To Do List After installing Ubuntu 8.10 aka Intrepid Ibex

Ubuntu is a very complete OS, especially the Intrepid Ibex (8.10). It includes a number of features , applets and Wizards to simplify desktop Linux experience. However because of many licensing restrictions, it does not include out of the box support for popular audio/video codecs and many commercial but good applications. . Also because of the limitation of trying to accommodate all kind of applications on single CD Ubuntu comes with a limited set of applications . That said, there are still some tweaks you can do just after installing it that will make Ubuntu shine like never. I will explain here some things I do just after I have Ubuntu installed.

1 – Expand the Software Repository List

First of all, lets make Ubuntu “see” more packages. Go to the terminal and edit your sources.list with :

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Here is the content of my sources.list which I think is quite complete to have all the necessary applications you could ever need. So delete the whole content of your sources list and replace it with the content of mine

Save it. Go to the Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Now all your programs will run on the last version.

2 – Anti-Virus

Windows equivalent : AVG AntiVirus, NAV, TrendMicro, F-Prot, Kaspersky, …
Ubuntu equivalent : Avast

Avast

wget http://files.avast.com/files/linux/avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb && sudo dpkg -i  avast4workstation_1.3.0-2_i386.deb

Access it through Accessories → avast! Antivirus .

3 – Essential tools for compiling from sources

sudo apt-get install build-essential checkinstall cdbs devscripts dh-make fakeroot libxml-parser-perl check avahi-daemon

4 – Java runtime environment
Java is a very important thing to install, now that many programs like Azureus need it to run. So type:

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin equivs ttf-sazanami-gothic ttf-sazanami-mincho

5 – More Fonts
Here you will find a bunch of fonts you can install on your system, but remember that you don’t need to install all of them

sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1 && sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts && sudo apt-get install ttf-larabie-straight ttf-larabie-deco mplayer-fonts xfonts-terminus-dos xfonts-terminus xfonts-terminus-oblique xfonts-mona tv-fonts ttf-tuffy ttf-sjfonts ttf-sil-padauk ttf-sil-ezra ttf-paktype ttf-georgewilliams ttf-fifthhorseman-dkg-handwriting ttf-farsiweb ttf-essays1743 ttf-opensymbol ttf-nafees ttf-mgopen ttf-gentium ttf-freefont ttf-dustin ttf-devanagari-fonts ttf-dejavu-extra ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu ttf-bpg-georgian-fonts ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-alee

6 – Ubuntu Control Panel

Ubuntu Tweak
This will allow you to customize system and desktop settings.

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Then access it through Applications → System Tools → Ubuntu Tweak

7 – Nice Right Click Sub-Menus
For some useful right click menus in nautilus

sudo apt-get install nautilus-actions nautilus-gksu nautilus-image-converter nautilus-open-terminal nautilus-script-audio-convert nautilus-script-collection-svn nautilus-script-manager nautilus-sendto nautilus-share nautilus-wallpaper

8 – Multimedia

Windows equivalent : windows media player, real player, vlc, mplayer
Ubuntu equivalent : vlc, mplayer, helix player
To have Ubuntu playing all kinds of stuff, you need to install many codecs. So on the Terminal, type:
* Installing vlc and mplayer (plays almost everything):

sudo apt-get install vlc mplayer

* Common packs

sudo apt-get install mpeg2dec a52dec vorbis-tools id3v2 mpg321 mpg123 libflac++6 ffmpeg cdda2wav toolame libmp4v2-0 totem-mozilla libmjpegtools0c2a tagtool easytag id3tool lame nautilus-script-audio-convert mozilla-helix-player helix-player libmad0 libjpeg-progs libmpcdec3 libquicktime1 flac faac faad sox toolame a52dec ffmpeg2theora libmpeg2-4 uudeview flac libmpeg3-1 mpeg3-utils mpegdemux

* Gstreammer 0.10

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mpegdemux gstreamer0.10-gnonlin gstreamer0.10-pitfdll gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-sdl gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-schroedinger gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse totem-gstreamer

* More programs

sudo apt-get install gstreamer-dbus-media-service gstreamer-tools

* Enable dvd support

sudo aptitude install libdvdcss2 && sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/./install-css.sh

* Flash

sudo apt-get install gsfonts gsfonts-x11 flashplugin-nonfree

9. Tweak your eyecandy
Ubuntu 8.10 comes with compiz fusion effects OOTB but doesn’t offer a way to customise them.
In a terminal copy/paste this:

sudo apt-get install simple-ccsm

Now navigate to System → Preferences → Simple CompizConfig Settings Manager .

10 – Missing Windows software?? Run Windows softwares in Linux!!!

Wine
Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows programs in Linux.

sudo apt-get install wine

Then just double click .exe file.
Note: Not all windows software can run.A list is available in the website.

11 – Play Windows Games in Linux
Install PlayonLinux.Games like world of warcraft ,counterstrike and many other can be played.Playonlinux is based on wine.
Click here for list of games available

sudo apt-get install playonlinux

12 – Clipboard Management
By Default in ubuntu when u copy something from an application and closes the application u will not be able to access it from the clipboard. And also when u copy severals text in serial u only have the last on available to you in the clipboard. To solve that install either of the following but Glipper is better because it supports plugins.

Glipper

sudo apt-get install glipper

Then right click ur panel → Add to Panel then drag Clipboard Manager to ur panel

Parcellite

sudo apt-get install parcellite

13 – Archiver/ Packing software

Windows equivalent : winrar, zip, 7zip
Ubuntu equivalent : tar, unrar, p7zip, arj, unace
It’s bad when you don’t have Internet on your computer/notebook, but you have to pack/unpack something but the file format isn’t recognized by the system. To prevent from this bad situation, you can install a bunch of packing software by typing this on the terminal:

sudo apt-get install unace rar unrar zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils aish uudeview mpack lha arj cabextract file-roller

14 – Graphical web browser

Windows equivalent : Internet explorer, firefox, opera
Ubuntu equivalent : Firefox, opera

Opera

sudo apt-get install opera

Firefox (installed by default intrepid)

sudo apt-get install firefox

15 – Download Manager

Windows equivalent : Free download manager
Ubuntu equivalent : Multiget
MultiGet is a http/ftp downloader with a nice GUI for linux desktop users. It can run on almost all desktops without any configuration. It has many powerful functions comparing to others.

wget http://mesh.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/multiget/multiget_1.1.2-0getdeb1_i386.deb && sudo dpkg -i multiget_1.1.2-0getdeb1_i386.deb

Access it through Applications → Internet → MultiGet .

16 – Graphical Email client

Windows equivalent : Outlook
Ubuntu equivalent : Evolution, Thunderbird

Evolution (installed by default in intrepid)

sudo apt-get install evolution

Access it through Applications → Internet → Evolution Mail .

Thunderbird

sudo apt-get install thunderbird

Access it through Applications → Internet → Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News .

17 – Instant Messanging protocal clients

Windows equivalent : MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, QQ, AIM, Gtalk, ICQ,IRC
Ubuntu equivalent : Pidgin, amsn

Pidgin (installed by default in intrepid)
Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once. Supported chat networks: AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo!, Zephyr

sudo apt-get install pidgin pidgin-data pidgin-lastfm pidgin-guifications msn-pecan pidgin-musictracker pidgin-plugin-pack pidgin-themes

Access it through Applications → Internet → Pidgin Internet Messenger .

amsn only for MSN Messenger.

sudo apt-get install amsn amsn-data

Access it through Applications → Internet → aMSN .

18 – VOIP

Windows equivalent : skype
Ubuntu equivalent : skype, ekiga

Skype

sudo apt-get install skype

Access it through Applications → Internet → Skype.

Ekiga (installed by default in intrepid)

sudo apt-get install ekiga

Access it through Applications → Internet → Ekiga SoftPhone.

19 – Viewing PDF files

Windows equivalent : Adobe Reader
Ubuntu equivalent : Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader

sudo apt-get install acroread acroread-plugins acroread-plugin-speech acroread-fonts

Access it through Applications → Office → Adobe Reader.

20 – Music / MP3 / OGG Players

Windows equivalent : iTunes, Winamp
Ubuntu equivalent : Rhythmbox, Amarok

Rhythmbox

sudo apt-get install rhythmbox

Access it through Applications → Sound & Video → Rhythmbox Music Player.

Amarok

sudo apt-get install amarok amarok-engine-xine amarok-engine-yauap amarok-engines amarok-common

Access it through Applications → Sound & Video → Amarok.

21 – Hard Disk Partitions Manager

Windows equivalent : Symanted Partition Magic
Ubuntu equivalent : GParted, Disk-Manager

GParted

sudo apt-get install gparted

Access it through System → Administration → Partition Editor.

Disk Manager

sudo apt-get install disk-manager

Access it through System → Administration → Disk Manager.

23 – Vector Graphics Editor

Windows equivalent : Adobe Illustrator
Ubuntu equivalent : Inkscape

Inkscape

sudo apt-get install inkscape

Access it through Applications → Graphics → Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor.

24 – Image Editor

Windows equivalent : Adobe Photoshop
Ubuntu equivalent : GIMP

GIMP

sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-data gimp-plugin-registry

Access it through Applications → Graphics → GIMP Image Editor.

24 – 3D Graphics Applications

Windows equivalent : 3D Studio MAX
Ubuntu equivalent : Blender

Blender

sudo apt-get install blender

Access it through Applications → Graphics → Blender (windowed).

25 – Simple Yet Advanced Text Editor

Windows equivalent : Notepad ++
Ubuntu equivalent : GEdit

GEdit

sudo apt-get install gedit gedit-plugins

Access it through Applications → Accessories → Text Editor.

26 – Office Applications

Windows equivalent : Microsoft Office
Ubuntu equivalent : OpenOffice

OpenOffice

sudo apt-get install  openoffice.org

Access it through Applications → Office

27 – Microsoft Visio

Windows equivalent : Microsoft Visio
Ubuntu equivalent : Dia

Dia

sudo apt-get install dia

Access it through Applications → Graphics → Dia Diagram Editor

28 – Microsoft Project

Windows equivalent : Microsoft Project
Ubuntu equivalent : OpenProj

OpenProj

wget http://nchc.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/openproj/openproj_1.4-2.deb && sudo dpkg -i openproj_1.4-2.deb

Access it through Applications → Office → OpenProj
29 – Development IDE

Windows equivalent : Dreamweaver
Ubuntu equivalent : Quanta, Kompozer, NetBeans
Quanta

sudo apt-get install quanta

Access it through Applications → Programming → Quanta Plus

Komposer

sudo apt-get install kompozer nvu

Access it through Applications → Internet → Kompozer
NetBeans

sudo apt-get install netbeans

Access it through Applications → Programming → NetBeans IDE

30 – Graphical FTP clients

Windows equivalent : CuteFTP, SmartFTP
Ubuntu equivalent : FileZilla

FileZilla
This is great FTP program, very complete, in my opinion, the best one for linux.
On the terminal type:

sudo apt-get install filezilla filezilla-locales filezilla-common

Access it through Applications → Internet → FileZilla FTP Client.

31 – P2P Clients / Servers, File Sharing

Windows equivalent : utorrent, azureus, emule
Ubuntu equivalent : Deluge, azureus, amule

Bittorent clients
Deluge (written in python)

sudo apt-get install deluge-torrent

Access it through Applications → Internet → Deluge Torrent.

Azureus: Uses Java to run, very complete but a bit heavy

sudo apt-get install azureus

Access it through Applications → Internet → Azureus.

Emule Donkey Clients
Amule

sudo apt-get install amule

Access it through Applications → Internet → aMule.

32 – Programs for CD burning with GUI

Windows equivalent : Nero, Roxio Easy CD Creator
Ubuntu equivalent : K3b, Brasero

K3b
Nero is available for linux,but its not free.A trial is available for 1 month usage and later it asks or activation code.But K3B is as good as Nero.Have a good feature set as Nero.

sudo apt-get install k3b k3b-data k3b-i18n libk3b3

Access it through Applications → Sound & Video → K3B.

Brasero (installed by default in Intrepid)

sudo apt-get install brasero

Access it through Applications → Sound & Video → Brasero Disc Burning .

33 – Mountings ISO files

Windows equivalent : Alcohol
Ubuntu equivalent : acetoneiso

Acetoneiso

The best one for linux ACETONEISO,which is similar to ALCOHOL in windows
its supports almost all formats. AcetoneISO is CD/DVD image manipulator for Linux.Using this tool it is very easy to Mount and Unmount ISO,MDF,NRG Images . I dont think its available in ubuntu repository.

sudo apt-get install libksba8 libenca0 libtwolame0 fuseiso kommander p7zip-full gnupg-agent gnupg2 pinentry-qt mencoder

 

wget http://darkstar.ist.utl.pt/getdeb/ubuntu/intrepid/ac/acetoneiso_2.0.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb && sudo dpkg -i acetoneiso_2.0.2-0~getdeb1_i386.deb

34 – Install Vista like gadgets.

Windows equivalent : Vista Sidebar
Ubuntu equivalent : google-gadgets

Google gadgets

wget http://neacm.fe.up.pt/pub/getdeb/ubuntu/intrepid/go/google-gadgets_0.10.3-0~getdeb1_i386.deb && sudo dpkg -i google-gadgets_0.10.3-0~getdeb1_i386.deb

This will complete the installation.
Now press Alt+F2, and type “ggl-gtk” to start them. You should see a small icon show up in your system tray, and a sidebar. Right click on any of them and select ‘Add Gadgets’ to show a menu. If you’d like to have Google Gadgets start automatically, go to System – Preferences – Session, click ‘Add’, paste ‘Google Gadgets’ for the name and ‘ggl-gtk’ for the command. Click OK and Close, and you’re good to go.

35 – Google Desktop

Google Desktop allows one to full text search of a user’s e-mail, computer files, music, photos, chat, and Web pages viewed,OpenOffice documents , PDF files and more .

Now similar tools already existed on Linux like beagle (supported by novell ) , meta tracker etc . However Google Desktop search is not based on any of these tools and uses its proprietary algorithms to search for files on the computer ,also being 1.0 release and more stable then these products it could be preferred over tools like beagle .

To install type the following command in the terminal window : -

wget http://dl.google.com/linux/google-repo-setup.sh && sudo bash google-repo-setup.sh && sudo apt-get update

Now after completing above steps to install Google Desktop Search type the following command in the terminal window : -

sudo apt-get install google-desktop-linux

Access it through Applications → Google Desktop → Google Desktop
Now after choosing appropriate option through Applications → Google Desktop → Google Desktop Preferences, you would find Google Desktop icon in the bar at the top of the screen , now it would automatically scan and index files on computer and store it in local database which could be searched using web browser .

36 – Photo Management

Google Picasa

Google Picasa is an extremely professional good looking photo management application available on Windows ,Linux and Mac OS (??) . Now Google Picasa has a number of features that many photo management software on Linux dont have further Google Picasa looks very user friendly as compared to similar open source application available on linux . Now Google Picasa for Linux is not a native linux application but runs on Linux thru application layer called wine which allows many windows application to run flawlessly on Linux.

Now to install Google – Picasa type the following command in the terminal window

sudo apt-get install picasa

Access it through Applications → Graphics → Picasa → Picasa

37 – Map Viewing and Management

Google Earth

To install Google Earth type the following command in the Terminal Window.

sudo aptitude install googleearth

After downloading is over you will get a screen like this press ¨Yes¨ to accept the license agreement and complete software installation.

Now you can launch Google Earth from Application → Internet → Google Earth

~ by Salimane Adjao Moustapha on January 23, 2009.