My Ubuntu Set Up

Installing Ubuntu is quite straightforward. One thing that stumps many new users, however, is which programs to install next. Windows users can find themselves faced by a bewildering range of programs, many of which appear to do the same job.

The following are the applications I install. I’m not saying they’re the best, but they will get you started with a system that does most of the things you require. I’ve included applications already included in the Ubuntu install for the benefit of those using other distros. These pre installed applications are marked like this

1. Install Ubuntu

2. Check for software updates

3. Install the things that will help me install everything else

   • Dropbox: for access to my files
   • Emacs: Text Editor
   • Lastpass: password manager
   • Chrome: because waiting for Firefox to install updates each time its opened is really irritating.

4. Install encfs: encrypts Dropbox files

5. Install productivity and entertainment applications

   • Libre Office: Word Processor, Spreadsheet etc
   • Shotwell: Photo Manager
   • Gimp: Image Manipulation (like Photoshop)
   • Shutter: Print Screen
   • Geary: Lightweight email client
   • VLC : Media Player
   • MediaTomb: UPnP Media Server

6. Install a number of useful drivers and utilites
   sudo apt-get install…

   • aptitude: alternative to apt-get
   • nautilus-open-terminal: right click in nautilus to open current location in terminal
   • nautilus-image-converter: right click in nautilus to quickly edit image
   • gparted: Graphically edit disk partitions
   • nmap: Scan networks
   • vim: Old text editor
   • feh: fast and flexible image viewer
   • filezilla: ftp client
   • ubuntu-restricted-extras: support for such things as mp3, avi, mpeg, TrueType, Java, Flash, Codecs
   • sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh: Play restricted DVDs
   • Deja dup: Simple backup software
   • backintime: snapshot backup software
   • openssh: Networking

7. Install Wine, the Linux windows emulator, and the Chrome UA Spoofer app. The spoofer app fools the browser into thinking it’s running on a different machine. This makes it easy to download and install the Evernote Windows client

8. Install the following External Packages

   • Tomahawk: Unified Media Player
   • Calibre: ebook management
   • Spotify Client: Not really needed now I use Tomahawk…
   • Kodi (formerly XBMC): Media Player/Home Theatre
   • Handbrake: Video ripper and transcoder