The official PPA for Shutter screenshot tool is back! So far contains packages for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 21.04.
Shutter is one of the most popular screenshot tool for Linux. Other than basic screen capturing feature, it supports plugins, profiles, uploading to Imgur, Dropbox, etc., and has a built-in editor.
Shutter PPA was abandoned
The founder of Shutter has abandoned the project as well as the official PPA for many years. Due to the old Gtk2 dependency libraries, it has finally been removed from Ubuntu and Fedora repositories.
Luckily, a third-party PPA by linuxuprising is maintaining the Shutter package for over two years.
The development is back recently and moved to in Github. It now ported to GTK3. And the official PPA finally revived and maintained by the creator of linuxuprising.
Install Shutter via Official PPA:
For Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20, and Ubuntu 21.04, open terminal from start menu, and run following commands one by one.
1.) To add the official PPA, paste the command below into terminal and hit Enter:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:shutter/ppa
Type user password (no visual feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to continue
2.) Next install the tool via command:
sudo apt install shutter
For Linux Mint, you need to run sudo apt update to manually refresh package cache.
Remove Shutter & Its PPA
You can remove Shutter PPA as well as other PPAs via “Software & Updates” utility under “Other Software” tab.
And remove Shutter if you want, by running command in terminal:
Missing the old Ubuntu Unity style login screen? It’s easy to get it back in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04 and higher.
LightDM, stands for Light Display Manager, is a free open-source project by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. Ubuntu up to version 16.04 LTS uses it as the default display manager. And it’s present in Linux Mint 20 and some Ubuntu flavors.
For those prefer the LightDM style login screen, it’s available in Ubuntu universe repositories:
How to Install LightDM in Ubuntu 20.04 & Higher:
Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, paste the command below and hit enter:
sudo apt install lightdm unity-greeter
While the installing process, it will prompt to configure the display manager. Just hit Enter on the screen.
At the next screen, use up/down arrow key to choose “lightdm” and hit Enter to apply.
Once installed, restart your computer and you’ll see the new login screen!
Configure LightDM login screen:
Uses are mostly want to remove the white dots and change the login background wallpaper.
To do so, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install dconf-editor if you don’t have it:
sudo apt install dconf-editor
Next, run command to grant lightdm user privilege to access control list:
xhost +SI:localuser:lightdm
Finally launch dconf editor via lightdm:
sudo -u lightdm dconf-editor
When it opens, navigate to “com/canonical/unity-greeter“. Then turn off ‘draw-grid’, and change background image as you want.
This simple tutorial shows how to install and setup Gerbera home media server in all current Ubuntu and Debian releases.
Gerbera is a free and open-source UPnP media server for Linux, BSD, and Mac OS. With it, you can stream audio and/or video files over home network, and play on any device with a media player with UPnP support, e.g., VLC.
How to Gerbera in Ubuntu / Debian via its official repository
Gerbera is available in Ubuntu repositories but always old. It’s however quite easy to install the latest version since it offers an official apt repository. And so far, it supports for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, Debian Buster & Bullseye.
1.) Firstly open terminal from start menu. Then paste the command below and hit run to install the key:
Want to get better performance when playing games in Linux? Try GameMode!
GameMode is a free open-source Linux project allows games to request a set of optimizations be temporarily applied to the host and/or game process.
The project was originally designed as a stop-gap solution to problems with Intel and AMD CPU powersave or ondemand governors. But now GameMode supports for optimizations including:
CPU governor
I/O priority
Process niceness
Kernel scheduler
Screensaver inhibiting
GPU performance mode (NVIDIA and AMD), GPU overclocking (NVIDIA)
Custom scripts
1. How to Install GameMode in Ubuntu Linux:
The package is available in Ubuntu as well as most other Linux repositories.
Firstly open terminal by either searching from ‘Activities’ overview screen, or pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When terminal opens, run command to install it:
sudo apt install gamemode
For Fedora and CentOS Linux, you can install it via command:
sudo dnf install gamemode
(Optional) Install GameMode indicator:
For choice, you can install an indicator applet that shows the current status of GameMode. It’s an extension for the default Gnome desktop.
a.) Open terminal and run command to make sure chrome-gnome-shell browser integration is installed:
If you don’t see the toggle icon, click the “click here to install browser extension” link to install browser extension and reload the page.
Finally, search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions App’ from start menu. And click on the gear button to configure the status indicator.
2. How to Run Game in GameMode:
Some games and platforms have integrated GameMode support. Which means you don’t have to do anything to activate it. They are:
DiRT 4
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: WARHAMMER II
ATLauncher Minecraft launcher
Lutris
For other games, you can now run the executable command by adding gamemoderun at the beginning. For example, run SuperTux2 in GameMode via:
gamemoderun supertux2
For steam, you can simply add gamemoderun %command% as launch option.
And without launching game every time from command line, write the rule into app shortcut file. They are .desktop files generally locate in “/usr/share/applications” directory.
For example, edit SuperTux 2 app shortcut via command:
When the file opens, add gamemoderun before executable command in Exec line.
For Hybrid GPU users, the GameMode supports environment variable via GAMEMODERUNEXEC. So you can run GameMode while using dedicated gpu for rendering game which will be displayed using the integrated card. For example:
Want to enable Guest account in Ubuntu? Without switching to another display manager, you can add Guest in Gnome login screen for people to use your computer while NOT being able to install/remove app, change system wide settings, and access files outside its own directory.
Guest is available by default in Ubuntu 16.04 Unity desktop. After Ubuntu switched to Gnome Desktop, the feature is removed. For those need Guest account, it’s easy to add it back via following steps.
1. Create Guest Account.
Firstly, open system settings either from top-right system menu, or by searching from Activities overview screen.
Next, navigate to Users in left pane (For Ubuntu 24.04, go to “System -> Users” in settings app) and click “Unlock” button and type your user password to unlock the settings page.
Finally, click on “Add User…” to create a new user:
select Standard, (for Ubuntu 24.04, leave “Administrator” turned off) so it has no sudo permission, can’t install/remove app, and no access file outside its user home.
set username to Guest.
And set password for it. REQUIRED though it’s useless. Next step I’ll tell how to enable no password login.
2. Enable No Password Login for Guest
Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal, then copy and paste the command below and hit Enter.
sudo gedit /etc/pam.d/gdm-password
This command will open the configuration file. Simply add the following line at the beginning (so it will be the first line) and save it:
auth sufficient pam_succeed_if.so user ingroup guest
OK, in next boot you’ll see the Guest account in GNOME login screen. Simple click to login without typing password, and enjoy!
3.(Optional) Add more Restrictions:
The Guest account can’t install/remove apps, manage PPAs, access files out of its home directory. Any action needs authentication will ask for typing password for Admin Account.
It however has permissions to customize its own desktop appearance, access CD Rom, mount/un-mount USB and other removable devices, use audio/video devices (e.g., webcam, microphone), full and direct access to serial ports.
These permissions are handled via groups. You can check which groups that include Guest account via command:
cat /etc/group |grep guest
And the Debian Wiki tells what do the groups do. By removing Guest from a group will disable the permission. For example, remove it from plugdev group run command:
sudo gpasswd --delete guest plugdev
For even more restrictions, e.g., disable save file, lock down appearance settings, disable printing, etc., go to the Gnome Wiki.
For those prefer Gnome 3 style Activities overview, here’s how to bring back the vertical workspace thumbnails in Ubuntu 21.10 and Ubuntu 22.04.
Since Ubuntu 21.10, the default GNOME desktop brings new design of the Activities overview screen. It now has large and horizontal workspaces locates across the center of screen. Along with thumbnails in the top, you can either click / use keyboard shortcuts or touchpad gestures to switch workspaces.
Personally I like the new design. But for those who are accustomed to the vertical view, here’s an extension to restore the change.
1. Prepare for installing Gnome Shell Extension:
Before getting started, make sure chrome-gnome-shell package is installed for GNOME Shell extensions integration for web browsers.
To do so, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and paste the command below and hit Enter:
Don’t worry if you don’t see the slider icon, click the ‘click here to install browser extension’ link to install browser extension and re-fresh the web page.
NOTE: The preinstalled Firefox in Ubuntu 22.04 does not support installing Gnome Extensions. As a workaround, you may search for & install “Extension Manager” in Ubuntu Software. Then, use the tool to search and install Vertical Overview extension.
Install the extension via Extension Manager tool
3. Configure Overview Appearance:
After installed the extension, you can press Win/Super key and search for and open ‘Gnome Extensions app’ to configure its settings.
Click on the gear button, then you can change the workspace thumbnail size, position, as well as toggle on / off the big central workspace.
For those want to set the CPU TDP limit, a new Intel Controller app is available by Spanish Linux computer company Slimbook.
TDP stands for Thermal Design Power, in watts, and refers to the power consumption under the maximum theoretical load.
Similar to its AMD Controller app, the new app works by setting your CPU TDP value. That is, the amount of power measured in watts allowed for your CPU to either save battery or to improve the overall performance.
To use the app, you need to disable secureboot because it does not allow kernel access to CPU parameters.
As a new project, it so far supports for: i3-10110U, i3-1005G1, i5-8250U, i5-8265U, i5-10210U, i5-1035G1, i7-7500U, i7-8550U, i7-8565U, i7-1065G7, i7-10510U, i7-10750H, i7-1165G7.
You can however test your CPU by adding into the “~/.config/slimbookintelcontroller/slimbookintelcontroller.conf” file.
Search on the web to find out your CPU Specifications, including TDP, TDP-up and TDP-down. Then add your CPU and set the Low, Medium, and High performance in watts as the picture shows. You can then choose between them via either the desktop app or indicator menu.
NOTE: The software is still in early development, they may have bugs. And in higher performance, it drains the battery faster and makes your CPU hotter. USE it at your own risk!
Install Slimbook Intel Controller:
The slimbook PPA maintains the package so far only for Ubuntu 20.04.
1. Add the PPA.
Firstly open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, or by searching for and open terminal from system app launcher. When terminal opens, copy and paste the command below and hit Enter:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:slimbook/slimbook
Type user password, no asterisk feedback, when it asks and hit Enter to continue.
2. Install the controller app.
Next run command to install the Intel Controller:
sudo apt install slimbookintelcontroller
For AMD CPU, you can install another package instead:
sudo apt install slimbookamdcontroller
Once installed, open it from system app launcher. As I mentioned above, it won’t start if your process is not in the configuration file. For the source code, go to Github.
Uninstall:
For any reason, you can copy and paste the command below into terminal and hit Run to remove the software.
sudo apt remove slimbookintelcontroller
As well, do for removing the Slimbook PPA via the command below:
Want to change the position of top-bar items, e.g., Activities button, app menu, date and time, and system tray icons?
A Top Bar Organizer extension now is available for Ubuntu 21.04 Gnome 40. With it, you can drag and drop to re-order top panel items as you prefer. For example, moving the Activities button or date & time clock menu to right corner.
Install Top Bar Organizer:
1.) Firstly open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When terminal opens, run command to install Gnome extension integration for web browser, as well as Gnome Extension management tool:
Need the most recent HPLIP to get your HP printer or scanner working in Ubuntu? Here’s how to install guide as well as workaround to fix the python-pyqt5 dependency issue.
HPLIP is an open-source Linux drivers for HP’s inkjet and laser printers. The project is initiated and led by HP Inc. While the package in Ubuntu repositories is always old, you can install the official binary to get new devices support.
However, the most recent releases refuse to install in my Ubuntu 20.04 due to python-pyqt5 dependency issue. If you’re facing with the similar issue, then this tutorial may help!
Download & Install HPLIP in Ubuntu 20.04
1.) Firstly, download the latest binary from the link below. It’s ‘hplip-3.21.10.run‘ at the moment.
2.) Next, add executable permission by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then run command:
chmod u+x ~/Downloads/hplip*.run
And try to install it via command:
~/Downloads/hplip*.run
Follow the terminal output and answer some questions to start installing the driver.
3.) Fix python-pyqt5 dependency issue.
As I said, it refuse to install in Ubuntu 20.04 because it tries to install old Python 2 binding for Qt5 as dependency in my case.
Thanks to Christoph Mueller, I found it has something to do with python symbolic links.
As you may know, python2 and python3 in /usr/bin are symbolic links. While python2 is python2.7, python3 links to python3.8 (or 3.9 depends on Ubuntu edition), python is not exist out-of-the-box. However, it will be created in some cases and links to either python2 or python3.
And the point is when Python links to Python2, HPLIP will mistakenly try to install Python 2 libraries as dependency.
Until HPLIP fixed the issue, the solution is either remove /usr/bin/python if you don’t need it or make it link to Python3.
Make Python to be Python3:
There are two choices to create symlink for python: install python-is-python3 or use update-alternatives command.
Option 1. Open terminal and run command to install ‘python-is-python3’:
sudo apt install python-is-python3
Option 2. Use ‘update-alternatives’ to choose which to link to. Firstly, add both python2 and python3 as alternatives:
Want to access your Ubuntu desktop remotely from a Windows 11 computer? It’s easy to do the job with built-in screen sharing function.
Ubuntu uses Vino as default VNC server to share your existing desktop. With it, users can access Ubuntu remotely either in or out of local network via a VNC client.
Enable Vino VNC in Ubuntu:
1. Firstly, click on ‘Activities’ in top bar, search for and open terminal from system app launcher. When it opens, run commands:
Make sure Vino is installed by running command:
sudo apt install vino
To allow computer outside of local network to access, enable upnp is your router support it:
gsettings set org.gnome.Vino use-upnp true
Vino requires encryption by default. However, VNC clients from Windows computer does not support the encryption type. So you may disable the feature via command:
gsettings set org.gnome.Vino require-encryption false
There are more settings, e.g., change listening port, disable background, lock on disconnect. And you can control them via Dconf Editor (install from Ubuntu Software), by going to ‘org -> gnome -> desktop -> remote access’.
2. Secondly, open System Settings and go to Sharing in the left pane. Toggle on the slider icon on header, and then click ‘Screen Sharing’ to go to its settings page.
3. Finally, turn on ‘Screen Sharing’ function, and do:
Allow remote control by enabling “Allow connections to control the screen”
Set ‘New connections must ask for access’ if you’re sitting at Ubuntu computer.
Or set a hard-to-guess password for choice.
If you have both wired / wireless network connected, choose one to share with.
Remove Access Ubuntu from Windows 11:
Windows uses need a VNC client to get access remote computers. And I use TigerVNC which is available to download at the link below:
