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How to Install KiCad EDA 5.0.2 in Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04

Last updated: February 9, 2019

This quick tutorial shows how to install the latest KiCad 5.0.2, open-source electronics design automation suite, in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 18.x and 19.

KiCad is an open source software suite for Electronic Design Automation (EDA). The programs handle Schematic Capture, and PCB Layout with Gerber output.

The latest release so far is KiCad 5.0.2. Ubuntu users can easily install it from js-reynaud’s PPA.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from application menu. When it opens, paste below command and hit run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:js-reynaud/kicad-5

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

2. If you’ve installed an old version, upgrade the software via Software Updater (Update Manager):

Or run commands one by one in terminal to check updates, and install KiCad:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install kicad

You can skip apt-get update command for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher

Uninstall:

To remove KiCad EDA, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove kicad kicad-*

To remove the PPA added in step 1, open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

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Visual Studio Code 1.31 Released! No Restart on Extension Install

Last updated: February 7, 2019

Visual Studio Code IDE 1.31 was released recently with new features, tree UI improvements, menu updates, and more.

Visual Studio Code 1.31 release highlights:

  • No longer required to reload VS Code when you install or enable an extension.
  • New tree widget
  • Improved keyboard navigation
  • Added cut command in Explorer context menu.
  • More navigation actions added to Go menu.
  • Added keyboard navigation in Linux with custom menus
  • Full multiline issue details in the Problems panel.
  • References: Show History command for the References view.
  • Semantic selection for HTML, CSS, and JSON.
  • Terminal text automatically reflows as panel width changes.
  • Custom user input for task and debug configuration.

How to Install VS Code 1.31 in Ubuntu:

The easiest way is to install the community maintained Snap package, containerized software package, which available in Ubuntu Software:

The 1.31 snap package is not available at the moment, though it auto-updates itself once you installed it.

You can also install the official .deb package which is available for download at the link below:

Grab the deb and install it via either Gdebi package manager or command in terminal(Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/code_*.deb; sudo apt -f install

For those who want to receive updates for VS Code via Software Updater utility, add the Microsoft repository via following steps (64bit only):

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'

2. Download and install the repository key via commands:

curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > microsoft.gpg

sudo mv microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/microsoft.gpg

3. Finally install the IDE via command:

sudo apt-get install code

Uninstall Visual Studio Code:

To remove the code editor, either use Synaptic Package Manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove code

And remove the Microsoft repository by launching Software & Updates utility and navigating to Other Software tab.

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Vivaldi Browser 2.3 Released with Tab Stack Feature

Last updated: February 6, 2019

Vivaldi web browser released version 2.3 today with great new features, performance improvements, numerous bug-fixes.

Vivaldi 2.3 release highlights:

  • Option to automatically create a tab stack: ‘Settings → New Tab Position → As Tab Stack with Related Tab’
  • Add an option to show frequently visited pages in the URL Drop-Down: “Settings → Address bar → Address Field Drop-Down Menu → Include Frequently Visited Pages”
  • Custom screenshot file name
  • Save webpage as MHTML is enabled
  • Spinner favicon when a tab is loading
  • Passwords should be viewable in Settings
  • Add confirmation dialog on exit
  • Middle-click on tab Trash pastes buffered text into History search field
  • See the release note for more details.

How to Install Vivaldi 2.3 in Ubuntu:

The official Ubuntu .DEB packages are available for download at the link below:

Grab the deb matches your OS, then install it via Ubuntu Software or Gdebi package manager. Or run command in terminal:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/vivaldi-stable_2.3*.deb

In addition, after installed the .deb package, you can enable Vivaldi apt repository (Softare & Updates -> Other Software) to receive future updates through Software Updater:

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Flowblade Video Editor 2.0 Released (How to Install)

Last updated: February 5, 2019

Flowblade video editor 2.0 was released a day ago with the largest changes to workflow and UX.

Flowblade release highlights:

  • Select between 1 – 9 tools to be available via tool menu and shortcut keys 1-9
  • Configurable timeline behaviours: drag’n’drop, composiors autofollow
  • Option to choose between two Workflow Preset options:Standard workflow, file style workflow.
  • New tools: Keyframe tool, Multitrim tool combines Trim, Roll and Slip tool into one, Cut tool, and Ripple Trim tool.
  • Overwrite tool’s name was changed to Move
  • New custom theme requires GTK+ > = 3.22
  • Keyframe editing updates, Edit Action updates, and more.

How to Install Flowblade 2.0 in Ubuntu 18.04:

Flowblade offers official .deb package available for download at:

After downloaded the deb package, click install it via Gdebi (available in Ubuntu Software) package manager and enjoy!

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The Latest Okular Available to Install via Snap in Ubuntu 18.04/16.04

Last updated: February 4, 2019

KDE Okular document viewer now can be easily installed in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher via the snap package.

Okular is a universal document viewer developed by KDE. It supports PDF, PS, Tiff, CHM, DjVu, Images, DVI, XPS, ODT, Fiction Book, Comic Book, Plucker, EPub, Fax. It features annotations support, sidebar with contents, thumbnails, reviews and bookmarks.

Okular snap is a containerized software package offered by KDE. It bundles all required libraries and auto-updates itself.

For Ubuntu 18.04, and higher, simply open Ubuntu Software, search for and install the Okular snap package:

For Ubuntu 16.04, first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and install snapd daemon:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install Okular snap packages via commands:

sudo snap install okular

Once installed, launch it from software menu and enjoy!

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Customize Time & Date Format in Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome Panel

Last updated: February 2, 2019

This quick tutorial shows how to change the time and date clock format in Ubuntu 18.04’s default Gnome desktop panel.

Since Ubuntu switched to Gnome 3 desktop, you can no longer use dconf editor to customize clock format. Instead, a Gnome Shell extension can do the job.

1. Open Ubuntu Software, search for and install Clock Override extension.

2. Once installed, either launch the settings from install page, or use Gnome Tweaks -> Extensions.

3. When the settigns page opens, type in the box to change the time format.

Here are some codes:

  • %a = abbreviated weekday name
  • %A = full weekday name
  • %b = abbreviated month name
  • %B = full month name
  • %d = day of month
  • %H = hour (00..23)
  • %M = minute (00..59)
  • %p = AM or PM, %P = am or pm.
  • %S = second (00..59)

For a full list of code, run man date in terminal:

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How to Hide Grub Boot Menu in Ubuntu 18.04 / Higher

Last updated: July 17, 2021

This tutorial is going to show beginners how to easily disable or hide the Grub boot menu on startup.

Without dealing with Ubuntu configuration files, this can be easily done via a graphical tool called Grub Customizer.

1. Grub Customizer is not available in Ubuntu repositories until Ubuntu 19.04. So first open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) from application menu, then run command to add the software PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then install the tool via command:

sudo apt install grub-customizer

3. Search for and launch Grub Customizer from application menu:

4. When the tool opens, do:

  • navaigate to Generate settings tab,
  • un-check the checkboxes for ‘show menu’ and ‘look for other operating systems’,
  • finally click the Save button to apply changes.

That’s it! For temporary use, you can press and hold the Shift key to access the grub boot menu on startup.

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Kodi 18.0 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 18.04/16.04

Last updated: January 30, 2019

Kodi media center, formerly known as XBMC, released the new stable 18.0 “Leia” a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 18.x, 19.x, and higher.

Kodi 18.0 is a big release with almost 10,000 commits, 3000 pull-requests. The key features include:

  • Retroplayer gaming and associated game control support
  • Digital Rights Management (DRM) decryption support
  • Music Library – new ways to explore and enjoy your music collection
  • Live TV improvements, support for Zattoo, Teleboy, and Sledovanitv.cz.
  • Full voice functionality on the main Android TV.
  • Improvements to audio and video playback, and Blu-ray support.
  • Mir/Wayland support for Linux

How to Install Kodi 18.0 in Ubuntu:

The Kodi stable PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from application menu. When it opens, paste below command and hit run:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Remove old Kodi package as it may prevent the new installation:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kodi kodi-data kodi-bin

3. Finally check updates and install Kodi 18.0:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install kodi

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, you can skip the apt update command.

Uninstall:

To remove the Kodi PPA repository, simply open Software & Updates -> Other Software.

To remove Kodi, run command in step 2.

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HPLIP 3.19.1 Released with New Printers / Distro’s Support

Last updated: January 29, 2019

HPLIP 3.19.1, HP developed Linux drivers for HP inkjet and laser based printers, was released one day ago with new devices and Linux Distros support.

According to the release note, HPLIP 3.19.1 adds following new devices support:

  • HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82540du
  • HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82550du
  • HP LaserJet Managed MFP E82560du
  • HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87640 du
  • HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87650du
  • HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E87660du
  • HP Scanjet Pro 2500 f1

Also 64-bit of Fedora 29, Open Suse 15, Manjaro 18.0, and RHEL 7.2 are now supported.

Download / Install HPLIP 3.19.1 in Ubuntu:

1. To install the software, download the package “hplip-3.19.1.run” from the link below:

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

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-3.19.1.run

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

4. Then 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!

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