Abstract.
This post describes how I set up my personal Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS systems with essential applications and utilities. I cover software installations for system management, productivity, software development, and media tasks, that includes package managers, partition tools, and specialist applications like VS Code and DaVinci Resolve Studio. This guide emphasises the importance of keeping my systems updated while exploring new tools that optimise my workflow, supports my daily tasks, and helps me achieve my long-term goals.
More recently, I have included links to my articles that cover the installation, and use, of AI tools and technologies. As an AI Generalist (yes, I gave myself a new title in 2025), I find the tools that are useful and effective become obsolete by the following week. As a result, there is a specific part of this document that is regularly revised. The World of AI is habitually evolving and constantly shifting because everyone is frequently moving the goalpost.
SoloDev.app has been focused on SysOps (Systems Operations) and this post is a distilled, and concentrated, version of my intentions for this site. However, I will be branching out and covering other topics like NetOps (Network Operations), DevSecOps (Development and Security Operations), and AIOps (Artificial Intelligence Operations). Although NetOps is a natural progression from SysOps, and is of special interest as I build my Homelab, DveSecOps and especially AIOps are the reasons for writing NetOps posts and producing articles about my Homelab build.
Growth is a painful, yet constant, aspect of being Gen-X. I belong to the "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" generation.
Attributions:
None for this post.
An Introduction.
Setting up a practical Ubuntu Desktop requires a collection of apps and utilities that meet my needs. The applications and services I list below ensures Ubuntu is able to my requirements.
The purpose of this post is to identify the apps and utilities that I find useful.
The Big Picture.
Software that is installed on my computers define what I want to achieve. I run a network of multiple PCs, mini PCs, SBCs, and a Mac Mini. Some machines use Ubuntu Desktop while others run Ubuntu Server, and macOS is used to control the Mac Mini hardware.
Ubuntu is my daily driver. This is where I write these blog posts, practise my SysOps skills, improve my software development abilities, and grow as an AI Generalist.
I stepped away from Windows as my primary driver in 2015, and there are only two (2) programs I would like to use that needs this OS: DJ.Studio and the Anadigm Designer 2 CAD (Computer-Aided Design) tool. Luckily, I can replace DJ.Studio with the Reaper DAW for macOS. As for Anadigm Designer, I can run Windows as a VM (Virtual Machine) or in an LXC (LinuX Container) if push comes to shove.
A computer is simply is a generic machine where the installed software defines what I am able to achieve.
Prerequisites.
- Ubuntu Desktop 22.04 LTS or later.
Creating a CloneZilla Live Thumb Drive.
WARNING: The following instructions will over-write all of the content that is currently saved to a USB thumb drive. BACKUP THE CONTENTS OF THE USB THUMB DRIVE BEFORE CONTINUING.
In my opinion, CloneZilla Live is the most important tool in my kit. This program lets me create images, or clones, of my current system. This image gets saved to an external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an enclosed M.2 SSD (Solid State Drive). When I break my distro, I can rollback to a previous image I made, and all my settings and installed software is automagically restored.
I download the ISO version of CloneZilla Live by selecting ISO from the dropdown and clicking the Download button.
I plug a USB thumb drive into my PC.
In the terminal, I list the block identifiers and find the thumb drive that I will use for the CloneZilla Live installation:
lsblk
NOTE: In my case, the block ID of the thumb drive I plugged into my system is sdb1.
- I run the
dd command that points to the CloneZilla Live ISO file and includes the sdb1 block ID of my USB thumb drive:
sudo dd if=~/Downloads/clonezilla-live-*.iso of=/dev/sdb1 bs=4M status=progress
I now have a bootable thumb drive that runs CloneZilla Live. On some of my computers, I have to boot into the UEFI BIOS and set the thumb drive as the first bootable device. On other machines, the detected thumb drive automatically becomes the first boot device.
Creating an Ubuntu Installation Thumb Drive.
WARNING: The following instructions will over-write all of the content that is currently saved to a USB thumb drive. BACKUP THE CONTENTS OF THE USB THUMB DRIVE BEFORE CONTINUING.
I download the ISO for the latest version of Ubuntu Desktop.
I plug a USB thumb drive into my PC.
In the terminal, I list the block identifiers and find the thumb drive that I will use for the Ubuntu Desktop installation:
lsblk
NOTE: In my case, the block ID of the thumb drive I plugged into my system is sdb1.
- I run the
dd command that points to the Ubuntu Desktop ISO file and includes the sdb1 block ID of my USB thumb drive:
sudo dd if=~/Downloads/ubuntu-*.iso of=/dev/sdb1 bs=4M status=progress
I now have a bootable thumb drive that installs, or runs, Ubuntu Desktop. On some of my computers, I have to boot into the UEFI BIOS and set the thumb drive as the first bootable device. On other machines, the detected thumb drive automatically becomes the first boot device.
Updating My System.
APT (Advanced Package Tool) handles the installation and removal of software on Debian and Debian-based Linux distributions. The following commands are used to keep my Ubuntu Desktop up-to-date.
- From the terminal, I update my system:
sudo apt clean && \
sudo apt update && \
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y && \
sudo apt --fix-broken install && \
sudo apt autoclean && \
sudo apt autoremove -y
- I can also go to Settings > System > Software Updates to update my system.
Activating Ubuntu Pro.
Ubuntu Pro is a subscription service that extends the Long Term Support (LTS) versions of Ubuntu from 5 years to 10 years (and soon to be 12 years).
In the Apps Drawer, I click on the blue, Additional Drivers icon to start the utility.
In the Additional Drivers window, I click on the Ubuntu Pro tab.
I click on the Enable Ubuntu Pro button.
I can create an account, or login to an existing Ubuntu One account.
The Enable Ubuntu Pro window generates a token.
I take the token to https://ubuntu.com/pro/attach.
It takes a moment to successfully apply the subscription.
NOTE: Canonical provides up to five (5) FREE tokens for personal PCs.
My Terminal Settings.
A terminal is a text window where system commands are issued.
I go to Preferences > Unnamed > Text tab,
I set the Initial terminal size to 88 columns and 20 rows,
I set the Custom font to Monospace at 20pt,
I set the Allow blinking text to Never, and
I set the Cursor blinking to Disabled.
NOTE: These settings make it easier to see the commands I use.
Connecting My System to My NAS.
NOTE: Safely ignore this section if a NAS explainer is unnecessary.
Changing the Owner of My System Images.
NOTE: An image is a snapshot of my system. Due to my app development process, I sometimes end up with a flaky system. Using an image to restore my system to a previous state sidesteps the need to reinstall my OS and all of the apps. Creating images is an easy process when using CloneZilla Live from a USB thumb drive. After creating the USB drive, I can boot into CloneZilla Live and start “cloning“ my system as an image. An external HDD is handy because the resulting image can not be saved to a system drive that is being cloned. I use a simple naming convention, e.g. ‘datetime-img-clean-win10-ubu24’ where: ‘datetime-img-‘ is automatically prepended to the name, ‘clean‘ refers to a fresh installation, ‘win10‘ identifies Windows 10, and ‘ubu24‘ is a reference to Ubuntu Desktop 24.04.x LTS.
I power up my PC.
In the file manager, I navigate to the external drive that holds my system images.
I access the root directory of the drive because that is where I save my images when they are made.
I right-click the file manager and select Open in Terminal from the pop-up menu.
From the terminal, I change the owner of an image:
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER datetime-img-simplified-name-of-contents
Installing Network Utilities.
NOTE: CIFS is a network file-sharing protocol that allows Linux systems to access Windows shares. Smbclient is a command-line tool that allows users to access and interact with SMB/CIFS file shares, commonly used in Windows environments, and Samba servers.
- I install the CIFS utilities:
sudo apt install -y cifs-utils smbclient
NOTE: CIFS is a dialect of SMB.
Removing the System Directories.
- I remove these directories:
sudo rm -r ~/Desktop ~/Documents ~/Downloads ~/Music ~/Pictures ~/Public ~/Templates ~/Videos
NOTE: It is now VITAL to continue this section until the very end. These deleted directories are important to the UI and UX of the desktop file manager.
Creating a Credentials File.
- I make a hidden file called
.cred_smb in my home directory:
sudo touch ~/.cred_smb
- I open the
.cred_smb file using the Nano text editor:
sudo nano ~/.cred_smb
- I copy the following, add it (CTRL + SHIFT + V) to the
.cred_smb file, save (CTRL + S) the changes, and exit (CTRL + X) Nano:
username=brian
password=super-secret-password
domain=WORKGROUP
- I change the access permissions for the
.cred_smb file:
sudo chmod 600 ~/.cred_smb
Altering the fstab File.
sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab.bak
- I use the Nano text editor to open the
fstab file:
sudo nano /etc/fstab
- I copy the following, add it (CTRL + SHIFT + V) to the bottom of the
fstab file, save (CTRL + S) the changes, and exit (CTRL + X) Nano:
//192.168.0.20/ai /media/brian/AI cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/apps /media/brian/Apps cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/desktop /media/brian/Desktop cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/mydocs /media/brian/Documents cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/downloads /media/brian/Downloads cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/drawings /media/brian/Drawings cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/multimedia /media/brian/Media cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/music /media/brian/Music cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/mydocs /media/brian/MyDocs cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/mydrive /media/brian/MyDrive cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/photos /media/brian/Photos cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/public /media/brian/Public cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/videos/screencasts /media/brian/Screencasts cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/photos/screenshots /media/brian/Screenshots cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/stories /media/brian/Stories cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/sys-code /media/brian/sys-code cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/templates /media/brian/Templates cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
//192.168.0.20/videos /media/brian/Videos cifs vers=3.0,uid=1000,gid=1000,credentials=/home/brian/.cred_smb
NOTE: These changes to the fstab file results in all of the new volumes being displayed in the Dock.
- I go to
Settings > Ubuntu Desktop > Configure Dock Behavior and un-tick the Include Network Volumes option.
Making Remote Share Directories.
- I create these directories where the remote shares will mount:
sudo mkdir /media/brian/AI && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Apps && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Desktop && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Documents && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Downloads && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Drawings && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Media && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Music && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/MyDocs && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/MyDrive && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Photos && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Public && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Screencasts && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Screenshots && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Stories && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/sys-code && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Templates && \
sudo mkdir /media/brian/Videos
Creating Symbolic Links.
- I create these symlinks (symbolic links) where the remote shares will display:
ln -s "/media/brian/AI" "/home/brian/AI" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Apps" "/home/brian/Apps" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Desktop" "/home/brian/Desktop" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/MyDocs" "/home/brian/Documents" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Downloads" "/home/brian/Downloads" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Drawings" "/home/brian/Drawings" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Media" "/home/brian/Media" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Music" "/home/brian/Music" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/MyDocs" "/home/brian/MyDocs" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/MyDrive" "/home/brian/MyDrive" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Photos" "/home/brian/Photos" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Public" "/home/brian/Public" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Screencasts" "/home/brian/Screencasts" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Screenshots" "/home/brian/Screenshots" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Stories" "/home/brian/Stories" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/sys-code" "/home/brian/sys-code" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Templates" "/home/brian/Templates" && \
ln -s "/media/brian/Videos" "/home/brian/Videos"
sudo apt clean && \
sudo apt update && \
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y && \
sudo apt --fix-broken install && \
sudo apt autoclean && \
sudo apt autoremove -y
Restoring the System Directories.
- Once I have access to my NAS, I can edit the following file so the default system directories point to the equivalent share directories which, in turn, point to the NAS:
sudo nano ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs
The following is an example of the expected contents of the user-dirs file:
# This file is written by xdg-user-dirs-update
# If you want to change or add directories, just edit the line you're
# interested in. All local changes will be retained on the next run.
# Format is XDG_xxx_DIR="$HOME/yyy", where yyy is a shell-escaped
# homedir-relative path, or XDG_xxx_DIR="/yyy", where /yyy is an
# absolute path. No other format is supported.
#
XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="/media/brian/Desktop/"
XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR="/media/brian/Downloads"
XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR="/media/brian/Templates"
XDG_PUBLICSHARE_DIR="/media/brian/Public"
XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR="/media/brian/Documents"
XDG_MUSIC_DIR="/media/brian/Music"
XDG_PICTURES_DIR="/media/brian/Photos"
XDG_VIDEOS_DIR="/media/brian/Videos"
Installing GNOME Tweaks.
GNOME Tweaks is a system utility for the GNOME desktop environment GUI.
- From the terminal, I install GNOME Tweaks:
sudo apt install -y gnome-tweaks
gnome-tweaks
- I right-click the icon in the Dock and select “Pin to Dash” from the pop-up menu.
Running Terminal Apps on Startup.
- From the terminal, I run the following command to open a desktop UI:
gnome-session-properties
In the Start Applications Programs app, I click the Add button to open the Add Startup Program dialog box.
For example: I setup Hermes Agent to automatically start, when the PC boots, by adding the following details:
💡
I can disable a start-on-boot operation by un-ticking a startup program.
Installing the Package Managers.
Package managers are used to distribute apps and utilities.
NOTE: A developer might also package their app as an AppImage.
Installing the Snap Package Manager.
- From the terminal, I use
APT to install the Snap daemon:
sudo apt install -y snapd
- I use
Snap to install the Snap package manager core:
sudo snap install core
Installing the Flatpak Package Manager.
- From the terminal, I refresh the terminal:
. ~/.bashrc
- I use the
APT to install the Flatpak package manager:
sudo apt install -y flatpak
Installing the Partition Managers.
Partition managers are system utilities for HDDs and SSDs.
Installing GNOME Disks.
GNOME Disks is the default, graphical, partition management tool on all the GNOME-based desktop environments. The following describes how to install the GNOME Disks utility, if required.
- From the terminal, I install GNOME Disks utility (if required):
sudo apt -y install gnome-disk-utility
Installing GParted.
GParted, or GNOME Partition Editor, is an alternative to GNOME Disks. It is a free, graphical, partition management tool. The following describes how to install the GParted utility.
- From the terminal, I install the GParted utility:
sudo apt -y install gparted
GParted can also be installed onto a USB thumb drive↗.
Installing exfatprogs.
exfatprogs allows partition management tools, like GNOME Disks and GParted, to use the exFAT file system when formatting partitions.
NOTE: exFAT is a proprietary file system from Microsoft, was released in 2006, and is the successor to FAT32.
- From the terminal, I install the exfatprogs library:
sudo apt -y install exfatprogs
Installing UNZIP.
UNZIP is a utility that is used to unpack compressed packages.
- From the terminal, I install UNZIP:
sudo apt install unzip
Installing Curl.
curl is a command-line utility for transferring data to, or from, a remote server.
- From the terminal, I install Curl:
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https curl
Installing Wget.
Wget is a command-line utility for retrieving files using the HTTP or FTP protocols.
- From the terminal, I install Wget:
sudo apt install wget
Installing uv.
- I run the following command to install the Python package and project manager called uv:
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
Installing Miniconda.
Installing LXD and Using LXCs.
Installing NodeJS.
NodeJS is a server-side runtime that uses the V8 JavaScript engine.
- I download and install nvm:
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash
\. "$HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh"
- I download and install Node.js:
nvm install 22
- I verify the Node.js version:
node -v
npm -v
Installing the NodeJS Package Managers.
Package managers are used to bundle code for distribution.
Installing NPM.
sudo apt install -y npm
- I verify the NPM installation:
npm -v
Installing NVM.
- I download, and run, the NVM installation script:
wget -q -O- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/master/install.sh | bash
. ~/.bashrc
- I verify the NVM installation:
nvm -v
Installing PNPM.
sudo npm install -g pnpm
- I verify the PNPM installation:
pnpm -v
Installing NPX.
NOTE: NPX is now part of the NPM CLI.
Installing Git.
Git is a version control utility.
- From the terminal, I install Git:
sudo apt install -y git-all
- I verify the installation:
git -v
git config --global user.name "Brian King"
git config --global user.email "brian@digitalcore.co.nz"
- I list the configuration settings:
git config --list
Installing the GitHub Utility.
GitHub CLI is a tool that extends the capabilities of Git. Developers can interact with GitHub repositories, pull requests, issues, and workflows directly from their terminal.
Installing GitHub CLI.
- From the terminal, I install GitHub CLI:
(type -p wget >/dev/null || (sudo apt update && sudo apt-get install wget -y))
sudo mkdir -p -m 755 /etc/apt/keyrings
out=$(mktemp)
wget -nv -O$out https://cli.github.com/packages/githubcli-archive-keyring.gpg
cat $out | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/githubcli-archive-keyring.gpg > /dev/null
sudo chmod go+r /etc/apt/keyrings/githubcli-archive-keyring.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/githubcli-archive-keyring.gpg] https://cli.github.com/packages stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/github-cli.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gh -y
Upgrading GitHub CLI.
sudo apt update && sudo apt install gh
Authorising GitHub CLI.
gh auth login
Installing Docker CE.
Docker CE (Community Edition) is a container manager for app development and distribution.
Attribution:
https://linuxiac.com/how-to-install-docker-on-ubuntu-24-04-lts/ ↗.
- From the terminal, I add HTTPS and the Curl utility:
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https curl
- I import the Docker GPG repository key:
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
- I add the official Docker repository to my system:
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
- I refresh my local repo list:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin
- I check to see if Docker is active:
sudo systemctl is-active docker
- I create the Docker group:
sudo groupadd docker
- I add my account to the group:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
sudo docker run hello-world
Uninstalling Docker CE.
Attributions:
https://learnubuntu.com/uninstall-docker/ ↗.
- From the terminal, I stop the running Docker containers:
docker stop $(docker ps -a -q)
- I remove the Docker containers:
docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)
- I remove the Docker images:
docker rmi $(docker images -a -q)
- I prune the custom Docker networks:
docker network prune
- I prune the Docker containers, networks, images, cache and volumes:
docker system prune -a
- I purge every Docker package:
sudo apt purge docker-* containerd.io --auto-remove
- I remove the Docker files:
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/docker
- I remove the Docker group:
sudo groupdel docker
- I remove the Docker socket:
sudo rm -rf /var/run/docker.sock
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-compose && sudo rm -rf /etc/docker && sudo rm -rf ~/.docker
Installing Docker Desktop.
Docker Desktop is a GUI for Docker.
Attributions:
https://docs.docker.com/desktop/setup/install/linux/ubuntu/ ↗,
https://dev.to/chandrashekhar/docker-desktop-is-not-working-on-ubuntu-2404-lts--2kpa ↗.
- I download the latest version of Docker Desktop:
https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/
- From the terminal, I change to the
Downloads directory:
cd ~/Downloads
- I install the DEB package:
sudo apt install -y ./docker-desktop*.deb
NOTE: Ignore the error message after installation.
- I fix the permissions issue:
echo 'kernel.apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns = 0' | sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/20-apparmor-donotrestrict.conf
reboot
- After the reboot, I return to a terminal and launch Docker Desktop:
systemctl --user start docker-desktop
- From the Apps Drawer, I pin the Docker Desktop icon to the Dock.
Uninstall Docker Desktop.
- From the terminal, I remove Docker Desktop from my system:
sudo apt remove docker-desktop
- I remove the configuration and data files:
sudo apt remove docker-desktop && sudo rm /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli && sudo apt purge docker-desktop
Updating Blender.
Blender is a 3D modelling, rendering, animation, and simulation app.
- From the terminal, I update Blender:
sudo apt purge -y --auto-remove blender && sudo snap install blender --classic
Removing Blender.
- I use the following command to remove Blender:
sudo snap remove blender
Installing VS Code.
VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is a free, versatile code editor.
- From the terminal, I install VS Code:
sudo snap install code --classic
Updating the Snap-Installed VS Code Editor.
I use the following command to update the Snap-Installed VS Code editor:
sudo snap refresh code --classic
Removing VS Code.
- I use the following command to remove VS Code:
sudo snap remove code
- This command removes the configurations for VS Code:
sudo rm -R ~/.config/Code
- This command removes the installation directory:
sudo rm -R ~/.vscode
Printing an AsciiDoc File as a PDF.
sudo apt install -y ruby-full
- I install the AsciiDoctor PDF Gem:
sudo gem install asciidoctor-pdf
- From the terminal, I look for the path to the AsciiDoctor PDF Gem:
which asciidoctor-pdf
Within VS Code, I open the Settings tab and search for asciidoc-pdf.
I set the Asciidoc > Pdf: Asciidoctor Pdf Command Path:
/usr/local/bin/asciidoctor-pdf
NOTE: The path might also be /usr/bin/asciidoctor-pdf.
# Test File
This is a test file.
Removing Ruby.
- I use the following command to remove Ruby:
sudo apt remove ruby -y
Useful VS Code Extensions when using AsciiDoc.
Here is a list of other VS Code extensions I find useful when creating an example.ad file or generating a PDF file from the example.ad file:
Code Spell Checker from Street Side Software let’s me check for spelling mistakes in my example.ad file, and
vscode-pdf from tomoki1207 let’s me view PDF files within VS Code. This is useful when I use AsciiDoc to generate PDF files because the view automatically updates on when I export an update to the example.ad content.
Installing Spotify.
Spotify is an app and streaming service.
- From the terminal, I install Spotify:
sudo snap install spotify
Removing Spotify.
- I use the following command to remove Spotify:
sudo snap remove spotify
Installing Screenkey.
Screenkey displays keystrokes on a monitor.
- From the terminal, I install Screenkey:
sudo apt install -y screenkey
Installing Inkscape.
Inkscape is a vector-based image editor.
- From the terminal, I add the repo:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable
- I update and upgrade my system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y dist-upgrade
sudo apt install -y inkscape
Installing Krita.
Krita is a pixel-based image editor.
- From the terminal, I install Krita:
sudo snap install krita
Installing Krita Manually.
- From the terminal, I install the libfuse2 library:
sudo apt install libfuse2
NOTE: AppImages rely on FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) to function properly.
From a browser, I download the AppImage file from the Krita.org website.
From the file manager, I move the Krita app to it’s own directory.
I copy the Krita logo to the Krita directory:
NOTE: I downloaded the Krita PNG logo from the Internet.
- From the Krita directory, I make the AppImage executable, for example:
chmod +x krita-5.2.13-x86_64.AppImage
- I use the Nano text editor to create a desktop entry:
nano ~/.local/share/applications/krita.desktop
- I paste (CTRL + SHIFT + V) the following into the desktop entry, e.g.:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Krita
Exec=/media/brian/Downloads/Ubuntu/Krita/krita-5.2.13-x86_64.AppImage
Icon=/media/brian/Downloads/Ubuntu/Krita/krita-logo.png
Type=Application
Categories=Graphics;Images
I save (CTRL + S) the changes, and exit (CTRL + X) the Nano text editor.
I create a symlink to start Krita from the terminal:
sudo ln -s /media/brian/Downloads/Ubuntu/Krita/krita-5.2.13-x86_64.AppImage /usr/local/bin/krita
krita
- From the apps menu, I pin the Krita app to the Dash.
Updating the Firefox Browser.
NOTE: I can determine the type of Firefox installation (APT or Snap) by reading the Help > About Firefox banner.
- I use the following command to update the Snap-installed Firefox browser:
sudo snap refresh firefox
- I use the following command to update the APT-installed Firefox browser:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade firefox
Installing the Brave Browser.
Brave is a Chromium-based web browser.
- From the terminal, I install the Brave browser:
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg && echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main"|sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list && sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y brave-browser
Installing Rust.
Rust is a general-purpose, memory-safe, programming language.
- From the terminal, I install Rust:
sudo apt install build-essential && curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.3 https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh && source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
rustup --version
rustup doc
Uninstalling Rust.
- I use the following command to uninstall Rust:
rustup self uninstall
Installing OBS Studio.
OBS Studio is a screen casting and streaming app.
- From the terminal, I install the repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
- I update, and upgrade, my system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade
sudo apt install -y obs-studio
Installing DaVinci Resolve Studio.
DaVinci Resolve is a video editing, colour grading, and sound mixing app.
NOTE: DaVinci Resolve Studio requires a user license.
- I download the latest Linux copy of DaVinci Resolve 19 Studio:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/au/support/family/davinci-resolve-and-fusion
- From the terminal, I install the following packages:
sudo apt install -y libqt5x11extras5 libfuse2
- I go to the directory with the latest copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio:
cd /media/brian/Downloads/Ubuntu/Blackmagic_Design/DaVinci_Resolve/20.2.3_Studio
- I extract the contents of the downloaded ZIP file:
sudo unzip ./DaVinci_Resolve_*_Linux.zip
- I change the mode of the extracted RUN file to an executable:
sudo chmod +x ./DaVinci_Resolve_*_Linux.run
- I install the unzipped
run file:
sudo SKIP_PACKAGE_CHECK=1 ./DaVinci_Resolve_*_Linux.run -i
NOTE: The SKIP_PACKAGE_CHECK=1 command bypasses the check system that looks for missing libraries during the installation.
- I make a new directory called
disabled_libs:
sudo mkdir /opt/resolve/libs/disabled_libs
- I move the
libglib, libgio, and libgmodule into the disabled_libs directory:
sudo mv /opt/resolve/libs/libglib-2.0.so* /opt/resolve/libs/libgio-2.0.so* /opt/resolve/libs/libgmodule-2.0.so* /opt/resolve/libs/disabled_libs/
NOTE: Moving these libraries forces Resolve to use the Ubuntu libraries.
- I update my NVIDIA drivers, if required:
sudo apt install -y nvidia-driver-580
NOTE: Resolve requires the 550 drivers or later.
- I run the application using the Desktop icon (in the Apps Drawer), or as a terminal session:
/opt/resolve/bin/resolve
Fixing the Resolve Scaling Issue.
Installing Fusion Studio.
Fusion Studio is a visual effects, 3D animation, and motion graphics app.
NOTE: Fusion Studio uses the same license that activates DaVinci Resolve Studio.
- I download the latest Linux copy of Fusion Studio 19:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/au/support/family/davinci-resolve-and-fusion
- I go to the directory with the latest copy of Fusion Studio:
cd /media/brian/Downloads/Ubuntu/Blackmagic_Design/Fusion/20.2.3_Studio
- I extract the contents of the downloaded ZIP file:
sudo unzip ./Blackmagic_Fusion_Studio_*.tar
- I change to the new sub-directory:
cd ./Blackmagic_Fusion_Studio_20.2.3_Linux
- I change the mode of the extracted RUN file to an executable:
sudo chmod +x ./Blackmagic_Fusion_Studio_*.run
- I install the unzipped
run file:
sudo SKIP_PACKAGE_CHECK=1 ./Blackmagic_Fusion_Studio_*_installer.run -i
- I update my NVIDIA drivers, if required:
sudo apt install -y nvidia-driver-580
NOTE: Fusion requires the 550 drivers or later.
- I run the application using the Desktop icon (in the Apps Drawer), or as a terminal session:
/opt/BlackmagicDesign/Fusion19/Fusion
One Final Update.
- From the terminal, I update my system one last time:
sudo apt clean && \
sudo apt update && \
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y && \
sudo apt --fix-broken install && \
sudo apt autoclean && \
sudo apt autoremove -y
The Results.
Setting up a personalised Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system involves selecting and installing a variety of applications and utilities that cater to my specific needs. From essential software like package managers and partition tools to specialised applications for development, media, and productivity, each component plays a crucial role in enhancing my computing experience. By carefully choosing and configuring these tools, I can create a versatile and efficient environment that supports my daily tasks and long-term goals. I keep my system updated while exploring new tools that can further optimise my workflow.
In Conclusion.
I’ve improved my Ubuntu experience with these essential apps & utilities.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve discovered these must-have applications and utilities that let me tailor my system to my requirements. As a developer, a creative, and someone who loves a well-ordered digital workspace, this guide includes a minimum set of tools that I find essential.
From package managers like APT, Snap, and Flatpak, to partition managers like GNOME Disks and GParted, and the media utilities that ship in Ubuntu Studio, I have a standard set of tools that meets most of my daily needs.
With tools like Blender for 3D modelling, DaVinci Resolve Studio for video editing, and VS Code for app development, I can easily achieve any outcome that comes to mind.
I can stream my favourite tunes with Spotify while compiling new software using the Rust compiler. I can even enhance my app development with tools like Docker Desktop and Miniconda.
Keeping my system updated and exploring new tools will significantly optimise my workflow and support my daily tasks as well as my long-term goals.
What are your go-to applications? Share your favourites in the comments below!
Until next time: Be safe, be kind, be awesome.
Document Details.
The following information is the metadata for this post.
#Ubuntu #Ubuntu-Studio #Linux #Open-Source #Productivity #Software-Development #Blender #DaVinci-Resolve-Studio #VS-Code #Docker #Spotify #Innovation #Tech-Community #Tech-Tools
SEO Title (60 Characters).
System Tools for Ubuntu Desktop | My Personal Setup Guide
SEO Description (150 Characters).
I share my Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS essentials — package managers, partition tools, media apps, and dev tools that I install and configure for single purpose: to improve my daily workflow.
Permalink
https://solodev.app/system-tools-for-ubuntu-desktop
Version
v0.5.2
