The basic steps I often do every time I install a new Ubuntu system. The order of things is important.
Check my favorite apps on Linux.
Most of commands are for both Ubuntu and Pop!_OS, there are some which are only for Pop!_OS.
For Pop!_OS: You don't need to do everything in below steps.
- Download Ubuntu ISO. If you like a MacOS-like version, you can choose Elementary OS.
- Using Rufus (on Windows) or Etcher (on any system, recommended) or popsicle (usb flasher, on Pop!_OS) to create a bootable USB driver.
- [Pop!_OS] Download Pop!_OS (with NVIDIA)
- (Update 05 Jun 2021 - IMPORTANT) If you're using DisplayLink Dock (more than 1 external screens, Pop!_OS doesn't work with the DisplayLink Driver 5.4 but it works for Ubuntu 20.04). So, you have no choice to use Ubuntu instead of Pop!_OS!!!! Read more.
- Choose a custom partition while installing > use at least 2 partitions for the installing (1 which is main for Root
/and one which is ~500MB for Boot/boot/etc)
- Update & Upgrade
Download and installGoogle Chrome.👈 I use Brave- Sign in to Google Account + sync all extensions + settings.
- Disable Tab hover information: Go to
chrome://flags/and search "tab hover" then choose "Disable". - Install also these extensions:
- mate translate, google dictionary, TabCloud, raindrop, last pass, AVIM, adblock, GNOME Shell integration.
- Google Aut alternative on Chrome: use this.
- Install Guake Terminal (drop-down terminal supporting tabs). We install it first because we working mainly on terminal.
Note that: read Terminal + ZSH to install a good font and use zsh for terminal.
- Install GNOME Tweaks from App Store.
- Install Dash to panel extension and use this config for pop and this for ubuntu.
- Using rEFInd 👈 Just install and then restart to see the result!
In case you wanna hide some options in the boot manager with rEFInd, you can use
- button to hide it.- Make Alt-Tab show windows instead of applications: change in Settings > Keyboards > Custom keyboards > Switch windows. Gnome: install this one to switch between windows on current screen only.
- [Optional] Make emojis showing up
After that (make browser recognize more icons), create a new file
with this content.
- Cannot use f keys on keyboard Keychron K8 (this is useful too):
Hint: You can add this command to a script on startup.
- [Ubuntu only] Auto install drivers
In case you wanna switch between Intel (more power efficient) and NVDIA driver (more powerful)
- [Ubuntu only] Check the NVDIA driver and install the newest version: check in Additional Drivers. In case you wanna remove it and reinstall it later, use
- [Ubuntu only] Install GNOME Shell extensions
Install also chrome extension. Go to the corresponding extension link and turn it on and install it.
- Install video codecs,
- [Pop!_OS] Install snap:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install snapd.
- Install email client Mailsrping with snap:
sudo snap install mailspring.
- Install GoldenDict (app store) and dictionaries.
- Visual Studio Code and its basic extensions: Bracket Pair Colorizer, Docker, Linux Themes for VS Code, Markdown All in One, Markdown Shortcuts, Remote Development, Python, Auto Close Tags
Also add below settings to setting json file (
Ctrl + Shift + P and search "Preferences: Open Settings (JSON)", it's in ~/.config/Code/User)- Install Git Client as Gitkraken. Log in with Github account and clone all working repositories.
- Turn off Gnome Shell Activities Animations (click on window taskbar to toggle max/min),
- IBUS Bamboo, Vietnamese Input Method. Need to restart Ibus and choose Bamboo in the keyboard layout. You can use also
Shift+~for changing the options (Removing the underline, for example) -- You have to switch to Vietnamese Input before using this shortcut. UseSuper+Spaceto change between input methods.
- [Optional] You may need to install Python before install (successfully) Overgrive.
- LaTeX
- If you install Matlab, you can install
matlab-supportto add matlab icon to applications. Note that, if matlab exe file is at/usr/local/MATLAB/R2017b/bin/matlab, we add the location of folder as/usr/local/MATLAB/R2017b/.
- Use
super+Eto open Nautilus File Manager: change in Keyboard shortcut > Custom Shortcut with commandnautilus.
- Default text editor
gedit, you can use this command in terminal.
Gnome Calendarin app store.
- Screen Recorder, use Kazam (app store). If cannot recognize mic and speaker, read this solution. An alternative is SimpleScreenRecorder.
- VLC (app store). If there is a problem of displaying video (there is only sound without video), check this.
- Read SD card
- If you wanna make nautilus default again:
- If you wanna make some web app a desktop app, use nativefier.
- Bluetooth problem on Dell XPS 15 only: cannot turn on bluetooth ⇒ Try turn off and turn on again the bluetooth in BIOS setting.
- Useful shortcuts:
- Capture fullscreen:
Ctrl+Alt+Print(photos will be saved in Pictures) - Show desktop: set in Keyboards settings, try to find "Hide all normal windows".
- [Only Ubuntu] Connect Airpod to Ubuntu 20.04:
- Location of
.desktopfiles,
- [Optional]Xbox controller bluetooth connection: check this.
- Remove icon from dash application
- Restore dconf setting:
- Restore custom keyboard shortcuts
- [Optional] Disable touchpad automatically when plugging mouse:
- Other applicatons:
- Skype
- Extreme Download Manager (uninstall by running as root
/opt/xdman/uninstall.sh) AO(MS to do for Ubuntu):snap install ao- Shotwell or gThumb (image viewer + quick editor, install on Store)
- KolourPaint (photo editor supports cut and move a selection like Paint on Windows, install from AppStore)
- Cheese (camera app)
- Drawing
Stacer(optimizer system like Advanced System Care)Google Music. This one: Youtube Music Desktop (install with snap) -- Remove the coincisive keys with the system's.Authenticator- alacarte (Main Menu, can be found in App Store): change/add icon in launcher.
- Swap function keyboards on Logitech K380, using this tool (try all keyboard hidraws if you are not sure!).
- Force Unity Dash to index all files on Home:
sudo updatedb(install bysudo apt-get install mlocate)
- [Only Ubuntu] There are 2 ubuntu softwares in dash? (ref this question). "Ubuntu software" is pre-installed snap store (run by
snap-store), the other isgnome-software.
- Backup before installing a new system.
- Settings in
~/.config/or~/.<software-name> - All apps in
~/apps/with their desktop files in~/.local/share/applications/
- Pop!_OS Tips:
Super+Y: toggle tiling mode.- Add a windows/applition exepton of tiling mode (it won't be counted)
- Make clocks + dates 2 lines -> tutorial.
- Install clock override extension.
- Using
%H:%M%n%d/%m/%Yin text to display instead of the clock (with the spaces so that they are center aligned).