downloads folder, double-click the .deb file.
  4. Click “Install”.

Atom

Visit the official Atom website at https://atom-editor.cc/ for all things Atom.

To install Atom using App Center:

  • Open App Center.
  • Search for “Atom.”
  • Click on Atom.
  • Select deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  • Press Install.

To install Atom via APT in the terminal:

  • Enter these commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https wget

wget -q http://packagecloud.io/AtomEditor/atom/gpgkey -O- | sudo apt-key add –

sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] http://packagecloud.io/AtomEditor/atom/any/ any main"

sudo apt update

sudo apt install atom

To install Atom using Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Type:

flatpak install flathub io.atom.Atom

To install Atom via .deb from the GUI:

  • Go to the release page: http://github.com/atom/atom/releases/tag/v1.60.0
  • Download “atom-amd64.deb.”
  • In ~/Downloads, double-click “atom-amd64.deb.”
  • Click Install.

Geany

Visit the official Geany website at https://geany.org/ for all things Geany.

  1. Through the App Center:
  2. Open the App Center.
  3. Search for “Geany.”
  4. Click on “Geany.”
  5. In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  6. Press “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install Geany with sudo apt install geany.

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Geany.”
  3. Click on “Geany.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable version under Snap.
  5. Click “Install.”

Installing via Snap from the Terminal:

  • Run sudo snap install geany.

Installing via Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.geany.Geany.

Bluefish

Visit the official Bluefish website at https://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.html for all things Bluefish.

To install Bluefish through the App Center using DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Bluefish.”
  • Click on “Bluefish.”
  • Select “Source Selection Box.”
  • Pick DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK.
  • Click “Install.”

To install Bluefish using APT in the Terminal:

  • Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install bluefish

To install Bluefish using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter this command:

flatpak install flathub nl.openoffice.bluefish

Live Streaming Software

Live streaming software allows you to share live video and audio on the internet. It works by sending content from cameras and microphones over the web in real-time. This way, you don’t need to save files on your device, which saves space and lets you watch videos or listen to music instantly.

OBS Studio is a no-cost program for live streaming and recording your screen. It’s available for Windows and macOS users. With OBS, you can mix sounds, change scenes without a hitch, and personalize how your stream looks. It’s user-friendly and can be set up just how you like it, with features for both newbies and pros.

Owncast is like having your own private streaming service. It’s perfect for those who want to manage their streams and chat with viewers without using big-name platforms. Owncast is easy to set up on Linux and macOS servers and connects to the Fediverse to help you reach more people. It’s great for streamers who want a personal touch and no ads.

OBS Studio

Visit the official OBS Studio website at https://obsproject.com/ for all things OBS Studio.

App Center (DEB/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “OBS Studio”.
  3. Click on it and select “deb”, “Snap”, or “Flatpak”.
  4. Press “Install”.

Terminal (APT):

  1. Run:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install obs-studio

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “OBS Studio”.
  3. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  4. Click “Install”.

Terminal (Snap):

  1. Enter:

sudo snap install obs-studio

Terminal (Flatpak):

  1. Type:

flatpak install flathub com.obsproject.Studio

Owncast

Visit the official Owncast website at https://owncast.online/ for all things Owncast.

Installing Owncast via .sh in the Terminal:

sudo apt update

curl -s https://owncast.online/install.sh | bash

Personal Data Privacy

Protecting our personal data is key to our rights and online trust. As we share more online, keeping this data safe from misuse is vital. Data protection laws help prevent fraud and protect our freedom.

Searx is a privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t store your IP or searches. It avoids trackers and offers secure, direct search results. You can even run it privately or use it with Tor.

OpenStego is a tool that hides data in images for free. It works on many platforms and encrypts data for added security.

Tor is software for anonymous web use, hiding your location and usage from anyone watching. It’s used for both good and bad, raising questions about privacy and safety.

i2pd is a program for private online communication. It’s faster than similar tools and keeps your IP address hidden.

Hyphanet lets you share files, browse, and chat anonymously. It’s hard to attack because it’s decentralized and encrypts everything.

ZeroNet uses peer-to-peer tech for websites that can’t be censored. It’s built with Bitcoin and BitTorrent tech and stays online without central servers.

These tools are all about keeping your online life private and secure.

Searx

Visit the official Searx website at https://github.com/searx/searx for all things Searx.

Update Packages:

sudo apt update

Install Dependencies:

sudo apt install git rsync make gcc libc6-dev libssl-dev zlib1g-dev libpcre2-dev libevent-dev build-essential libsqlite3-dev curl wget libxslt-dev python3-dev python3-babel python3-venv python3-pip

Set Up Node.js:

nvm install 16

nvm use 16

Prepare Searx:

cd ~

git clone https://github.com/searx/searx.git

cd searx

python3 -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activate

Modify requirements.txt with gedit requirements.txt: Change (or add if absent) any werkzeug entry to werkzeug==2.2.2.

Install Python Packages:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Configure Settings:

cp searx/settings.yml searx/settings_custom.yml

gedit searx/settings.yml

Customize settings.yml, including the secret key.

Enable Advanced Search:

gedit searx/preferences.py

Change advanced_search from False to True.

Start Searx: Replace username with your actual username.

sh -c '/home/username/searx/venv/bin/python /home/username/searx/searx/webapp.py'

Create Desktop Shortcut: Navigate to the applications directory and create a new file.

cd /usr/share/applications

sudo gedit searx1.desktop

Fill in the searx1.desktop file with the appropriate details, replacing username with your actual username.

Desktop Entry Example:

[Desktop Entry]

Type=Application

Name=Searx

Exec=sh -c '/home/username/searx/venv/bin/python /home/username/searx/searx/webapp.py'

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Categories=Network;WebBrowser;

Save the file and exit the editor.

OpenStego

Visit the official OpenStego website at https://www.openstego.com/ for all things OpenStego.

  1. Visit the OpenStego release page at http://github.com/syvaidya/openstego/releases.
  2. Look for the latest ‘.deb’ file named ‘openstego_’ and download it.
  3. Open your ‘Downloads’ folder, usually located at ‘~/Downloads’.
  4. Find the file ‘openstego_0.8.6-1_all.deb’ and double-click it.
  5. A window will pop up; simply click ‘Install’ to begin the installation process

Tor Browser Launcher

Visit the official Tor Browser Launcher website at https://www.torproject.org/ for all things Tor Browser Launcher.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Tor Browser Launcher.”
  3. Click on it and select your preferred package type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  • Update your system with sudo apt update.
  • Install with sudo apt install torbrowser-launcher.

Using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Simply run flatpak install flathub org.torproject.torbrowser-launcher.

I2pd

Visit the official I2pd website at https://i2pd.website/ for all things I2pd.

Through App Center:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “I2pd”.
  3. Click on “I2pd”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install”.

Using APT in Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install I2pd with sudo apt install i2pd.

Through Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “I2pd”.
  3. Click on “I2pd”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install”.

Using Snap from Terminal:

  • Run sudo snap install i2pd.

Using Flatpak in Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub website.i2pd.i2pd.

Hyphanet

Visit the official Hyphanet website at https://www.hyphanet.org/ for all things Hyphanet.

To set up Hyphanet on your Linux system, start by updating your package list with sudo apt update. Then, get Hyphanet from http://www.hyphanet.org/pages/download.html by clicking the download link for Linux.

Next, open a terminal and install the required software like Java and GTK modules using:

sudo apt install default-jre default-jdk libcanberra-gtk-module libcanberra-gtk3-module libcanberra-gtk-module:i386 libcanberra-gtk* xapp* gtk2-engines-murrine

After that, go to your Downloads folder with cd ~/Downloads. Run the Hyphanet installer with Java by typing java -jar new_installer_offline_1497.jar.

Follow the on-screen instructions to select your language, agree to the terms, and choose where to install Hyphanet. Make sure to tick the ‘Base’ option to install the essential components.

Finally, decide if you want shortcuts in your Start Menu or on your desktop, and for whom these settings should apply. Finish the setup by clicking ‘Next’ and then ‘Done’. That’s it, Hyphanet is now installed on your computer.

ZeroNet

Visit the official ZeroNet website at https://zeronet.io/ for all things ZeroNet.

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Download ZeroNet:

wget http://github.com/HelloZeroNet/ZeroNet-linux/archive/dist-linux64/ZeroNet-py3-linux64.tar.gz

  1. Extract the downloaded file:

tar xvpfz ZeroNet-py3-linux64.tar.gz

  1. Change to the ZeroNet directory:

cd ZeroNet-linux-dist-linux64/

  1. Run ZeroNet:

./ZeroNet.sh

For a desktop shortcut to ZeroNet:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Go to the applications directory:

cd /usr/share/applications

  1. Create a new shortcut file:

sudo gedit zeronet1.desktop

  1. Add the following content to the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=ZeroNet

Comment=Access decentralized websites

Exec=/path/to/Downloads/ZeroNet-linux-dist-linux64/ZeroNet.sh

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

Replace /path/to/ with the actual path to ZeroNet on your computer.

  1. Save the file:

    • Click “Save.”
    • Or, go to “File” > “Save.”
    • Or, click the ☰ icon, select “Save As,” and then “Save.”
  2. Close the editor when finished.

Remember to replace /path/to/ with the actual directory where you’ve installed ZeroNet

​Web Browsers

Web browsers are tools for visiting websites, displaying content from the internet or saved files. They work on computers and phones, with popular ones like Chrome and Safari connecting to servers via URLs, ensuring secure page visits with HTTPS. Unlike search engines, browsers show web pages, remember cookies for personalization, and use cached data for faster loading, with privacy settings to manage cookies for safer use.

Chromium, by Google, is an open-source project for a secure, quick internet. It lacks some Chrome features, like auto-updates, but underpins many browsers, focusing on safety with a multi-process design and tech industry input.

Ungoogled-Chromium tweaks Chromium to cut ties with Google services, keeping the core experience but boosting privacy and control, needing manual setup. It turns off Google features and blocks its requests, borrowing from other projects for more privacy.

Google Chrome, launched in 2008, is a widely-used browser from Google, built on software from Apple’s WebKit and Mozilla’s Firefox. It runs on various systems, has a simple design, and leads the market. Chrome supports web standards and offers features like an all-in-one search box, easy tabs, and a store for add-ons and themes. It updates regularly, adopting Google’s latest design language.

Microsoft Edge, from Microsoft, switched from its original engine to Chromium in 2020, improving compatibility and speed on various devices. It dropped outdated tech for a modern extension system and includes PDF reading, WebAssembly, and a mode for Internet Explorer compatibility. Integrated with Microsoft services, Edge has voice control, search, and a Reading Mode. It supports add-ons, offering a tailored browsing experience. A 2023 update gave Edge a new design and added Bing Chat.

Thorium Browser is a Chromium-based browser optimized for newer CPUs, including Widevine, all codecs, and privacy enhancements. It’s like Chrome but faster and privacy-focused, requiring specific CPU features, targeting advanced users.

Vivaldi, made by Vivaldi Technologies, is a browser with an email client, aimed at tech lovers and former Opera users. It allows deep customization, has ad and tracker blockers, email support, and unique tab management. It uses Chromium, supports Chrome and Firefox add-ons, and stands out for user control and privacy.

Brave is a privacy-centric, open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers. It rewards users for viewing ads with tokens. Based in San Francisco, Brave had a large user base by late 2023. It includes a VPN, crypto wallet, and its search engine. Despite a VPN issue, Brave focuses on user privacy and supports decentralized web protocols.

Firefox, by Mozilla, is known for speed, privacy, and flexibility. It supports various platforms, using WebKit on iOS and Gecko elsewhere. It offers tabbed browsing, spell checking, private mode, and developer tools. Add-ons boost its features, and it’s committed to user privacy and web standards.

Firefox ESR caters to organizations needing stable web use without frequent updates. It prioritizes security and stability, perfect for businesses and schools, allowing controlled deployment and data privacy.

Waterfox is a Firefox fork emphasizing ethics, privacy, and performance. It supports add-ons and extensions, prioritizes user privacy by disabling data collection, and offers a secure, private, and fast browsing experience.

LibreWolf, a Firefox variant, focuses on privacy, security, and freedom. It blocks tracking and fingerprinting, doesn’t collect data, and includes privacy-centric search options and ad-blocking. It’s community-driven, valuing digital privacy and freedom.

Pale Moon is built for modern processors, balancing efficiency, customization, and privacy. It uses its Goanna engine, supports plugins and extensions, and is updated regularly for security.

Mullvad Browser, in partnership with the Tor Project, goes beyond hiding your IP for privacy. It defaults to private mode, fights fingerprinting, and includes privacy tools. It’s designed for privacy without using the Tor network.

Basilisk is a Goanna-based browser with a Firefox-like interface. It supports modern web standards and offers a stable, familiar browsing experience without relying on the latest tech trends.

Chromium

Visit the official Chromium website at https://www.chromium.org/chromium-projects/ for all things Chromium.

Using App Center:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Chromium.”
  3. Click on Chromium.
  4. Select your preferred package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  5. Click “Install.”

Using Terminal with APT:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update your package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install Chromium with sudo apt install chromium.

Using Snap Store:

  1. Open Snap Store.
  2. Find “Chromium.”
  3. Click on Chromium.
  4. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using Terminal with Snap:

  • Run sudo snap install chromium.

Using Terminal with Flatpak:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium.

Ungoogled-Chromium

Visit the official Ungoogled-Chromium website at https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium for all things Ungoogled-Chromium.

To install Ungoogled-Chromium through the App Center:

  • Launch the App Center.
  • Search for “Ungoogled-Chromium.”
  • Select it, then pick your preferred format (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak).
  • Click “Install.”

For terminal installation using Flatpak:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Enter: flatpak install flathub com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium
  • Press Enter to start the installation.

Google Chrome

Visit the official Google Chrome website at https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/chrome/ for all things Google Chrome.

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Download the Google signing key and add it to your keyring:

wget -q -O - http://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -

  1. Add the Google Chrome repository to your system:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list'

  1. Update the package list again:

sudo apt update

  1. Install Google Chrome:

sudo apt install google-chrome-stable

To install Google Chrome using the graphical user interface (GUI):

  1. Go to the Chrome release page:

http://www.google.com/chrome/

  1. Click ‘Download’.
  2. Choose ‘64 bit .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu)’.
  3. Accept and start the download.
  4. Open your Downloads folder.
  5. Double-click ‘google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb’.
  6. Click ‘Install’.

Microsoft Edge

Visit the official Microsoft Edge website at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge for all things Microsoft Edge.

To install Microsoft Edge using the terminal, follow these steps:

  1. Update your package list: sudo apt update
  2. Add the Edge repository: sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft_edge.list'
  3. Update the package list again: sudo apt update
  4. Install Edge: sudo apt install microsoft-edge-stable

For GUI installation:

  1. Go to the Microsoft Edge download page.
  2. Click “Accept and download” to get the Edge .deb file.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Double-click the downloaded file, microsoft-edge-stable_124.0.2478.90-1_amd64.deb.
  5. Press “Install” to start the installation.

Thorium

Visit the official Thorium website at https://thorium.rocks/ for all things Thorium.

To install Thorium using the .deb file, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Thorium release page at http://github.com/Alex313031/thorium/releases.
  2. Download the latest version by clicking on thorium-browser_AVX2.deb.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Find and double-click thorium-browser_123.0.6312.133_AVX2.deb.
  5. Press the Install button to start the installation.

Vivaldi

Visit the official Vivaldi website at https://vivaldi.com/ for all things Vivaldi.

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Download the Vivaldi signing key:

wget http://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/linux_signing_key.pub

  1. Import the key:

gpg --import linux_signing_key.pub

  1. Add the Vivaldi repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list'

  1. Update your package list again:

sudo apt update

  1. Install Vivaldi:

sudo apt install vivaldi-stable

To install Vivaldi using the GUI, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Visit the Vivaldi download page:

http://vivaldi.com/download/?platform=linux

  1. Click on the link for the Linux DEB file to start the download.
  2. Open your Downloads folder.
  3. Find and double-click on the file named vivaldi-stable_6.7.3329.26-1_amd64.deb.
  4. Press the ‘Install’ button to begin the installation.

Brave

Visit the official Brave website at https://brave.com/ for all things Brave.

For App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Brave”.
  3. Click on Brave.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either DEB, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Click “Install”.

To install via APT in Terminal:

  1. Update your package list: sudo apt update.
  2. Install curl if needed: sudo apt install curl.
  3. Add the Brave repository keyring:

sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg

  1. Add Brave to your sources list:

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

  1. Update again: sudo apt update.
  2. Install Brave: sudo apt install brave-browser.

For Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find Brave.
  3. Click on Brave.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install”.

To install via Snap in Terminal:

  • Simply enter: sudo snap install brave.

To install via Flatpak in Terminal:

  • Just type: flatpak install flathub com.brave.Browser.

Firefox

Visit the official Firefox website at https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/new/ for all things Firefox.

To install Firefox through the App Center using DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Firefox”.
  3. Click “Firefox”.
  4. Select “Source Selection Box”.
  5. Pick DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK.
  6. Press “Install”.

To install Firefox via APT in the terminal:

  1. Update the package list: sudo apt update.
  2. Add the Mozilla signing key:

wget -q https://packages.mozilla.org/apt/repo-signing-key.gpg -O- | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/packages.mozilla.org.asc > /dev/null

  1. Add the Mozilla APT repository:

echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.mozilla.org.asc] https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mozilla.list > /dev/null

  1. Update the package list again: sudo apt update.

Install Firefox: sudo apt install firefox.

For a SNAP package via Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Firefox”.
  3. Click “Firefox”.
  4. In “Source Selection Box”, choose the latest/stable SNAP version.
  5. Click “Install”.

To install Firefox via SNAP from the terminal:

  • Run: sudo snap install firefox.

To install Firefox via Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.firefox.

Firefox ESR

Visit the official Firefox ESR website at https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/enterprise/ for all things Firefox ESR.

  1. Visit the Firefox ESR download page at http://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/all/#product-desktop-esr.
  2. Choose “Firefox Extended Support Release” for the browser type.
  3. For the installer, select “Linux 64-bit”.
  4. Pick “English (British)” for the language.
  5. Click “Download Now” to get Firefox ESR.
  6. In your “Downloads” folder, find and double-click “firefox-115.10.0esr.tar.bz2”.
  7. Select the “firefox” folder and click “Extract”.

For the desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications and press Enter.
  3. Enter sudo gedit firefoxesr1.desktop to edit the shortcut file.
  4. Fill in the file with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Firefox ESR

Comment=Browse the Web

Exec=./Downloads/firefox/firefox

Icon=firefox

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Internet;

  1. Save the file and close the editor.

Make sure to replace /home/your_username/Downloads/firefox/firefox with the actual path to your Firefox ESR executable.

Waterfox

Visit the official Waterfox website at https://www.waterfox.net/ for all things Waterfox.

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Waterfox.”
  3. Click on “Waterfox.”
  4. Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

For Flatpak installation in Terminal:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub net.waterfox.waterfox

To install from a .tar.xz file:

  1. Visit Waterfox download page at https://www.waterfox.net/download/.
  2. Under “Linux,” click “Download.”
  3. In your “Downloads” folder, find “waterfox-G6.0.13.tar.bz2.”
  4. Double-click to open it.
  5. Choose “Extract” here or to a specified location.

Creating a Waterfox shortcut:

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type: cd /usr/share/applications
  3. Then: sudo gedit Waterfox1.desktop
  4. Fill in the file with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Waterfox

Comment=Browse the Web

Exec=./Downloads/waterfox/waterfox

Icon=/path/to/icon

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Internet;

  1. Save the file and exit the editor.

Make sure the “Exec=” line points to where Waterfox is on your computer.

LibreWolf

Visit the official LibreWolf website at https://librewolf.net for all things LibreWolf.

To install LibreWolf from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “LibreWolf.”
  3. Click on “LibreWolf.”
  4. Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Box.
  5. Click “Install.”

To install LibreWolf using the APT repository:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install necessary tools with:

sudo apt install -y wget gnupg lsb-release apt-transport-https ca-certificates

  1. Set your distribution with:

distro=$(lsb_release -sc)

(If your distro isn’t listed, use “focal” instead.)

  1. Add the LibreWolf GPG key with:

wget -O- https://deb.librewolf.net/keyring.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/librewolf.gpg

  1. Create a sources list file for LibreWolf:

echo "Types: deb\nURIs: https://deb.librewolf.net\nSuites: $distro\nComponents: main\nArchitectures: amd64\nSigned-By: /usr/share/keyrings/librewolf.gpg" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librewolf.sources

  1. Update the package list again with sudo apt update.
  2. Install LibreWolf with sudo apt install librewolf -y.

To install LibreWolf using Flatpak:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Run the command:

flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.librewolf-community

Pale Moon

Visit the official Pale Moon website at https://www.palemoon.org/ for all things Pale Moon.

  1. Go to the Pale Moon download page at https://www.palemoon.org/download.shtml.
  2. Find the section for Linux 64-bit GTK3 and click “Download tarball”.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Double-click on the file named “palemoon-33.1.0.linux-x86_64-gtk3.tar.xz”.
  5. Choose the “palemoon” folder inside and click “Extract”.
  6. Once extracted, open the “palemoon” folder in Downloads.
  7. Double-click on the “palemoon” file to run the browser.

For creating a Pale Moon desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications and press Enter.
  3. Enter sudo gedit palemoon1.desktop to create a new shortcut file.
  4. In the text editor, paste the following:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Pale Moon

Comment=Browse the web with Pale Moon

Exec=./home/your-username/Downloads/palemoon/palemoon

Icon=palemoon

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Internet;

Replace /home/your-username/Downloads/palemoon/palemoon with the actual path to your Pale Moon executable.

  1. Save the file and close the editor.

Mullvad Browser

Visit the official Mullvad Browser website at https://mullvad.net/en/browser for all things Mullvad Browser.

  1. Go to the Mullvad download page: https://mullvad.net/en/download/browser/linux.
  2. Select the ‘Linux’ tab.
  3. Click ‘Download’ for the Mullvad Browser.
  4. In your ‘Downloads’ folder, find and double-click mullvad-browser-linux-x86_64-13.0.14.tar.xz.
  5. Choose ‘mullvad-browser’ and click ‘Extract’.
  6. Navigate back to ‘Downloads’, then to ‘mullvad-browser/Browser’.
  7. Run mullvadbrowser.real by double-clicking it.

For a desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications.
  3. Enter sudo gedit mullvad-browser1.desktop.
  4. Fill in the file with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Mullvad Browser

Comment=Browse securely

Exec=.//home/yourusername/Downloads/mullvad-browser/Browser/mullvadbrowser.real

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save the file and close the editor.

Make sure the ‘Exec=’ line points to where you extracted the browser. Replace ‘yourusername’ with your actual username.

Basilisk

Visit the official Basilisk website at https://www.basilisk-browser.org/ for all things Basilisk.

  1. Visit the download page at https://www.basilisk-browser.org/download.shtml.
  2. Under the ‘United States’ section, find the ‘Linux x86_64 tarball’ row.
  3. Click on ‘x86 64-bit GTK3’ to start downloading Basilisk.
  4. Once downloaded, navigate to your ‘~/Downloads’ folder.
  5. Find and double-click on ‘basilisk-20240501150652.linux-x86_64-gtk3.tar.xz’.
  6. Choose ‘basilisk’ from the list and click ‘Extract’.
  7. After extraction, open the ‘basilisk’ folder in ‘~/Downloads’.
  8. Double-click on the ‘basilisk’ file to run the browser.

For creating a Basilisk desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications and press Enter.
  3. Enter sudo gedit basilisk1.desktop to create a new shortcut file.
  4. In the text editor, paste the following:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Basilisk

Comment=Web Browser

Exec=.//home/your-username/Downloads/basilisk/basilisk

Icon=web-browser

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Internet;

Replace /home/your-username/Downloads/basilisk/basilisk with the actual path to your Basilisk executable.

  1. Save the file by clicking ‘Save’ or pressing Ctrl+S.
  2. Close the text editor.

Make sure the ‘Exec=’ line points to where Basilisk is on your computer. This will ensure the shortcut works correctly.

Password Managers

Password managers are handy apps that keep all your login info in one spot. They make life easier and safer by creating tough passwords and fighting identity theft. They’re great for both personal and work use, and paying a bit extra gets you the best security and features.

LastPass, by GoTo, is a full-featured password manager. It works on the web, with browser add-ons, and on phones, syncing your passwords everywhere. It uses strong encryption and offers extras like auto-filling forms and saving secure notes. It also has two-factor authentication for even better security, and it works on all major browsers and phones. You can even access your passwords offline and set a hint for emergencies.

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that’s easy to use and very secure. It has apps for computers, browsers, phones, and even a command-line tool. Your data is always safe and ready when you need it. It has two-factor authentication, passwordless login, and secure sharing for everyone, from single users to big companies. It values your privacy with strong encryption and lets you choose between cloud or self-hosting. It also keeps notes, cards, and more, so you’re fully protected online.

KeePassXC is a free, open-source password manager that works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD. It’s compatible with KeePass 2.x databases and adds more security with key files and YubiKey. The EFF likes it for its privacy. It doesn’t rely on the cloud and works across different platforms. You control your data. Its browser add-ons make it easy to use by filling in your passwords for you.

Buttercup is a free, open-source password manager with strong encryption to keep your login details safe. It’s simple to use and helps you find your passwords quickly. It’s available for all major desktop and mobile platforms and integrates well across devices. It has features like auto-lock, customizable entries, and a trash bin for easy password management. It also has a Chrome extension for added convenience.

LastPass

Visit the official LastPass website at https://www.lastpass.com/ for all things LastPass.

  1. Visit the LastPass Linux download page at https://lastpass.com/lplinux.php.
  2. Look for the section titled ‘Latest Linux Release’.
  3. Click the ‘Download LastPass’ button.
  4. Open your ‘Downloads’ folder.
  5. Find and double-click on ‘lplinux.tar.bz2’.
  6. Choose ‘Extract’ and select the ‘Downloads’ folder as the destination.
  7. In ‘Downloads’, right-click on an empty space and select ‘Open in Terminal’.
  8. Type the command chmod +x install_lastpass.sh and press Enter.
  9. Then, start the installation with ./install_lastpass.sh.

Make sure you’re in the ‘Downloads’ folder when you open the terminal. This will set up LastPass so you can manage your passwords securely.

Bitwarden

Visit the official Bitwarden website at https://bitwarden.com/ for all things Bitwarden.

To install Bitwarden from the App Center:

  • Start the App Center.
  • Find Bitwarden.
  • Click Bitwarden and select the Source Box.
  • Pick either DEB, Snap, or Flatpak, then install.

To get Bitwarden from the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Search for Bitwarden.
  3. Click Bitwarden and choose the Source Box.
  4. Choose the latest/stable Snap version and install.

To install Bitwarden using Snap in the Terminal:

  • Run: sudo snap install bitwarden

To install Bitwarden with Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub com.bitwarden.desktop

KeePassXC

Visit the official KeePassXC website at https://keepassxc.org/ for all things KeePassXC.

To install KeePassXC through the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “KeePassXC.”
  3. Click on “KeePassXC.”
  4. Select “DEB,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

To install KeePassXC using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install keepassxc

To install KeePassXC using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  1. Enter this command:

flatpak install flathub org.keepassxc.KeePassXC

Buttercup

Visit the official Buttercup website at https://buttercup.pw/ for all things Buttercup.

To install Buttercup using an AppImage, start by going to the Buttercup website at https://buttercup.pw/ and download the Linux AppImage. Save it to your ~/Downloads folder. Then, find the Buttercup-linux-x86_64.AppImage file, right-click, select “Properties,” and under “Permissions,” make it executable. Double-click the file to begin installing.

For a desktop shortcut, open the terminal and type cd /usr/share/applications. Create a new file with sudo gedit buttercup1.desktop and input the following:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Buttercup

Comment=Password Manager

Exec=./Applications/Buttercup.AppImage

Icon=application-default-icon

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;

Save your file, and you’re all set with a shortcut for Buttercup.

Media Players

Media players let you enjoy music and videos from many places, like USBs, CDs, or online. They sometimes need extra software, called codecs, to play different types. Some are good for DVDs and Blu-rays, others for streaming. Choosing the right one can make your media look and sound better. You can even use more than one to handle various formats. Unlike media servers, which keep and share files, players focus on playing them. They often let you add subtitles, get updates, and change their look. Open-source ones give you lots of options and support many formats. Playlists help you organize what you want to watch or listen to, and some players can even change file types or play internet radio. If your computer isn’t very powerful, lightweight players are perfect because they don’t use much energy.

VLC is a popular, free player that works on computers and phones. It’s made by VideoLAN and can handle lots of audio, video, and streaming types, even DVDs. It can also send media over the internet and change file types. VLC has everything it needs to play media built-in, and on Linux and macOS, it can even play encrypted DVDs. You can get it from most app stores, but in some places, its DVD-playing ability might be an issue.

Parole Media Player is easy to use and made for the Xfce desktop. It uses GStreamer to play all kinds of media, like files, DVDs, and online streams. It’s not heavy on your system and you can add more features with plugins. It’s great for simple tasks and uses little power, but it might not handle broken files or very high-quality videos as well as others.

SMPlayer is another free player for Windows and Linux. It’s special because it remembers where you stopped watching or listening and keeps your settings the same for next time. It’s a front-end for MPlayer and can play YouTube videos, find subtitles, and has lots of customization options. You don’t need extra codecs with it, and it’s available in many languages, making it user-friendly and flexible.

Haruna is made for KDE Plasma and is full of features, like playing online videos, supporting YouTube playlists, and letting you make your own playlists easily. It’s designed to be simple to use and works with many video types. It has some cool extras, like skipping parts of a video and changing subtitle settings. You can find it on Flathub and in the Ubuntu repositories.

Dragon Player is all about keeping it simple. It’s for KDE desktops and focuses on playing your media files without too many bells and whistles. It started as Codeine and now it’s updated for newer KDE versions. It uses Phonon, so it plays lots of different files. Its main perks are a clean look, remembering where you left off, supporting subtitles, and letting you tweak how videos look. It can also play CDs and DVDs.

VLC

Visit the official VLC website at https://www.videolan.org/ for all things VLC.

To install VLC through the App Center:

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for VLC.
  • Click VLC and select your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Press Install.

To install VLC using APT in the terminal:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Run sudo apt update.
  • Then, sudo apt install vlc.

To get VLC from the Snap Store:

  • Open the Snap Store.
  • Find VLC.
  • Click VLC and choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  • Click Install.

To install VLC with Snap in the terminal:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Type sudo snap install vlc.

To install VLC using Flatpak in the terminal:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC.

Parole Media Player

Visit the official Parole website at https://docs.xfce.org/apps/parole/start for all things Parole.

To install Parole using the App Center with a DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK package, follow these steps:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Look for Parole.
  3. Click on Parole and select the Source Selection Box.
  4. Pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press Install.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter the following commands:
  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt install parole

This will update your package list and install Parole. Keep in mind to choose the package format that suits your system best and ensure you have the necessary permissions to install software.

SMPlayer

Visit the official SMPlayer website at https://www.smplayer.info/ for all things SMPlayer.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Find SMPlayer.
  3. Click SMPlayer and select the source: DEB, Snap, or Flatpak.
  4. Press Install.

Terminal (APT):

  • Run:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install smplayer

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Search for SMPlayer.
  3. Choose SMPlayer and pick the latest/stable Snap version.
  4. Click Install.

Terminal (Snap):

  • Enter:

sudo snap install smplayer

Terminal (Flatpak):

  • Type:

flatpak install flathub info.smplayer.SMPlayer

Haruna

Visit the official Haruna website at https://apps.kde.org/en-gb/haruna/ for all things Haruna

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Haruna.”
  3. Click on “Haruna.”
  4. Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Click “Install.”

Via APT in the Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Update the package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install Haruna with sudo apt install haruna.

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Haruna.”
  3. Click on “Haruna.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Hit “Install.”

Installing from the Terminal using Snap:

  • Run sudo snap install haruna.

Installing with Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter flatpak install flathub org.kde.haruna.

Dragon Player

Visit the official Dragon Player website at https://apps.kde.org/en-gb/dragonplayer/ for all things Dragon Player.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Dragon Player.”
  3. Click on it and select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK).
  4. Press “Install.”

Terminal (APT):

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Run sudo apt update.
  3. Then, sudo apt install dragonplayer.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Dragon Player.”
  3. Click on it and choose the latest/stable SNAP version.
  4. Click “Install.”

Terminal (SNAP):

  • Simply type sudo snap install dragon.

System Utilities

System utilities are vital software that manage and fine-tune both system and application software, ensuring smooth computer operation. They work quietly in the background, performing tasks like data backup, disk compression, and file management. These utilities can be built into the operating system or added on, enhancing or replacing standard tools. They’re essential for tasks ranging from security (like anti-virus programs) to performance (like disk defragmenters), serving both regular users and IT experts. They vary in user access levels and encompass a wide range of tools, including debuggers, diagnostics, and network utilities, to maintain efficient computer performance.

QDirStat is a visual tool for disk space management. It evolved from KDirStat and runs on Qt 5 without needing KDE libraries, making it flexible for Unix-like systems and Docker. It shows files and directories in both tree and treemap views, helping users spot and handle files of different sizes and types. It’s known for its multi-selection, custom actions, and error reporting, plus adjustable views for package management, file types, and disk usage. It’s user-friendly for disk space optimization.

Psensor is a GTK+ program for monitoring hardware temperatures—like the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and hard drives—and fan speeds. It also tracks remote servers and Linux CPU usage. Psensor automatically detects compatible hardware and displays temperatures and fan speeds in text and graphs, merging all data into one graph for easy analysis. It has alarms and alerts for critical temperature and fan speed issues, keeping the system’s health in check.

Stacer is a comprehensive system optimizer and monitor for Linux. It controls various system aspects, with features for managing startup apps, cleaning unnecessary files, handling services and processes, and uninstalling apps. It simplifies boot-time app setup, system cleaning, service management, and process viewing, and shows real-time CPU, RAM, and network use. Its APT repository manager makes package edits easy, making it a multifunctional tool for Linux system optimization and monitoring.

BleachBit is a robust tool for Linux and Windows that frees disk space and safeguards privacy. It removes files like cache, cookies, history, and temporary files, and shreds files to prevent recovery. It wipes free disk space to erase traces of previously deleted files. BleachBit is easy to use, supports many applications, and is adware- and malware-free. It’s customizable, multilingual, and has advanced features like Firefox vacuuming for speed, making it crucial for system upkeep and security.

SoundConverter is the preferred audio converter for GNOME Desktop, with a simple interface and speedy, multithreaded conversion. It handles formats like Ogg Vorbis, AAC, MP3, and FLAC, thanks to GStreamer. SoundConverter lets users rename files and organize folders by tags, making conversions fast and easy. It uses available cores to accelerate conversions and can extract audio from videos, providing a smooth audio conversion experience.

Converseen is a free image processor that works on Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. Powered by ImageMagick, it handles over 100 formats for tasks like conversion, resizing, rotation, and flipping images. It turns PDFs into images, compresses for the web, and renames files in bulk, boosting efficiency in visual content management. Its ease of use and customization options make it a practical choice for any image processing task.

GParted, the GNOME Partition Editor, is a free tool for disk partition management with GNU Parted. It eases creating, resizing, moving, and copying partitions, useful for new OS setups, disk space reorganization, or data mirroring. It works with various storage devices and file systems, offering an intuitive interface for partition alignment, data rescue, and flag setting. It suits both beginners and advanced users needing an effective disk partition management tool.

HardInfo is a detailed system profiler and benchmark for Linux, providing insights into hardware and software. It generates extensive reports and allows benchmarking, covering components like CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, and network. HardInfo organizes data accessibly, making it easier to understand than similar tools. Users can create reports from the GUI or command line, aiding in system diagnosis and analysis.

gpustat is a command-line utility for NVIDIA Graphics Devices monitoring. It’s free and open-source, offering features for real-time GPU status checks. It includes watch mode, display options for GPU properties, process names, commands, CPU stats, usernames, process IDs, fan speeds, encoder/decoder use, and power draw. It’s valuable for detailed NVIDIA GPU performance insights.

Czkawka, Polish for “hiccup,” is a fast, free app for cleaning unnecessary files from your computer. Made with Rust, it’s speedy and safe, using advanced algorithms and multithreading. It’s ad-free, supports multiple platforms and languages, and offers both CLI and GUI options. Czkawka respects privacy, with no internet access or data collection. It has tools for finding duplicates, empty folders, large files, and more, including searches for similar images, videos, and music, and checks for invalid links, broken files, and file content mismatches.

QDirStat

Visit the official QDirStat website at https://github.com/shundhammer/qdirstat for all things QDirStat.

Open the App Center.

  1. Search for ‘QDirStat’.
  2. Click on ‘QDirStat’.
  3. Select ‘Source Selection Box’.
  4. Pick ‘deb’, ‘Snap’, or ‘Flatpak’.
  5. Click ‘Install’.

For terminal installation via APT:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install qdirstat

Psensor

Visit the official Psensor website at https://github.com/chinf/psensor for all things Psensor.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Psensor.”
  3. Click on “Psensor.”
  4. Select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak) from the dropdown menu.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using the Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install psensor

sudo sensors-detect

sensors

Stacer

Visit the official Stacer website at https://oguzhaninan.github.io/Stacer-Web/ for all things Stacer.

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Look for Stacer.
  3. Click on Stacer.
  4. Select the Source Selection Box.
  5. Pick deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  6. Press Install.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter the commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install stacer

Bleachbit

Visit the official Bleachbit website at https://www.bleachbit.org/ for all things Bleachbit.

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Bleachbit.”
  3. Click on “Bleachbit.”
  4. Select the Source Selection Box.
  5. Pick either DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK.
  6. Press “Install.”

For terminal installation using APT:

  • Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  • Install Bleachbit with sudo apt install bleachbit.

For terminal installation using Flatpak:

  • Simply input flatpak install flathub org.bleachbit.BleachBit.

SoundConverter

Visit the official SoundConverter website at https://soundconverter.org/ for all things SoundConverter.

To install SoundConverter from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “SoundConverter.”
  3. Click on it and select your preferred package type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

To install SoundConverter using APT in the Terminal:

  • Run the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install soundconverter

To install SoundConverter using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Enter this command:

flatpak install flathub org.soundconverter.SoundConverter

Converseen

Visit the official Converseen website at https://converseen.fasterland.net/ for all things Converseen.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Converseen.”
  3. Click on it and select your preferred package type (DEB, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

Via APT in the Terminal:

  • Run the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install converseen

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Converseen.”
  3. Click on it, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  4. Click “Install.”

Installing with Snap from the Terminal:

  • Enter the command:

sudo snap install converseen

Via Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Simply type:

flatpak install flathub net.fasterland.converseen

GParted

Visit the official GParted website at https://gparted.org/index.php for all things GParted.

To install GParted using the App Center:

  • Launch the App Center.
  • Look up “GParted.”
  • Select GParted, then pick your preferred format (deb, Snap, or Flatpak) in the Source Box.
  • Click “Install.”

For terminal installation with APT:

  • Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gparted

This will update your package list and install GParted.

Hardinfo

Visit the official Hardinfo website at https://github.com/lpereira/hardinfo for all things Hardinfo.

To install Hardinfo using the App Center:

  • Launch the App Center.
  • Look up “Hardinfo.”
  • Select it, then pick your preferred package type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak).
  • Click “Install.”

For terminal installation with APT:

  • Open the terminal.
  • Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install hardinfo

Gpustat

Visit the official Gpustat website at https://github.com/wookayin/gpustat for all things Gpustat.

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Gpustat.”
  3. Click on “Gpustat.”
  4. Select the “Source Selection Box.”
  5. Pick either DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK.
  6. Click “Install.”

For terminal installation using APT:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Enter sudo apt update to update packages.
  3. Type sudo apt install gpustat to install Gpustat.

Czkawka

Visit the official Czkawka website at https://github.com/qarmin/czkawka for all things Czkawka.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Czkawka.”
  3. Click “Czkawka,” then the Source Selection Box.
  4. Pick DEB, Snap, or Flatpak and press Install.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Czkawka.”
  3. Click “Czkawka,” then the Source Selection Box.
  4. Choose the latest/stable Snap version and install.

Terminal Commands:

  • For Snap:

sudo snap install czkawka

  • For Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.github.qarmin.czkawka

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging lets you chat in real-time, using text, emojis, and even voice or video. It’s quick and easy but depends on a central server, which can raise privacy worries. Chat rooms and mobile messaging make it even more connected.

Discord is a lively place for chatting, gaming, and joining communities. It works on all major devices and offers private chats and group calls. It’s all about bringing people together in a fun and open way.

ICQ offers chats, cloud storage, and anonymous posting. You can chat with thousands at once, use cool stickers, and even hide your phone number. It’s great for keeping in touch and having fun conversations.

Skype, from Microsoft, is all about free calls and messages, reaching millions worldwide. It’s handy for work and staying in touch with friends. It’s got some paid features too, like calling phones and sending texts.

Session is all about private messaging. It uses a secure network so you can chat without sharing your phone number or email. It’s still growing but offers a new, secure way to talk online.

Pidgin is a free messaging app that supports many chat services. It’s secure and works on different systems. It’s customizable with plugins, making it a solid choice for chatting with friends.

Ferdium brings all your chat services into one place. It’s private, syncs across devices, and helps you manage work and personal chats. It’s an upgrade from Franz and keeps things simple and organized.

Signal focuses on secure, private chats with top-notch encryption. It’s free and doesn’t have ads or trackers. It’s run by a nonprofit, so it’s all about your privacy and making sure everyone can connect safely.

Telegram mixes messaging with social networking. It’s secure, user-friendly, and full of features like stories and big groups. It’s been around since 2013 and is known for keeping your chats safe.

These apps make talking online easy, fun, and secure, each with its own special features to fit your needs. Whether you’re gaming, working, or just catching up with friends, there’s an app for you.

Discord

Visit the official Discord website at https://discord.com/ for all things Discord.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Discord.”
  3. Click on “Discord.”
  4. Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Click “Install.”

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Discord.”
  3. Click on “Discord.”
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable version under “Snap.”
  5. Click “Install.”

Via Terminal with Snap:

  • Run the command: sudo snap install discord

Via Terminal with Flatpak:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord

Installing with a .deb file:

  1. Visit the release page at https://discord.com/api/download?platform=linux&format=deb.
  2. Download the file to “~/Downloads.”
  3. Double-click “discord-0.0.53.deb.”
  4. Click “Install.”

ICQ

Visit the official ICQ website at https://icq.com/ for all things ICQ.

To install ICQ through the Snap Store:

  • Open the Snap Store and search for “ICQ.”
  • Find ICQ and click on it.
  • Choose the latest version listed as “stable” in the Source Selection Box.
  • Hit the Install button.

To install ICQ using the Terminal:

  • Open your Terminal.
  • Type the command: sudo snap install icq-im and press Enter.

Skype

Visit the official Skype website at https://www.skype.com/en/ for all things Skype.

Through App Center:

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Skype.”
  3. Click “Skype” and select your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

Using APT in Terminal:

  1. Update packages: sudo apt update
  2. Install HTTPS support: sudo apt install apt-transport-https
  3. Add Skype’s GPG key:

curl -s https://repo.skype.com/data/SKYPE-GPG-KEY | sudo apt-key add -

  1. Add Skype’s repository:

echo "deb https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype.list

  1. Update again: sudo apt update
  2. Install Skype: sudo apt install skypeforlinux

Through Snap Store:

  1. Find Skype in Snap Store.
  2. Click “Skype” and choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  3. Click “Install.”

Using Snap in Terminal:

  • Install Skype: sudo snap install skype

Using Flatpak in Terminal:

  • Install Skype: flatpak install flathub com.skype.Client

Installing .deb from GUI:

  1. Visit the release page: https://repo.skype.com/deb/pool/main/s/skypeforlinux/
  2. Download the latest “skypeforlinux_amd64.deb.”
  3. Navigate to “~/Downloads.”
  4. Double-click the downloaded file.
  5. Click “Install.”

Session

Visit the official Session website at https://getsession.org/ for all things Session.

For DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK via App Center:

  • Open App Center, search “Session.”
  • Click “Session,” then “Source Selection Box.”
  • Pick DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK, and click “Install.”

Install Session with Flatpak in Terminal:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub network.loki.Session

Install Session with AppImage via GUI:

  • Go to https://getsession.org/download.
  • Click “Linux” to download the file to ~/Downloads.
  • Right-click the downloaded file, choose “Properties.”
  • Under “Permissions,” make it executable.
  • Double-click the file to install.

Create Session Shortcut:

  • In terminal, go to /usr/share/applications with cd.
  • Start editing with sudo gedit Session1.desktop.
  • Add:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Session

Exec=./Downloads/session-desktop-linux-x86_64-1.12.3.AppImage

Icon=terminal

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  • Save and close the editor.

Pidgin

Visit the official Pidgin website at https://www.pidgin.im/https://www.pidgin.im/ for all things Pidgin.

To install Pidgin using the App Center:

  • Launch the App Center.
  • Look up “Pidgin.”
  • Select it, then pick your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  • Click “Install.”

For APT installation in the Terminal:

  • Enter the following:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install pidgin

For Flatpak installation in the Terminal:

  • Use this command:

flatpak install flathub im.pidgin.Pidgin

Ferdium

Visit the official Ferdium website at https://ferdium.org/ for all things Ferdium.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Ferdium”.
  3. Click “Ferdium”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install”.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Ferdium”.
  3. Click “Ferdium”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install”.

Terminal (Snap):

  • Run the command: sudo snap install ferdium

Terminal (Flatpak):

  • Enter the command: flatpak install flathub org.ferdium.Ferdium

Signal

Visit the official Signal website at https://signal.org/ for all things Signal.

Through the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Signal.”
  3. Click on Signal.
  4. Select “deb,” “Snap,” or “Flatpak” in the Source Box.
  5. Press “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Update your system: sudo apt update
  2. Download the Signal keyring:

wget -O- https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt/keys.asc | gpg --dearmor > signal-desktop-keyring.gpg

  1. Save the keyring:

cat signal-desktop-keyring.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/signal-desktop-keyring.gpg > /dev/null

  1. Add the Signal repository:

echo 'deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/signal-desktop-keyring.gpg] https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list

  1. Install Signal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install signal-desktop

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Signal.”
  3. Click on Signal.
  4. In the Source Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install.”

Installing via Snap in the Terminal:

  • Run the command: sudo snap install signal-desktop

Installing via Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Use the command: flatpak install flathub org.signal.Signal

Telegram

Visit the official Telegram website at https://telegram.org/ for all things Telegram.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Telegram.”
  3. Click on Telegram.
  4. Pick either DEB, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install.”

Using APT in the Terminal:

  • Simply type sudo apt install telegram-desktop and press Enter.

Using the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Telegram.”
  3. Click on it.
  4. Choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install.”

Using Snap in the Terminal:

  • Enter sudo snap install telegram-desktop and hit Enter.

Using Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Just type flatpak install flathub org.telegram.desktop and press Enter.

Remote Working

Remote working tools help teams work together from anywhere. They’ve grown since the 1970s, especially with the internet and cloud tech. These tools save money, offer flexibility, and let companies hire from a broader talent pool. However, they can also lead to less in-person contact and feelings of loneliness.

Zoom became very popular during the pandemic. It’s a video call app that’s easy to use and free. It lets up to 100 people meet for 40 minutes at no cost. People can share their screens and files, and chat privately. You don’t need an account to join a meeting, but you do to host one. Its simplicity and the ability to bring many people together quickly make it a top choice.

Slack is an app for business chats that improves how teams talk and work together. It has special channels for easy sharing and chatting, no matter where you are or the time zone. Slack is good for flexible work because you can get info and talk to coworkers when needed. It’s inclusive, with shared info everyone can find and use, which helps make decisions faster. Slack also works with AI and other apps to make work easier. It supports messages, calls, videos, and live group chats, fitting different work styles and keeping teams connected safely.

Citrix Workspace is an app that gives secure, quick access to everything you need to work. It combines virtual desktops, apps, and web services, and you can sign in just once. It replaced Citrix Receiver and uses HDX tech for a clear experience on all devices and browsers. This app manages apps and desktops well, making work smoother with good search functions and easy web browsing.

Zoom

Visit the official Zoom website at https://zoom.us/ for all things Zoom.

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Update your package list with sudo apt update.
  3. Install necessary libraries with:

sudo apt install gdebi libglib2.0-0 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xfixes0 libxcb-randr0 libxcb-image0 libfontconfig1 libgl1-mesa-glx libxi6 libsm6 libxrender1 libpulse0 libxcomposite1 libxslt1.1 libsqlite3-0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-xtest0 ibus libegl1-mesa libxcb-cursor0

  1. Go to Zoom’s download page at https://zoom.us/download?os=linux.
  2. Under ‘Linux Type’, click the dropdown and select ‘Ubuntu’.
  3. For ‘OS Architecture’, choose ‘64-bit’.
  4. Click ‘Download’ to get the Zoom package.
  5. Navigate to your Downloads folder (~/Downloads).
  6. Find and double-click zoom_amd64.deb.
  7. In the opened window, click ‘Install’.

Slack

Visit the official Slack website at https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/ for all things Slack.

Using the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Slack”.
  3. Click on Slack.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick either deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install”.

Through the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Slack”.
  3. Click on Slack.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable version listed under Snap.
  5. Click “Install”.

Via Terminal with Snap:

  • Simply input the following command:

sudo snap install slack

Via Terminal with Flatpak:

  • Use this command:

flatpak install flathub com.slack.Slack

Citrix Workspace

Visit the official Citrix Workspace website at https://www.citrix.com/products/receiver.html for all things Citrix Workspace.

  1. Visit the Citrix Workspace app download page at https://www.citrix.com/downloads/workspace-app/.
  2. Select ‘Workspace app for Linux’.
  3. Choose ‘Debian Packages’.
  4. Opt for ‘Full Packages (Self-Service Support)’.
  5. Click ‘Download File’ under ‘Citrix Workspace app for Linux (x86_64)’.
  6. Navigate to the ‘Downloads’ folder in your home directory.
  7. Double-click on ‘icaclient_24.2.0.65_amd64.deb’.
  8. Press ‘Install’ to begin the installation process.

Cloud Office Suites

Cloud office suites are handy online tools that boost business flexibility. They let you work from anywhere, using apps for teamwork and getting things done. Linux Desktops support this move to the cloud, helping teams share info instantly, which is great for businesses wanting to be nimble and efficient.

Google Docs Editors Suite is a part of Google Drive, offering tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides online or on mobile. It supports working together in real time, with features like editing history and smart suggestions. This makes creating and sharing documents easy, helping teams work well together.

Microsoft 365 combines Microsoft’s productivity tools, teamwork features, and cloud services. It has apps like Word and Excel, and services like Outlook.com and Teams. It’s for everyone and businesses, with versions for computers, Macs, and phones. It also has business tools like Exchange Server and SharePoint, with plans that give you software, email, and intranet, covering all your needs.

Zoho Office Suite is an all-in-one, Indian-made online suite for team work and getting things done. It has many apps for writing, spreadsheets, and more, plus tools for customer management and projects. It lets teams work from anywhere, share easily, and manage documents in the cloud. Zoho works with Microsoft Office files and other apps, making it a flexible choice for businesses aiming to improve productivity and teamwork.

Google Docs Editors Suite

Visit the official Google Docs Editors Suite website at https://www.google.co.uk/docs/about/ for all things Google Docs Editors Suite.

To use Google Docs from your computer:

  1. Go to https://www.google.co.uk/docs/about/.
  2. Log in to start using the Google Docs Editors Suite.

Microsoft 365

Visit the official Microsoft 365 website at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/ for all things Microsoft 365.

To use Microsoft 365, simply go to the website https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/. Once there, log in to start using the services.

Zoho Office Suite

Visit the official Zoho Office Suite website at https://www.zoho.com/officesuite/ for all things Zoho Office Suite.

To use Zoho Office Suite, simply go to https://www.zoho.com/officesuite/ in your web browser. Once there, log in to start using the suite’s features.

AI Content Generation

AI tools now craft text and visuals, changing how we create and share content. They’ve grown beyond early issues like bias, shaping new business and artistic methods.

Easy Diffusion makes using Stable Diffusion a breeze with a single click, no complex setup, and a straightforward interface. It boasts features for better image creation, quick edits, and supports various image formats, all while being light on your computer’s memory.

oobabooga is a flexible web UI for working with advanced language models. It’s user-friendly, supports different modes, and lets you switch between models easily. It also has voice and translation add-ons, making it a versatile choice for generating text.

Stable Diffusion’s negative prompt feature helps you avoid unwanted elements in images, ensuring clearer, more accurate results.

Upscayl is a no-cost AI tool for enhancing image resolution, crafted by TGS963 and Nayam Amarshe. It’s compatible with many devices and can upscale images fourfold, maintaining clarity.

The Stable Diffusion Web UI streamlines the use of Generative AI for image creation and editing. It’s easy to set up and offers unique editing features, working well even on basic computers.

The unofficial ChatGPT Desktop Application is a comprehensive tool for learning and research, available across major operating systems. It includes handy features like text-to-speech and chat export, though it faces challenges like unauthorized sales.

These tools are reshaping our digital landscape, making powerful AI accessible to all, and enhancing our interaction with media in exciting ways.

Easy Diffusion

Visit the official Easy Diffusion website at https://easydiffusion.github.io/ for all things Easy Diffusion.

  1. Download the File:
  • Visit the Easy Diffusion release page at https://github.com/easydiffusion/easydiffusion/releases.
  • Click on the latest Easy-Diffusion-Linux.zip to download it.
  1. Extract the File:
  • Open your ~/Downloads folder.
  • Double-click on Easy-Diffusion-Linux.zip.
  • Choose easy-diffusion and click Extract.
  1. Run Easy Diffusion:
  • In ~/Downloads/easy-diffusion, right-click on an empty space and select Open In Terminal.
  • Type ./start.sh and press Enter.
  1. Create a Desktop Shortcut:
  • Open the terminal.
  • Type cd /usr/share/applications and press Enter.
  • Type sudo gedit easy-diffusion1.desktop and press Enter.
  • In the text editor, paste the following:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Easy Diffusion

Comment=Run Easy Diffusion

Exec=.//home/your-username/Downloads/easy-diffusion/start.sh

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  • Replace /home/your-username with your actual username.
  • Save the file and close the editor.

Make sure the Exec= line points to where you’ve extracted Easy Diffusion.

oobabooga (Text Generation GUI)

Visit the official oobabooga (Text Generation GUI) website at https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui for all things oobabooga (Text Generation GUI).

To install oobabooga (Text Generation GUI) from a .tar.xz file, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the oobabooga release page at https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui.
  2. Click ‘download’ to get the oobabooga GUI.
  3. In your Downloads folder, double-click on text-generation-webui-main.zip.
  4. Choose the folder and extract it.
  5. Open a terminal in the text-generation-webui-main folder.
  6. Run ./start_linux.sh to start and ./update_linux.sh to update the software.

For a desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications.
  3. Enter sudo gedit oobabooga1.desktop to edit the shortcut file.
  4. Fill in the file with:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=oobabooga (Text Generation GUI)

Comment=Start oobabooga GUI

Exec=/home/yourusername/Downloads/text-generation-webui-main/update_linux.sh

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save the file and close the editor.

Make sure the Exec= line points to where you’ve saved oobabooga on your computer.

Negative Prompts For Stable Diffusion

(((((extra fingers))))), (((((poorly drawn hands))))), (((((poorly drawn face))))), (((((mutation))))),  (((((deformed))))), (((((bad proportions))))), (((((extra limbs))))), (((((glitchy))))), (((((extra hands))))),  (((((mangled fingers))))), (((((portrait))))), (((((text))))), (((((words))))), (((((copyright))))), (((((realism))))), (((((2girl))))), (((((3girl))))), (((((4girl))))), (((((helmet))))), (((((multiple_breasts))))), (((((flowers))))), (((((blur))))), (((((terrible))))), (((((awful))))), (((((copyright))))), ((((((trademark)))))), (((((watermark))))),

(((((censorship))))), (((((censored))))), (((((deformed face))))), (((((bad anatomy))))), (((((deformed face))))), (((((ugly))))), (((((deformed hands))))), (((((blurry))))), (((((multiple_breasts))))), (((((multiple_nipples))))), (((((jpeg artifacts))))), (((((signature))))), (((((username))))), (((((blurry))))), (((((monochrome))))), (((((asymmetrical breasts))))), (((((cropped))))), (((((worst quality))))),

(((((low quality))))), (((((normal quality))))), (((((extra digit))))), (((((fewer digits))))), (((((lowres))))), (((((artist name))))), (((((poorly draw))))), (((((messy drawing))))), (((((extra ears))))), (((((broken legs))))), (((((puffy nipples))))), (((((disfigured))))), (((((long neck))))), (((((out of frame))))), (((((crossed eyes))))), (((((bad hands))))), (((((error))))), (((((missing fingers))))), (((((normal quality))))), (((((mutated))))), (((((broken legs))))), (((((hands inside body))))), (((((extra leg))))), (((((third leg))))), (((((amputee))))), (((((extra breasts))))), (((((fused hands))))), (((((claws))))), (((((more than 2 nipples))))), (((((lineart))))), (((((simple background))))), (((((floating limbs))))), (((((disconnected limbs))))), (((((out of focus))))), (((((conjoined))))), (((((blended))))),

(((((fused))))), (((((pathetic))))), (((((sloppy))))), (((((liquid collarbone))))), (((((disappearing arms))))), (((((missing breasts))))), (((((short arm))))), (((((missing arms))))), (((((more than 2 legs))))), (((((extra arms))))), (((((fused fingers))))), (((((malformed hands))))), (((((missing hand))))), (((((missing hands))))), (((((one hand with more than 5 fingers))))), (((((one hand with less than 5 fingers)))), (((((one hand with less than 5 digit))))), (((((fused digit))))), (((((bad digit))))), (((((liquid digit))))), (((((bad gloves))))), (((((poorly drawn gloves))))), (((((fused gloves))))), (((((more than 1 left hand))))) , (((((more than 1 right hand))))), (((((asymmetrical body))))), (((((missing extremities))))), (((((walleyed))))), (((((eye bags))))), (((((duplicate))))), (((((dehydrated))))), (((((cloned face))))), (((((malformed limbs))))), (((((blind))))), (((((dead eyes))))), (((((out of shot))))), (((((logo))))), (((((writing)))))

Upscayl

Visit the official Upscayl website at https://www.upscayl.org/ for all things Upscayl.

App Center (DEB/SNAP/FLATPAK):

  1. Open App Center.
  2. Search for “Upscayl”.
  3. Click “Upscayl”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, pick DEB, Snap, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install”.

Snap Store:

  1. Go to Snap Store.
  2. Find “Upscayl”.
  3. Click “Upscayl”.
  4. In the Source Selection Box, choose the latest/stable Snap version.
  5. Click “Install”.

Terminal (Snap):

  • Run: sudo snap install upscayl

Terminal (Flatpak):

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub org.upscayl.Upscayl

GUI (.deb):

  1. Visit the release page: https://github.com/upscayl/upscayl/releases
  2. Download the latest “upscayl-linux.deb”.
  3. Go to your “Downloads” folder.
  4. Double-click “upscayl-2.11.0-linux.deb”.
  5. Hit “Install”.

Stable Diffusion Web UI

Visit the official Stable Diffusion Web UI website at https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui for all things Stable Diffusion Web UI.

To install the Stable Diffusion Web UI using the GUI, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the release page: https://github.com/AUTOMATIC1111/stable-diffusion-webui/releases.
  2. Download the latest version by clicking on ‘Source code (zip)’.
  3. In your Downloads folder, find and double-click the file named ‘stable-diffusion-webui-1.9.3.zip’.
  4. Click ‘Extract’ twice to unzip the file.
  5. Right-click in the Downloads folder and select ‘Open In Terminal’.
  6. Enter cd ~/Downloads/Stable Diffusion Web UI and run ./webui.sh in the terminal.

For creating a shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Type cd /usr/share/applications to go to the applications directory.
  3. Create a new shortcut by running sudo gedit stablediffusionwebui1.desktop.
  4. Add the following to the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Stable Diffusion Web UI

Comment=Run Stable Diffusion Web UI

Exec=~/Downloads/stable-diffusion-webui-1.9.3/webui.sh

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save the file by clicking ‘Save’ or ‘File’ > ‘Save’.
  2. Close the editor after saving.

Unofficial ChatGPT Desktop Application

Visit the official Unofficial ChatGPT Desktop Application website at https://github.com/lencx/ChatGPT for all things Unofficial ChatGPT Desktop Application.

To install the unofficial ChatGPT app, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the release page: https://github.com/lencx/ChatGPT/releases
  2. Click on the latest release to download the ChatGPT desktop app.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Double-click on the file named “ChatGPT_1.1.0_linux_x86_64.deb”.
  5. Press the “Install” button to start the installation.

System Settings

Debian 12’s system settings give you a full view and control of your computer’s inner workings. You can dive into details like RAM and processor speed, or update your system’s software and security through easy-to-use interfaces or terminal commands.

The GNOME desktop’s Night Light feature cuts down on blue light from your screen, making it gentler on your eyes at night. You can find it in the display settings, switch it on or off, or change the color warmth to suit your comfort.

Redshift adjusts your screen’s warmth in the Cinnamon desktop based on the time of day, helping you avoid eye strain and sleep better. It changes colors smoothly and needs your location to work right, supporting multiple screens on Linux and BSD.

PipeWire is a new project that improves how Linux handles audio and video. It’s fast, secure, and works with many multimedia apps, making it easier for developers to create great software.

XanMod is a custom Linux kernel that boosts your system’s speed and stability, perfect for gaming or live streaming. It’s packed with features that help your computer handle intense tasks without a hitch.

Liquorix is another Linux kernel that’s all about quick response times. It’s great for creative work or gaming, fine-tuning your system to run smoothly and handle tasks efficiently.

In Debian 12, environment variables are like shortcuts that store info and manage how programs behave. They’re easy to set up and use, making your system more flexible.

You can personalize your Cinnamon desktop with your favorite image or color as the background. Just right-click, choose “Change desktop background,” and pick what you like.

Mount_options.conf is a feature for system admins to set up secure and consistent access to different filesystems. It’s a key tool for managing storage safely.

“Startup Applications” in the Cinnamon desktop lets you control which programs start when you boot up your computer. It helps your system start faster and smoother.

Auto-mounting drives in Debian 12 means your storage is ready to go as soon as you start your computer. The GNOME Disks utility makes it easy to set this up.

Keybinds and screenshots in Debian 12 are handy for capturing what’s on your screen, useful for sharing info or keeping records.

The systemd timeout setting prevents services from taking too long to start or stop, keeping your system running smoothly. You can adjust it as needed.

Immutable files and folders can’t be changed once they’re made, protecting your data from being altered or deleted.

FFmpegthumbnailer is a quick tool for making video thumbnails, helping you manage and find your videos faster.

Linux .desktop files are simple text files that help your desktop environment manage applications, making it easier to use your software.

Debian 12’s power settings help you save energy, like adjusting screen brightness or setting sleep mode, so your computer runs better for longer.

Night Light (GNOME)

Visit the official Night Light (GNOME) website at https://foundation.gnome.org/ for all things Night Light (GNOME).

To set up the Night Light feature in GNOME:

  1. Open Settings from your app menu.
  2. Click on Displays, then Night Light.
  3. Enable it by flipping the switch to the right.
  4. Under Schedule, select Manual Schedule.
  5. Set it to run from 21:00 to 06:00.
  6. Move the color temperature just below halfway between the third and fourth line.

This will help reduce blue light and may improve your sleep.

Night Light (Cinnamon & Redshift)

Visit the official Night Light (Cinnamon & Redshift) websites at https://github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon & https://github.com/jonls/redshift for all things Night Light (Cinnamon & Redshift).

To install Night Light with Redshift on Cinnamon, start by opening the terminal. Type sudo apt install redshift redshift-gtk wayland* to install the necessary packages. Next, go to your configuration folder with cd ~/.config. Open the Redshift config file by typing nano redshift.conf.

Here’s what to add to the file:

[redshift]

temp-night=2350

transition=1

brightness=1.0

gamma=1.0

[location]

adjustment-method=vidmode

location-provider=manual

Save your edits with CTRL + S and exit using CTRL + X. This sets up a cozy, eye-friendly screen for nighttime use.

Possible PipeWire Sound Crackle & Popping Fixes

Visit the official PipeWire website at https://PipeWire.org/ for all things PipeWire.

To fix sound problems with PipeWire, like crackling, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off audio power saving by typing these commands:

echo "options snd_hda_intel power_save=0" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/audio_disable_powersave.conf

echo "options snd_hda_intel power_save_controller=N" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/audio_disable_powersave.conf

  1. Check the settings with:

cat /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save

cat /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save_controller

They should show 0 and N.

  1. Improve PipeWire by editing its config file. Use a text editor to open this file:

/usr/share/pipewire/pipewire.conf

Then change the following lines:

  • From #default.clock.quantum = 1024 to default.clock.quantum = 2048.
  • From default.clock.min-quantum = 16 to default.clock.min-quantum = 2048.
  • From #default.clock.max-quantum = 2048 to default.clock.max-quantum = 4096.
  1. Restart PipeWire with:

systemctl --user restart pipewire.service pipewire-pulse.service pipewire-media-session.service ; systemctl --user restart pipewire-multi.service

  1. Boost audio priority by adding this line to /etc/security/limits.conf:

@audio   -  nice     -20

  1. Remove speech-dispatcher to avoid conflicts:

sudo apt purge speech-dispatcher

After these changes, make sure everything is saved and consistent, then reboot your computer. This should improve your PipeWire audio experience. Remember to back up any important files before making changes.

Xanmod

Visit the official Xanmod website at https://xanmod.org/ for all things Xanmod.

  1. Update your system:
  2. sudo apt update
  3. Add the Xanmod repository key:

wget -qO - https://dl.xanmod.org/archive.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/xanmod-archive-keyring.gpg

  1. Include the Xanmod repository:

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/xanmod-archive-keyring.gpg] http://deb.xanmod.org releases main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xanmod-release.list

  1. Install Xanmod:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install linux-xanmod-x64v3

  1. Reboot your computer to apply changes.

Make sure to note down all the linux-xanmod packages that get installed. This helps keep track of the changes made to your system.

Liquorix

Visit the official Liquorix website at https://liquorix.net/ for all things Liquorix.

First, update your package list with:

sudo apt update

Then, to install Liquorix, use curl to download and execute the installation script:

curl -s 'https://liquorix.net/install-liquorix.sh' | sudo bash

That’s it! These steps will set up Liquorix on your system

Debian 12 System Variables

Visit the official Debian 12 System Variables website at https://wiki.debian.org/EnvironmentVariables for all things Debian 12 System Variables.

To set up system variables in Debian 12 for both command line and GUI, start by opening the Bash config file with sudo gedit /etc/bash.bashrc. At the end of the file, add these lines to fine-tune your system:

# Set environment variables for better performance

export STAGING_WRITECOPY='1'

export DXVK_ENABLE_NVAPI='1'

export WINEESYNC='1'

export WINEDEBUG='-all'

export __GL_SHADER_DISK_CACHE_SKIP_CLEANUP='1'

export __GL_THREADED_OPTIMIZATION='1'

export STAGING_SHARED_MEMORY='1'

export WINE_SIMULATE_WRITECOPY='1'

# Define paths for gaming enhancements

export DXVK_STATE_CACHE_PATH='/home/your_username/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net'

export __GL_SHADER_CACHE='/home/your_username/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net'

export VKD3D_SHADER_CACHE_PATH='/home/your_username/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net'

# Additional configurations

export VKD3D_CONFIG='dxr'

export exclude_processes='Agent.exe "Battle.net Helper.exe'

# Uncomment and adjust the following as needed

# export GOPATH='$HOME/work'

# export PATH='$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$GOPATH/bin'

# export PATH='/home/your_username/.nimble/bin:$PATH'

# Handy aliases for system management

alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'

alias updater='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo snap refresh'

alias wget1='wget --limit-rate 5100k'

alias purge='sudo apt purge'

alias install='sudo apt install -y'

alias insnap='sudo snap install'

alias ipkg='sudo dpkg -i'

alias fix='sudo dpkg --configure -a && sudo apt-get install -f'

alias fixit='sudo apt install -f'

alias clean='sudo apt update && sudo apt autoremove -y && sudo apt clean -y && sudo apt autoclean -y'

alias remove='sudo rm -r'

alias gitc='git clone'

alias gitcr='git clone –recursive'

Remember to replace your_username with your actual username. Save your changes to apply these new settings. These tweaks will help optimize your system for certain apps and make managing updates and packages easier. 

Setting Image As Background

Visit the official Cinnamon website at https://github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon for all things Cinnamon.

Begin by right-clicking on an image file, then click on "Set as Background.

mount_options.conf

Visit the official udisks website at https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/udisks/ for all things udisks.

  1. Open the terminal and update your system with:

sudo apt update

  1. Use a text editor to open the configuration file:

sudo gedit /etc/udisks2/mount_options.conf

  1. Insert the following settings into mount_options.conf:

[defaults]

ntfs_defaults=uid=$UID,gid=$GID

ntfs_allow=uid=$UID,gid=$GID,nls,umask,dmask,fmask,nohidden,sys_immutable,discard,force,sparse,showmeta,prealloc,no_acs_rules,acl,noatime

  1. Save your changes by clicking on ‘Save’, or go to ‘File’ > ‘Save’. Alternatively, click the ☰ icon, select ‘Save As’, and then click ‘Save’.
  2. Close the editor.

Adding Startup Applications In Cinnamon

To set up apps to start with Cinnamon using the GUI:

  1. Press the Super key to open the menu.
  2. Go to “Startup Applications.”
  3. Hit the +, pick “Choose Application.”
  4. Find and add your app.

To add a custom command in Cinnamon:

  1. Open “Startup Applications” with the Super key.
  2. Click +, then “Custom Command.”
  3. Name your command, type it in, add a comment, and set a delay if needed.
  4. Hit “Save.”

To add startup apps via the command line:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Go to /usr/share/applications with cd.
  3. Use dir to see all files.
  4. Find the .desktop file for your app.
  5. Copy it to /etc/xdg/autostart with sudo cp.

This will make sure your apps or commands start when Cinnamon does.

Adding Startup Application in GNOME

To set up an app to run when you start GNOME, simply do this:

  1. Press the Super key to open the menu.
  2. Open “Tweaks”.
  3. Go to the “Startup Applications” section.
  4. Hit the “+” to add a new entry.
  5. Enter the app’s name, like “Pale Moon”.
  6. Click “Add” to put it on your startup list.

That’s it! Now, “Pale Moon” will launch automatically each time you log in to GNOME.

Auto Mount Partitions Using GNOME Disks

To set up automatic partition mounting with GNOME Disks, open Disks from your apps. Pick the disk, then the partition you want to auto-mount. Click the gear icon and choose “Edit Mount Options.” Turn off “User Session Defaults” and press “OK.” This makes partitions mount automatically, no fuss needed.

Cinnamon Screenshot Keybindings

Changing flashspot Color Attribute Via Command Line & GUI:

To change the flashspot to transparent in your theme, follow these steps:

  1. Open “Files” with the “Super” key.
  2. Press “CTRL + L” and type “/usr/share/themes/”.
  3. Go to “Mint-Y-Dark-Red” and then to the “cinnamon” folder.
  4. Right-click, select “open in terminal”.
  5. Run “sudo gedit cinnamon.css”.
  6. In gedit, press “CTRL + F”, find “flashspot”.
  7. Change “white” to “#00FFFFFF”.
  8. Save and close gedit.
  9. Press “ALT + F2”, type “r”, and enter to restart cinnamon.

This will apply your changes to the theme.

Creating Screenshots Folder Via GUI:

To make a “Screenshots” folder, simply open your “Files” app, go to the “~/Pictures” area, and right-click to choose “New Folder.” Name this new folder “Screenshots,” and you’re all set.

Focused Window Screenshot Via GUI:

  1. Open Settings from your menu.
  2. Go to Keyboard and choose Shortcuts.
  3. Select Add custom shortcut.
  4. Name it “Focused Window Screenshot”.
  5. For the command, type: bash -c "cd ~/Pictures/Screenshots && gnome-screenshot -w -f screenshot_$(date +%d-%m-%y-%H-%M-%S).png".
  6. Click Add to save it.
  7. To set a key, click Keyboard Bindings.
  8. Press F10 to make it your screenshot key.
  9. This will let you quickly snap a picture of the active window using F10.

Fullscreen Screenshot Via GUI:

To set up a shortcut for a fullscreen screenshot, follow these steps:

  1. Open “Settings” from the menu.
  2. Go to “Keyboard” and choose “Shortcuts.”
  3. Select “Add custom shortcut.”
  4. Name it “Fullscreen Screenshot.”
  5. In the command box, type: bash -c "cd ~/Pictures/Screenshots && gnome-screenshot -f screenshot_$(date +%d-%m-%y-%H-%M-%S).png"
  6. Click “Add.”
  7. For the shortcut key, click “Keyboard Bindings” and press “F11.”

This will let you take a fullscreen screenshot by pressing F11, and it will save in your Pictures/Screenshots folder with the current date and time as the file name.

GNOME Overview & Windows Keybinds

Changing Show The Overview Keybind Via GUI:

To change the keybind for the overview in the GUI, open the “Settings” from the application menu. Go to the “Keyboard” section and click on “View and Customize Shortcuts.” Type “Show the overview” in the search bar. When it appears, press “Super + TAB” to set it. This makes the overview work like Windows, especially with arcmenu. Click “Set” to finish.

Changing Switch Windows Keybind Via GUI:

To change the shortcut for switching windows, open the “Settings” from your app menu. Then, head to the “Keyboard” section and click on “View and Customize Shortcuts.” Type “Switch windows” in the search field. When it appears, hit “ALT + TAB” together and click “Set” to finish.

GNOME Screenshot Keybinds

Changing Take A Screenshot Keybind Via GUI:

To change the screenshot key, open the application menu and go to “Settings.” Click on the “Keyboard” section and choose “View and Customize Shortcuts.” Type “screenshot” in the search bar. When you see the screenshot option, press “F10.” Click “Set” to finish.

Changing Take A Screenshot Of A Window Via GUI:

To change the shortcut for capturing a window screenshot, open the “Settings” from your application menu. Then, head to the “Keyboard” section and click on “Shortcuts.” Type “screenshot of a window” in the search box. When it appears, hit “F11” to set it as the new key. Finish by clicking “Set.” This will update your screenshot key to F11, making it quick and easy to capture window images.

Changing Take A Screenshot Of A Window Interactively Via GUI:

To change the shortcut for taking a screenshot of a window, open the “Settings” from your application menu. Then, go to the “Keyboard” section and click on “Shortcuts.” Type “screenshot of a window” in the search bar. When it appears, press “F9” to set it as the new key. Click “Set” to finish.

Default Systemd Timeout

Visit the official Systemd website at https://systemd.io/ for all things Systemd.

  1. Open the terminal and update your system with:

sudo apt update

  1. Navigate to the systemd directory:

cd /etc/systemd/

  1. Edit the system.conf file using a text editor, for example, Gedit:

sudo gedit system.conf

  1. In the system.conf file, find the line that says #DefaultTimeoutStartSec=90s and change it to DefaultTimeoutStartSec=30s. This sets the default timeout to 30 seconds.
  2. Save your changes in the text editor. You can do this by clicking the “Save” button or by going to “File > Save”.
  3. Close the text editor.
  4. Apply the changes by reloading the systemd daemon:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

That’s it! You’ve successfully updated the default systemd timeout setting.

Making Files And Folders Immutable

Visit the official Immutable Files and Folders website at https://www.linux.org/docs/man1/chattr.html for all things Immutable Files and Folders.

  1. Update your system with sudo apt update.
  2. Move to the Downloads directory using cd ~/Downloads.
  3. Lock the file ‘CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage’ by typing sudo chattr +i -RV CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage.

This process ensures that the specified file cannot be modified, ensuring its integrity.

ffmpegthumbnailer

Visit the official ffmpegthumbnailer website at https://github.com/dirkvdb/ffmpegthumbnailer for all things ffmpegthumbnailer.

To set up ffmpegthumbnailer on your system, open the Terminal and enter the following commands. This will update your package lists, install necessary software, and clear out old thumbnails:             

sudo apt update

sudo apt install ffmpeg ffmpegthumbnailer gstreamer1.0-libav

rm -r ~/.cache/thumbnails/

This process is straightforward: first, we ensure your system’s package database is current. Next, we install ffmpeg and ffmpegthumbnailer, along with gstreamer1.0-libav for media handling. Finally, we remove the existing thumbnail cache to allow the new installations to regenerate fresh thumbnails.

Removing .desktop files

Visit the official .desktop files website at https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-latest.html for all things .desktop files.

  1. Open the terminal and go to the applications directory:

cd /usr/share/applications

  1. List all items in the directory to find the file you want to remove:

dir

  1. Make a backup of the .desktop file, just in case:

sudo cp uget-gtk.desktop uget-gtk1.desktop

  1. Delete the original .desktop file:

sudo rm -r uget-gtk.desktop

  1. Update the system’s database of applications:

sudo update-desktop-database

This process will remove the specified .desktop file and update the system accordingly.

Power Settings

To change your computer’s power settings, simply open “Settings” from the menu. Then, go to “Power” and set “Screen Blank” to “5 Minutes.” Turn off “Automatic Suspend” by choosing “Off.” This quick method customizes your power options without any fuss.

GNOME Extensions

Third-party GNOME Shell extensions add new features to your desktop. You can get them from a special website and they have IDs for safe setup. They can change a lot, but be careful because they can cause computer problems. Still, they’re checked for safety before you can download them.

The GNOME Shell Extension Manager makes it easy to handle these extensions. You can add or remove them right from their website, which is great for Ubuntu 24.04 users since the default browser can’t do this. It’s even better with GNOME 46 because it updates itself and manages all extensions, including the ones that come with your system. You can get it as a Flatpak from Flathub.

For Chrome and Firefox users, there are add-ons that let you work with GNOME extensions without leaving your browser. This means you don’t have to use the command line to change your desktop.

The User Themes extension lets you change how GNOME Shell looks on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Normally, you can’t do this with GNOME Tweaks, but this extension lets you.

ArcMenu gives you a menu for your apps that you can change to look different ways. It has a search feature, shortcuts, and new styles like a round search box. It’s always getting better, with new settings for icons and a power button menu like Windows 11.

Dash to Panel combines your app launchers and system tray into one panel, like in KDE Plasma or Windows 7. It’s full of options to make it work how you want, like showing previews of windows and hiding when you don’t need it. It makes using multiple monitors easier and lets you open apps with keyboard shortcuts.

Desktop Icons (NG) is a better version of the official Desktop Icons extension. It lets you move things around easily and open files with different programs. It shows full names for icons and keeps your desktop running smoothly.

Tray Icons: Reloaded brings back the tray icons to the top panel with new options. You can control how many icons show, where they go, and how they look. It also has a special mode for when there are too many icons.

GNOME Shell Extension Manager

Visit the official GNOME Shell Extension Manager website at https://github.com/mjakeman/extension-manager for all things GNOME Shell Extension Manager.

To install the GNOME Shell Extension Manager using the App Center, follow these steps:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Look for the GNOME Shell Extension Manager.
  3. Click on it and select your preferred source: deb, Snap, or Flatpak.
  4. Press Install.

For terminal installation with APT:

  • Update your system with sudo apt update.
  • Install the manager with sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager.

For terminal installation with Flatpak:

  • Simply run flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager.

GNOME Shell Integration

Visit the official GNOME Shell Integration websites at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gnome-shell-integration/gphhapmejobijbbhgpjhcjognlahblep and https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/gnome-shell-integration/ for all things GNOME Shell Integration.

For Chrome:

  1. Go to the Chrome Web Store.
  2. Search for “GNOME Shell Integration”.
  3. Click “Add to Chrome”.
  4. Confirm by selecting “Add extension”.

For Firefox:

  1. Visit the Firefox Add-ons site.
  2. Find “GNOME Shell Integration”.
  3. Click “Add to Firefox”.
  4. Approve the addition.

User Themes

Visit the official User Themes website at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-shell-extensions for all things User Themes.

To add the User Themes extension to your GNOME desktop, simply:

  1. Go to the extension’s webpage: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/.
  2. Click on the ‘Install’ button.
  3. Confirm the installation when prompted.

That’s it! You’ll have the User Themes extension up and running in no time.

ArcMenu

Visit the official ArcMenu website at https://gitlab.com/arcmenu/ArcMenu for all things ArcMenu.

  1. Go to the ArcMenu download page: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/3628/arcmenu/
  2. Press the ‘Install’ button.
  3. Confirm the installation when prompted.

That’s it! You’ll have ArcMenu installed and ready to use.

Dash to Panel

Visit the official Dash to Panel website at https://github.com/home-sweet-gnome/dash-to-panel for all things Dash to Panel.

To install the Dash to Panel extension for GNOME, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the extension’s page: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1160/dash-to-panel/
  2. Click on ‘Install’ and confirm the installation.

For adjusting the tray font size:

  1. Right-click on the Dash to Panel.
  2. Choose ‘Dash to Panel Settings’.
  3. In the settings, click the ‘Fine-Tune’ tab.
  4. Move the slider to set the tray font size to 21px.

Desktop Icons (NG)

Visit the official Desktop Icons (NG) website at https://gitlab.com/rastersoft/desktop-icons-ng for all things Desktop Icons (NG).

  1. Go to the extension’s webpage: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/2087/desktop-icons-ng-ding/
  2. Click on the ‘Install’ button.
  3. A confirmation pop-up will appear; click ‘Install’ again to proceed.

Tray Icons: Reloaded

Visit the official Tray Icons: Reloaded website at https://github.com/MartinPL/Tray-Icons-Reloaded for all things Tray Icons: Reloaded.

  1. Go to the extension’s webpage: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/2890/tray-icons-reloaded/
  2. Click on the ‘Install’ button.
  3. A confirmation prompt will appear; click ‘Install’ again to proceed.

Cinnamon Applets

Cinnamon applets make Ubuntu 24.04 LTS better. The “Force Quit” applet lets you shut down stuck windows fast. To make one, you give it a unique ID and make two files: “metadata.json” for info and “applet.js” for the code. They go in the Cinnamon applets folder on your computer. These applets work well with different panel sizes and layouts.

The Grouped Window List applet keeps your desktop tidy. It groups windows by app in the panel, like a taskbar. This makes it easy to find and manage your open apps.

The Cinnamon Windows Alt-Tab Switcher lets you flip through apps using icons or thumbnails. You can change the size and style of the icons. The enhanced version works on all your workspaces and has better thumbnails and controls.

The Cinnamon Menu Applet is a simple menu for opening apps. Just type the app’s name or alias, and it starts up. It sorts apps into categories, so everything is easy to find.

The Calendar Applet gives you a clock like the one in Windows XP. It’s easy to read and avoids XP’s old problems. It also has a 12-hour clock, which is more familiar to some people than a 24-hour one.

Grouped Window List

To set up the Grouped Window List, start by opening Firefox from your applications. Once it’s up, minimize it. Then, right-click the Firefox icon on your taskbar and choose “Configure.” Go to the “Panel” tab and find “Button label.” Click it and select “Window Title.”

Cinnamon Windows Alt-Tab Switcher

To get the Cinnamon Windows Alt-Tab Switcher up and running, here’s what you need to do: Open the menu and start the Windows command. Next, go to the Alt-Tab area and find “Alt-Tab switcher style.” Tick the box and choose “Thumbnails only” from the list. 

Cinnamon Menu Applet

To customize your Cinnamon Menu Applet, simply right-click the menu and choose “configure.” Head over to the “Panel” tab and turn on the “Use a custom icon and label” feature. Clear the “Text” field by pressing CTRL + A and then DEL, and type in “ Start” for the new name. For changing the icon, click the box, clear the search with CTRL + A and DEL, type “start-here,” pick the “start-here” icon, and hit “Select” to apply it.

Cinnamon Calendar Applet

To change the date format in the Cinnamon Calendar Applet to a 12-hour clock via the GUI, here’s what you do: Right-click the Calendar applet at the bottom right of your screen and select “Configure.” Then, turn on “Use a custom date format” by moving its switch to the right. Clear the “Date format” box with CTRL + A and enter “%I:%M %p”. Hit enter to save. Now, your calendar will show the time in an easy-to-read 12-hour format.

Desktop Environments

Desktop environments make using computers easier by offering a visual interface with icons and toolbars. They started on personal computers but now help users manage files across different devices, including 3D desktops. KDE and GNOME are well-known examples that let users tailor their experience.

Tasksel is a handy tool for Debian and Ubuntu, helping install package groups easily, which simplifies setting up servers. It works like meta-packages, offering a simple way to add new features to your system.

GNOME is a user-friendly desktop environment for Linux and Unix systems, created by a worldwide team. It’s often the default choice for Linux versions, providing a clean design and tools like the Activities Overview for task management.

KDE Plasma 5 is a modern version of KDE’s desktop, introduced in 2014. It has a new look, faster performance, and features like encrypted vaults and session management. It’s set to be replaced by Plasma 6 in 2024.

LXDE is built for speed and low resource use, ideal for older computers. It uses the GTK 2 toolkit and includes essential tools like the PCMan File Manager, making it a good choice for basic computing.

XFCE is a lightweight desktop environment known for being fast and light on resources. The latest version, XFCE 4.18, brings improvements like a new file input widget and better thumbnail handling.

​GNOME

Visit the official GNOME website at https://foundation.gnome.org/ for all things GNOME.

To install GNOME with APT:

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Run sudo apt update.
  3. Then, execute sudo apt install gnome.

To install GNOME with Tasksel:

  1. In the terminal, type tasksel.
  2. Use the arrow keys to select GNOME.
  3. Press the SPACEBAR to mark it.
  4. Hit Enter on “Ok” to start the install.

Tasksel

Visit the official tasksel website at https://github.com/ParrotSec/tasksel for all things tasksel.

Want to get Tasksel on your system? It’s straightforward. Open your terminal and run these two commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install tasksel

This will update your package list and install Tasksel for you.

KDE Plasma

Visit the official KDE Plasma website at https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/ for all things KDE Plasma.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kde-full

For Tasksel, type tasksel in the terminal. Use the arrow keys to select KDE Plasma, then hit the SPACEBAR. Press Enter after choosing “Ok” to start the install.

LXDE

Visit the official LXDE website at https://www.lxde.org/ for all things LXDE.

To set up LXDE with APT, open the terminal and input:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install lxde

For Tasksel, type tasksel in the terminal. When it opens, select LXDE with the arrow keys and the SPACEBAR. Confirm with “Ok” and press Enter. This method installs LXDE quickly and easily.

XFCE

Visit the official XFCE website at https://www.xfce.org/ for all things XFCE.

To install XFCE in the terminal using APT:

  1. Run sudo apt update to update packages.
  2. Install XFCE with sudo apt install xfce.

To install XFCE with Tasksel:

  1. Open Tasksel by typing tasksel.
  2. Use the arrow keys to select XFCE and hit the SPACEBAR.
  3. Press Enter after choosing “Ok” to start the install.

This method is quick and easy, giving you XFCE’s versatile interface in no time.

Programming Languages

Programming languages are tools for crafting software. They mix rules (syntax) and meaning (semantics) with features like types and error handling. Once tied to specific hardware, they now offer broader, simpler designs. From basic commands to complex object-oriented systems, they serve diverse programming needs, weighing ease against power.

Zig, by Andrew Kelley, is a lean language for system programming. It skips complex features like macros for straightforward coding, offering safety and efficiency. It stands out with features like compile-time operations and manual memory management, setting it apart from Go, Rust, and Carbon.

Go, developed by Google’s trio Griesemer, Pike, and Thompson, blends C’s style with modern features like memory safety and easy concurrency. It’s simple yet powerful, backed by a strong library and community, running on various platforms and even in web browsers via JavaScript.

Rust, from Graydon Hoare and Mozilla, excels in safe, concurrent programming without a garbage collector. Its smart memory handling is a hit with big tech firms and has even joined the Linux kernel’s toolbox. It’s known for blending performance with functional programming traits.

Lua, emerging from Brazil in 1993, shines in small, efficient scripting. It’s a favorite for embedded systems, offering flexibility and a straightforward way to work with C. Lua’s speed and small size make it a go-to for a range of applications.

OpenJDK is the open-source hub for Java, started by Sun Microsystems. It’s a meeting ground for Java enthusiasts to shape its future, offering tools for developers and learners alike. It’s a cornerstone for Java’s ongoing growth and innovation.

Zig

Visit the official Zig website at https://ziglang.org/ for all things Zig.

Via Snap Store:

  1. Open Snap Store.
  2. Search for “Zig”.
  3. Click on Zig.
  4. Choose the latest or beta version.
  5. Hit the Install button.

Using Terminal: Type and run:

sudo snap install zig --beta –classic

Go

Visit the official Go website at https://go.dev/ for all things Go.

  1. Go to the Go release page at https://go.dev/dl/.
  2. Download the latest Go version by clicking on go.linux-amd64.tar.gz.
  3. Open your terminal and change to the Downloads directory with cd ~/Downloads.
  4. Extract the Go package by running tar -xvf go1.22.3.linux-amd64.tar.gz.
  5. Assign ownership of the extracted files to the root user: sudo chown -R root go.
  6. Move the Go folder to the /usr/local directory to complete the installation: sudo mv go /usr/local.

Rust

Visit the official Rust website at https://www.rust-lang.org/ for all things Rust.

For installation, open your Terminal and run the following commands:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

source "$HOME/.cargo/env"

This will download and install Rust. Remember to run the second command to configure your environment.

Lua

Visit the official Lua website at https://www.lua.org/home.html for all things Lua.

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Install the necessary tools:

sudo apt install build-essential libreadline-dev wget

  1. Create a new directory for Lua and move into it:

mkdir lua_build && cd lua_build

  1. Download Lua’s source code:

wget https://www.lua.org/ftp/lua-5.4.6.tar.gz

  1. Unpack the downloaded file:

tar -xvf lua-5.4.6.tar.gz

  1. Go to the Lua source directory:

cd lua-5.4.6

  1. Compile and test Lua:

make linux test

  1. Install Lua onto your system:

sudo make install

OpenJava

Visit the official OpenJava website at https://openjdk.org/ for all things OpenJava.

To install OpenJava from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “OpenJava.”
  3. Click on “OpenJava.”
  4. Select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak) from the dropdown.
  5. Press “Install.”

To install OpenJava using APT in the Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install default-jre default-jdk

Imageboards

Imageboards are like online forums from Japan but focus on pictures more than words. They let people talk about many things by posting images. People can post without sharing who they are, using special codes called tripcodes to keep some privacy. These boards are different from art galleries because they get their pictures from users, not just showing them. Boards like 4chan use better tripcodes to keep people even more private.

YChanEx is a software for saving threads and pictures from imageboards like 4chan. It works on Windows or Linux and has a special way to download things easily. It’s still being made better, but it already helps with using proxies, unpacking files, and keeping track of threads. The goal of YChanEx is to make it easier to keep a record of what’s on imageboards.

YChanEx

Visit the official YChanEx website at https://github.com/murrty/YChanEx for all things YChanEx.

Update your system:

sudo apt update

Add 32-bit architecture:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt update

Prepare for WineHQ installation:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings

sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/dists/bookworm/winehq-bookworm.sources

sudo apt update

Install WineHQ Staging:

sudo apt install winehq-staging

Download YChanEx: Go to the releases page and download YChanEx.exe (version 2.0 works with WINE-Staging).

Run YChanEx: Navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click on YChanEx.exe.

Create a shortcut for YChanEx:

  1. Open the terminal and go to the applications directory:

cd /usr/share/applications

  1. Create and edit a new .desktop file:

sudo gedit ychanex1.desktop

  1. Add the following content to the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=YChanEx

Comment=Run YChanEx with Wine

Exec=/bin/bash -c "cd ~/Downloads && wine YChanEx.exe"

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save the file and exit the editor.

This should set up YChanEx on your system with a handy shortcut for quick access.

Ebook Readers

Ebook software transforms your gadget into a digital book, making it easy to read on any device. It handles various file types like EPUB, PDF, and Word, each offering different benefits. Knowing these formats helps you pick the best one for your reading habits, giving you a seamless experience.

Calibre is a no-cost e-book program that helps you manage, show, tweak, make, and switch e-book formats. It works well with many e-readers. You can edit EPUB and AZW3 files directly, but other types need converting. It’s packed with useful add-ons, lets you sort your book details, and you can add books wirelessly. While it doesn’t directly remove DRM, there are add-ons for that. Starting with version 6.0, searching your entire library is easier, and you can change content with Python scripts.

Bookworm is a handy, free e-book reader for Windows that reads PDF, EPUB, MOBI, and more. It’s built for everyone, with easy-to-read and fully styled modes. It has voice reading, can read text from images, and connects to Wikipedia for fast term searches. You can move through documents, add notes, and pull articles from the internet. For those who need it, there’s a screen reader, and for others, a feature that reads out loud. Bookworm makes reading accessible to all.

Calibre

Visit the official Calibre website at https://calibre-ebook.com/ for all things Calibre.

To install Calibre through the App Center using DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK:             

  • Open the App Center.
  • Search for “Calibre.”
  • Click on “Calibre,” then select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK).
  • Press “Install.”

For APT installation in the Terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install calibre

For Flatpak installation in the Terminal:

flatpak install flathub com.calibre_ebook.calibre

For command-line installation:

sudo apt install gdebi libglib2.0-0 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xfixes0 libxcb-randr0 libxcb-image0 libfontconfig1 libgl1-mesa-glx libxi6 libsm6 libxrender1 libpulse0 libxcomposite1 libxslt1.1 libsqlite3-0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-xtest0 ibus libegl1-mesa libxcb-cursor0

sudo -v && wget -nv -O- https://download.calibre-ebook.com/linux-installer.sh | sudo sh /dev/stdin

Bookworm

Visit the official Bookworm website at https://getbookworm.com/ for all things Bookworm.

To install Bookworm from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Bookworm.”
  3. Select it, then pick your package type (deb, Snap, or Flatpak).
  4. Click “Install.”

To install Bookworm using APT in the Terminal:

  • Enter these commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install bookworm

To install Bookworm with Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Use this command:

flatpak install flathub com.github.babluboy.bookworm

Virtualization

Virtualization software, like a hypervisor, turns one computer into many virtual ones. It lets you run multiple operating systems on a single PC, uses resources well, makes backups easier, and runs different or old apps smoothly. It also keeps your computer safe from malware and browser risks by keeping dangers separate. For businesses, it boosts cloud services, making them more scalable and efficient, saves money, and betters disaster recovery and testing. It’s key to flexible and powerful computing, doing more with less.

Oracle VirtualBox is a strong virtualization tool for work and home. It works with Windows, Linux, and macOS. It has many features for a great performance and supports a lot of guest operating systems. It’s free and open-source, inviting help from the community while keeping high quality with Oracle’s support. It gets updates often, with new systems and features, and has ready-made VMs for developers.

Virt-manager, made by Red Hat, is a desktop app for managing virtual machines through libvirt. It lets you make, change, start, and stop VMs, and see how they’re doing. It works with KVM, Xen, QEMU, LXC containers, and FreeBSD’s bhyve hypervisor. It has tools for setting up VMs, seeing their screens, copying them, changing their settings, and preparing containers’ file systems.

Oracle VirtualBox

Visit the official Oracle VirtualBox website at https://www.virtualbox.org/ for all things Oracle VirtualBox.

Terminal Installation:

  1. Open the terminal and update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Edit your APT sources list:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

  1. At the end of the file, add the VirtualBox repository:

deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/ubuntu noble contrib

  1. Save with CTRL + S and exit with CTRL + X.
  2. Add the Oracle signing key:

wget -O- https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc | sudo gpg --yes --output /usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg --dearmor

  1. Update your package list again:

sudo apt update

  1. Install VirtualBox 7.0:

sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0

GUI Installation:

  1. Visit the download page:

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

  1. Click on ‘The Latest Ubuntu 24.04’ to download VirtualBox.
  2. In your Downloads folder, find and double-click virtualbox-7.0_7.0.18-162988~Ubuntu~noble_amd64.deb.
  3. Click ‘Install’ to start the installation.

Remember, you can always check the official VirtualBox website for the latest instructions and updates.

Adding User To The Vboxusers File

To add a user to the vboxusers group, follow these steps:

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Switch to the root user by typing: su -
  3. Enter the command: sudo usermod -aG vboxusers your_username (replace your_username with the actual username).
  4. Type exit to leave the root user mode.
  5. Restart your system with: sudo reboot

This process ensures the user has the necessary permissions to use VirtualBox features. Remember to replace your_username with the username that needs access

Virt-manager

Visit the official Virt-manager website at https://virt-manager.org/ for all things Virt-manager.

To install Virt-manager using a package manager:

  1. Open GNOME Software.
  2. Search for “Virt-manager”.
  3. Click on “Virt-manager”.
  4. Select the source: DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak.
  5. Press “Install”.

For terminal installation with APT:

  1. Enter sudo apt update.
  2. Then sudo apt install virt-manager.

Gaming

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS makes gaming on Linux exciting. They use tools like Steam Proton and Lutris to run all kinds of games smoothly. This marks a big step for Linux, showing off better performance and hardware support. There are still some issues, like with drivers, but Linux is becoming a solid choice for gaming, focusing on openness and user power.

Wine-Staging is where winehq.org tests new fixes and features. It’s a collection of updates for Wine’s development version, chosen by maintainers. A dedicated team keeps Wine-Staging up-to-date, improving how Wine runs games and apps.

Lutris is a free game manager for Linux that works with Steam, GOG, and more. It makes gaming easy on different systems and supports lots of emulators. Mathieu Comandon and others made Lutris to help keep games playable on PCs turned into open-source consoles.

ProtonUp-Qt is a tool that helps you get GE-Proton, Luxtorpeda, and Wine-GE for Steam and Lutris games on Linux. It’s made to help when Valve’s Proton isn’t enough. The latest update adds new features and fixes for a better gaming setup.

Steam started in 2003 and is a top place for PC games. It updates games automatically and offers tools for developers. Steam has grown to support macOS, Linux, and mobile, and it’s known for the Steam Deck.

DXVK changes Direct3D 9/10/11 into Vulkan for Linux gaming. It makes games run better, showing that Linux can be as good as Windows for gaming.

vkd3d-proton is a version of VKD3D for Proton’s Direct3D 12 support. It focuses on performance and playing games well, using the latest Vulkan features. The newest update brings more support and fixes, helping games run better on Vulkan-compatible platforms.

Wine-Staging

Visit the official Wine-Staging website at https://wiki.winehq.org/Wine-Staging for all things Wine-Staging.

  1. Update your package list:

sudo apt update

  1. Add the 32-bit architecture (needed for some applications):

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt update

  1. Create a secure directory for the Wine repository key:

sudo mkdir -pm 755 /etc/apt/keyrings

  1. Download the Wine repository signing key:

sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

  1. Add the Wine repository to your sources:

sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/dists/bookworm/winehq-bookworm.sources

  1. Update your package list again to recognize the new repository:

sudo apt update

  1. Install Wine-Staging and additional packages for better compatibility:

sudo apt install winehq-staging gamemode winbind protobuf-compiler libprotobuf-dev libopusfile0 winetricks

This streamlined process should get Wine-Staging up and running on your machine.

Lutris

Visit the official Lutris website at https://lutris.net/ for all things Lutris.

To install from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Lutris.”
  3. Click on “Lutris,” then select the source type (DEB, SNAP, or Flatpak).
  4. Press “Install.”

To install via APT in the Terminal:

  1. Enter sudo apt update.
  2. Then sudo apt install lutris.

To install via .deb file from the GUI:

  1. Visit the Lutris releases page.
  2. Download the latest “lutris_all.deb” file.
  3. Go to the “Downloads” folder.
  4. Double-click “lutris_0.5.17_all.deb.”
  5. Click “Install.”

ProtonUp-Qt

Visit the official ProtonUp-Qt website at https://davidotek.github.io/protonup-qt/ for all things ProtonUp-Qt.

To install ProtonUp-Qt through the App Center using a DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK package:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “ProtonUp-Qt.”
  3. Click on “ProtonUp-Qt.”
  4. Select “Source Selection Box.”
  5. Choose either DEB, SNAP, or FLATPAK.
  6. Click “Install.”

For Terminal installation using Flatpak:

  • Enter: flatpak install flathub net.davidotek.pupgui2

For GUI installation using AppImage:

  1. Go to the releases page: https://github.com/DavidoTek/ProtonUp-Qt/releases
  2. Click “Assets” to see the files.
  3. Download the latest “ProtonUp-Qt-x86_64.AppImage” file.
  4. Save it to your “~/Downloads” folder.
  5. Find the file in your Downloads.
  6. Right-click and select “Properties.”
  7. Under “Permissions,” make it executable.

Steam

Visit the official Steam website at https://store.steampowered.com/ for all things Steam.

To install from the App Center:

  1. Open the App Center.
  2. Search for “Steam”.
  3. Click on “Steam”.
  4. Select “deb”, “Snap”, or “Flatpak” in the Source Selection Box.
  5. Press “Install”.

To install using APT in the Terminal:

  • Update and install Steam directly:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install steam

To add the Steam repository and install via APT:

  • Add the Steam repository:

sudo apt update

sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-stable.list <<'EOF'

deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam

deb-src [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam

EOF

  • Prepare your system and install Steam:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64 libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 steam-launcher

To install from the Snap Store:

  1. Go to the Snap Store.
  2. Find “Steam”.
  3. Click on “Steam”.
  4. Choose the latest/stable version under “Snap”.
  5. Click “Install”.

To install via Snap in the Terminal:

  • Run this command:

sudo snap install steam

To install via Flatpak in the Terminal:

  • Use this command:

flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam

To install a .deb file from the GUI:

  1. Visit the Steam release page at https://store.steampowered.com/about/
  2. Click “INSTALL STEAM” to download the installer.
  3. Navigate to your “Downloads” folder.
  4. Double-click “steam_latest.deb”.
  5. Select “Install”.

DXVK

Visit the official DXVK website at https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk for all things DXVK.

  1. Visit the DXVK release page at https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases.
  2. Download the latest version by clicking on dxvk-tar.gz.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Double-click on dxvk-2.3.1.tar.gz to open it.
  5. Choose the dxvk-2.3.1 folder and extract it.
  6. Right-click in the folder and select Open in Terminal.
  7. In the terminal, navigate to the extracted folder with cd ~/Downloads/dxvk-2.3.1.
  8. Copy the 64-bit DLLs to the system32 directory using cp x64/*.dll ~/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32.
  9. Copy the 32-bit DLLs to the syswow64 directory using cp x32/*.dll ~/.wine/drive_c/windows/syswow64.
  10. Type winecfg to configure Wine.
  11. In the Wine configuration window, click on Libraries.
  12. Find ‘dxgi’ and change its setting to Native to Builtin.
  13. Do the same for ‘d3d9’, ‘d3d11’, and ‘d3d10core’.
  14. Apply the changes and confirm by clicking OK.

Vkd3d-proton

Visit the official Vkd3d-proton website at https://github.com/HansKristian-Work/vkd3d-proton for all things Vkd3d-proton.

  1. Visit the releases page at https://github.com/HansKristian-Work/vkd3d-proton/releases.
  2. Download the latest version by clicking on vkd3d-proton.
  3. In your Downloads folder, find and double-click the downloaded file.
  4. Choose vkd3d-proton-2.12 and extract it.
  5. Right-click in the folder and select Open in Terminal.
  6. Enter the following commands in the terminal:
  7. cd ~/Downloads/vkd3d-proton-2.12
  8. ./setup_vkd3d_proton.sh install
  9. Open winecfg and go to the Libraries tab.
  10. For d3d12core, add it as a new library, then edit it to switch from Native to Builtin.
  11. Repeat the process for d3d12.
  12. Apply the changes and exit the Wine Configuration window by clicking OK.

World Of Warcraft

World of Warcraft beckons players to Azeroth’s expanse. New expansions, like THE WAR WITHIN, unveil hidden realms and foes. Updates, including Dragonflight, refresh the game with dungeons and fresh trials. WoW is a gateway to boundless escapades with comrades, in-game rewards, and a vibrant player base. Dive into the action and join the community.

The Battle.net Client simplifies your gaming life by centralizing all Battle.net games. It’s your one-stop for installing, updating, and launching games, plus shopping and news. It replaces old launchers and connects you to your games with a single login, keeping you signed in for convenience. It patches games in the background and lets you control updates, so you’re always game-ready. Need help? Support is just a click away.

Encountering a black screen in the Lutris World of Warcraft store? This glitch blocks item views and purchases. The guide provides a fix to get the store back up and running. Similarly, the WINE-Staging black screen issue during store access is solvable with the right environment settings, as detailed in the guide.

Solved the DirectX 12 error in World of Warcraft by updating Nvidia drivers from 525 to 545. This issue, tied to DirectX 12 use, can be fixed by tweaking Battle.net and WoW settings.

The Retail WoW Vanilla AddOn Suite merges Shadowlands’ modernity with vanilla WoW’s charm. It packs mods from UI tweaks to quest aids, enhancing your gaming experience.

CurseForge is where gamers find mods for WoW, Minecraft, and more. It’s also a modder’s playground, rewarding creators for downloads. The CurseForge app makes managing addons a breeze, with auto-updates and support for mod authors through revenue sharing or ad-free subscriptions.

Launching Battle.net via command line on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS involves setting up WINE-Staging, installing necessary packages, and adjusting settings. The command line method proves most efficient and can be added to Ubuntu’s startup commands for ease.

Battle.net

Visit the official Battle.net website at https://eu.shop.battle.net/en-gb?from=root for all things Battle.net.

  1. Visit the download page: https://download.battle.net/en-gb/?product=bnetdesk
  2. Click “try again” to start downloading Battle.net.
  3. Open your Downloads folder.
  4. Right-click in an empty area and select “Open In Terminal.”
  5. In the terminal, type and enter: sudo apt update
  6. Then, input: gamemoderun wine Battle.net-Setup --disable-software-rasterizer
  7. Complete the setup as prompted on the screen.

Possible Fix For Lutris World of Warcraft Black Screen In-Game Store Issue

Visit the official World Of Warcraft & Lutris websites at https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/ & https://lutris.net/ for all things World of Warcraft & Lutris.

To fix the black screen in World of Warcraft’s store on Lutris, follow these steps:

  1. Open Lutris from your apps.
  2. Choose Blizzard Battle.net and click the arrow by the wine icon. Select “Wine Configuration.”
  3. In the Wine Configuration, set the “Windows Version” to Windows 11 or 10.
  4. Go to “Graphics,” turn on “CSMT” and “VAAPI” for better graphics.
  5. Under “Drives,” add a new drive and pick the World of Warcraft folder with retail and classic subfolders.
  6. Hit Apply and OK to save settings.

If problems persist, update your graphics drivers, like the NVIDIA 550 series, which has helped others.

Possible Fix For WINE-Staging World of Warcraft Black Screen In-Game Store Issue

Visit the official World of Warcraft & WINE-Staging websites at https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/ & https://wiki.winehq.org/Wine-Staging for all things World of Warcraft & WINE-Staging.

To address the black screen issue in World of Warcraft with WINE-Staging, follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal and enter winecfg.
  2. In the Wine configuration, select ‘Blizzard Battle.net’.
  3. Choose ‘Wine Configuration’ by clicking the arrow near the wine glass icon.
  4. In the ‘Windows Version’ dropdown, pick Windows 11 or 10.
  5. Go to the ‘Graphics’ tab, turn on ‘CSMT’ for better graphics, and set ‘VAAPI’ as the DXVA2 GPU decoding backend.
  6. Under the ‘Drives’ tab, add a new drive letter and link it to the WoW directory containing ‘retail’, ‘classic’, and ‘classic_era’.
  7. Apply and confirm the settings by clicking ‘OK’.

If problems persist, update your graphics drivers, like the NVIDIA 550 series, which has helped others.

Possible Fix for DirectX 12 Graphics Error

Visit the official DirectX website at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=35 for all things DirectX.

  1. Open Battle.net.
  2. Click the gear icon near the “Play” button.
  3. Go to “Game Settings.”
  4. Find World of Warcraft’s settings.
  5. Tick “Additional command line arguments.”
  6. Type “-d3d11.”
  7. Click “Done.”
  8. Start World of Warcraft.
  9. In the game, open “Options.”
  10. Click “Graphics” in the “System” menu.
  11. Under “Advanced,” find “Graphics API.”
  12. Make sure it’s set to DirectX 11.
  13. If not, select DirectX 11 from the list.
  14. Restart the game to save the changes.

Retail World Of Warcraft Vanilla AddOn Suite

  1. Accountant Classic: Tracks your gold.
  2. Cheugy_Mission_Reports: Updates on missions.
  3. ClassicFCT: Shows combat text.
  4. ClassicFrames: Changes unit frames.
  5. ClassicGuildFrame: Alters guild frames.
  6. ClassicLevelUp: Enhances level-up display.
  7. ClassicQuestText: Modifies quest text.
  8. ClassicUI: Revamps the user interface.
  9. ClassicalFps: Displays frames per second.
  10. ClockHider: Hides the clock.
  11. CovenantMissionHelper: Assists with covenant missions.
  12. CTMOD: Offers various UI tweaks.
  13. DejaCharacterStats: Shows detailed character stats.
  14. ExtraQuestButton: Adds a quest item button.
  15. GarrisonCommander: Manages your garrison.
  16. IcyVeinsStatPriority: Guides on stat priorities.
  17. Misspelled: Helps correct spelling.
  18. MyRolePlay: Expands roleplay options.
  19. NeatPlates: Customizes nameplates.
  20. NPCRPGossip: Streamlines NPC dialogues.
  21. Notes: Allows note-taking.
  22. OldCastbars: Restores old cast bars.
  23. OrderHallCommander: Oversees order hall.
  24. PixelPerfectAlign: Aids in UI alignment.
  25. QuestCompletist: Tracks completed quests.
  26. Storyline: Improves quest narratives.
  27. UnlimitedMapPinDistance: Extends map pin visibility.
  28. VenturePlan: Plans adventures.
  29. WarPlan: Strategizes for war.
  30. XToLevel: Estimates time to level up.

This set of AddOns is designed to give you a better gaming experience. It combines the look and feel of both the Shadowlands and the original WoW with smart updates from older RPGs.

Curseforge

Visit the official Curseforge website at https://www.curseforge.com/wow for all things Curseforge.

To install Curseforge:

  1. Visit the download page at https://www.curseforge.com/download/app.
  2. For Linux users, click on “Curseforge standalone” to download the latest version.
  3. In your Downloads folder, find and unzip “curseforge-latest-linux.zip”.
  4. Open the “build” folder and extract the file named “CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage”.
  5. Right-click on the extracted AppImage, select “Properties”, then under “Permissions”, allow it to run as an executable.
  6. Double-click the AppImage to begin installing Curseforge.

To create a desktop shortcut:

  1. Open the terminal and type cd /usr/share/applications to go to the applications directory.
  2. Create a new shortcut file with sudo gedit Curseforge1.desktop.
  3. Enter these details in the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Curseforge

Comment=Curseforge

Exec=./Downloads/CurseForge-1.250.2-17763.AppImage

Icon=terminal

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save your changes and close the editor.

Running Battle.net From The Command Line

To run Battle.net with WINE from the terminal, you can enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

gamemoderun wine "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Battle.net\\Battle.net.exe" --disable-software-rasterizer

Remember to use your own username where needed.

  1. Open the terminal.
  2. Go to the applications folder:

cd /usr/share/applications

  1. Use a text editor to create a new shortcut file:

sudo gedit Battle.net.desktop

  1. Add these lines to the file:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Battle.net

Exec=gamemoderun wine "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Battle.net\\Battle.net.exe" --disable-software-rasterizer

Icon=/home/your_username/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net/Battle.net.png

Type=Application

Categories=Utility;Game;

  1. Save and close the editor.

Note: On Debian 12 and 12.3, Battle.net may only launch without errors through the command line if you’re using wine-staging. Also, keep in mind that Battle.net and World of Warcraft aren’t officially supported on Linux systems like Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Command Reference

​Essential System Commands for File and Directory Management

List Directory Contents

Command: sudo ls directory

Description: Lists the contents of the specified directory.

Change Directory

Command: cd directory

Description: Changes the current working directory to the specified directory.

Go Up One Directory Tier

Command: cd ..

Description: Changes the current working directory to the parent directory, moving up one level in the directory hierarchy.

List All Non-hidden File and Folders

Command: dir

Description: Lists all non-hidden files and folders in the current working directory.

List All Files and Folders Including Hidden

Command: ls -a

Description: Lists all files and folders in the current directory, including hidden ones.

Make a Directory

Command: sudo mkdir directory

Description: Creates a new directory inside the current working directory.

Remove Files

Command: sudo rm filename

Description: Deletes the specified file from the filesystem.

Remove Files and Folders Recursively

Command: sudo rm -r directory

Description: Deletes the specified directory and its contents, including all files and subdirectories.

Copy a File to a Destination

Command: sudo cp filename destination

Description: Copies the specified file to the specified destination.

Copy a Folder to a Destination

Command: sudo cp -R folder destination

Description: Copies the specified folder and its contents to the specified destination.

Move a File or Folder to a Destination

Command: sudo mv filename destination

Description: Moves the specified file or folder to the specified destination.

Rename a File or Folder

Command: sudo mv filename newfilename

Description: Renames the specified file or folder to the new specified name.

Display File Contents

Command: sudo cat filename

Description: Displays the contents of the specified file on the terminal.

List Current Directory Contents

Command: ls ..

Description: Lists the contents of the parent directory of the current working directory.

Mastering APT: Advanced Package Management Techniques

Update Package Lists

Command: sudo apt update

Description: Updates the local package database by retrieving the latest information from the software repositories listed in the sources.list or .list files located in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d folder.

Upgrade Installed Packages

Command: sudo apt upgrade

Description: Upgrades all installed applications to their latest available versions from the repositories, while taking care of any required dependencies.

Full Upgrade Installed Packages

Command: sudo apt full-upgrade

Description: Performs a full upgrade of all packages on the system to their latest available versions. It may also remove packages if necessary.

Package Search

Command: sudo apt search package

Description: Use this command to search for packages that match a specified keyword, which replaces 'package' in the command.

Show Package Information

Command: sudo apt show package

Description: Provides detailed information about a specific package.

Install Packages

Command: sudo apt install package

Description: Installs a package from the software repositories, including any required dependencies.

Remove Packages

Command: sudo apt remove package

Description: Removes a package from the system while preserving any configuration files associated with it.

Purge Packages

Command: sudo apt purge package

Description: Removes a package from the system, including its configuration files, leaving no trace of it on the system.

Auto Remove Packages

Command: sudo apt autoremove

Description: Removes any unused packages and their dependencies from the system, helping to keep the system clean.

List Installed Packages

Command: sudo apt list

Description: Displays a list of all packages currently installed on the system.

Add Repository

Command: sudo add-apt-repository repository

Description: Adds a new software repository to the /etc/apt/sources.list.d folder.

Remove Repository

Command: sudo add-apt-repository -r repository

Description: Removes a previously added repository from the /etc/apt/sources.list.d folder.

Edit Sources File

Command: sudo apt edit-sources

Description: Opens the sources.list file in the default text editor for manual editing of software repository sources.

Fix Broken Dependencies

Command: sudo apt install -f

Description: Attempts to resolve and fix any broken package dependencies by installing missing or conflicting packages.

Retrieve Source Code for a Package

Command: sudo apt source package

Description: Downloads the source code of a package from the repository, which can be useful for development or debugging purposes.

Upgrading the System

Command: sudo do-release-upgrade

Description: Initiates a distribution upgrade process to move the operating system to a newer released version.

Clean Packages

Command: sudo apt clean

Description: Clears the local package cache, with a focus on removing .deb files that are no longer required, to free up disk space.

Auto Clean Packages

Command: sudo apt autoclean

Description: Automatically cleans the local package cache by removing .deb files that are no longer needed, without requiring user confirmation.

Hold Apt Packages

Command: sudo apt mark-hold package

Description: Places a package on hold to prevent it from being updated when running 'sudo apt upgrade.'

Unhold Apt Packages

Command: sudo apt mark-unhold package

Description: Removes the hold on a package, allowing it to be updated when running 'sudo apt upgrade.'

Show Held Packages

Command: sudo apt-mark showhold

Description: Displays a list of all packages that are currently held or pinned on the system.

Package Verification

Command: sudo apt-key verify

Description: Verifies the integrity and authenticity of package repository keys to ensure the security of downloaded packages.

Mastering Flatpak: Installation, Management, and Beyond

Flatpak Installation

Command: flatpak install flatpak

Description: Installs a Flatpak from a remote repository onto your system.

Listing Installed Flatpaks

Command: flatpak list

Description: Provides an overview of all the Flatpak applications currently installed on your system.

Updating Flatpaks

Command: flatpak update

Description: Upgrades all installed Flatpaks to the latest available versions to ensure they are up-to-date.

Running a Flatpak

Command: flatpak run flatpak

Description: Launches an installed Flatpak application on your system.

Uninstalling Flatpak

Command: flatpak uninstall flatpak

Description: Removes a specified Flatpak package from your system.

Flatpak Remote Repository List

Command: flatpak remote-list

Description: Lists the names of Flatpak remote repositories that have been added to your system.

Adding a Flatpak Remote Repository

Command: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists name url

Description: Adds a new Flatpak remote repository to your system, ensuring it does not already exist.

Removing a Flatpak Remote Repository

Command: flatpak remote-delete name

Description: Removes a specified Flatpak remote repository from your system's configuration.

Snap Operations: A Comprehensive Guide to Installing, Managing, and Exploring Snap Applications

Installing a Snap:

Command: sudo snap install <snap>

Description: Installs a snap application from the Snap Craft database.

Listing Installed Snaps:

Command: sudo snap list

Description: Lists installed snaps on the system.

Updating Snaps:

Command: sudo snap refresh

Description: Upgrades all snaps to the latest available versions.

Running a Snap:

Command: snap run <snap>

Description: Runs an installed snap.

Removing a Snap:

Command: sudo snap remove <snap>

Description: Removes an installed snap from the system.

Searching for Snaps:

Command: sudo snap find <search_term>

Description: Searches the Snapcraft database for snaps matching the search term.

Listing Snap Information:

Command: sudo snap info <snap>

Description: Provides detailed information about an installed snap, including its installed version, publisher, license, and description.

Viewing Snap Connections:

Command: sudo snap connections <snap>

Description: Displays the connections made by an installed snap.

Mastering File Ownership Modification

File Ownership Modification

Command: sudo chown user filename

Description: Changes the ownership of a file or folder to the specified user.

Ownership Modification with Recursion

Command: sudo chown -R user filename

Description: Recursively changes the owner of a file or folder and its contents to the specified user.

Ownership Modification with Group Specification

Command: sudo chown user:group filename

Description: Alters both the owner and group associated with a file or folder.

Silent Ownership Modification

Command: sudo chown -f user filename

Description: Modifies ownership while suppressing error messages if the operation does not succeed.

Verbose Ownership Modification

Command: sudo chown -v user filename

Description: Changes ownership while providing detailed information about the process.

Interactive Ownership Modification

Command: sudo chown -i user filename

Description: Requests confirmation when changing ownership of a file or folder.

Ownership Modification with Timestamp Preservation

Command: sudo chown --preserve-timestamps user filename

Description: Modifies file ownership while preserving timestamps associated with the file.

Mastering File Permissions: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Access and Security Settings

Change File Permissions

Command: sudo chmod permissions filename

Description: Modifies the permissions on a file or folder to control access and security settings.

Change Permissions Recursively

Command: sudo chmod -R permissions filename

Description: Recursively modifies the permissions for a file or folder and its contents, ensuring consistent access control.

Change File Permissions Numerically

Command: sudo chmod numbers filename

Description: Adjusts the permissions for a file or folder using a numeric code (e.g., 755) to specify access rights for different users.

Change Numerical Permissions Recursively

Command: sudo chmod -R numbers filename

Description: Recursively updates the permissions of a file or folder and its sub-items using a numeric code for precise access control.

Change Permissions with Details

Command: sudo chmod -v permissions filename

Description: Alters ownership of a file or folder while providing detailed information about the permission changes made.

Change Permissions with Confirmation

Command: sudo chmod -i permissions filename

Description: Changes ownership of a file or folder while requesting confirmation for each individual permission modification.

Change Permissions with Reference

Command: sudo chmod --reference=reference-file filename

Description: Sets the ownership of a file or folder to match the permissions of a specified reference file, ensuring consistency in access control settings.

Exploring dpkg: A Comprehensive Guide to Package Management

Install .deb Package

Command: sudo dpkg -i file.deb

Description: Installs a specified .deb file on your system.

Remove .deb Installed Package

Command: sudo dpkg -r package_name

Description: Uninstalls an installed .deb package while preserving its configuration files.

Remove .deb Package with Config Files

Command: sudo dpkg -P package_name

Description: Completely removes an installed .deb package, including its configuration files.

List Installed Packages

Command: sudo dpkg -l

Description: Lists all packages installed on the host system, along with version and description information.

List Files Installed By Package

Command: sudo dpkg -L package_name

Description: Provides a comprehensive list of files installed by a specified package.

Check Package Dependencies

Command: sudo dpkg -I package_name.deb

Description: Verifies and lists the dependencies required by a .deb package.

Reconfigure Installed Package

Command: sudo dpkg-reconfigure package_name

Description: Allows you to modify the configuration settings of an already installed package.

Fix Installs Broken by Installed Packages

Command: sudo dpkg --configure -a

Description: Repairs broken package installations by re-configuring packages that were not properly installed or configured.

Efficient File Retrieval with wget

File Download

Command: wget url

Description: Downloads a file from the specified URL.

Change Output Filename

Command: wget -o filename url

Description: Modifies the filename for the file to be downloaded.

Background File Download

Command: wget -b url

Description: Downloads a file while permitting uninterrupted use of the command line.