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Enable File Browser in Default Gedit Text Editor in Ubuntu 20.04/22.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Editing files regularly with the default text editor in Ubuntu? Without looking your documents through Files (Nautilus file browser), gedit offers a built-in file browser mode to make life easy.

And this is the beginner’s guide shows you how to enable this built-in file browser mode in Gedit text editor.

1. First open the text editor either from system applications menu or by click opening a document file.

2. When the editor opens, go to menu (the icon after Save button) -> View, and enable Side Panel. You can alternatively press F9 on keyboard to toggle ‘Side Panel’ on / off.

3. After enabled ‘Side Panel’, click on the ‘Documents’ button in window’s header and select ‘File Browser’.

4. That’s it. You now have a file tree in the left panel of the text editor window, allows to easy access user files / folders, bookmarks, and full file system.

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[Quick Tip] How to Install Syncthing-GTK in Ubuntu 20.10

Last updated: November 22, 2020

Syncthing-gtk, GTK3-based GUI and indicator for Syncthing, was removed from Ubuntu 20.10 Groovy’s main repository due to old Python library dependencies.

For those sticking to this program, the Python 3 port now works in progress. It has been made into main repository for the next Ubuntu 21.04 Hirsute Hippo. And you can download & install the package in Ubuntu 20.10.

1. First download the .deb package from the link below:

As Ubuntu 21.04 still in active development, the package is being updated (might be). Check the package building page if the previous button does not work.

2. Once you get the package, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and install it by running command:

sudo apt install ./Download/syncthing-gtk_0.9.4.4+ds+git20200927+d09a2ef-3_all.deb

Tip: if you type the command manually, hit tab key after typing syncthing-gtk will auto-complete the file name in terminal window.

Once installed, launch the software from your system application menu and enjoy!

(Optional) And if you want to remove the package, simply run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove syncthing-gtk
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Gmusicbrowser 1.1.16 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: November 20, 2020

Gmusicbrowser, an open-source jukebox for large music collections, released version 1.1.16 a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, Linux Mint 20.

Gmusicbrowser 1.1.16 is the first release in over 5 years. And now it’s working on GTK3 port.

Changes in version 1.1.16 include:

  • Fix not working with perl >=5.24
  • Add support for .opus files
  • Add option to simplify tree in folder pane
  • Add option to ignore articles when sorting
  • Add has_picture and has_lyrics optional fields
  • Add artist_has_picture and album_has_picture virtual fields
  • PictureBrowser: add embedded picture mode (+ all files mode)
  • PictureBrowser: add “Reset view position when file changes” option
  • Add option to some fields to show a “find songs with same …” menu item
  • Add support for mp2 extension and change mp3 filetype
  • Update AppStream metadata
  • Update picture sources for picture finder plugin
  • Add musixmatch.com for lyrics plugin
  • Various bug-fixes and translation updates

How to Install gmusicbrowser 1.1.16 in Ubuntu:

The software offers official .deb binary package available to download at the link below:

Just grab the package and click install either via Gdebi package installer or “Software Install” context menu.

Install gmusicbrower via its official apt repository.

The software has an official apt repository for Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint based systems. You can add the repository then install the software and receive future package updates via Software Updater utility.

1. Add gmusicbrowser apt repository:

Run command in terminal to add its official repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://gmusicbrowser.org/deb ./" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/gmusicbrowser.list'

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks for sudo prompt and hit Enter.

Then download & install the key via command:

wget http://gmusicbrowser.org/squentin.key.asc -O - | sudo apt-key add -

2. Refresh package cache & install the software:

Run command in terminal to update your system package cache:

sudo apt update

And finally install it via command:

sudo apt install gmusicbrowser

Uninstall gmusicbrowser:

To remove the music collections manager, simply open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gmusicbrowser

To remove its apt repository, open Software & Updates -> Other Software tab and remove the repository line.

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Change Qt5 Apps Theme to Make Them Look Native in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Found that Qt5 based applications (e.g., VLC, qBittorrent, Virtualbox, Audacious, etc.) look ugly on Ubuntu Desktop? That’s because they don’t inherit the global GTK theme.

You can apply a custom theme to Qt5 applications to make them look native on Ubuntu Gnome desktop. And Kvantum, an SVG-based theme engine, can do the job.

First let’s see the change before and after applying the changes:

And here’s step by step guide shows how to to this in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10.

1. First open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:papirus/papirus

This step is optional for Ubuntu 20.04 and higher, as the packages are already made into main repositories.

2. Install the qt5-style-kvantum package by running command:

sudo apt install qt5-style-kvantum

3. Add rule to user’s profile, so the theme engine will handle Qt apps for single user.

echo "export QT_STYLE_OVERRIDE=kvantum" >> ~/.profile

For global, you can edit /etc/environment file and add the line export QT_STYLE_OVERRIDE=kvantum as new line in the end.

4. Log out and log back in. Then launch Kvantum Manager from system app menu.
Navigate to “Change/Delete Theme”, then select and apply KvYaru theme.

Now Qt5 apps should look native if you’re running with default Yaru GTK theme.

Uninstall and restore the changes:

To uninstall the PPA, open terminal and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:papirus/papirus

To remove the theme engine, run command:

sudo apt install qt5-style-kvantum qt5-style-kvantum-themes

And remember to edit ~/.profile to remove the last line.

gedit ~/.profile

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How to Install PowerShell 7.4.1 in Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04, 18.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Microsoft PowerShell 7.1.0 was released a few days ago with a number of improvements and fixes to PowerShell 7. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Linux Mint 19.x, 20.

PowerShell 7.1.0 release highlights:

  • Fix $? to not be $false when native command writes to stderr.
  • Rename -FromUnixTime to -UnixTimeSeconds on Get-Date to allow Unix time input.
  • Make $ErrorActionPreference not affect stderr output of native commands.
  • Allow explicitly specified named parameter to supersede the same one from hashtable splatting.
  • Make the switch parameter -Qualifier not positional for Split-Path.
  • Resolve the working directory as literal path for Start-Process when it’s not specified.
  • Make -OutFile parameter in web cmdlets to work like -LiteralPath.
  • Fix string parameter binding for BigInteger numeric literals.
  • On Windows, Start-Process creates a process environment with all the environment variables from current session, using -UseNewEnvironment creates a new default process environment.
  • Do not wrap return result to PSObject when converting ScriptBlock to delegate.
  • Use invariant culture string conversion for -replace operator.

How to Install PowerShell (7.4 Updated) in Ubuntu:

If you’re OK with containerized Snap package, simply search for and install powershell from Ubuntu Software.

For those prefer .deb package, Microsoft offers the software in its official apt repository, so far supports Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and Ubuntu 24.04.

1. Setup Microsoft apt repository in Ubuntu:

Open terminal from your system application launcher. When it opens, run command to download the official .deb package:

wget -q https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/$(lsb_release -rs)/packages-microsoft-prod.deb -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb

For Linux Mint, replace $(lsb_release -rs) in the code with 20.04 for Linux Mint 20 (or 18.04 for Mint 19.x).

Then install the package, which will install Microsoft repository and key, by running command:

sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter.

2. Install PowerShell:

After adding the repository, run following 2 commands one by one to check package updates and install the software:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install powershell

Once installed, run pwsh to start PowerShell.

Uninstall PowerShell:

To remove the software, simply open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove powershell

To remove the apt repository, simply go to Software & Updates > Other Software tab, and remove the relevant line.

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How to Install Latest digiKam 7.1.0 via PPA in Ubuntu 20.04, 20.10

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Prefer installing digiKam photo manager via apt repository rather than the containerized Flatpak package? There’s a third-party PPA maintains the latest packages for all current Ubuntu releases.

Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, or by searching for ‘terminal’ from system application launcher. When it opens, do following steps one by one to add the PPA and install the latest digiKam deb packages.

1. Add the Rob Savoury’s digiKam PPA via command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/digikam

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

2. (Optional) The PPA package for Ubuntu 18.04 require updated FFMpeg package, which is available by adding another PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/ffmpeg4

The PPA also contains the latest digiKam for Ubuntu 16.04, it is however requires more dependency PPAs. See the PPA link for detail.

3. Finally run 2 commands one by one to refresh system package cache and install the photo manager:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install digikam

If an old version of digiKam .deb package was installed on your system, simply launch Software Updater and upgrade the software along with other system updates.

Uninstall:

To remove digiKam photo manager, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove digikam

To remove the PPA, open Software & Updates and remove the repository lines from Other Software tab.

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OpenRazer 2.9 Released with New Razer Peripherals Support [PPA]

Last updated: November 11, 2020

OpenRazer, open-source driver and user-space daemon to manage Razer peripherals on Linux, released version 2.9.0 a few days ago with new Razer devices support, improvements, and bug-fixes.

OpenRazer 2.9.0 added support for following new devices:

  • Razer Atheris
  • Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed
  • Razer Blade 15 Advanced (2020)
  • Razer Blade 15 Base (Early 2020)
  • Razer Blade Stealth (Early 2020)
  • Razer Cynosa Lite
  • Razer Cynosa V2
  • Razer DeathAdder 2000
  • Razer Kraken Kitty Edition
  • Razer Kraken Ultimate
  • Razer Viper Miniv

The new release also adds read support for idle_time and low_battery_threshold, ability to configure the battery notification frequency, screensaver monitor support on Xfce, improved fake driver support, and more.

Polychromatic – OpenRazer GUI

How to Install OpenRazer 2.9.0 in Ubuntu:

The software has an official PPA so far contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from app launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openrazer/stable

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

2. (Optional) Also add Polychromatic PPA, if you fancy a graphical front-end, by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:polychromatic/stable

3. Finally refresh your system package cache and install the drivers and GUI tool via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install openrazer-meta polychromatic

Once installed, open polychromatic from your system application launcher and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove the drivers as well as the configuration tool, run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove openrazer-meta polychromatic

And open Software & Updates, navigate to Other Software tab to remove the PPAs.

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LiVES Video Editor 3.2.0 Released with Tons of New Features [PPA]

Last updated: November 10, 2020

LiVES, a free and open-source video editor and VJ tool, released new major version 3.2.0 with new features, performance and resource usage improvements, and tons of other changes.

Changes LiVES 3.2.0 include:

  • Initial startup has been rewritten.
  • Updated GTK+ support to 3.24.
  • A total rewrite of buttons, a new font chooser.
  • Specify configuration directory from commandline.
  • Implemented a thread pool with generic worker threads.
  • Introduced the idea of lives_proc_threads.
  • optimised memory handling in some specific cases.
  • Disk space quota can be set for the application.
  • Implemented auto gamma correction.
  • Implemented threading for swscale.
  • Added a predictive caching mechanism to the player.
  • Fixed several screen / window sizing issues.
  • The renderer now uses a separate thread for saving frames to disk, making rendering much faster.
  • New intelligent “auto-layout” mode to improve the appearance of all parameter windows.
  • Visual tweaks for Preferences window.
  • Fixed mkv_decoder so it can decode webm clips.
  • ctrl-alt-space now performs loop locking in clip editor (trickplay).
  • Add keys a / A (audio track lock / unlock) for clip editor playback.
  • Added two more keyboard effect keys (ctrl-minus and ctrl-equals).
  • Audio can now be normalised after rendering.
  • Added “audio bleedthru” mode in multitrack.
  • Individual clip volume levels can now be adjusted during playback (temporary) and non-playback (permanent).
  • Added a new “normalize audio” function.
  • Add more preferences to the prefs window.
  • Frame number now defaults to pointer position when opening the seperate window.
  • Seperate window in multitrack can now appear undecorated.
  • Improved appearance for ‘fireTV’ effect.
  • Add menu options jump to next mark / jump to previous mark in multitrack.

How to Install LiVES 3.2.0 in Ubuntu:

For the source code go to:

github.com/salsaman/LiVES/releases

The unofficial PPA contains the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/lives

Type user 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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FlightGear 2020.3 Released with New Default Keflavík (BIKF) Airport [Ubuntu PPA]

Last updated: November 8, 2020

After 2 years of development, Flightgear 2020.3 was released as the latest stable version of the flight simulator. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, and derivatives.

FlightGear 2020.3 release highlights:

  • New default Keflavík International Airport (BIKF)
  • Aircraft updates:
    • The A320 has been overhauled
    • The C182 gained an excellent integration of the FG1000 glass-cockpit, as did the J3 Cub and the Diamond DA40.
    • The SEPCAT Jaguar GR.1, Bombardier Q400 and twenty more aircraft were added.
  • FlightGear now simulates tides covering and uncovering shallow areas (littoral areas), like tidal flats (mudflats).
  • Textures can be cached & compressed for faster loading and reduced memory use, giving better performance.
  • Connection to the VATSIM network via SWIFT is officially supported.
  • Better translation support, and handling of non-ASCII file names.
  • Many view improvements, including a new Tower-AGL view.

1.) To install the flight simulator, first open terminal either from system application menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard.

When terminal opens, run command to add the PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:saiarcot895/flightgear

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

2.) Then refresh system package cache and install the software via command:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install flightgear

If an old version was installed, you can also upgrade it via Software Updater utility.

Uninstall:

To remove FlightGear PPA, either go to Software & Updates > Other Software, or run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:saiarcot895/flightgear

And remove the flight simulator if you want by running command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove flightgear flightgear-data
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How to Install GIMP 2.99.10 (Dev for GIMP 3.0) in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

This tutorial shows how to install the latest Beta release of GIMP 3.0, so far GIMP 2.99.10, in Ubuntu 20.04 using the official flatpak package.

What’s New in GIMP 2.99.10 compare to current stable:

  • GTK+3 user interface
  • Native Wayland and HiDPI support.
  • Major refactoring and cleanup
  • New plug-in API
  • Plugins now possible with Python 3, JavaScript, Lua, and Vala
  • More (color) space invasion
  • Render caching available for better performance
  • Clone-type tools on multiple layers
  • JPEG-XL file format support.
  • Pinch gesture on canvas for zooming
  • New Paint Select tool in the playground
  • New generic dialog generation and metadata support API for export plug-ins
  • Multi-threaded JPEG2000 decoding

GIMP 2.99.10 is available to install via Flatpak package in the “beta” branch of the official Flathub repository. You can open terminal and run following commands one by one to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 21.10.

1. Install Flatpak framework if you don’t have it (For Ubuntu 18.04 and even 16.04, add this PPA first).

sudo apt install flatpak

2. Add the flathub beta channel via command:

flatpak remote-add --user flathub-beta https://flathub.org/beta-repo/flathub-beta.flatpakrepo

3. Finally install GIMP 2.99.x via command (for single user only):

flatpak install --user flathub-beta org.gimp.GIMP

Once installed, launch it from ‘Show Applications’ menu and enjoy! In the case, I have GIMP 2.10 (via deb) and GIMP 2.99.x (via flatpak).

NOTE: If you installed both GIMP flatpak stable and beta packages, only one will be visible in app launcher. To make beta version visible, run command:

flatpak make-current --user org.gimp.GIMP beta

And to make stable version visible, replace beta in the command with stable.

Uninstall GIMP 2.99.x:

To remove the package, simply run command:

flatpak --user uninstall org.gimp.GIMP
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