Archives For November 30, 1999

Open source continuous file synchronization program syncthing 1.2.0 was released yesterday with new features, various bug-fixes, and enhancements.

Syncthing 1.2.0 release highlights:

  • Add QUIC with NAT traversal as a new transport protocol. TCP remains the preferred way of connection when possible.
  • Adds automatic crash reporting.
  • Make large / variable block size the only available mode of operation
  • Versions are now named with the time of their archiving
  • The new release does not interoperate with Syncthing 0.14.45 or older

Syncthing offers official Snap package. It can be easily installed in Ubuntu 18.04 and higher via Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install snapd daemon first:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install Syncthing via command:

sudo snap install syncthing

Once installed, start it via command syncthing. Then go to localhost:8384 in web browser to setup shared folder, remote devices, and more.

For more, read the getting started guide.

Code 1.36, the June 2019 release of Visual Studio Code, was released. The new release has updated to Electron 4.x, means it will no longer run on Linux 32-bit.

VS Code 1.36 release highlights:

  • Context menu for the status bar to hide / show individual entries.
  • Indent guides now available in File Explorer, Search view, Debug views, etc.
  • Select Default Shell command for Mac OS and Linux.
  • Control the order of task and subtask execution.
  • New debug command Jump to Cursor
  • New setting controls whether word wrap is enabled in the Debug Console.
  • New Java installer.
  • New extension integrates JS/TS nightly builds.
  • Remote Development (Preview) improvements

How to Install VS Code 1.36 in Ubuntu:

You can either download and click install the Ubuntu .deb from VS code website:

Or install the official Snap (containerized software package) from Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04, the snap package is not integrated into Ubuntu Software.

Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install snapd first:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the VS Code IDE via command:

sudo snap install code --classic

Uninstall:

Depends on your system edition, remove VS Code either via Software Center or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove code

Deadbeef audio player 1.8.1 was released a few days ago with various bug-fixes and performance improvements for the 1.8 series.

Deadbeef 1.8.1 release highlights:

  • Fixed audio freeze while sorting
  • Fixed error messages when loading PLS playlist with relative paths
  • Removed the unmaintained sndio plugin
  • Added experimental subgrouping support in playlist
  • Added new title formatting functions $stripprefix and $swapprefix
  • Updated Repeat and Shuffle hotkey names to match the menus
  • Fixed rounding bug of total playtime in statusbar
  • Added FLAC plugin option to ignore corrupted stream errors
  • Fixed reloading replaygain info
  • Fixed writing replaygain info to APEv2 tags
  • And many other bug-fixes, see the release note for details.

How to Install DeaDBeeF 1.8.1 in Ubuntu:

The new release package is available to install in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04 via PPA repository.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:starws-box/deadbeef-player

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

2. Then refresh system package cache and install deadbeef via following 2 commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install deadbeef

Once installed, open the player from your system application menu and enjoy!

Uninstall:

To remove the music player, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove --auto-remove deadbeef

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates -> Other Software.

Toontown Rewritten, a fan-made recreation of Disney’s closed MMORPG Toontown Online, now is available to install via Snap package in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and higher.

Toontown Rewritten (TTR) is free to play and open to anybody. The TTR snap package contains a slightly modified version of the official Toontown Rewritten launcher, including python 3 support. Due to the fact that this launcher is modified, the TTR team will not provide support if anything goes wrong with the launcher.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, simply search for and install the game from Ubuntu Software utility:

For Ubuntu 16.04, you need to open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and make sure snapd daemon is installed first:

sudo apt-get install snapd

Then install the Toontown Rewritten via command:

sudo snap install toontown

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

Uninstall:

To remove the game, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove toontown

Opera web browser 62 was released today with improved dark mode, design updates. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu.

Opera 62 release highlights:

  • Improved Dark Mode and support for Windows dark theme
  • Add bigger tiles option in EasySetup panel
  • Task Completer, connect browser’s history to Speed Dial
  • Bring back start-page preload service
  • And numerous other changes. See the release note.

How to Install Opera 62 in Ubuntu:

The Opera team offers snap package (containerised software package), which is always up-to-date (auto-updates itself). You can simply install it in Ubuntu Software:

Also traditional Opera binary package for Ubuntu is available for download at the link below:

To receive future updates through Software Updater, add the official Opera apt repository via following steps:

1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the opera repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera.list'

2. Get the key:

wget -O - http://deb.opera.com/archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

Finally either install Opera via following command or upgrade the browser via Software Updater:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install opera-stable

Uninstall:

For the Opera snap package, simply remove it from Ubuntu Software.

For the Opera apt repository, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove traditional opera package, either use your system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove opera-stable

Free scorewriter MuseScore 3.2 was released a day ago with dozens of bug-fixes as well as some improvements to user interface.

MuseScore 3.2 release highlights:

  • Default to dark theme on macOS Dark Mode
  • Sticking (the process of assigning certain notes to either our left or right hand) as a new command
  • A few improvements to user interface.
  • Fixed exporting parts from a score didn’t produce correct MIDI, MP3, WAV, OGG, and FLAC files
  • Fixed that tuplets and articulations were laid out incorrectly
  • And many other fixes, see the relese note for details.

Download / Install MuseScore in Ubuntu:

MuseScore has a stable PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, though it’s falling behind with version 3.0.5.

There’s non-install single executable Appimage available to download at the link below:

Right-click the Appimage, go to Properties -> Permissions -> tick the box says ‘Allow executing file as program’, finally run it to launch MuseScore 3.2:

Free-software planetarium Stellarium 0.19.1 was released today with numerous bug-fixes, updates, and improvements.

Changes in Stellarium 0.19.1 include:

  • Allow to search an inactive meteor showers in Search Tool/Lists tool
  • Added ‘Azimuth vs. Time’ graph into AstroCalc/Graphs tool
  • Added feature to show tracks for latest several selected planets
  • Added tools for jumping to the next or previous time of rising, transit or setting for selected object.
  • Added hour angle and sidereal time to infomap.
  • Updated DSO textures, planetary nomenclature, list of asterisms.
  • Numerous fixes and other updates.

How to Install Stellarium 0.19.0 in Ubuntu:

The official Stellarium Ubuntu PPA has made the new release packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stellarium/stellarium-releases

Type user password (no asterisk feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then upgrade Stellarium from an existing release with Software Updater utility:

Or run following commands to install the software for the first time:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install stellarium

Uninstall:

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

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove stellarium

And remove the PPA via “Software & Updates” utility under Other Software tab.

Vivaldi web browser released new stable version 2.6 today with improved security, profile management and more.

Vivaldi 2.6 release highlights:

  • Add Privacy option to block abusive ads.
  • More personality to user profiles
  • Filter saved passwords in Settings → Privacy.
  • Add unread tab counter to the left panel
  • Add Razer headphone devices support for Razer Chroma
  • And various other changes.

How to Install Vivaldi 2.6 in Ubuntu:

The official Ubuntu .DEB packages are available for download at the link below:

Grab the deb matches your OS, then install it via Ubuntu Software or Gdebi package manager. Or run command in terminal:

sudo dpkg -i ~/Downloads/vivaldi-stable_2.6*.deb

Vivaldi also has apt repository, with it you can install the browser and get future updates through Software Updater utility.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for terminal from application menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:

1. Download and install the repository keyring:

wget -qO- https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -

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

2. Add Vivaldi repository via command:

sudo add-apt-repository 'deb https://repo.vivaldi.com/archive/deb/ stable main'

3. Finally check updates and install the web browser via command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install vivaldi-stable

Or upgrade from an old version via Software Updater utility.

(Optional): To remove Vivaldi apt repository from you system, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

GIMP image editor 2.10.12 was released a day ago with mostly fixes for some annoying bugs.

There’s also some cool improvements in GIMP 2.10.12:

  • Improved Curves tool
  • Layers support for TIFF exporting
  • Support for user-installed fonts on Windows
  • Faster painting
  • Improved symmetry painting support
  • Incremental mode in the Dodge/Burn tool
  • Free Select tool now creates a preliminary selection
  • New Offset tool

How to Install Latest GIMP in Ubuntu & Linux Mint:

Ubuntu users can install the latest GIMP via 3 ways: GIMP PPA, Snap package, Flatpak package.

1.) GIMP Snap package:

GIMP Snap is still in v2.10.10 at the moment of writing. As usual it will be updated in a few days.

GIMP Snap is a containerized software package. Once installed, it will be updated automatically when maintainer published a new release package.

For Ubuntu 18.04 and higher, install GIMP snap package from Ubuntu Software:

For Ubuntu 16.04, run following commands one by one to install GIMP snap:

sudo apt-get install snapd
sudo snap install gimp

2.) GIMP PPA:

There’s an unofficial GIMP PPA that maintains native GIMP for Ubuntu packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and higher.

The PPA is not updated at the moment of writing. Check the PPA link above. It should be updated in 2 or 3 days.

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

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

2. Then you can upgrade GIMP using Software Updater is an old version was installed.

Or run following command to install GIMP:

sudo apt-get install gimp

3.) GIMP Flatpak:

Flatpak is a containerized software package. GIMP Flatpak package is available in flathub repositoy.

Uninstall:

To remove GIMP snap package, either use Ubuntu Software or run command in terminal:

sudo snap remove gimp

To remove GIMP PPA package, and restore to original status, run command in terminal to purge PPA:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

Deluge bittorrent client 2.0 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04.

Deluge 2.0 was released with following exciting new features:

  • Shiny new logo.
  • Multi-user support.
  • Performance updates to handle thousands of torrents with faster loading times.
  • A New Console UI which emulates GTK/Web UIs.
  • GTK UI migrated to GTK3 with UI improvements and additions.
  • Magnet pre-fetching to allow file selection when adding torrent.
  • Fully support libtorrent 1.2 release.
  • Language switching support.
  • Improved documentation hosted on ReadTheDocs.
  • AutoAdd plugin replaces built-in functionality.

How to Install Deluge 2.0 in Ubuntu:

Deluge stable PPA has built the latest packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04 and their derivatives.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run commands:

1. Run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/stable

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

2. If a previous release was installed, upgrade it via Software Updater:

or run command in terminal to install or upgrade Deluge:

sudo apt install deluge

Uninstall:

To uninstall Deluge PPA, open Software & Updates -> Other Software tab and remove the repository line.

To remove Deluge torrent client, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove deluge