UbuntuHandbook

AppEditor – Simple Tool To Edit Application Menu Entries

Last updated: January 17, 2024

AppEditor is an open-source tool allows you to edit application entries shown in application menu and their properties.

Hide and show applications from the application menu
Create new application entries
Change application’s display name, icon and more

How to Install AppEditor in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher:

UPDATE Jan, 2024: The steps below will install the Flatpak package, but it’s OLD. For the latest version, the only way is building from source.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

2. Paste below command and run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

3. Add flathub repository, which hosts a large list of flatpak applications:

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

4. Finally install AppEditor via command:

flatpak install flathub com.github.donadigo.appeditor

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove AppEditor flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.github.donadigo.appeditor

In App Review Edit Application Menu

Wine 4.15 Released with Initial HTTP Service Implementation

Last updated: September 1, 2019

Wine Stable

The new development version Wine 4.15 was released one day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 19.04 and/or Ubuntu 18.04.

Wine 4.15 release highlights:

Initial implementation of the HTTP service.
Stack unwinding support on ARM64.
Better multi-monitor support on macOS.
RichEdit control optimizations.
Various bug-fixes, including fixes to Dragon Age, World of Warcraft 7, Need For Speed, etc.

How to Install Wine 4.15 in Ubuntu:

Note: following steps may not work in Ubuntu 18.04 due to unmet dependencies issue. Please comment if you have a solution.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run following commands to download and install the key:

wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key && sudo apt-key add winehq.key

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then add Wine repository for Ubuntu 19.04:

sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ disco main'

For other Ubuntu releases, replace disco in the code with:

bionic for Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19.x

3. Install unmet dependence: faudio

The wine devel package requires libfaudio0 library which is not available in Ubuntu repositories.

As a workaround, run command to add the third-party PPA, which offers the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cybermax-dexter/sdl2-backport

4. Finally run command to install Wine 4.14, which will automatically install the required libfaudio0 libraries.

sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-devel

Once installed, run winecfg to bring up the configuration window and check Wine version.

Uninstall:

Open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab. Then remove the PPA, and Wine apt repository lines.

To remove Wine devel package, run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove winehq-devel

In Howtos, News wine

Qmmp Music Player 1.3.4 Released with Stability Improvements

Last updated: August 30, 2019

Qmmp, Qt based music player with winamp or xmms like user interface, released version 1.3.4 (and Qt4 version 0.12.4) a few days ago with stability improvements.

Qmmp 1.3.4 release highlights:

improved mp3 file determination;
added format name in the ffmpeg plugin;
fixed pausing logic;
fixed random crash when changing audio settings;
fixed crash in the QtMultimedia plugin (1.3.4 only);
fixed build warning;
fixed duration formatting;
fixed ReplayGain support;
fixed memory leak;
fixed multiple channels support in the equalizer;
updated translations.

Qmmp

Install Qmmp 1.3.4 in Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and higher

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:forkotov02/ppa

Input your password (no asterisk feedback while typing) and hit Enter to continue.

2. If a previous version exists, upgrade Qmmp using Software Updater:

Or run commands to install or upgrade Qmmp and its plugins:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install qmmp qmmp-plugin-pack

For qt4 version, use qmmp-qt4 and qmmp-plugin-pack-qt4 instead in the last command.

Uninstall:

You can manage the PPA repository via Software & Updates utility, under Other Software tab.

To remove Qmmp music player, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove qmmp qmmp-*

In Howtos, News qmmp

GNU Emacs 26.3 Released, How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 29, 2019

GNU Emacs text editor 26.3 was released last night. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher.

Emacs 26.3 is a maintenance release contains following changes:

New GPG key for GNU ELPA package signature checking.
New option ‘help-enable-completion-auto-load’, allows disabling the new feature introduced in Emacs 26.1 which loads files during completion of ‘C-h f’ and ‘C-h v’ according to ‘definition-prefixes’.
Emacs now supports the new Japanese Era name.

How to Install Emacs 26.3 in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher:

Emacs 26.3 has made into Snap Store as containerized snap package. For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for and install it via Ubuntu Software.

For those prefer native Ubuntu .deb package, this PPA repository contains the most recent Emacs packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04 and higher. Emacs 26.3 packages should be made into the PPA in a few days.

In Howtos, News Emacs

HPLIP 3.19.8 Released with Linux Mint 19.2, Debian 10 Support

Last updated: August 28, 2019

HP Linux Imaging and Printing

HPLIP 3.19.8, HP developed printer and scanner drivers for Linux, was released today with new devices and new Linux Distro’s support.

HPLIP 3.19.8 add following new printers and scanners support:

HP DesignJet T1530 Postscript
HP DesignJet T2530 Postscript
HP DesignJet T930 Postscript
HP DesignJet T1600 Postscript Printer
HP DesignJet T1600dr Postscript Printer
HP DesignJet T2600 Postscript MFP
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M329dn
HP LaserJet Pro MFP M329dw
HP LaserJet Pro M305d
HP LaserJet Pro M304a
HP LaserJet Pro M305dn
HP LaserJet Pro M305dw

It also added support for following new Distro’s: OpenSuse 15.1, Debian 9.9, Debian 10, Manjaro 18.0.4, Linux Mint 19.2, RHEL 8.0.

1. To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.19.8.run” from the link below:

HPLIP Download Page

2. Then make the downloaded file executable from its Properties dialog > Permissions tab:

3. Finally open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or search for “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run command to start installing it:

./Downloads/hplip-3.19.8.run

4. Follow the terminal prompts, answer some questions to build and install HPLIP on your system. When everything is done, plug/re-plug your printers and enjoy!

In Howtos, News HP Print Driver for Linux, HPLIP

How to Install StepMania 5.1.0 Beta2 in Ubuntu 24.04 | 22.04 | 20.04

Last updated: April 22, 2024

This quick tutorial shows how to install StepMania 5.1.0 Beta2, free dance and rhythm game, in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04

StepMania is a free dance and rhythm game for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It features 3D graphics, keyboard and “dance pad” support, and an editor for creating your own steps.

If you’re looking for the latest stable StepMania 5.0.12, use the unofficial PPA repository instead.

StepMania 5.0.6 in Ubuntu 14.10

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can follow the steps below one by one to install StepMania 5.1.0 Beta 2 via the Flatpak package (runs in sandbox).

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

When terminal opens, paste command below and hit run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

2. Add flathub repository, which contains the game flatpak package:

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

4. Finally install StepMania via command:

flatpak install flathub com.stepmania.StepMania

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy (if the app icon is not visible, try log out and back in)!

NOTE: After installation, open “Files” (nautilus file manager), press Ctrl+H to show hidden folders, and navigate to .var/app/com.stepmania.StepMania/.stepmania-5.1, and put songs, themes, etc into relevant sub-folders to install them.

Uninstall:

To remove RetroArch flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.stepmania.StepMania

In Howtos rhythm game, stepmania

How to Install ‘Gnome Feeds’ News Readers in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 25, 2019

Gnome Feeds is a minimal RSS/Atom feed reader written in Python 3 and GTK+ 3.

It offers a simple user interface that only shows the latest news from your subscriptions. Articles are shown in a web view by default, with javascript disabled for a faster and less intrusive user experience. There’s also a reader mode included, built from the one GNOME Web/Epiphany uses.

Gnome Feeds doesn’t integrate or sync with a cloud-based service, like Feedly or Inoreader, but feeds can be imported and exported via OPML.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu.

2. Paste below command and run to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

3. Add flathub repository, which hosts a large list of flatpak applications:

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

4. Finally install Gnome Feeds via command:

flatpak install flathub org.gabmus.gnome-feeds

Once installed, launch the software from application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove Gnome Feeds flatpak package, run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall org.gabmus.gnome-feeds

In Howtos Gnome Feeds

Kid3 Audio Tag Editor 3.8.0 Released! (How to Install)

Last updated: August 24, 2019

Kid3 audio tag editor 3.8.0 was released today. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

According to the changelog, Kid3 3.8.0 features:

kid3-cli: Support JSON output.
Format codes %{modificationdate} and %{creationdate}.
Support ID3v2 GRP1 frame introduced with iTunes 12.5.4.
Import from Tags function which operates on selected files.
Explicit frame names can be used by prepending a ‘!’ character.
Adapt unified frame type mapping for better iTunes compatibility.
Support multiple covers in M4A files.
kid3-cli: Remove dependencies to GUI libraries.
Android: Show info how to write to SD card.
Android: Support Qt 5.12.

How to install Kid3 3.8.0 in Ubuntu 16.04/18.04:

The official Kid3 PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and derivatives.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, do following steps one by one.

1. Copy and paste following command in terminal and hit run to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ufleisch/kid3

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then you can upgrade Kid3 from a previous version via Software Updater:

upgrade kid3 via software updater

or run commands one by one in terminal to install or upgrade to the latest tag editor:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kid3-qt

For KUbuntu user, replace kid3-qt with kid3 in the last command for KDE integration.

Uninstall

To remove the PPA repository, either open Software & Updates -> Other Software tab, or run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ufleisch/kid3

To remove the audio tag editor, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kid3 kid3-*

In Howtos, News audio editor, audo tag editor, kid3

Speed Up ‘Alt-Tab’ Task Switcher Popup in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: August 23, 2019

Feel that Gnome desktop ‘Alt+Tab’ popup is slow? There’s by default 0.15 second popup delay when you pressing Alt+Tab on keyboard.

It’s nothing serious for some people including me. But if you want to remove the delay to speed up task switcher popup, it can be done easily via gnome shell extension.