UbuntuHandbook | News, Tutorials, Howtos for Ubuntu Linux

Change the Priority of PPAs or Apt Package Repositories in Ubuntu

Last updated: January 5, 2025 — 2 Comments

This is a step by step guide shows how to set the priority of certain packages, launchpad PPAs, and/or other apt repositories in Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and their based systems.

Besides using the default system repositories, we can also install additional packages from third-party or software’s own repositories.

For example, user may update LibreOffice office suite via the Ubuntu PPA, install Spotify, Google Chrome, Edge from their own repositories, or install tons of media apps from deb multimedia repository in Debian.

In Howtos apt

Refine – New Graphical Configuration Tool for GNOME Desktop

Last updated: March 10, 2025 — 2 Comments

For Linux with GNOME, there’s now new configuration tool to tweak advanced settings in this desktop environment.

It’s Refine, a free open-source tool that uses GTK4 + LibAdwaita for a modern UI to tweak desktop settings in Fedora Workstation, Arch, Manjaro Linux, etc with vanilla GNOME Desktop.

NOTE: Ubuntu is marked as “Unsupported Environment”. Some settings MAY not work as intended. User needs to confirm “Accept the Risk and Continue” for using the app in Ubuntu. See this bug report for details.

In App Review Gnome

Rally Racing Game Stunt Rally 3.3 Added 3 New Tracks

Last updated: January 2, 2025 — 1 Comment

Stunt Rally, free open-source rally style racing game, updated to version 3.3 a few days ago with new features.

Stunt Rally is a 3D racing game with Sci-Fi elements and own Track Editor. It features 232 tracks in 40 sceneries and 33 vehicles, allowing users to play either in single mode or multiplayer and split screen for up to 6 players.

In News racing game, stunt rally

How to Install NetBeans IDE 25 in Ubuntu / Debian

Last updated: February 25, 2025 — 1 Comment

This tutorial shows how to install the most recent Apache NetBeans IDE v25 in Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 24.10, and Debian 12 Bookworm, and their based systems, such as Linux Mint 22/21.

NetBeans is a free open-source (Apache License 2.0) Java IDE, that also supports other languages like PHP, C, C++, HTML5, and JavaScript via extensions.

In Howtos NetBeans IDE, programming

Install The Latest Arduino IDE 2.3.4 in Ubuntu / Debian

Last updated: December 31, 2024 — Leave a comment

This is a step by step beginner’s guide shows how to install the most recent Arduino IDE (2.3.4 so far) in Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint.

Arduino IDE is free open-source AVR development board IDE from Arduino CC. It’s available in Debian and Ubuntu repositories, but stuck at version 1.8.19, probably because the 2.x versions require internet connection.

If you want to get the 2.x release series, then there are 3 choices: Flatpak, AppImage, and portable Linux Zip archive that work in most Linux distributions.

In Howtos Arduino IDE, programming

Compile Kdenlive 25.04 from Source in Ubuntu 25.04 | 24.10

Last updated: April 18, 2025 — 2 Comments

This is a step by step guide shows how to compile the Kdenlive video editor 25.04.0 from source tarball in Ubuntu 24.10 and Ubuntu 25.04.

The popular Kdenlive video editor dropped native .deb package support for Ubuntu since version 24.02. It now provides official Flatpak package and AppImage for universal Linux support.

If you don’t like running it in sandbox environment, then you may choose to build it from source by yourself! And, here’s how to do the job for the most recent 25.04.0 release.

Kdenlive Video Editor

In Howtos Kdenlive, video editor

Kando – Pie Menu Launcher for Linux, Windows & Mac

Last updated: December 30, 2024 — Leave a comment

Remember GNOME Pie or Fly-Pie? There’s now a similar pie menu launcher for most Linux desktops as well as Windows and macOS.

It’s Kando, a free open-source application written mostly in TypeScript programming language.

With it, user can trigger a circular application launcher on desktop, then either use mouse clicks or draw gesture to launch apps, run custom scripts/commands, simulate shortcut key, or open files/websites.

https://ubuntuhandbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/kando-piemenu.mp4?_=1

In App Review Gnome-Pie, menu launcher

GIMP 3.0 RC2 Added New public API, Initial AppImage & Fixed 2.10 Migration

Last updated: December 28, 2024 — Leave a comment

GIMP image editor announced the second release candidate for the next major 3.0 release a day ago on Friday!

The new GIMP 3.0 RC2 fixed the issue migrating user’s 2.10 settings to GIMP 3.0. However, if you already used 3.0 RC1, then you need to delete those configurations first (backup of course), as otherwise RC2 won’t try to import the 2.10 preferences.

In News gimp, image editor

How to Install Sigil 2.4.0 in Ubuntu 24.04 / Linux Mint 22

Last updated: January 15, 2025 — 2 Comments

This is a step by step guide shows how to install Sigil ePub ebook editor (v2.4.0 so far) by either using Flatpak package or building from the source tarball.

Sigil is a popular free and open-source ePub ebook editor that works in Windows, Linux, and macOS. However, it does not provide official packages for Linux.

While Sigil in Ubuntu system repository is always old, user can easily install the latest version via Flatpak package that runs in sandbox environment, or by compiling it from the source tarball.