Archives For Howtos

As you may know, Pinta is a Paint.NET-like image drawing and editing program which is free and open-source. It is lighter and simpler than popular open-source image editor GIMP.

pinta ubuntu

Pinta is available in Ubuntu Softare Center by default, but it’s a little old. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to install the latest stable and development version of Pinta in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy, Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.10 Quantal, 12.04 Precise and Linux Mint via PPA repository.

To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands:

To install the latest development version, run following 3 commands one by one in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pinta-maintainers/pinta-daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pinta

To install the latest stable version (support Ubuntu 12.10, 12.04, 11.10), run below commands instead:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pinta-maintainers/pinta-stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install pinta

How to Install Sigil Epub Editor For Ubuntu via PPA

Published: August 2, 2013 — Last updated: December 1, 2014

This simple tutorial shows you how to install Sigil WYSIWYG epub editor on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.04 Precise via Sigil PPA repository.

sigil epub editor for ubuntu

Sigil is a free and open-source EPUB ebook editor. It runs on Linux, Windows and Mac with full EPUB 2 spec and UTF-16 support.

  • Multiple Views: Book View, Code View and Preview View
  • WYSIWYG editing in Book View
  • Complete control over directly editing EPUB syntax in Code View
  • Table of Contents generator with multi-level heading support
  • Metadata editor with full support for all possible metadata entries (more than 200) with full descriptions for each
  • User interface translated into many languages
  • Spell checking with default and user configurable dictionaries
  • Full Regular Expression (PCRE) support for Find & Replace
  • Supports import of EPUB and HTML files, images, and style sheets,
  • Documents can be validated for EPUB compliance with the integrated FlightCrew EPUB validator
  • Embedded HTML Tidy: all imported files have their formatting corrected, and your editing can be optionally cleaned

Install Sigil Epub Editor:

There is only a personal Sigil PPA for Ubuntu users. Now supports Ubuntu 14.10 and Ubuntu 14.04. Supports Ubuntu 13.10, Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 12.10. Use it at your own risk!

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to add the ppa:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sunab/sigil-release

For Ubuntu 12.10, Ubuntu 12.04, you’ll need the Ubuntu SDK PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-sdk-team/ppa

After adding the ppa repository, you’re able to install the editor via below commands:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install sigil

sigil epub editor for ubunt unity

Here I’ll show you how to connect to Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail from Windows 7 via Remote Desktop Connection. All you need to do is install xRDP server in Ubuntu, then use Windows RDP to connect to Ubuntu without any configuration.

xRDP is a rdesktop project which uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to make it easy to connect Ubuntu from remote client especially not having to log into Ubuntu first.

xRDP is available in the universe repository, just search for and install it from Ubuntu Software Center.

rdp server

Or you can install it via below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install xrdp

After that, open Windows 7’s Remote Desktop Connection and type in Ubuntu hoastname or IP address.

windows rdp

Then type in Ubuntu username and password to login to xrdp:

xrdp login

You’re done. Enjoy!

This simple and brief tutorial shows you how to install Cool Reader 3 in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander.

As you may know, CoolReader is fast and small cross-platform XML/CSS based E-Book reader for desktops and handheld devices. Supported formats: FB2, TXT, RTF, DOC, TCR, HTML, EPUB, CHM, PDB, MOBI. Platforms: Win32, Linux, Android. Ported on some eInk based devices.

CoolReader3

Without adding a ppa repository, we can directly download and install the Deb package to get Cool Reader on your Ubuntu system. To do so, first open System Settings -> Details to check out your OS type (32-bit or 64-bit).

Then press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to download the reader:

For 32-bit system:

wget https://launchpad.net/~vovansrnd/+archive/coolreader/+files/cr3_3.0.59.2-1_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget https://launchpad.net/~vovansrnd/+archive/coolreader/+files/cr3_3.0.59.2-1_amd64.deb

Once the downloading process finished, both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install Cool Reader 3:

sudo dpkg -i cr3_3.0.59.2-1_*.deb; sudo apt-get -f install

cool reader ubuntu 13.04 dash

Install QupZilla Web Browser in Ubuntu 13.04 via PPA

Published: July 30, 2013 — Last updated: July 30, 2013

This simple tutorial will show you how to install the QupZilla Web Browser from its ppa repository in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail.

As you may know, QupZilla is a new and very fast QtWebKit browser. It aims to be a lightweight web browser available through all major platforms. This project has been originally started only for educational purposes. But from its start, QupZilla has grown into a feature-rich browser.

qupzilla web browser

News:QupZilla will be available in upcoming Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy’s default repository. Just search for and install it from Ubuntu Software Center

Install QupZilla:

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to add the ppa repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nowrep/qupzilla

add qupzilla ppa

Update package lists and install the browser:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install qupzilla

install qupzilla web browser

Once installed, you’ll be able to open it from Unity Dash.

qupzilla in ubuntu

This simple and brief tutorial is going to show you how to install Zipwhip text messaging app in Ubuntu. As you may know, Zipwhip is a small utility that allows you to text anyone from PC, Android tablet, or web browser using your existing mobile number.

Zipwhip-starting

Tutorial Objectives:

  • Install Zipwhip Text Messaging app in Ubuntu
  • Enjoy!

To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below commands to download the app:

For 32-bit system:

wget http://zipwhip.cachefly.net/zipwhip-desktop-i586.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget http://zipwhip.cachefly.net/zipwhip-desktop-amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install the package:

sudo dpkg -i zipwhip-desktop*.deb

Once installed, you may need a restart to be able to open this tool from Unity Dash. Then input your phone number and a password (register for free):

Zipwhip-phone

This simple tutorial will show you how to install the Jitsi Video Calls and Chat & add its repository in Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.04 Precise and 12.10 Quantal.

Jitsi call window

As you may know, Jitsi is an audio/video Internet phone and instant messenger written in Java. It supports some of the most popular instant messaging and telephony protocols such as SIP, Jabber/XMPP (and hence Facebook and Google Talk), AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo! Messenger.

Jitsi contact

Install Jitsi:

The official download page provides the latest Deb installer for Ubuntu users

Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to download it:

For 32-bit system:

wget https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi/debian/jitsi_2.2-latest_i386.deb

For 64-bit system:

wget https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi/debian/jitsi_2.2-latest_amd64.deb

Both 32-bit & 64-bit run below command to install the Deb:

sudo dpkg -i jitsi_2.2-latest_*.deb

It installs Jitsi as well as adds its repository to your system so that you’ll receive updates when a new release comes out.

This simple tutorial will show you how to install and use Faenza Icons 1.3.1 in Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander while the PPA is not available yet.

faenza icons 1.3.1

As I know, the Faenza icons ppa contains actually the same DEB package for Ubuntu 13.04 Raring, 12.10 Quantal, 12.04 Precise. We can also use the Deb on Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy to install this icon set. Here’s how:

1.) Click on below link to download the theme:

faenza-icon-theme_1.3.1_all.deb

2.) Press Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run below command to install the Deb:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/faenza-icon-theme_1.3.1_all.deb

install faenza icons

3.) To apply this theme to your system, install unity-tweak-tool in Ubuntu Software Center. Or run below command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install unity-tweak-tool

Once installed, open it from Unity Dash. You’ll be able to choose Faenza icons under Appearances -> Icons.

apply faenza icons

How to Install yEd Graph Editor in Ubuntu, Linux Mint

Published: July 29, 2013 — Last updated: March 12, 2025

yEd graph editor

This tutorial shows how to install the most recent yEd Graph Editor in Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Linux Mint 21/22.

yEd is a powerful desktop application that can be used to quickly and effectively generate high-quality diagrams. Create diagrams manually, or import your external data for analysis. The automatic layout algorithms arrange even large data sets with just the press of a button.

Install yEd via its official script

The official website provides the yEd installer script for 64-bit (AMD/Intel CPU) Linux systems, which includes a suitable JRE.

To download this script, simply click the link below to go to its download page:

After downloaded the script, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open up a terminal window, then run 2 commands below one by one:

  • First, add executable permission to the script for current user:
    chmod u+x ~/Downloads/yEd*.sh

    Here, assume you saved the downloaded script in user’s Downloads folder.

  • Then, run the script via command:
    sh ~/Downloads/yEd*.sh

    It will pop-up an installer wizard. Just follow it until done. Finally, you may launch it from system start menu or Gnome overview.

Uninstall yEd

The yEd installer script by default installs it into user’s Home directory. So, just delete that folder will remove it from your system.

To get rid of the leftovers, such as desktop entry, and app data, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove them:

rm -R ~/.yEd && rm rm ~/.local/share/applications/*yEd*.desktop

Convert Photos to Cartoon or Sketch Images in Ubuntu via XnSketch

Published: July 28, 2013 — Last updated: March 12, 2025

This simple tutorial will show you how to convert your photos to cartoon or sketch images in Ubuntu Linux using a simple tool XnSketch.

turn to cartoon

XnSketch is a very small tool that allows you to turn your photos into cartoon or sketch images. It works on Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Apple and Android devices.

Features:

  • 18 different effects (black strokes, white strokes, pastel, pencil sketch, colored sketch, …)
  • Edge strength, and opacity adjustement
  • Contrast, brightness, saturation adjustement
  • Save or share the result to Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Imgur, Thmblr, ImageShack, Yfrog, GlowFoto, TwitPic, and Email.

Install XnSketch

XnSketch is available to download for Linux (64-bit AMD/Intel CPUs) through the link below:

After downloaded the package, just decompress, then click run the “XnSketch” file from the extracted folder will launch the application.

If you like this app, and want to add it to system start menu or Gnome app grid, then do the following steps one by one:

  • First, move the app folder to a desired location for long time use. In my case, I created a “MyApps” folder in user home, and put these apps folders there.
  • Then, navigate into the XnSketch app folder, and click edit the “XnSketch.desktop” file.
  • When file opens, replace the values of “Exec” and “Icon” according to where you moved the app folder (press Ctrl+L in that folder then copy).
  • Finally, press Ctrl+Shift+S to open ‘Save as’ dialog, and choose save the file into .local/share/applications (press Ctrl+H to view hidden folders) directory.

If everything goes well, you’re able to launch the app from start menu or Gnome overview a few moments later.