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GIMP Image Editor 2.10.18 Released with 3D Transform tool

Last updated: February 25, 2020

GIMP extra color palettes

GIMP image editor 2.10.18 was released a day ago with new features and usability improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.

Due to a critical bug, v2.10.16 was skipped and GIMP 2.10.18 was released with following release highlights:

  • Tools now grouped in the toolbox by default.
  • Sliders now have a compact style by default.
  • Vastly improved user experience for the transformation preview
  • Dockable areas now highlighted when a dockable dialog is being dragged
  • New 3D Transform tool to rotate and pan items
  • Much smoother brush outline preview motion on the canvas
  • Symmetry painting enhancements
  • Faster loading of ABR brushes
  • PSD support improvements
  • Consolidated user interface for merging down and anchoring layers
  • Update check to notify users of new releases available
  • Various bug-fixes, and translation updates.

Install GIMP 2.10.18 in Ubuntu:

Neither the PPA repository nor GIMP Snap package are updated to v2.10.18 at the moment of writing.

However, GIMP Flatpak package has been updated for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher. Simply open terminal from application menu and run following commands one by one:

  • 1. Install flatpak framework: 
    sudo apt install flatpak

  • 2. Add flathub repository: 
    flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

  • 3. Install GIMP flatpak package: 
    flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

  • 4. If an old GIMP Flatpak version was installed, update it via command: 
    flatpak update flathub org.gimp.GIMP

GIMP Flatpak co-exists with Snap and native .deb packages. Run command to start it if you have more than one GIMP icon, and don’t know which one to run.

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP

Uninstall GIMP Flatpak package:

To remove the flatpak package, simply run command:

flatpak uninstall flathub org.gimp.GIMP
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Install Drop Down Terminal Guake 3.10 in Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04

Last updated: April 24, 2024

This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest drop-down terminal Guake 3.10 in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 22.04.

Guake is an open-source drop-down terminal for Gnome desktop. While the software in Ubuntu main repository is old, the latest Guake 3.7 was released with following changes:

  • Add tab selection popover in each notebook
  • Add fullscreen hide tabbar option
  • Set custom colors for each terminal tab.
  • Add --select-terminal and --selected-terminal options to Guake CLI
  • Adds an option to display only the last directory on the current path as the tab name.
  • Reworked the tab name selection to use a drop-down menu.
  • Unfullscreen through D-Bus interface, as well as through CLI.
Guake Split Terminal Screen

Guake Split Terminal Screen

How to Install Guake in Ubuntu:

Ubuntu 23.10 and Ubuntu 24.04 already has the latest terminal package in system repository. Simply open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install:

sudo apt update; sudo apt install guake

Linux Uprising team maintains a PPA repository that contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04.

1.) Open terminal and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linuxuprising/guake

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

2.) Then run command to install the drop-down terminal application via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install guake

Once installed, launch Guake Preferences from system application menu, configure the keyboard shortcuts, and other preferences, and then you can either use the top-right indicator applet, or the shortcut key to drop-down the terminal from top.

If an old version was installed previously, you may first kill Guake process or just reboot your machine to make it well working.

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA, simply go to Software & Updates -> Other Software, then remove the repository line.

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MyPaint 2.0 Released with New Layer Mode, Linear Compositing

Last updated: February 17, 2020

MyPaint 2.0, free open-source raster graphics editor for digital painters, was finally released after more than a year of development.

MyPaint 2.0 is a new major release that features a new layer mode and uses linear compositing by default.

  • Linear compositing and spectral blending (pigment).
  • Full Python3 support
  • Layer views.
  • Brush strokes dependent on view rotation and view zoom.
  • Additional symmetry modes: vertical, vertical+horizontal, rotational, snowflake.
  • Expanded flood fill functionality: offset, feather, gap detection and more.
  • New brush settings: offsets, gridmap, additional smudge settings, posterize, pigment.
  • New brush inputs: barrel rotation, base radius, zoom level, gridmap x/y, direction 360, attack angle.

How to Install MyPaint 2.0 in Ubuntu:

So far, there’s only .appimage available in the Github releases page. Go to the following link, scroll down, and select download the ‘MyPaint-v2.0.0.AppImage‘ package.:

Download MyPaint [.Appimage]

Then right-click on the .appimage file, go to Properties -> Permissions, and finally make it executable by checking the box says ‘Allow executing file as program’.

Finally run the .appimage file from its context menu to launch MyPaint and enjoy!

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Ubuntu 18.04.4 Released with Kernel 5.3 [How-to Install]

Last updated: February 13, 2020

Ubuntu 18.04

The fourth point release Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS was released. Here’s how to install the new Linux Kernel 5.3 and Xorg in your current Ubuntu 18.04 machine.

Ubuntu 18.04.4 comes with an updated “hardware enablement stack” (HWE) from Ubuntu 19.10, including Kernel 5.3 that enables the latest hardware and peripherals available from IBM, Intel, and others.

It was announced last night:

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the release of Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS (Long-Term Support) for its Desktop, Server, and Cloud products, as well as other flavours of Ubuntu with long-term support.

Like previous LTS series, 18.04.4 includes hardware enablement stacks for use on newer hardware. This support is offered on all architectures and is installed by default when using one of the desktop images.

Ubuntu Server defaults to installing the GA kernel; however you may select the HWE kernel from the installer bootloader.

…

How to Upgrade to Ubuntu 18.04.4:

Besides downloading the ISO image, installing all available updates via Software Updater will bring you to the latest point release in the current Ubuntu 18.04 machine.

If you never installed the “hardware enablement stack” in your Ubuntu 18.04 machine, you may also do:

To install the 5.3 Kernel, you may need to run following command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04

Or run command to install both new kernel and Xorg Server stack:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04

Once installed, restart and enjoy!

How to remove the new hardware enablement stack:

To remove the new v5.3 kernel, first reboot and choose previous kernel from Grub boot-loader > Advanced options. Then run command:

sudo apt remove linux-image-unsigned-5.3*generic linux-image-5.3*generic

To remove the new Xorg packges, run command:

sudo apt remove xserver-xorg-*-hwe-18.04

And you DO HAVE to install back the old xorg packages via command:

sudo apt install xorg
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Plasma 5.18 LTS Released! How to Install in KUbuntu 19.10

Last updated: February 12, 2020

KDE Plasma 5.16

KDE Plasma desktop 5.18 LTS was released a day ago. Now it’s available to install it in (K)Ubuntu 19.10 via PPA.

Plasma 5.18 is an LTS (Long Term Support) release that will be updated and maintained by KDE contributors for the next two years. It features:

  • New Emoji Selector (press Windows key + the peroid (.))
  • New Global Edit mode
  • Better support for GTK applications using client-side decorations.
  • Audio Volume System widget improvement.
  • Optional User Feedback settings (disabled by default).
  • Redesigned the Application Style settings.
  • Fractional scaling improvement on X11

How to Install Plasma 5.18 in (K)Ubuntu 19.10:

Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, do:

1. Add Kubuntu Backports PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

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

2. Install Plasma 5.18 in Kubuntu 19.10:

Either install all system update via Update Manager, or run command in terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

3. For non-Kubuntu user:

Run command to install Plasma desktop:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install plasma-desktop

or install full KDE desktop environment via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

Uninstall:

You can purge the Kubuntu Backports PPA, which also downgrade Plasma desktop to the stock version (5.16.5) in Ubuntu 19.10 repository.

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
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OpenShot 2.5 Released with Hardware Encoding/Decoding Support

Last updated: February 15, 2020

OpenShot Video Editor

OpenShot video editor 2.5.0 was released a few days ago with exciting new features hardware acceleration support.

OpenShot 2.5.0 brings experimental support for hardware acceleration. You will see some new options available if you have a supported encoder/decoder. This can result in a huge performance improvement on some systems.

It has also completely rewritten the keyframe system to deliver real-time interpolated values, and no longer cache the entire value set.

Other changes in openshot 2.5.0 include:

  • Export and Import of EDL and XML.
  • Improved Thumbnail generation via a local HTTP server
  • Blender 2.8+ support
  • Ability to recover previous saves
  • many fixes and improvements to SVG support.
  • Improved preview window resizing in OpenShot
  • Disable metrics until opt-in
  • Export, built, and Cross-platform improvements.

How to Install OpenShot 2.5.0 in Ubuntu:

OpenShot has an official PPA repository that contains the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10 though it’s not updated at the moment for the new release.

1.) You can add the PPA repository by running command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), so to receive future software updates via Software Updater utility.

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

2.) Then install the video editor via commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install openshot-qt

Alternatively you may simply download the 64-bit .appimage file from OpenShot website:

OpenShot Downloads Page

Right-click on the .appimage and make it executable in the file ‘Properties > Permissions’. And finally run the .appimage to launch Openshot video editor 2.5.0.

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RawTherapee 5.8 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu 19.10

Last updated: February 5, 2020

RawTherapee

RawTherapee 5.8, cross-platform raw photo processing system, was released a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Linux Mint 19.x.

RawTherapee 5.8 release highlights:

  • New Capture Sharpening tool to automatically recover detail lost to lens blur.
  • CR3 support: image data is decoded, though metadata is not supported yet.
  • Improvements of various camera models
  • Speedups and optimizations to various tools
  • Better memory management and various bug fixes.

Download / Install RawTherapee 5.8 in Ubuntu:

The official Linux Appimage, single executable to launch the software (non-install), is available for download in the previous link.

For Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Linux Mint 19.x, you can also install RawTherapee 5.8 via this unofficial PPA.

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for “Terminal” from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhor/myway

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to add the PPA.

2. After that, upgrade the software via Software Updater if a previous version was installed:

or run commands one by one in terminal to install RawTherapee:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install rawtherapee

How to Remove:

To uninstall the free raw developer, run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove rawtherapee

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab, by removing the line says “http://ppa.launchpad.net/dhor/myway/ubuntu”.

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Gotify-Indicator: Send & Receive Messages in Ubuntu Desktop

Last updated: May 14, 2024

Gotify Indicator is a simple tool in the system tray area to send and receive messages via your own Gotify server.

Gotify is a server that can send and receive messages. It works as a push notifications server. It’s a free open-source tool written in Go language, and features a web UI, allowing to sending messages via a REST-API, subscribing/receiving messages via a web socket connection, and managing users, clients and applications.

Gotify also features iOS and Android app, a command line tool for pushing messages. While, Gotify-Indicator is a third-party indicator for Gotify in the Linux Desktop. With it you can send and receive messages directly from your computer. So you can send messages to other devices that are connected to the same server.

How to Install Gotify indicator in Ubuntu:

NOTE: The PPA package support until Ubuntu 22.04, check the PPA link below.

The developer maintains the software packages in the PPA repository for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 22.04.

1.) Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao

Type user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2.) Then install the tool via command:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gotify-indicator

Once installed, open it from your system application launcher and you’ll see the indicator in system tray area. Setup the notification sending and receiving service (see top picture) and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA as well as the software package, run commands in terminal one by one:

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

sudo apt remove gotify-indicator
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CopyQ Clipboard Manager 3.10 Released (How to Install)

Last updated: February 3, 2020

CopyQ clipboard editor released version 3.10.0 a day ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.10.

CopyQ is a free open-source clipboard editor with editing and scripting features. It monitors system clipboard and saves its content in customized tabs. Saved clipboard can be later copied and pasted directly into any application.

Changes in CopyQ 3.10.0 include:

  • Use environment variable COPYQ_DEFAULT_ICON=1 to show the original
    application icon.
  • Avoid updating menu unnecessarily
  • Require at least Qt 5.5
  • Use non-native color and font dialogs which fixes showing these in Gnome/Gtk
  • Fix GUI with fractional scaling
  • Improve clipboard/selection synchronization
  • Avoid reading clipboard in parallel in the monitor process

How to Install Copyq 3.10.0 in Ubuntu:

The official PPA repository has made the latest packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, Ubuntu 19.10, and Linux Mint 18.x, 19.x.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) from application menu and run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hluk/copyq

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

2. Then install CopyQ either via Synaptic package manager or by running commands in terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install copyq

Once installed, start the clipboard manager from application menu and you’ll see the icon in system tray area.

Uninstall:

To remove the software, either use Synaptic package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove copyq

To remove PPA repositories, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

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How to Install TLP (Battery Saving Tool) in Ubuntu

Last updated: April 24, 2024

TLP is a free and open-source tool aims to save laptop battery life for Linux laptops. It’s a feature-rich command line utility for saving battery power without the need to dig deeper into technical details

It comes with a default configuration already optimized for battery life, so you may just install and forget it. Nevertheless TLP is highly customizable to fulfill your specific requirements.

TLP features include:

  • Kernel laptop mode and dirty buffer timeouts
  • AMD/Intel CPU scaling driver operation mode
  • Processor frequency scaling and turbo boost
  • Intel CPU max/min P-state limits to control power dissipation
  • AMD/Intel CPU energy/performance policies (EPP) and dynamic boost
  • Intel GPU frequency limits
  • AMD GPU power management
  • Enable/disable integrated bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WWAN devices
  • And much more.

How to Install TLP in Ubuntu:

The software has an official PPA repository so far supports for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 23.10, and Ubuntu 24.04.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linrunner/tlp

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

2.) If you already installed an old version, open Software Updater and upgrade the package.

This will also upgrade TLP from the beta release to the latest stable.

Or run command in terminal to install it for the first time:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install tlp

After installation, just leave it running silently in the background and you’re done.

For advanced users, you may edit the config file /etc/tlp.conf and change the settings according to your need:

sudo gedit /etc/tlp.conf

For Ubuntu 23.10, and Ubuntu 24.04, replace gedit with gnome-text-editor. For non-default desktop environments, use your own text editor, or use nano that works for all. For how to configure the file, see the official documentation.

Uninstall TLP:

You can run command in terminal to purge the PPA which also downgrade TLP to the stable version available in Ubuntu main repository:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:linrunner/tlp

To completely remove the TLP power management tool, run command:

sudo apt remove tlp tlp-rdw
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