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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.

In Howtos, News
 

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

Last updated: May 6, 2025

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 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, 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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Get Windows 7 Aero Flip 3D alike Alt+Tab Task Switcher in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

Fancy some 3D effects on your Ubuntu Desktop? There’s a gnome shell extension that enables Windows 7 Aero Flip 3D style ‘Alt+Tab’ app window switcher in Ubuntu.

Coverflow Alt-Tab is the extension works on Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, Ubuntu 18.04, and all other editions with Gnome 3 desktop.

1. If you’re first time installing a Gnome Shell extension, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install the chrome-gnome-shell package:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

You may also install gnome-shell-extension-prefs, an utility to manage Gnome extensions.

2. Go to extensions.gnome.org/…/coverflow-alt-tab/. Click the link to install browser extension if it prompts.

3. Finally refresh the web page and turn on the toggle icon to install the Gnome Shell extension.

Once installed, press Alt+Tab and enjoy! For the preferences, use Gnome Tweaks or Extensions utility.

In Gnome Shell, Howtos ,
 

How to Install “X-Apps’ (Pix, Xed, Xplayer, Xreader, Xviewer) in Ubuntu 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

This simple tutorial shows how to install x-apps, a bunch of GTK3 DE-agnostic applications, in Ubuntu 20.04 via PPA.

X-Apps are a bunch of GTK3 DE-agnostic applications that are not so tightly tied to a particular distribution or DE as their ancestors might be. The project was started in 2016 by Linux Mint.

The idea behind this project is to replace applications which no longer integrate properly outside of a particular environment (this is the case for a growing number of GNOME applications) and to give our desktop environments the same set of core applications, so that each change, each new feature being developed, each little improvement made in one of them will benefit not just one environment, but all of them.

This is an Ubuntu PPA that contains these app packages so far for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 20.04.

  • pix – image management application based on gThumb,
  • xed – text editor based on Pluma,
  • xplayer – media player based on Totem,
  • xviewer – image viewer based on Eye of GNOME,
  • xreader – document reader based on Atril.

1. Open terminal from your system application launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/xapps

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

2. Then refresh package cache and install either or all of the packages:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install pix xed xplayer xviewer xreader

Just remove xed, xplayer, or any other package from the apt command if you don’t want to install it.

Uninstall X-Apps:

To remove the PPA, open terminal and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:savoury1/xapps

To remove x-apps, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove pix xed xplayer xviewer xreader
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How to Install Latest KiCad in Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 [New PPA]

Last updated: February 24, 2025

This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest KiCad, schematic capture & PCB design software, in Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Linux Mint via PPA.

KiCad is a free software suite for electronic design automation. It facilitates the design of schematics for electronic circuits and their conversion to PCB designs. KiCad was originally developed by Jean-Pierre Charras. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture and PCB layout design. Tools exist within the package to create a bill of materials, artwork, Gerber files, and 3D views of the PCB and its components.

The new official PPA was created contains the latest packages for 9.0 release series. See here for the new features in the KiCad 9.x.

Install KiCad 9.x from Ubuntu PPA

1. Open terminal either from system application launcher, or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kicad/kicad-9.0-releases

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

NOTE: KiCad maintains individual PPAs for each release series! When next 10.x release series is out, there may be new PPA for it. So go check this page in case a new PPA is available when you see this tutorial.

2. Then refresh system package via command:

sudo apt update

This step is no longer required as it automatically refresh cache while adding PPA. However, some Ubuntu flavors, e.g., Linux Mint, does NOT.

3. Install the KiCad package:

sudo apt install kicad

After installation, search for and launch the CAD software from either start menu or GNOME Overview depends on your desktop and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove KiCad package, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove kicad

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

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:kicad/kicad-9.0-releases
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[Quick Tip] One Command to Get A Collection of Gnome Shell Extensions in Ubuntu

Last updated: April 24, 2024

This is a beginner’s guide shows how to easily extend functionality of GNOME Shell in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 20.10.

Ubuntu by default includes three extensions: Desktop Icons, Ubuntu AppIndicators, and Ubuntu Dock.

Besides installing more from Gnome Shell extension website, you can run a single command to get a collection of extensions that provide additional and optional functionality.

The extensions include:

  • Applications Menu – add classic Gnome 2 menu in top-bar right after Activities.
  • Auto Move Windows – Move applications to specific workspaces when they create windows.
  • Horizontal workspaces – use a horizontal workspace layout.
  • Launch new instance – always launch a new instance when clicking app shortcut in the dash or the application menu.
  • Native Window Placement – Arrange windows in overview in a more compact way.
  • Places Status Indicator – add menu in top-bar to quick access user folders.
  • Removable Drive Menu – add system tray indicator to easy access and unmount removable devices.
  • Screenshot Window Sizer – Resize windows for gnome software screenshots.
  • User Themes – load shell themes from uer directory.
  • Window List – Display a window list at the bottom of the screen.
  • Workspace Indicator – add system tray applet to indicator in which workspace you are.

1. And the commands is (press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal and run the command):

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extensions gnome-shell-extension-prefs

2. After running the command, restart Gnome Shell by:

  1. press Alt+F2 on keyboard.
  2. try r in the pop-up ‘Run a Command’ box.
  3. hit Enter.

3. Finally open (or re-open) Extensions tool from app menu. You’ll see a list of new extensions. Enable any of them as you want and enjoy!

(Optional) If you don’t like them, simply run command to remove the package (restart Gnome Shell is required):

sudo apt remove gnome-shell-extensions

NOTE for clean freak: Even if you just need one or a few of the extensions, you can’t remove the package to get rid of the rest from showing in Extensions tool. As a workaround, you can install the extensions you need from extensions.gnome.org.

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