I really procrastinated installing Jammy Jellyfish. I waited so long my last install quit getting updates. Better late than never, right?
It is always nice to see a fresh new interface. The UI looks just different enough to feel new and fresh.
Restoring Files
Without a list, it’s easy to forget which files I need. This list makes it easy to get what I need right from the start. It’s a good idea to keep such a list.
- ~/.ssh: keys and security for SSH connections
- ~/.cert: need for VPN
- ~/app: my application development stuff
- ~/Documents: main documents
- ~/DigitalEagleServices: work specific stuff
- ~/Insync: OneDrive files … restoring it from backup saves time with re-downloading
- ~/.config/google-chrome: browser profile … contains my open tabs and local storage
- ~/.remmina: connections saved in Remmina
- ~/.sword: Bible data for Xiphos
- ~/.vim: configuration for the gVim editor
- ~/.vimrc: main config file for gVim
- ~/.local/share/fonts: fonts that I have collected over the years
- /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections: VPN and Wifi connections
- .local/share/applications: contains a couple of shortcuts I wanted to keep, others can be added with MenuLibre
- ~/bin: a place to put applications that I have to install manually
- ~/Zotero: data from the Zotero application, could also be in ~/snap/zotero-snap/common/Zotero
- ~/.config/obs-studio: OBS Studio configuration
- ~/OBS Setup: my support files for OBS like backgrounds, etc.
- ~/.config/Postman: Postman configuration
Permissions are very important for the SSH files:
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/*
chmod 644 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2
chmod 644 ~/.ssh/known_hosts
chmod 644 ~/.ssh/config
chmod 644 ~/.ssh/*.pub
The network manager connections have to be copied in with root access. So, I restored them into Downloads and then copied them over.
cd ~/Downloads/system-connections/
chmod 600 *
sudo chown root:root *
sudo cp * /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
sudo service NetworkManager restart
Screenshots
Screenshots are important for documenting, even documenting install notes. So, I install Flameshot first. I really like the ability to annotate the screenshots and copy them directly to the clipboard.
sudo apt install flameshot
I want it to be my main screenshot tool, so I rigged it up to fire on the print screen button. I wish you could do this with the settings app, but these commands work. I also had to go to settings and under keyboard > shortcuts and disable the screenshot there.
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys screenshot '[]'
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys custom-keybindings "['/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/']"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ name 'flameshot'
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ command '/usr/bin/flameshot gui'
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys.custom-keybinding:/org/gnome/settings-daemon/plugins/media-keys/custom-keybindings/custom0/ binding 'Print'
Configuration changes: I unchecked the desktop notifications and the welcome message on launch. It didn’t launch on startup at first, but after tinkering at bit, it finally worked. Looking at this post, I started to create my own launch script. Then, I noticed that ./.config/autostart/org.flameshot.Flameshot.desktop already had a delay in it.
Shortcuts
MenuLibre is the menu editor and allows me to put shortcuts in the menu launcher.
sudo apt install menulibre
AuthPass: Password Management
AuthPass keeps up with my passwords so I don’t have to. There’s not a good apt repository with apt package. I can check for the latest version on their releases page. It matched the version in the Ubuntu Software Center, so I just installed that. It’s a snap package.
Work Software
VMWare Horizon or VMWare View is my remote desktop software. I just download the install package from their website.
cd ~/Downloads/
sudo chmod +x VMware-Horizon-Client-2206-8.6.0-20094634.x64.bundle
sudo apt install python3
sudo ./VMware-Horizon-Client-2206-8.6.0-20094634.x64.bundle
Previously, it was just a command-line installer. This time it had a nice GUI install wizard. I took all the defaults. I didn’t register and start the services, and I hope I don’t regret.
Teams is another proprietary necessity. It’s an easy install from their website.
sudo apt install ~/Downloads/teams_1.5.00.10453_amd64.deb
I’ve been using Postman a bit for work, so I’m going to include it here even though it is more of a programming tool. I downloaded the Linux 64-bit version from here. I installed it:
cd ~/Downloads
tar -xzvf postman-linux-x64.tar.gz -C ~/bin
Finally, I added a shortcut with Menu Editor.
Docking Station
I need the DisplayLink driver to make my docking station work. It allows connecting two monitors with just a USB C cable.
I downloaded the latest driver from the website. I installed it with:
cd Downloads
unzip DisplayLink\ USB\ Graphics\ Software\ for\ Ubuntu5.6.1-EXE.zip
chmod +x displaylink-driver-5.6.1-59.184.run
sudo ./displaylink-driver-5.6.1-59.184.run
Cloud Drives
The first cloud drive is Dropbox. I download it from their website. It needs a python dependency:
sudo apt install python3-gpg
sudo apt install ~/Downloads/dropbox_2020.03.04_amd64.deb
After installing the Deb package, I did go through the wizard. It restarts Nautilus, downloads the proprietary part, and authenticates.
For OneDrive, I use InSync. I just downloaded the Desktop client for Ubuntu 22.04 from the Downloads page.
sudo apt install ~/Downloads/insync_3.7.9.50368-jammy_amd64.deb
Again the wizard pops up to walk you through starting it.
VPNs
I never know what type of VPN a client might have, so I try to install them all…
sudo apt install vpnc \
network-manager-vpnc \
network-manager-openconnect \
network-manager-openconnect-gnome \
openconnect \
network-manager-iodine \
network-manager-openvpn \
network-manager-strongswan \
network-manager-openvpn-gnome \
network-manager-iodine-gnome \
network-manager-vpnc-gnome
The VPNs that I use, I restored in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections and the .cert directory.
Productivity
LibreOffice is already installed, but I like to keep it more up to date. Adding this repository does so:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
I use Xiphos to study and read my Bible. The Module Manager downloads the content. I already have that in my .sword directory that I restored. I did check for updates though.
sudo apt install xiphos
I haven’t been that faithful using Zotero, but it helps track research. I had some issues with the snap version saying it needs to update but not updating. So, I’m using the apt version with the install instructions from Github.
sudo apt install curl
curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/retorquere/zotero-deb/master/install.sh | sudo bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install zotero
I’ve been using Joplin for my notes. I installed from the snap.
snap install joplin-desktop
After installing, I had to go to Tools > Options > Synchronization to setup the storage for the notes.
Printing
I don’t like the cups browser because it automatically installs printers without ever getting rid of them. So, I just disable that service.
sudo systemctl stop cups-browsed
sudo systemctl disable cups-browsed
Next is my Dell E525W printer. I could possibly use the driver that Ubuntu suggests, but since I’ve had trouble, I downloaded the driver directly from Dell’s website.
cd ~/Downloads/
unzip Printer_E525w_Driver_Dell_A00_Linux.zip
sudo apt install ./dell-color-mfp-e525w_1.0-28_all.deb
I used the web interface to add the printer (http://localhost:631). I used the PPD file at /usr/share/cups/model/Dell/Dell_Color_MFP_E525w.ppd.gz
Application Packages
To be able to run programs packaged as an AppImage, I installed the AppImage system. It required Fuse2 as a prerequisite.
cd ~/Downloads/
sudo apt install libfuse2
wget "https://github.com/AppImage/appimaged/releases/download/continuous/appimaged-x86_64.AppImage"
chmod a+x appimaged-x86_64.AppImage
./appimaged-x86_64.AppImage --install
Flatpak is another alternative. Here’s the install command:
sudo apt install flatpak
Miscellaneous Utilities
I’m not sure where to put these utilities, but they are a quick install…
sudo apt install p7zip-full p7zip-rar \
synaptic \
gnome-tweaks
- 7Zip: an alternative to zip files
- Synaptic: GUI for installing/managing deb packages
- Gnome Tweak Tool: advanced gnome settings
Balena Etcher is the only other similar utility that doesn’t install through apt. I download the flatpak. I use it to make USB images for installations. You can download it from here.
unzip ~/Downloads/balena-etcher-electron-1.7.9-linux-x64.zip -d ~/bin
OS Settings
I write down the settings that I change to make it easy to remember what I like…
In the regular settings app, I made these changes:
- Date & Time > Time Format: changed to “AM/PM”
- Power > Suspend & Power Button > Show Battery Percentage (at the bottom): checked to show the percentage
- Users > click on the picture: added a picture to my avatar
In the Tweaks app (Gnome Tweak Tool), I made the following setting changes:
- Top Bar > Clock > Weekday: Put the day of the week on the clock
- Windows > Attach Modal Dialogs: unchecked because that drives me nuts not being able to move a modal out of the way to see what’s underneath
Extensions
In order to work with Gnome extensions, I need this library installed. This allows an interface inside of Chrome to be able to manage them.
sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell
I already had this extension installed in Chrome.
Here are my favorite:
- Keep Awake: stops the computer from auto locking
- Caffeine: stops the computer from auto locking (I switched back to Keep Awake for this install)
- Bing Wallpaper: gives me a new cool background everyday
- Clipboard Indicator: clipboard manager which let’s me go back to something I copied earlier
- GSConnect: integration to my Android phone
- Notification Alert: flashes clock to make sure I don’t miss notifications (it isn’t quite compatible yet)
- Sound and Input Device Chooser: allows selecting the sound devices from the top right menu
- Compiz windows effect: gives the windows a cool effect when you drag them (The original one is incompatible – Compiz alike Windows Affect)
Media Programs
For visual media, here are the programs:
sudo apt install inkscape \
xournal \
gimp
- Inkscape: vector-based drawing program
- xournal: I use it to annotate PDFs, sign them or fill out forms
- gimp: pixel-based drawing program / photo editor
Note: Last time, I used snap for gimp. I assume it was because there was a version difference. This time both the deb and the snap were 2.10.30, so I went for the deb.
For audio-related stuff, these are the programs I like:
sudo apt install audacity \
soundconverter \
musescore3 \
easytag
- audacity: the Gimp of the sound world
- soundconverter: easily convert between different types of audio formats
- musescore3: great for music notation
- easytag: allows editing the metadata on the music files
I didn’t use the Midas soundboard program much, but I’m still going to install it one more time. I downloaded the M32 Edit Linux from the Midas website.
mkdir ~/bin/m32
tar -xzvf ~/Downloads/M32-Edit_LINUX_4.3.tar.gz -C ~/bin/m32/
I also added a shortcut with my Menu Editor. I may need to explore this article more relating to the soundboard.
My video-related applications:
sudo apt install mplayer \
vlc \
kdenlive \
youtube-dl
- mplayer: a good command-line video player
- vlc: a great UI video player
- kdenlive: the Gimp of Video editing
- blender: a video editor, 3d design, etc.
- youtube-dl: allows downloading Youtube videos from the command line
- obs-studio: allows me to record my desktop or use my virtual camera (below because I used a special repository to keep it up to date)
Blender was the only video program left, and I installed it from snap.
sudo snap install blender --classic
I like the codecs there so that any media I run into I can play.
sudo apt install \
libdvdnav4 \
libdvd-pkg \
gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad \
gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly \
ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg
There was a bug that kept the media player from work. According to this post, here’s the fix:
I installed OBS Studio like this:
sudo apt install ffmpeg
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt install obs-studio
I also installed the virtual camera loopback driver. That way I can use OBS as a camera in Teams or other apps.
sudo apt install -y v4l2loopback-dkms
For KdenLive, I downloaded the App Image from the website. I just made that executable and put it in the ~/bin directory.
3d Printing
The first part of my tools for 3d printing is Open SCAD.
snap install openscad
The last part is for slicing. I downloaded Cura 5.1.0 from the website. It’s an AppImage that I put in the ~/bin directory. To complete the install, I had to run it and sign in. Finally, I selected Monoprice Select Mini V2 for my printer.