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Archives For November 30, 1999

Install Visual Studio Code IDE Easily via Snap in Ubuntu

Last updated: May 29, 2017

Visual Studio Code IDE

MicroSoft’s Visual Studio Code IDE now is super easy to install in Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, and higher via the Snap package format.

David Callé announced the availability of Visual Studio Code as a Snap a day ago:

Launched in 2015 by Microsoft, Visual Studio Code has imposed itself as one of the preferred code editors in the developer community. Cross-platform (powered by Electron), it features a marketplace of more than 3000 extensions where any language can find its linters, debuggers and test runners.

Visual Studio Code

To install Visual Studio Code in all current Ubuntu releases, simply run command (open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T):

sudo snap install --classic vscode

That’s it! Installed snaps are automatically refreshed, so you’ll always have the latest release of VS Code installed.

In addition, if you’re first time installing a Snap package in Ubuntu, you need to first install snapd, the service which runs on your machine and keeps track of your installed snaps, via command:

sudo apt install snapd

Like traditional deb packages, the snap version of the software can be launched either from Unity Dash, Gnome application launcher, or other desktop menu, or via command vscode.

Uninstall:

To remove VS Code, run the snap command with remove flag:

sudo snap remove vscode
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OpenShot 2.3.3 Released! How to Install it via PPA in Ubuntu

Last updated: May 19, 2017

OpenShot Video Editor

OpenShot video editor 2.3.3 was released earlier today with many serious stability fixes. The official PPA has updated for all current Ubuntu releases.

OpenShot 2.3.3 fixed up to 25 top crashes and errors. Changes in Openshot 2.3.3 include:

  • Fixed SpaceMovie 3D animated title alpha key frames
  • Fixed bug when selecting effect on a clip
  • Fixed backup recovery issue which would not refresh the timeline on load.
  • Fixed bug destroying the lock file
  • Added C++ exception parsing from archived exception data.
  • Adding a script to parse and aggregate Python error logs for OpenShot
  • Another attempt to fix the race condition causing the “zipimport.ZipImportError: can’t decompress data; zlib not available” when launching a frozen version of OpenShot.
  • Fixed a common error on the title editor
  • Removed NVidia driver from AppImage
  • libopenshot depenency to 0.1.6

OpenShot 2.3.3

How to Install Openshot in Ubuntu via PPA:

For Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04, and their derivatives, the latest release can be installed via the official OpenShot PPA by following the steps below one by one:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa

Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.

2. Then check updates and install openshot 2.3.3 via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install openshot-qt

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA repository, go to System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Other Software tab.

To the openshot-qt package, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove openshot-qt && sudo apt-get autoremove
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How to Install Mesa 17.1.0 via PPA in Ubuntu 16.04, 17.04

Last updated: May 18, 2017

The latest Mesa 3D graphics library 17.1.0, which was released a week ago, now is backported for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 17.04 via “Ubuntu-X” team PPA.

Mesa 17.1.0 implements the OpenGL 4.5 API, but the version reported by glGetString(GL_VERSION) or glGetIntegerv(GL_MAJOR_VERSION) / glGetIntegerv(GL_MINOR_VERSION) depends on the particular driver being used. Some drivers don’t support all the features required in OpenGL 4.5. OpenGL 4.5 is only available if requested at context creation because compatibility contexts are not supported.

Mesa 17.1.0 features:

  • OpenGL 4.2 on i965/ivb
  • GL_ARB_gpu_shader_fp64 on i965/ivybridge
  • GL_ARB_gpu_shader_int64 on i965/gen8+, nvc0, radeonsi, softpipe, llvmpipe
  • GL_ARB_shader_ballot on nvc0, radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_clock on nv50, nvc0, radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_group_vote on radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_precision on i965/ivb
  • GL_ARB_shader_viewport_layer_array on radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_sparse_buffer on radeonsi/CIK+
  • GL_ARB_transform_feedback2 on i965/gen6
  • GL_ARB_transform_feedback_overflow_query on i965/gen6+
  • GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_64bit on i965/ivb
  • GL_NV_fill_rectangle on nvc0
  • Geometry shaders enabled on swr

Install Mesa 17.1.0 in Ubuntu 16.04 / 17.04:

Open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:

1. Add the PPA repository via command:

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

Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.

Mesa ppa

2. Then check updates and upgrade your system to get the latest Mesa library:

sudo apt update

sudo apt dist-upgrade

To check result, run command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

How to Restore:

To revert back to the original Mesa 3D graphics library in your main Ubuntu repository, get into command console and run:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
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Make Gnome 3 Look Like Mac OS X in Ubuntu 17.04, 16.10

Last updated: May 17, 2017

gnome shell

Along with a few Gnome Shell extensions, you can now easily make Gnome Desktop look like Mac OS X with ‘Gnome-OSX’, a gnome-specific GTK3 theme.

Gnome-OSX is initially based on the Arc-theme-files. The goal is to implement the feel of OSX on the gnome-applications.

The theme mainly features:

  • Nautilus with blurred sidebar.
  • Same theming across GTK2 and GTK3.
  • Shell theme with white dock and slighty dark top-bar
  • Shell theme with dark dock and dark top-bar

Gnome Shell in OS X style

To get this look and feel in Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 16.10 Gnome Shell, do following steps:

1. Download the ‘Gnome-OSX’ theme from the link below:

Download Gnome-OSX

Under Files tab, grab the first package or the next 4 packages.

Extract the tarball and all you need is the following 4 folders:

  • Gnome-OSX-Dark-Shell
  • Gnome-OSX-Light-Shell
  • Gnome-OSX-II-2-6
  • Gnome-OSX-II-2-6-NT

2. Open file browser, press Ctrl+H (view hidden folders) and go to .themes folder (create the folder if not exist).

Then move the 4 extracted folders to .themes:

3. Apply the GTK theme and Shell theme via Gnome Tweak Tool:

See this tutorial if shell theme is disabled

4. For the icons, I’m using the macOS icons available for download at the link below:

Download macOS icons

Also, extract and move the result folder to .icons folder (create it if not exist) in user home folder. And apply the icon theme via Gnome Tweak Tool.

5. For the bottom dock, go to the link below and install ‘Simple Dock’ extension:

or manually install the extension by following the project description.

6. For the top-left corner Application menu, install this gnome shell extension.

7. To move window buttons to left, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout "close,minimize,maximize:"
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Enable ‘Shell theme’ in Gnome Tweak Tool in Ubuntu

Last updated: May 15, 2017

gnome shell

This quick tutorial is going to show Gnome Desktop beginners how to enable the ‘Shell theme’ drop-down box in the Gnome Tweak Tool.

A Gnome Shell theme changes shell buttons, colors, panels, etc. The setting is disabled by default in Gnome Tweak Tool, and you’ll see the prompt “Shell user-theme extension not enabled” when you hover the cursor over the alert icon.

shell theme disabled

As it prompts, you need to enable user-theme extension. While it’s not available by default, install it via following steps:

1. Open Firefox web browser and go to https://extensions.gnome.org:

Click the link text “click here to install browser extension” and follow the pop-ups to install the browser extension:

shell browser extension

2. After that, refresh the web page, if you get an error prompt that “native host connector is not detected“,

then open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T and run command:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

gnome shell extension

3. Finally go to https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/19/user-themes/.

Click the switch to turn on and then select install the Gnome Shell extension:

User Themes extension

After all, restart Gnome Tweak Tool and you’ll see the Shell theme drop-down box enabled after enabled the User Themes extension.

shell theme enabled

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Deluge 1.3.15 Released! Install it in Ubuntu 14.04, 16.04 & Higher

Last updated: May 13, 2017

Deluge BitTorrent Client

Deluge BitTorrent client 1.3.15 was released a day ago with various fixes. Web UI users are highly recommended to upgrade to this release due to a security fix.

Deluge 1.3.15 changelog:

  • Fix issues with displaying libtorrent single proxy.
  • Fix libtorrent 1.2 trackers crashing Deluge UIs.
  • Fix error in torrent priorities causing file priority mismatch in UIs.
  • Gtk UI:

    • Configure gtkrc to use consistent button ordering on Windows.
    • Fix column sort state not saved in Thinclient mode.
    • Fix connection manager error with malformed ip.
    • Rename SystemTray/Indicator? ‘Pause/Resume? All’ to ‘Pause/Resume? Session’.
    • Workaround lt single proxy by greying out unused proxy types.
  • Security fix for Web UI: Check render template files exist otherwise raise 404.
  • Some plugin fixes. See the release note.

Deluge 1.3.15

How to Install Deluge 1.3.15 in Ubuntu:

Deluge has an official PPA contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

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

Type in your password when prompts and hit Enter.

Deluge PPA

2. If you have a previous release installed, upgrade Deluge using Software Updater after checking for updates:

upgrade deluge bittorrent

Or run commands to check updates and install Deluge:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install deluge

In the command, you may replace deluge with deluge-web for web UI, or deluge-console for console UI, deluged for daemon.

How to Restore:

To restore to the stock version of Deluge BitTorrent client in your main Ubuntu repository, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:deluge-team/ppa
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How to Install VLC 2.2.5 in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

Last updated: May 12, 2017

VLC media player 2.2.5 was released recently with a great number of improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 14.04, and Ubuntu 16.04.

It has been almost one year since the last VLC 2.2.4 was released on June 2016. VLC 2.2.5 features:

  • Fix green line rendering on Windows with AMD drivers
  • Fix mp3 playback regression on macOS and 64bit Windows leading to distortion for some media
  • Fix screenshots size
  • Improved lua scripts for various websites
  • Various security improvements in demuxers and decoders
  • Security hardening for DLL hijacking environments
  • Fix scrolling sensitivity on Sierra
  • Fix screen recording on Windows
  • See the changelog for details.

VLC 2.2.5

How to Install VLC 2.2.5 in Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

Besides building VLC 2.2.5 from the source tarball, Ubuntu 14.04, 16.04, and Linux mint 18 users can install it from the unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/vlc

Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) when prompts and hit Enter.

VLC 2.2.5 PPA

2. (IMPORTANT) Remove old VLC version to avoid a package conflict:

sudo apt remove vlc vlc-nox

3. Finally run commands in terminal to check updates and install VLC 2.2.5:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install vlc

How to Restore:

To restore VLC media player to the stock version in your main Ubuntu repository, run command to purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:jonathonf/vlc
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GIMP 2.8.22 Released with Various Fixes [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: May 12, 2017

GIMP 2.8.22

GIMP, The GNU Image Manipulation Program, got another maintenance release for the 2.8 series a few hours ago with drawing performance improvement and 10 years old CVE bug fixed.

GIMP 2.8.22 release highlights:

  • improve drawing performance in single window mode, especially with pixmap themes
  • Fix CVE bug in the ICO plug-in which allowed context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an ICO file with an InfoHeader containing a Height of zero.
  • Avoid creating wrong layer group structure when importing PSD files
  • Prevent a crash in PDF plug-in if images or resolution are large
  • stop parsing invalid PCX files early and prevent a segmentation fault
  • Fixes for Mac OS, translation updates and build fixes.
  • See the changelog for details.

GIMP 2.8

How to Install GIMP 2.8.22 via PPA in Ubuntu:

Otto Meier promised to maintain the latest GIMP packages in the PPA repository, so far, available for Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04.

Although GIMP 2.8.22 is NOT available in the PPA at the moment of writing (be patient, there’s always a small delay for maintainer to test and upload the packages), you can add the PPA via following steps:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

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

GIMP PPA for 16.04

2. After that, upgrade GIMP once the new release is published in the PPA:

For those who want to build GIMP from the source, grab the tarball from HERE.

How to Restore:

For any reason, you can easily restore GIMP to the official build (old) in main Ubuntu repositories, by running command to purge the PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
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Opera 45 Released with Built-in Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp

Last updated: May 10, 2017

opera web browser

Opera 45, codenamed Reborn, was released earlier today. The new release features built-in social messengers: Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram.

Simply click a social icon on left sidebar, you can open the social messenger in overlay or pin it side-by-side with your current tab.

If you use more than one messenger, you can easily switch between them via ⌘ + ⇧ + m on macOS, CTRL + SHIFT + m on Windows and Linux.

opera social messengers

Other features in Opera 45:

  • light and dark theme
  • Refined user interface, new icons, and animations.
  • More control over ad blocking
  • graphics improvements on Windows and security warning for non https.
  • For more, see the announcement.

Download / Install Opera 45:

For Linux, download Opera from the official link below:

Opera Download Page

If you have a previous release installed, and enabled the official Opera Linux repository, upgrade it via Software Updater:

In addition, to manually add the Opera for Linux repository, open “terminal” via Ctrl+Alt+T and run following commands:

1. Setup the opera repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

2. Setup the key:

wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo apt-key add -
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How to Install Cinnamon 3.4 in Ubuntu 16.04, 17.04

Last updated: May 9, 2017

Cinnamon 3.4

Cinnamon desktop environment has reached the new massive 3.4 release a few days ago. Though there’s no official announcement published on Linux Mint blog at the moment of writing, you can now install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04 via PPA.

Cinnamon 3.4.0 brings over 160 changes, and here are some of them:

  • The settings daemon is split into multiple processes. Make it easy to identify excessive CPU or memory usage and isolating crashes to only affect a particular plugin.
  • Nemo is split into two separate processes. One for the desktop icons, and one for the file manager windows.
  • Added “Run now” button in the settings’ module for managing startup applications
  • Support for configuring the LightDM login manager in Cinnamon Settings.
  • New Cinnamon Settings option for configuration acceleration and sensitivity of the mouse.
  • Cinnamon is now capable of adapting to the multi-process CSD.

    • See the full changelog for details.

Cinnamon Desktop 3.4

How to Install Cinnamon 3.4 via PPA in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has just build the Cinnamon 3.4 packages for Ubuntu 16.04, and Ubuntu 17.04.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon

Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.

Cinnamon 3.4 PPA

2. Then update and install Cinnamon desktop via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install cinnamon

After that, log out and select log in back with Cinnamon session.

Cinnamon session in greeter

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