Which software do you install immediately after setting up a new Linux desktop system?

lhb1142 · 03-07-2019, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy

The LQ poll series continues. This time we'd like to know: Which software do you install immediately after setting up a new Linux desktop system?

--jeremy

I'm afraid that I install a LOT of software including:

Audacious, BleachBit, Deluge, GIMP, Handbrake, MakeMKV, p7zip, Rawtherapee, Shotwell, x265, h.265, SMPlayer, SMTube, Gparted, VLC, VLC Blu-ray, Alacarte, Alsamixer, Dosbox, Evince, Gnome-disk-utility, Gnome-system-monitor, Gucharmap, hfsutils, hfsplus, hfsprogs, k3b, paman, paprefs, pavumeter, pdfsam, picard, qasconfig, qasmixer, SoundConverter, SoundKonverter, xfce4, xfce4-goodies, xfwm-themes, Gnome-calculator, Gnome-dictionary, mkvtoolnix, mp3wap, mpesplt, Audacity, lsb-prinitng, Easytag, Xsane, shntool, cuetools, Calibre, Asunder, Avidemux, Pitivi, Zlib, Ekiga, m4a, alac, Trelby, ntfs, fat, exfat, Oxygen icons, Bluetooth, Bluedevil, libreoffice, Mirage, HEVC, Dropbox, kdenlice, Olive, Opera, Openshot video editor, Aegisub subtitle editor.

There are probably also a few others, minor in nature.

As I am currently using four (4) different Linux operating systems on my varied computers, some of the above programs are already packed with an individual distro and, where they are not, some are not available (or not appropriate) on others.

I'm sorry about the length of this post - but you DID ask!

ted-tanner · 03-07-2019, 11:23 AM

I have a .sh file I run on all new systems that installs all the software I typically use. Here are the contents of that .sh:

Code:

sudo apt-get -y update;
sudo apt-get -y dist-upgrade;
sudo apt-get -y install google-chrome-stable;
sudo apt-get -y install gcc;
sudo apt-get -y install g++;
sudo apt-get -y install gfortran;
sudo apt-get -y install make;
sudo apt-get -y install cmake;
sudo apt-get -y install default-jre;
sudo apt-get -y install default-jdk;
sudo apt-get -y install p7zip-full;
sudo apt-get -y install gparted;
sudo apt-get -y install geany;
sudo apt-get -y install python;
sudo apt-get -y install python3.3;
sudo apt-get -y install php;
sudo apt-get -y install snap;
sudo apt-get -y install wine-stable;
sudo apt-get -y install gimp;
sudo apt-get -y install octave;
sudo apt-get -y install kalgebra;
sudo apt-get -y install kmplot;
sudo apt-get -y install geda;
sudo apt-get -y install libreoffice;
sudo apt-get -y install 2048-qt;
sudo apt-get -y install texlive-full;
sudo apt-get -y install texstudio;
sudo snap install shotcut --classic;
sudo snap install spotify;
sudo apt-get -y install dropbox;

Reziac · 03-07-2019, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GID

I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to install some of the many options--A slow learner trying to become familiar with Linux -- with which I am enamored.

I was initially baffled too. How the heck do I install stuff? there was no obvious way to do so, unlike Windows where you just find your download, click, and off it goes. The term "package manager" didn't mean anything to me; it was a strange word in a foreign language. At some point I tripped over a very basic tutorial for Synaptic and all became clear, and now I'm annoyed if whatever I want isn't thereby available.

lhb1142 · 03-07-2019, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reziac

I was initially baffled too. How the heck do I install stuff? there was no obvious way to do so, unlike Windows where you just find your download, click, and off it goes. The term "package manager" didn't mean anything to me; it was a strange word in a foreign language. At some point I tripped over a very basic tutorial for Synaptic and all became clear, and now I'm annoyed if whatever I want isn't thereby available.

I do not know which OS you're using but an easy way to install programs is via the Terminal.

You DO have to know the exact name of the program you wish to install and you DO have to know the correct syntax of the Terminal command necessary to install the program.

Assuming that you are using a Debian-based OS, you would first open the Terminal and then type < sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade >.

That will update your computer.

Then, if you wanted to install, for example, Calibre (a book reading and organizing program), you would then type < sudo apt install calibre >.

Note that the case of your command is important and, as I said, you must know the exact name of the program.

I hope that this helps you. There are, of course, many other ways to install new programs into a GNU/Linux operating system. (With Linux, there is never just one way of doing anything!)

Arch-based, SUSE-based and other operating systems have different methods for installing programs but, in ALL cases, installing programs is FAR easier within Linux than it is with Windows.

You just need to know how to do it.

And once you do, and once you learn how to do other things, you will find that almost EVERYTHING in Linux is far easier to do than is doing the equivalent operation in Windows,

ktheof · 03-07-2019, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy

The LQ poll series continues. This time we'd like to know: Which software do you install immediately after setting up a new Linux desktop system?

--jeremy

I just install some updates.

roger_1960 · 03-07-2019, 02:33 PM

Nemo
Libre office
Boinc
Chromium
Simple scan
Printer driver
Vpn

sailslack · 03-07-2019, 02:37 PM

if not present these are the first:
firefox
thunderbird
okular
freeciv

scasey · 03-07-2019, 02:44 PM

firefox
thunderbird
scite

jkiwi · 03-07-2019, 05:02 PM

reFind to allow dualbooting windows 10. (But I try not to use Windows!)
Clamav
VLC
Thunderbird
libdvdcss*
SkypeforLinux
Vuescan

mccartco · 03-08-2019, 03:01 AM

I install all the extra software in order of anti-malware, cleaning, so the first one to get "installed" is chkrootkit, followed closely by rkhunter. Followed by development stuff, like gcc, python and R (statistical package).
Sometimes, LaTeX plus related packages and Octave.

colinetsegers · 03-08-2019, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhb1142

Arch-based, SUSE-based and other operating systems have different methods for installing programs but, in ALL cases, installing programs is FAR easier within Linux than it is with Windows.

You just need to know how to do it.

And once you do, and once you learn how to do other things, you will find that almost EVERYTHING in Linux is far easier to do than is doing the equivalent operation in Windows,

Although I'm a real Linux fan, and although this is a little out of topic, I do not agree with your statement that installing programs in Linux is easier than in other operating systems.
The command line is, no doubt, a very powerful tool, but before the user knows the basic vocabulary, a lot of time will have past by. Then, the famous commands: "configure", "make", "make install"..., there's nearly always something missing to have the installation done and working ! Even with Synaptics, due to hidden and/or unclear updates, installing a program ends often in a message the kind of: "could not this, because that..." First thing is discovering the "that" thing... In short: good luck my friend !

I'm convinced that Linux operating systems lack some plain installer. I mean that after downloading a program, some plain script just installs the program with all the necessary extensions without having to use synaptics or the command line. And yes, I know the practical problem of the many different configurations of all those Linux systems.

tubaplayer · 03-08-2019, 04:04 AM

Printer Driver

jsbjsb001 · 03-08-2019, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrurga

I don't always use all the tools in my toolbox, but I like to have a good set of tools to hand if the need arises.

Sorry for the late reply hydrurga. I've had a backlog of going through my TV recordings, and housekeeping to do that I've neglected to do.

Same here. I still use Windows machines sometimes (not ones I own), so it's good to have tools on hand, just in case.

Quote:

Which GUI do you use for ffmpeg?

I've used at least a few, as trying to find a GUI for ffmpeg that works and does what you want it to do, can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Anyway, while I can't remember the name of it, whatever it's name is was good up until it stopped changing the name of the output file to match the input file - so I had to ditch that one. And it wasn't being
developed anymore anyways.

FF Multi Converter crashes after converting 3 video files at least on version 1.8.0 So I had to ditch that one as well, but I haven't checked the latest version of it (assuming there is one, given that it didn't look like it was still being maintained anyway).

So while I had to download the openSUSE 12.X package for it given I use CentOS, and more precisely, so it could find the libraries it was looking for; I currently have QWinFF installed. Although because of the backlog I was talking about before, I haven't used it in a while now, and I had to fix it's "presets" file to get it to convert anything.

But looking at the others, I might have to try some others.

Samsonite2010 · 03-08-2019, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reziac

I've done so, but they mostly regurgitate the same talking points. Was more interested in individual experience.

Originally the big point I recall was that LO incorporated Novell's bugfixes, and OO did not, which produced significant differences in stability and performance. (In the early days I had both installed side by side, and LO won hands down. But that was a long time ago, and I haven't even looked at OO since.)

I have not used Open Office for many years, but because (and not sure it has changed) you cannot save as docx, it has been off the menu. Unfortunately, until all of my clients stop using MS formats, I need it this feature! Other than that, I believe Open Office offers a lot of advantages, but of course a showstopper is a showstopper.

Saltidae · 03-08-2019, 10:12 AM

Now and again I fire up an hp mini 110 with linux lite. It's mostly an early morning mail scanner and reader as well as part of my continuing tinkering with linux.
chromium
vnc
LibreOffice