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Install and Keep HexChat IRC Client Updated via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: January 15, 2019

HexChat Ubuntu 16.04

HexChat IRC Client now is available to install via Snap package in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher.

HexChat is a free, open-source, and extensible IRC Client based on XChat. It supports features such as: DCC, SASL, proxies, spellcheck, alerts, logging, custom themes, and Lua scripts.

HexChat offers official Snap package, which is a containerized software packages bundles all required libraries, and auto-update itself.

Install HexChat via Snap in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, the snap package can be easily installed from Ubuntu Software:

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

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the HexChat snap package via command:

sudo snap install hexchat

Note if you installed both HexChat legacy and Snap packages, you’ll see two launch icons from software menu. To make sure you’re running HexChat snap package, launch it from terminal via command:

snap run hexchat

Uninstall:

To remove the IRC client, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove hexchat
In Howtos , ,
 

How to Install OpenSCAD in Ubuntu 18.10 / 18.04

Last updated: January 14, 2019

This quick tutorial shows you how to install OpenSCAD, the programmers solid 3D CAD modeller, in Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 18.04.

OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD models. Unlike most free software for creating 3D models (such as Blender) it does not focus on the artistic aspects of 3D modelling but instead on the CAD aspects. Thus it might be the application you are looking for when you are planning to create 3D models of machine parts but pretty sure is not what you are looking for when you are more interested in creating computer-animated movies.

OpenSCAD is not available in Ubuntu 18.04 and 18.10 universe repositories due to build failure. Fortunately, the OpenSCAD releases PPA contains the software package for Ubuntu 18.04, which also works in Ubuntu 18.10.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from software launcher. When it opens, paste following command and run to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openscad/releases

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

2. For Ubuntu 18.10, open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab. Then do:

  1. Highlight the openscad repository line.
  2. Click Edit button to bring up setup dialog.
  3. Change the value of “Distribution” from cosmic to bionic
  4. Save the changes, and close the window.

3. Finally either install OpenSCAD via Synaptic package manager, or run following 2 commands one by one in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install openscad

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA repository, open Software & Updates -> Other Software (see pic. in step2) and simply remove the repository line.

To remove OpenSCAD, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove openscad

In addition for those feeling OK with Gnome Flatpak (containerized software package), the software is also available in Flathub.

In Howtos ,
 

LiVES Video Editor 2.10.2 Released with New Icons (PPA)

Last updated: January 12, 2019

LiVES video editor and VJ tool released version 2.10.2 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 18.10.

LiVES 2.10.2 release highlights:

  • Fix serious bug in lives_popen() – may prevent saving of new sets.
  • Add in part of the fix for multi_encoder3 which was overlooked in 2.10.1
  • Fix regression in get_extension().
  • Fix regression in get_frame_count().
  • Add new icons.
  • Correctly reset video playback plugin after cancelling quick transcode.
  • Improved youtube downloading.

How to Install Lives 2.10.2 in Ubuntu:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut and then run command to add the unofficial PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/lives

Type in your password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it asks and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade the software from an existing release via Software Updater:

or simply run commands in terminal to install or upgrade LiVES:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install lives lives-plugins

Uninstall:

To remove the software, simply run commands:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove lives lives-plugins

The PPA can be removed via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

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Alternative Toolbar Plugin Updated for Rhythmbox 3.4.3 (PPA)

Last updated: January 11, 2019

Alternative toolbar plugin released a new bug-fix version today with the latest Rhythmbox music player 3.4.3 compatibility.

Alternative toolbar is a third-party plugin for Rhythmbox. It replaces the default header bar with Gnome-style client-side decoration. And the standard toolbar replaced by a compact toolbar.

The plugin is installed in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher out-of-the-box. However, it does not work well in the most recent Rhythmbox 3.4.3 release.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 18.10 users upgraded to Rhythmbox 3.4.3, you may do following steps to update the Alternative Toolbar plugin:

1. Open terminal either from app launcher or via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

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

2. Then launch Software Updater, and update Rhythmbox as well as the plugin:

Uninstall:

You can remove the PPA by launching Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab. Or simply run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps
In Howtos, News
 

How to Install Mesa 18.2.8 via PPA in Ubuntu 18.04, 18.10

Last updated: January 10, 2019

The latest Mesa graphics driver 18.2.8 is finally available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 18.10 via Ubuntu-X PPA.

Mesa 18.2.8 was released two weeks ago with following changes:

  • Add the new Vega M, Vega 10, and Vega 20 PCI IDs
  • Meson build system foxes.
  • Gallium “Nine” Direct3D 9 state tracker fixes.
  • VirGL driver fixes.
  • A RADV hang fix for the Windows Yakuza game under DXVK with Steam Play

For users sticking to the open source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, and want to enjoy some Linux games, you may follow below steps to install Mesa 18.2.8 in Ubuntu 18.04 and/or Ubuntu 18.10:

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

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

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
In Howtos
 

Show System Info / Hardware Details in Ubuntu Command Line

Last updated: January 9, 2019

To check system information and hardware details in Ubuntu command console, without confused with various Linux commands, there’s a full featured CLI system information available.

There’s already a great graphical tool Hardinfo available in Ubuntu Software. For the command line tool, inxi is available to check:

  • Audio/sound card(s), driver, sound server.
  • System battery info
  • CPU output
  • Hard Disk info
  • Graphics card, driver, display server, resolution, renderer, OpenGL version.
  • General info, including processes, uptime, memory, IRC client or shell type, inxi version.
  • Memory (RAM) data (Require root)
  • Network card, driver.
  • system info, partition info, sensors output, USB data, and more.

To install inxi in Ubuntu, simply run command:

sudo apt-get install inxi

Then run man inxi to get a list of command options, or run inxi -F to get a brief output:

For more about the tool, go to inxi web page.

In App Review ,
 

Rhythmbox 3.4.3 Released with Numerous Bug Fixes

Last updated: January 8, 2019

The default Rhythmbox music player released version 3.4.3 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04.

Rhythmbox 3.4.3 release highlights:

  • Improved Android plugin to work better with Samsung and Android 9 devices
  • Replaced status bar with floating bar as used by Nautilus
  • Fixed crash when store request processing fails
  • Fixed crashes when editing auto playlist sorted by Location / Bitrate
  • Fixed crashes when insert a cd
  • Fixed issue that can not transfer songs to phone over MTP
  • And many other changes.

How to Install Rhythmbox 3.4.3 in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10 and derivatives, you can install Rhythmbox 3.4.3 from the unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal either from app launcher or via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps

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

2. Then launch Software Updater, upgrade the music player packages:

How to Restore:

You can purge the PPA which also downgrade Rhythmbox to the stock version via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/apps
In Howtos, News
 

How to Get ‘2×2’ Grid Workspaces in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: December 11, 2019

This quick tutorial is going to show you how to get the previous ‘2×2’, ‘3×3’ style rectangular grid workspaces in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

The default Ubuntu 18.04 Gnome shell lists all workspaces in a column, and navigates via Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down keyboard shortcuts. To arranges workspaces in a configurable grid, there’s an extension called Workspace Grid.

1. Install the extension by searching for and installing Workspace Grid in Ubuntu Software:

2. Then launch its settings either via the install page, or using Gnome Tweaks -> Extension.

There set the number of rows and columns of workspaces, other settings, and enjoy!

In Howtos
 

How to Install Nautilus Actions in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: February 12, 2019

Nautilus actions is a file manager extension allows to add arbitrary program to be launched through the context menu of selected files.

Ubuntu does no longer ship the Nautilus actions package in universe repositories since it’s been deprecated and renamed to FileManager actions.

For those still need the tool, it has made into PPA repository for Ubuntu 18.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:daniel-marynicz/filemanager-actions

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

2. Then run commands to install the extension:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install filemanager-actions-nautilus-extension

For Linux Mint Cinnamon or MATE desktop, you can install Nemo or Caja extension via command:

sudo apt install filemanager-actions-nemo-extension filemanager-actions-caja-extension

Once installed, search for and launch FileManager Actions to launch the tool.

Uninstall:

To remove filemanager actions, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove filemanager-actions

To remove the PPA, go to Software & Updates -> Other Software.

In Howtos
 

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 Released with W64 Support

Last updated: January 4, 2019

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 was released today with new features, enhancements, and bug-fixes.

MKVToolNix 30.0.0 release highlights:

  • mkvextract now writes W64 files for .w64 file or file size > 4 GB
  • Add button to show the 10 most recently used output directories.
  • Predefined split sizes and durations can now be customized in the preferences.
  • Add option to append chapters from an existing file to the current open editor tab.
  • Add new context menu action to copy selected entry to another open editor tab.
  • And more other changes, see the release note for details.

How to Install MKVToolNix 30.0.0 in Ubuntu:

The latest MKVToolNix packages will be soon made into its official apt repository for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19/18, and higher

Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching it from app launcher. When it opens, do following steps:

1. Run command to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb https://mkvtoolnix.download/ubuntu/ $(lsb_release -sc) main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/bunkus.org.list'

Replace $(lsb_release -sc) with bionic for Linux Mint 19, or xenial for Linux Mint 18.x. And input your password (no asterisks while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then install the key:

wget -q -O - https://mkvtoolnix.download/gpg-pub-moritzbunkus.txt | sudo apt-key add -

3. Finally either upgrade the software via Software Updater (Update Manager):

or run command to install the software packages:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui

Uninstall:

To remove the apt repository, launch Software & Updates utility and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove MKVToolNix, use Synaptic Package Manager or run following command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove mkvtoolnix mkvtoolnix-gui
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