Five Essential Ubuntu Modifications
I like to run the latest software, so every 6 months when a new Ubuntu debuts I upgrade my system. To keep everything running smoothly I like to start with a clean install, but I always find myself repeating the same modifications. Some of these modifications are essential to get certain features to work, one of them is something I couldn’t do without. Here are my five essential Ubuntu modifications.
They include:
1. Install the ubuntu-restricted-extras Package
Recognising that users require the extra functionality of certain packages that can not be distributed with Ubuntu due to licensing incompatibilities, the ubuntu-restricted-extras package is provided to install some of these common extra packages together.
Among others, this package will install the Adobe Flash Player plugin — essential for viewing a lot of online content and various codecs required for DVD and MP3 playback.
2. Install the libdvdcss Library
Most, if not all commercial DVDs are encrypted using CSS copy protection. Due to licensing, a normal installation of Ubuntu can not play these discs. Installing the libdvdcss library from the Medibuntu repositories gives Ubuntu’s media players the ability to decrypt these discs, allowing you to watch your favourite DVD movies in Ubuntu.
3. Change the Desktop Theme
Let’s face it, the default desktop theme is not very visually appealing. Brown hasn’t been fashionable since the 70’s and the plain grey GNOME panel will be familiar to anyone who used a Mac in the mid 90’s.
I used to settle for a simple change of colour and setting the GNOME panel transparency which is a vast improvement over the default, but currently I use the Shiki Colors theme as it complements the new splash screen and notifications in Jaunty.
4. Set the Home Location
Why do I always have to set my home location after installation? The Ubuntu installer asks me for my timezone, surely it would be logical for me to enter my home location at this point so I don’t have to reconfigure later on. As a personal preference I like to add the location of my office in the UK so I can quickly open the menu anytime I want to find out the local time there.
5. Install GNOME-do
Inspired by the Quicksilver utility for OS X, do is a utility that “lets you do things as quickly as possible, but no quicker.”
It is a fantastic tool with a simple, intuitive interface that gives quick access to launch and control applications, open boookmarks, use contacts, even update your twitter feed. There are scores of plugins that add extra functionality to do just about anything you can think of, quickly. You can even have it appear as an OS X like dock and do away with the lower panel to make your desktop more aesthetically pleasing.
So there are my essential Ubuntu modifications. It is annoying that I know the first two will never be able to become part of the standard installation and there is no doubt that users who are new to Ubuntu will be confused at the inability to play MP3 music and DVD movies out of the box. Maybe some other essential modifications will be addresed in future releases.
As reported previously, one of the targets for Karmic, the next Ubuntu release is a new desktop theme and a utility as good as GNOME-do should become part of the standard install.
Contributing blogger Guy Thouret is a software engineer for a wireless energy management system company. He has used various GNU/Linux distributions since 2002.
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Strangely enough I like the Human theme. It’s nice, and I do feel, that it gives less strain to the eyes, than anything else. On the other hand I also use a different theme, that I (sort of) made myself, but it still uses the Human color scheme.
Theme here: http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/InvertedRoom?content=92872
About libdvdcss… I didn’t need it in the last one and a half year I’ve spent with Ubuntu, but I don’t realy get it, why isn’t it in the multiverse repos. Okay, I know it souldn’t be installed by default, but why is it so much different legally than let’s say gstreamer-plugins-ugly? (Which btw is in ubuntu restricted extras.)
About Gnome DO… I’ve tried it two times, but I never realy got the hang of it, so it got apt-get purged pretty quickly. I seem to think, that anything possible with it, I could do it more quickly with Alt+F2 or with the mouse manually or with my specially set up gnome-terminal, which I could acces with Ctrl+~. (Quake style
)
Hmm. I’ve never had an issue playing MP3s out of the box. But the DVD issue is annoying. Then again Windows XP couldn’t play DVDs out of the box either. Don’t know about Vista or Windows 7.
Think I’ll give that a try tomorrow.
@CruelAngel: The issue with libdvdcss is a legal restriction. I’m not to clear on the exact details my self. But in places like the USA it’s potentially illegal. In Europe it’s a grey area. Although since the kid who cracked CSS in the first place got away with it, people in Europe have been bolder about using it than elsewhere.
Obviously Canonical can’t distribute it as part of Ubuntu because that would leave them open to being sued. Which might be worth while since Canonical has a bit of cash worth having.
The default desktop theme doesn’t bother me. Most people change the theme to their own preference anyway.
I couldn’t get to grips with Gnome Do either. I honestly just didn’t get it at all.
As for having to do stuff over and over every time you do a fresh install. Wise up dude and write a little shell script to install it all. All you’ll need to do in future is run the script, enter your password for sudo and answer Y a few times. Simple as that.
I do these mods:
New Marmol Theme
Gnome Do
Medibuntu and all the multimedia things.
VLC
Some Compiz settings
Flash Player 10 (64 bit version) from Adobe Labs’ site.
Opera web browser.
Trim Down the menus.
Add Downloads folder to my home directory, bookmark it so it can appear on the places menu and make it all web browsers default destination folder.
Songbird ( Rhythm box is way behind the times)
KDE (just in case)
Open Configuration Editor and remove every desktop Icon ( I don’t use the desktop)
I think that’s it.
The Gnome DO is fabulous! Tremendous! Superb! Thank you
why don’t u use linux mint
it has all the codecs (including libdvdcss2) and adobe flash player -not sure about java, i think it’s installed by default though-
it has a nice theme .. i don’t ubuntu default theme .. but i prefer they keep brwon.
gnome do is installed by defualt in linux mint.
i forgot to say .. linux mint is an ubuntu-based distro
Gnome do is worth 10x the hype it gets. I believe Gnome-do and Amarok are two of the most well developed, and thought out programs there are for the average desktop linux user. The strength is learning how to use it, which does take time. But things like typing the name of the folder you want to go to, and its there immdediately after without navigating to it. Looking up word definitions without even using the mouse, typing urls without finding FF and then the url box. Its nice to have all of these things in one location, rather than learning per app keyboard shortcuts.
Using libdvdcss in Linux is only illegal if DeCSS is used and libdvdcss does not use DeCSS. Too many people are spreading the “libdvdcss is illegal in the USA” myth. The MIAA doesn’t even say that libdvdcss is illegal.
Too bad some developers refuse to listen or even investigate this. libdvdcss could be shipped with many linux distros if people would stop listening to the myth and research the truth.
I’ve compiled most of my post-fresh-install changes into a script. It enabled repositories, installs many of the utilities I use and configures them, sets up a few servers etc.
Currently it just blindly does everything, no option to skip certain parts like the developer tools if I don’t need them etc. It does check if certain things have been done, to make it safe to run multiple times in a row. But I’d like to build ‘profiles’ into it to not bloat computers which don’t need it all.
All this saves hours, if not only because I don’t have to remember everything I used to have installed. If you already have a list of packages to install, it’s not much work needed to convert it to a script.
I love gnome-do, it’s a fantastic application, especially with the launchy dock. I used to use Avant Windows Navigator but Gnome-do did away with all that! Thanks to everyone who’s been involved in developing this gem of open source!
“Obviously Canonical can’t distribute it as part of Ubuntu because that would leave them open to being sued. Which might be worth while since Canonical has a bit of cash worth having”
I know little of the law but if the only place where the libdvdcss library is an issue is in the states then how could they get sued when they are based in the Isle of Man and their head office is in the UK?
I totally agree about Gnome-Do, It really rocks!
I miss it when I have to use windows on my work laptop.
Gnome-do, if you run synaptic, drags in all of Mono.
My answer?
sudo apt-get remove –purge mono-common libmono0
[sudo] password for miguel:
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
nvidia-kernel-common monodoc-gtk2.0-manual monodoc-manual
Use ‘apt-get autoremove’ to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
f-spot* gtk-sharp2* gtk-sharp2-examples* gtk-sharp2-gapi* libart2.0-cil* libflickrnet2.1.5-cil*
libgconf2.0-cil* libglade2.0-cil* libglib2.0-cil* libgmime2.2-cil* libgnome-keyring1.0-cil*
libgnome-vfs2.0-cil* libgnome2.0-cil* libgtk2.0-cil* libgtkhtml3.16-cil* libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil*
libmono-addins0.2-cil* libmono-cairo1.0-cil* libmono-cairo2.0-cil* libmono-corlib1.0-cil*
libmono-corlib2.0-cil* libmono-data-tds1.0-cil* libmono-data-tds2.0-cil* libmono-security1.0-cil*
libmono-security2.0-cil* libmono-sharpzip0.84-cil* libmono-sharpzip2.84-cil* libmono-sqlite2.0-cil*
libmono-system-data1.0-cil* libmono-system-data2.0-cil* libmono-system-web1.0-cil*
libmono-system-web2.0-cil* libmono-system1.0-cil* libmono-system2.0-cil* libmono0* libmono1.0-cil*
libmono2.0-cil* libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil* libndesk-dbus1.0-cil* mono-common* mono-gac* mono-gmcs* mono-jit*
mono-runtime* nemo* sysinfo* tomboy*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 47 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
After this operation, 61.4MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
(Reading database … 304099 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing f-spot …
Purging configuration files for f-spot …
Removing nemo …
Removing gtk-sharp2 …
Removing gtk-sharp2-examples …
Removing gtk-sharp2-gapi …
Removing tomboy …
Purging configuration files for tomboy …
Removing libgnome2.0-cil …
Removing libart2.0-cil …
Removing libflickrnet2.1.5-cil …
Removing libflickrnet2.1.5-cil from Mono
Purging configuration files for libflickrnet2.1.5-cil …
Removing sysinfo …
Removing libgconf2.0-cil …
Removing libglade2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil …
Removing libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil from Mono
Removing libgtkhtml3.16-cil …
Removing libgtk2.0-cil …
Removing libgnome-vfs2.0-cil …
Removing libgmime2.2-cil …
Removing libgmime2.2-cil from Mono
Removing libglib2.0-cil …
Removing libgnome-keyring1.0-cil …
Removing libgnome-keyring1.0-cil from Mono
Removing libmono-addins0.2-cil …
Removing libmono-addins0.2-cil from Mono
Removing libmono-cairo1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-cairo2.0-cil …
Removing mono-gmcs …
Removing libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil …
Removing libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil from Mono
Removing libndesk-dbus1.0-cil …
Removing libndesk-dbus1.0-cil from Mono
Removing libmono1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system-web1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system-data1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-sharpzip0.84-cil …
Removing libmono-data-tds1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-security1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system1.0-cil …
Removing libmono2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system-web2.0-cil …
Removing mono-runtime …
Removing mono-gac …
* Removing packages from mono
Removing libmono-corlib1.0-cil …
Removing libmono-sqlite2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system-data2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-sharpzip2.84-cil …
Removing libmono-data-tds2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-security2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-system2.0-cil …
Removing libmono-corlib2.0-cil …
Removing libmono0 …
Purging configuration files for libmono0 …
Removing mono-jit …
Removing mono-common …
update-binfmts: warning: no executable /usr/bin/cli found, but continuing
anyway as you request
Purging configuration files for mono-common …
Processing triggers for menu …
Processing triggers for man-db …
Processing triggers for libc6 …
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
If you must stay with fugly, Linux Mint is more polished.
If you want pretty, then KDE is a must.
Show someone an average computer user a Gnome desktop and a KDE and its usually the KDE one that wins.
At least that’s what we noticed at all the installfests we have done.
I tried KDE 4.x. Don’t like it. It’s just too weird. The novelty of the looks wore off in about 2 seconds. Gnome might look a bit basic and drab by default. But it doesn’t take long to spruce it up.
Please don’t use Gnome-do !!!!!!
It is made in C#, that is Microsoft shit !!!!!
Use xbindkeys and configure some sexy shortcuts like:
“opera”
alt+shift+o
“pidgin”
alt+shift+i
“gnome-terminal -e /usr/bin/python”
alt+shift+p
“gnome-terminal -e /usr/local/bin/mocp”
alt+shift+m
“opera “http://www.google.com/search?q=$(zenity –entry –title=’Googlear’ –text=’Search:’|sed ’s/ /+/g’)&sourceid=opera&num=%i&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8″”
alt+shift+s
in your .xbindkeysrc.
@miguel .. you need mono for f-spot and tomboy. Most likely u should already have most of mono before you even install Do. Personally I wish they wouldn’t use it, but it works, and it works pretty well – so I can’t hate too much.
yes, Gnome-Do depends on the Mono trap. I’m using Launchy instead, didn’t miss Gnome-Do at all
I have to say that I love the theme that you recommend. Thanks for sharing.
that will get you all the codecs and fonts. In addition:
I trimmed the menus also.
Go rid of the bottom task bar.
Got rid of the Application/Places/System and use a drop-down menu.
I still the default human-theme with the same wallpaper.
Whatever you do, DO NOT use gnome-do.
The problem is the patent encumbered mono stuff. This will come back to bite everyone’s rump when Microsoft has finally had enough market share loss to really get ticked off.
They will sue every distribution that packages it. That will tarnish every Linux distribution and set back Linux adoption 10 years or more.
Worse: The monetary costs to small distributions will put some, or even most, out of business. For those small distributions that are “individual efforts”, rather having a corporate infrastructure to take the hit, the monetary costs will bankrupt those individuals.
Just DON’T USE MONO.
Yes, remove Tomboy and anything else that uses it, Evolution (good luck with that!); it kills the gnome desktop too.
DESKCUT rules. It does the same as windoze ‘put shortcut on desktop’
The Ubuntu installer, annoyingly, does not ask you be default where your /home folder is.
Instead, try partitioning manually and setting the mountpoint of your desired /home partition there. I do it every time (Windows XP and Jaunty dual boot, shared partition for data)
would be nice if u could tell people that the libdvdcss stuff can also be installed by getting the ubuntu-restricted-extras via the synaptic package manager. thanks
well, Gnome-Do is a must for me whenever i made a clean installation.
In fact, I found it much better than Launchy.
Hie
What do u do when it says “ldconfig deferred processing now taking place”
Please help reply
shingie: just wait… Afaik, it’s just a final step in the installation of software.
Please tell me this:
Are the ubuntu-restricted-extras Package, and the libdvdcss Library… REALLY the ONLY difference between Ubuntu and Linux Mint (with regard to media/audio/video playback capability)?
We’ve had nothing but problems trying to get every new version of Ubuntu to play every type of streaming media online… and on disk… MP3… DVDs… Real media… Quicktime… Some things we’ve just never been able to get to play. Also, nothing but problems with the audio / Pulseaudio stuff. Constantly having to reboot in order to get our audio back.
So far, with Mint, we’ve had ZERO such problems.
I’d prefer to stay with Ubuntu… closer to the source…
However, the media playback nightmares are a definite deal-breaker for the average user. (aka what geeks call, “the novice user”)
PS – feel free to email your reply to me as well: bruce@brucewagner.com
Thanks for this, just what i needed