The Ubuntu team announced the six point release for Ubuntu 18.04 today for the Desktop and Server.
Ubuntu 18.04.6 refreshed the disc images for the amd64 and arm64 architecture, re-enabling the usage on Secure Boot enabled systems due to the key revocation related to the BootHole vulnerability.
In August 2020, a set of security vulnerabilities in GRUB2 (the GRand Unified Bootloader version 2) collectively known as BootHole were disclosed. Today, another set of vulnerabilities in GRUB2 were disclosed, with similar implications.
The release also includes many other security updates for additional high-impact bug fixes, with a focus on maintaining stability and compatibility with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.
Download Ubuntu 18.04.6:
Ubuntu 18.04 has 5 year standard security support, and additional 5 year Extended Security Maintenance (esm) free for personal use.
To download Ubuntu 18.04.6, go the the link below:
Oracle announced the release of Java 17 as the new Long-Term Support (LTS) release.
Java 17 LTS comes with thousands of performance, stability, and security updates, as well as 14 JEPs (JDK Enhancement Proposals). And Oracle will provide 8-year support for the release with security, performance, and bug-fix updates until 2029.
According to the release note, the next LTS will be Java 21 planned for September 2023, which changes the LTS release circle for every three years to two years.
What’s New in Oracle Java 17:
JDK 17 includes new language enhancements, updates to the libraries, support for new Apple computers, removals and deprecations of legacy features, and work to ensure Java code written today will continue working without change in future JDK versions. It also offers a language feature preview and incubating APIs to gather feedback from the Java community.
Updates in the release include:
Sealed classes and interfaces restrict which other classes or interfaces may extend or implement them.
Restore Always-Strict Floating-Point Semantics
New interface types and implementations for Pseudo-Random Number Generators (PRNGs), including jumpable PRNGs and an additional class of splittable PRNG algorithms (LXM).
Implement a Java 2D pipeline for macOS using the Apple Metal API.
New Arm 64-based Apple Silicon computers support.
Deprecate the Applet API for removal
Remove the Remote Method Invocation (RMI) Activation mechanism
Remove the Experimental AOT and JIT Compiler
Deprecate the Security Manager for removal
Strongly encapsulate all internal elements of the JDK, except for critical internal APIs such as sun.misc.Unsafe.
Pattern matching for switch expressions and statements, along with extensions to the language of patterns.
Improves Foreign Function and Memory API and Vector API.
How to Install Oracle Java 17 in Ubuntu:
Thanks to the “Linux Uprising” team ppa, an installer script has been created to automatically downloads and installs Oracle JDK 17 package, and sets Java 17 as the default Java version (setting JAVA_HOME, etc.) on 64-bit PC and arm64 devices, e.g., Rasperry Pi and Microsoft HoloLens 2.
1.) Firstly, open terminal either from system start menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linuxuprising/java
Type user password when it asks (no asterisk feedback) and hit Enter to continue.
2.) Refresh system package cache. The PPA provides packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, Ubuntu 21.10, as well as two old Ubuntu LTS (14.04 and 16.04). And old Ubuntu releases need to manually update system cache by running the command below in terminal:
sudo apt-get update
3.) Finally install the script package via command:
sudo apt-get install oracle-java17-installer
Once the script starts, it brings you to the screen for the license. Press Tab key on keyboard to select OK and hit Enter.
Then answer “Yes” via arrow keys and hit Enter to start downloading Java 17 package from oracle website.
Terminal will indicate the downloading and installing process for you. When everything’s done successfully, use java --version or javac --version command to verify the installation.
Looking for a personal data backup program? Pika Backup is a good choice for Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux with GNOME desktop.
Pika Backup is free open-source tool to backup your personal data into either local disk (e.g., an USB stick) or remote server using secure shell or sftp. It’s a modern GTK4 + libadwaita app that offers a stylish and easy to use user interface.
The utility is based on BorgBackup (aka Borg), features data de-duplication technique to save time and disk space since only changes are stored for daily backups. With the power of authenticated encryption technique, it also supports password protect for your data.
The app starts in a clean UI with a “Configure Backup” button to get started creating repositories to store backups. The top-left ‘+‘ icon is also present to do the same job.
Once click on “+” icon, it will ask you to create a new repository or select an existing repository to use in next dialog.
You may select to back your data into a remote server via ssh remote file transfer by specifying URL, e.g., “ssh://user@server.example.org/~/backup“, however borg need to be installed in the server side. For choice, the “sftp://” prefix can be used without borg.
Remote Location
Data can also be saved in local folder or removable devices, such as an USB drive. It will create a sub-folder in selected directory or device and save backup either encrypted or not depends on your selection.
After creation, it will recognize the USB repository automatically once you plug it in, allows you to either edit or select use the repository.
Local repository (USB Stick)
After creating / choosing the backup repository, it brings you to the file selecting screen. There you can choose any file folders, and exclude any for the backup. When you done data selection, click the green “Back Up Now” button to start. It indicates the process with how many percentage finished and how much time left.
setup backup
Backups are stored in unreadable files. You have to open the Pika Backup tool to mount the backups using “Browse saved files” under Archives tab. Then recover files or folder via opened file manager using copy & paste actions. This is not friendly in my opinion since no recover option present.
Archives tab to browser and manage your backups
Scheduled backups are not supported so far, and excluding files from a backup via regular expressions and alike is not implemented yet. Start in v0.4.0, it supports for schedule backup hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly with given time or day. It can also delete old archives automatically by keeping user selected number of last backups.
Install Pika Backup in Ubuntu Linux:
The Pika Backup software is available for most Linux via the universal Flatpak package.
Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for and opening it from ‘Activities’ overview screen. When it opens, run following commands one by one:
1.) Install flatpak daemon, if you don’t have it, by running command:
sudo apt install flatpak
For Ubuntu 18.04, users have to add the Flatpak PPA first.
2.) Next add the flathub repository, considered as official place hosts flatpak packages:
KeePass Password Safe 2.49 released with user interface improvements and minor new features. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu via PPA.
According to the release note, the new release added new dedicated context menus for custom string fields and auto-type associations in the entry dialog. Allows to copy names, values, target windows and sequences, copy and paste items, and do select all and move to actions. The button “More” is present to the right of the custom string fields and auto-type associations list to show the context menu.
The release also added optional “Auto-Type – Enabled” and “Auto-Type – Sequences” main entry list column. They are disabled by default and can be turned on via menu “View -> Configure Columns”.
KeePass 2.49 added support for importing Keeper 16.0.0 JSON files, and automatic screen reader detection based on the operating system’s screen reader parameter. Other changes include:
New ‘Show confirmation dialog when opening a database file whose minor format version is unknown’ option.
Dialog banners can now be read by screen readers
Added accessibility names for some controls
Controls in the accessibility/automation control tree are now ordered by their visual locations
Various accessibility enhancements and other improvements.
How to Install KeePass 2.49 in Ubuntu:
KeePass 2.x runs on Linux through Mono, the open-source .NET Framework-compatible software framework. The UI looks old. If you don’t like it, try KeePassX the native Linux password manager.
The software does not provide Linux binary package so far. Besides building from the source, you can use the unofficial Ubuntu PPA.
NOTE: I offer no warranty for any package in the PPA. Build rules and patches borrowed from the Julian Taylor’s PPA. Use it at your own risk.
1.) Firstly, open terminal from start menu and run command to add the PPA:
YOGA Image Optimizer is a graphical tool to batch convert photos into JPEG, PNG and WEBP, and compress file sizes while having equivalent quality.
It’s a free and open-source tool based on YOGA command line tool, which can also convert and optimize 3D models from various formats to glTF and GLB.
YOGA:
The YOGA backend uses Python Pillow library to convert images into PNG, JPEG, or WebP as you prefer. And it uses Google’s Guetzli library to generate JPEG that are typically 20-30% smaller than libjpeg while having some quality. Google’s Zopflipng and libwebp libraries are in use for optimizing other two image formats.
The command line tool also support converting and optimizing 3D models using the Open Asset Import Library (Assimp).
YOGA Image Optimizer:
The official front-end for YOGA provides an easy to use graphical interface to do converting and optimizing process in Linux and Windows.
Simply open a batch of photo images (press Shift or Ctrl while choosing files), it shows the thumbnails, input file name and size, as well as output name and file format.
Before you clicking “Optimize”, you can choose output format and set compress level for each or a selection of images.
Multi-thread support. You can set how many CPU cores to use.
GTK theme support. It allows to choose between all installed GTK theme for the app only.
Dark Mode.
Custom output pattern.
Install YOGA Image Optimizer in Ubuntu Linux:
For Linux, the software can be installed either via universal Flatpak package or using pip (Python Package Installer).
1. Flatpak Package
Open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard, you can then run following commands one by one to get the software via Flatpak in Ubuntu 20.04 and higher. For Ubuntu 18.04, you need to add this PPA before getting started.
a. ) Install the flatpak daemon if you don’t have it:
sudo apt install flatpak
b.) Add the Flathub the preferred repository hosting Flatpak package:
For those don’t like the Flatpak package, use the Python pip3 package installer. It however does NOT create app shortcut for launching it from the ‘Show Applications’ start menu.
a.) Firstly, open terminal and run command to install required libraries:
The pip package does not has app shortcut, you need to either run yoga-image-optimizer command to start it from terminal and create a .desktop file manually.
For those don’t like the Flatpak package, here’s how to install GIMP 2.99.18 from PPA in Ubuntu 20.04 and/or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
The popular GIMP image editor is working on the next major 3.0 release. For testing purpose, GIMP 2.99.18 was released as the latest development version. It provides the official Linux package via Flatpak package. However, some users don’t like it, since Flatpak is an universal package format needs separate daemon to run in sandbox.
Install GIMP 3.0 Dev from PPA in Ubuntu 20.04/22.04:
For Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04, and derivatives, e.g, Linux Mint 20/21 and Zorin OS 17, the unofficial PPA contains the classic .deb package for GIMP 3.0 Dev release.
NOTE: The package in the PPA is unstable. It may have bugs and used only for testing purpose. Installing GIMP from this PPA will override the 2.10 stable release, don’t install it on production machine.
1. Add the PPA.
Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal, or search for and open terminal from start menu if you’re on Linux Mint or ZorinOS.
When terminal opens, copy and paste the command below and hit Run to add the PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mati75/gimp30
Type your password as sudo command need user authentication, and hit Enter to continue.
2. Update package cache
Since Ubuntu 20.04, it updates the system package cache automatically while adding Ubuntu PPAs, However, Linux Mint 20 does not. So you may need to manually run command in terminal to update cache:
sudo apt update
3. Install / Upgrade to GIMP 3.0 Dev
Finally, you can either open Software Updater (Update Manager) to install or upgrade the GIMP package, or run command in terminal instead:
sudo apt install gimp gegl
Revert to GIMP 2.10 Stable:
It’s possible to downgrade the image editor back to 2.10 stable release, 2.10.18 if no other relevant PPA added.
Simply open terminal and run the command below to install the ppa-purge package, and then purge the Ubuntu PPA which will remove it as well as downgrade installed packages:
Mozilla Firefox 92.0 was released today with new features and various security fixes.
The release will use HTTPS resource record (HTTPS RR) as Alt-Svc headers to make connections more secure.
The full-range color (0-255) levels are now supported for video playback. Though the limited color range (16-235) is ideal for movies and TV, the source can be switched to full-range color to match PC monitor.
For Mac, users can now access the macOS share options from the Firefox File menu. And it enables support for images containing ICC v4 profiles.
Other changes include:
Firefox performance with screen readers and other accessibility tools is no longer severely degraded if Mozilla Thunderbird is installed or updated after Firefox.
macOS VoiceOver now correctly reports buttons and links marked as ‘expanded’ using the aria-expanded attribute.
An open alert in a tab no longer causes performance issues in other tabs using the same process.
The bookmark toolbar menus on macOS now follow Firefox visual styles.
Certificate error pages have been redesigned for a better user experience.
How to Install Firefox 92:
Usually, Ubuntu will publish the new Firefox package in next few days. The best choice is just wait!
You’ll see the packages in Software Updater once published:
Or see the release note & download the Linux portable package from this page.
This simple tutorial shows how to install Virtualbox Guest Additions in Ubuntu based systems, e.g., Linux Mint, Zorin OS and Elementary OS, with fix or workaround for common issues.
Guest Additions is a set of device drivers and system applications to install in Guest OS. It’s useful when you try to share folder and/or clipboard between guest and host, enable USB support etc. Installing the software suite is easy via a menu option. However, it might not function in some cases.
Install Guest Additions in the Normal Way
Firstly, start and login the Guest OS. Then go to VM menu “Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD image“.
Usually, a pop-up dialog will open and prompt whether to run autorun script or not. Just click “Run” and it starts to install the guest additions after you typing user password in authentication dialog.
After installation, the additions will function in next boot of the Guest OS.
[Workaround] Unable to insert the virtual optical disk:
Sometimes it outputs an error “Unable to insert the virtual optical disk … into the machine …” when you click on the menu option in VM (VirtualBox Machine).
It happens in my case when trying to install the additions in Elementary OS 6. And it will pop-up an error dialog:
Don’t know why but do following steps will fix the issue in next Guest boot:
1.) Power off the Guest OS, then go to its Settings page. Under the Storage settings, remove the attached iso under Controller:IDE.
2.) Next add new optical drive, and click “Leave Empty” in the select dialog.
After saving the changes, start the Guest OS and try to install the additions again.
Manually Download & Install Guest Additions:
Nothing happens when clicking ‘Insert Guest Additions CD image’ option? You can download the iso, mount it, and install the Guest Additions manually.
1.) Firstly start the VirtualBox Machine, download the iso image for your VirtualBox edition, usually “VBoxGuestAdditions_x.x.xx.iso”, from the link button below:
2.) Next open the Downloads folder, right-click or (double-click) on the file and select to mount the iso image.
The dialog should pop-up allows you to select “Run” to install the additions. If not, go to the mounted folder from the left pane in file manager. Right-click on blank area and select ‘Open in Terminal‘ to open a terminal window and navigate to the directory automatically.
When terminal opens, run the .run installer manually via command:
And compile it from source folder (generated automatically once you run the .run file) via configure, make, sudo make install.
Uninstall HPLIP 3.21.8:
While installing the driver, it creates a source folder that contains an uninstall script. Until you remove that folder, you can run the script to remove HPLIP:
cd ~/Downloads/hplip-3.21.8/ && sudo ./uninstall.py
This is a step by step tutorial shows how to add “open as root (or administrator)” option in Pantheon file browser in Elementary OS 6 Odin.
Elementary OS now is at version 6.0 based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. For those looking for the “Open as Administrator” function to open system file via root user permission, or do copy & paste things outside of user’s home directory, things have changed.
The executable command for the file manager now is io.elementary.files, and the command to start text editor is io.elementary.code. Both are named in Flatpak app style. Gksu has gnone, and “pkexec” takes the place to allow an authorized user to execute program as root.
Add Open as Admin action in Elementary OS 6:
1. ) Firstly, search for and open “terminal” from the top-left corner Applications menu.
2. When terminal opens, run command to create (& edit via nano) the configuration file for option to edit file as root user privilege:
Then paste the following lines and save it (Ctrl+X, type y, and hit Enter):
[Contractor Entry]
Name=Open as Administrator
Icon=system-file-manager
Description=Open a folder via root user privilege
MimeType=inode/directory;
Exec=pkexec io.elementary.files %U
Gettext-Domain=file manager
After creating the two files, “Edit as Administrator” and “Open as Administrator” context menu option appear when right-clicking a file or folder immediately without restart.
As you see, you can create more actions by creating files with “.contract” extension under /usr/share/contractor directory. The name will be displayed as menu option, and you can find value of icon, MineType and Exec by checking the app shortcut file (.desktop) under /usr/share/applications directory.
