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What are PPAs and How to Add Latest Software via PPAs

Apps, How To, Linux Comments Off

Mar 182015

If you’re a newcomer to Ubuntu (or its derivatives like Linux Mint), you’re probably keen on installing and trying out the latest, greatest and hottest applications available in the open source universe.

Unfortunately, a lot of new applications are not available through the official Ubuntu or Linux Mint repositories.

So you’ll have to download and install the software on your own and install them via the dpkg or gdebi tools.

Or you can install and update them on your Ubuntu PC via the Personal Package Archive (PPA).

What is a PPA?

Unique to the Ubuntu universe, PPAs are special software repositories from the developer community that let users install software via the familiar apt-get install technique. Or if you prefer, via the GUI method.

Here’s how you add a PPA to your Ubuntu PC. You can get the PPA’s name of an application on the developer’s web site or by searching for it on LaunchPad.

Open a terminal and type:

# sudo add-apt-repository ppa:user/ppa-name

Let’s consider a concrete example where we’ll add a PPA and then install an application from that PPA.

For instance, I wanted to try out a new note application called Papyrus that debuted a couple of days back. The spanking new application was not available in the official repositories.

So I decided to take the PPA road.

1. First I added Papyrus PPA to my PC.

I found a link to the Papyrus PPA on the developer’s web site and got its name.

# sudo add-apt-repository ppa:aseman/desktop-apps
[sudo] password for jason: 
You are about to add the following PPA to your system:
 Desktop Applications of the Aseman Team
 More info: https://launchpad.net/~aseman/+archive/ubuntu/desktop-apps
Press [ENTER] to continue or ctrl-c to cancel adding it

Executing: gpg --ignore-time-conflict --no-options --no-default-keyring --homedir /tmp/tmp.kjY0IqUMJp --no-auto-check-trustdb --trust-model always --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --primary-keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys C117080D
gpg: requesting key C117080D from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key C117080D: public key "Launchpad PPA for Aseman" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1  (RSA: 1)

If you’re not comfortable with the command line, you can take the GUI route to add a PPA.

In Linux Mint, you can add a PPA via the GUI option by navigating to Menu –>Administration–>Software Sources–>PPAs and then clicking on the Add a new PPA button.

If you’re running Ubuntu, you must head over to Ubuntu Software Center–>Edit–>Software Sources–>Other Software–>Add. Then type in the PPA address and click on the Add Source button. Now when you search for the application in the Software Center, you’ll find it there.

2. If you’ve added a PPA via the terminal, it’s now time to update the list of available packages and their versions.

# sudo apt-get update

3. Now look for the Papyrus software through apt-cache search search_string tool.

# apt-cache search papyrus
papyrus - Papyrus modern note manager
libpapyrus3-dev - DICOM compatible file format library

After the PPA is added, you can also search for Papyrus in the Software Manager (Linux Mint) or Software Center (Ubuntu).

If you’re in a hurry and know the name of the application, you can skip this step.

4. The final step is to install the Papyrus application on your computer.

# sudo apt-get install papyrus
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  dconf-cli dconf-editor dconf-tools libX11-dev libc-dev-bin libc6-dev
  libdrm-dev libegl1-mesa-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libgles2-mesa-dev
  ....

If you prefer the GUI route, you can install Papyrus via the Software Manager (Linux Mint) or Software Center (Ubuntu).

Removing PPAs

There’s always the chance that you might want to remove a PPA that you’ve installed on your Ubuntu system.

So how do you remove a PPA from your Ubuntu PC? Continue reading »

Linux Software Installation Made Easy

Command Line, How To, Linux Comments Off

Mar 122015

Don’t let Windows or Mac users scare you that adding or removing software on a Linux computer is only for bravehearts.

Installing, upgrading or removing software on Linux systems is no longer the daunting chore it used to be some years back.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to install software packages on a Linux system.

You can install software packages either through a graphical user interface (GUI) or do it via the command line.

Major desktop Linux distros like Fedora Workstation 21, Linux Mint and Ubuntu now have slick GUIs that make searching for and installing new software a breeze.

The big advantage with GUI based installers is that they take care of dependency resolution so newbies won’t have to fret whether the package they’re installing or upgrading will work without having to install other software.

But you can be sure that hardcore Linux enthusiasts and system administrators will always opt for the command line to install, upgrade or remove software.

In large business environments (such as a web hosting companies) where headless servers are often the norm, Linux system administrators work exclusively on the command line.

Command Line Installation

On the command line, two kinds of tools (low level and high level) are available to install software packages on a Linux system.

The first method (dpkg for Debian and rpm for Red Hat) does not resolve dependencies and are therefore considered low level tools.

The high level installation tools (apt-get or yum) take care of dependencies.

In case you didn’t know, dependencies are other software that an application requires before it can work.

dpkg and rpm are low-level tools while apt-get and yum are considered high-level tools because they take care of dependencies as part of the installation process.

In this post, we’ll look at installing and removing software packages on both Debian based distributions and Red Hat style distros (like Fedora, CentOS and OpenSUSE that follow the Red Hat methodology) via the command line.

As you no doubt guessed, the commands for Debian and Red hat are completely different.

So we’ll have to consider them separately to avoid confusion.

We’ll consider Debian and its derivative distros first.

Installation on Debian

Commands mentioned in this section should work on Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Xandros and more.

Install a Package

Linux users opt for dpkg with software that are not downloaded from a repository.

Here’s how you install a package with dpkg.

# dpkg -i package_name

When you install a .deb package via the low-level dpkg tool, be aware that there is no dependency resolution.

So if the package you’re installing requires other software you’re stuck.

To avoid dependency issues, you must use higher-level tools like apt-get to install software on Debian and its derivatives. Strictly speaking, this is not always possible because not all packages are in repositories.

When you use the high level apt-get install tool, you’re downloading software from a repository.

The first step is to run update and then search for the package you’re interested in.

# apt-get update

# apt-cache search search_string

If you’re looking for an RSS reader, you’d run the below command first.

# apt-cache search rss

That’s how I discovered RSS readers like Quiterss and Liferea.

Finally, when you’ve found the package you want just install it with the following command.

You can skip the search step if you already know the package you want to install.

# apt-get install package_name

List Packages Installed

Your Ubuntu or Linux Mint computer has dozens of packages installed on it.

If you want the entire lengthy list, go with the following command.

$ dpkg -l

I recommend you save the output to a text file for leisurely analysis later.

$ dpkg -l > MyPackageList.txt

Total Packages Installed

Say you want to find out how many packages are installed on a Linux system without the long list of all the individual packages.

You use the dpkg with the -l option and then pipe it to wc -l.

On my Ubuntu system, I was curious about the total packages installed.

Here’s what I did:

$ dpkg -l | wc -l
2215

Remove a Package

Removing a package on a Debian, Ubuntu or Linux Mint computer is no sweat with the below command.

# dpkg -r package_name

Alternatively, if it’s a package downloaded from a repository you should go with either of the following commands.

# apt-cache remove package_name

But the above command leaves behind configuration files.

If your goal is to remove the configuration files too, you must use the purge option.

apt-cache purge package_name

Information About a Specific Package

If you’re looking for more information on a specific package, what command would you run?

In the below example, I sought information on the popular Cherrytree notes application.

$ dpkg -l cherrytree | tail -1 | tr -s ' '
ii cherrytree 0.35.7-1~ppa1~trusty1 all hierarchical note taking application

Verify if Package is Installed

You can check if a particular software package is installed on your Debian or Ubuntu computer.

Say you want to see if an rss package is installed on your Ubuntu computer.

Here’s the command you ought to run:

$ dpkg -l | grep rss
ii  quiterss  0.17.6-0ubuntu1~trusty  amd64 RSS/Atom feed reader written on Qt

If quiterss weren’t installed on my Ubuntu PC, I wouldn’t have got any response.

Red Hat & Red Hat Syle Distros

Let’s now take a dekko at how to install software on Red Hat and its derivative distributions like CentOS and Fedora.

Red Hat is the favorite Linux distro for scores of large corporations around the world. Continue reading »

Obama is Giving $100m for TechHire, Are You Ready?

General, Linux Comments Off

Mar 102015

Wisdom is finally dawning on American politicians that the tech sector pays better wages than Walmart or McDonald’s.

So President Obama announced a $100 million TechHire initiative on March 9, 2015 to get more Americans trained for better paying technology jobs.

The White House also said there were half a million job openings in the information technology sector including in software development, network administration and cybersecurity.

According to the White House, information technology is currently the largest occupational category for open jobs right now.

TechHire will work with community colleges, coding boot camps and online course providers to rapidly train Americans for information technology jobs.

Accelerated training providers Dev Bootcamp, Hack Reactor, Microsoft, Treehouse Island and Udacity intend to expand free or discounted training for underserved communities and individuals.

What are You Waiting for?

The TechHire initiative is still in the works and it will likely take some time for the grant money to flow to your state.

But you can get started now.

Within information technology, Linux is a hot area where hiring managers are scrambling to find talent.

Even if you’re not a computer science graduate, you can pick up valuable Linux skills.

Linux is not rocket science. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

With enough determination and by putting your nose to the grindstone, I guarantee you’ll gain adequate Linux skills in three months.

In this post, I will point you to some free resources where you can learn about Linux command line tools, system administration and security.

I have also provided links to some key Linux distributions that you can download to your computer for practice.

Free Books to Learn Linux

If you check on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, you’ll find that computer books are frightfully expensive.

Now there’s no reason for despair if your budget is tight because plenty of free legal books on Linux are available online.

Here are a few Linux books to get you started:

1. Linux Command Line by William Shotts
2. Linux Systems Administration by Paul Cobbaut
3. Linux Cookbook
4. Linux Fundamentals by Paul Cobbaut
5. 33 Free Books on Linux

For the command line, I suggest you start with William Shotts’ excellent book (see link above).

Once you gain confidence in your Linux skills, obtain certifications like Red Hat Certified System Administrator or the Linux Foundation’s Certified SysAdmin.

Having certifications will make your resume more appealing to employers.

Download Linux Distributions

Some Linux distributions are more easier for newbies than other distributions. Continue reading »

Linux Jobs Aplenty

Linux Comments Off

Mar 052015

If you wanted one more reason to hone your Linux skills, it came in the form of a new report from the Linux Foundation and Dice that cast a bright spotlight on solid job opportunities for Linux professionals.

The report was based on responses from over 1,000 hiring managers and 3,000 Linux professionals about the state of the Linux job market.

Here are highlights from the Dice-Linux Foundation report:

● Most hiring managers plan to recruit Linux professionals in the next six months. With new Linux-based systems, projects and products constantly emerging, hiring the right talent to support the growth remains a priority with employers. Nine out of 10 hiring managers intend to hire Linux talent relative to other skills areas in the next six months.

● The rise of open cloud platforms is creating even more demand for Linux professionals with the right expertise. 42% of hiring managers say that experience in OpenStack and CloudStack will have a major impact on their hiring decisions, while 23% report security is a sought-after area of expertise and 19% are looking for Linux talent with Software-Defined Networking (SDN) skills.

● Linux-certified professionals will be especially well positioned in the job market this year, with 44% of hiring managers saying they’re more likely to hire a candidate with Linux certification, and 54% expecting either certification or formal training of their SysAdmin candidates.

● More developers and SysAdmins are learning Linux as companies are getting even more aggressive about rolling out Linux-based systems and devices to support cloud, mobile and embedded, and emerging areas such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN).

● Contribution to open source projects is a good way to gain expertise and demonstrate that knowledge to employers.

Where to Buy Pre-Installed Linux PCs

Linux, Products Comments Off

Mar 022015

One major obstacle to the growth of Linux on the desktop is the lack of easy availability of pre-installed Linux PCs and laptops.

You can go to Staples or Best Buy and pick up a Windows PC or Chromebook (at Best Buy only) and be out of the store in under 10-minutes.

If you want a Mac, you can walk into an Apple store or Best buy and pick up an iMac or MacBook Air.

Of course, you can also go online and buy Windows PCs, Chromebooks or Mac with just a few clicks and the benefit of free shipping.

But try buying a pre-installed Linux PC. No, you won’t find them at Best Buy or Staples.

Where to Buy Pre-Installed Linux Mint, Ubuntu Computers

Now if you ask me, installing Linux on an old PC or laptop is child’s play.

But some folks are sill uneasy about the whole process of downloading and burning Linux Mint or Fedora or Ubuntu to a USB drive or disc and then installing it on their PCs and notebooks.

Fret not, my poppets.

All’s not lost for you scared folks.

I have found a bunch of vendors who sell pre-installed Linux computers at reasonable prices. Let’s take a deko at a few of them:

1. Symple – The brainchild of Phoenix entrepreneur Jason Spisak, Symple takes off-lease computers, recycles them into $89 Linux computers with Ubuntu pre-installed and sells them online.

Here’s what Symple is promising on its Ubuntu Linux PCs:

* Made in USA from recycled & re-manufactured materials
* At least 2GB of RAM (DDR2 or better)
* At least 2.8GHz single core or better (Intel or AMD processor)
* At least 80GB SATA HD
* At least 10/100 Ethernet or better
* At least VGA port (Integrated)
* At least 2 USB Ports or more
* At least 1 audio out port
* 1 Year Advanced Replacement Warranty (provided you ship us the old unit to be recycled after you receive your replacement)

One caveat though – Symple will not provide support for the Ubuntu operating system. You’re on your own on all software issues.

But I don’t see that as a big negative if you know how to move the mouse and type google in the address bar of your browser. Plus, there’re various online support resources like Ubuntu Forums.

Where to Buy: Symple

2. Current Build – You can buy pre-installed Linux mini-PCs and desktop PCs at prices starting at $289.

Current Build will pre-install Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mageia, OpenSUSE or Debian for you.

Current Build is based in Santa Monica, California.

Where to buy – Current Build

3. Amazon.com – You really aren’t surprised to find Amazon on the list, are you?

Of course, you can find Linux computers at biggest e-tailer. To be sure, there are not many Linux computers on Amazon but a few.

These systems are usually sold by third-parties who leverage Amazon’s web site to peddle their wares.

While I was writing this post (in early March 2015), I found a Dell Optiplex with Ubuntu for $176 (specs: small form factor,3.0Ghz, Core 2 Duo,250Gb Sata HDD, 4Gb Ram, DVDRW, Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS). Although the hardware is decent, I consider the $176 price tag steep.

Where to buy – Amazon.com

4. Free I.T. Athens – You can get used desktops and laptops with Linux Mint pre-installed at insane prices at Free I.T. Athens.

If you have a weak heart, I suggest you close this browser because the prices will knock you off your chair. A PC with single core processor, 1GB of RAM, 80GB hard drive (or greater) and Linux Mint costs $25.00. For an additional ten bucks, you will get a keyboard, mouse and CRT monitor as well.

Computers with higher specifications (Dual core processor, 2GB RAM, 80GB hard drive (or greater) and Linux Mint OS go for $50.

There’s a 90-day warranty on the desktops but laptops are sold as-is.

Where to buy – Visit the store in Athens, GA during their open hours. Continue reading »

Frequent Freezes – Linux Mint’s Ugly Secret

How To, Linux Comments Off

Feb 252015

Frequent Freezes are Irritating Linux Mint Users
To say that Linux Mint has taken the Linux world by storm and galvanized a gazillion people to try Linux for the first time would be a gross understatement.

Having tried Linux Mint and discovered its user friendly features, millions around the world have abandoned the familiar terrain of their overpriced Windows and Mac OS computers for Linux.

Unlike resource-hungry operating systems like Windows 8 or Mac OS X Yosemite, Linux Mint runs well on old systems that you can buy on eBay or Craigslist for $60-$80.

I run Linux Mint on an old Dell Optiplex 780 core duo PC that I got on eBay.

Getting a first class operating system like Linux with access to tons of free applications for $60 is one of the true miracles of our age.

Linux Mint Freezes – Ugly Wart

But Linux Mint (with the Cinnamon desktop) has a dark, ugly wart that will eventually put off many newbies to Linux if the distribution’s developers continue to ignore a persistent problem.

Frequent freezes on Linux Mint systems (with the Cinnamon desktop) are proving to be more than an irritant.

Every day, Linux Mint users suffer from freezes. They come without warning and bring all work to a grinding halt.

Worse, the freezes now occur multiple times a day lately.

If you’re on a text app like Gedit, you can move the mouse cursor but not much else. The keyboard too freezes.

At first, I blamed the freezes on insufficient memory since I often have multiple browser tabs open and various applications (Gedit, Cherrynote etc) running in the background. And my Linux Mint PC has just 4GB of RAM compared to the 20GB on my iMac.

But then I noticed that even when I had just one or two browser tabs open my Linux Mint PC would freeze inexplicably. I have even encountered freezes when nothing but the terminal was open.

The freeze is is a plague afflicting both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Linux Mint (with the Cinnamon desktop).

For the record, I’ve always used Cinnamon as the desktop on my Linux Mint PC (my experiment with Mate on Linu Mint was too short to talk about in any detail).

I hoped that Rebecca would put an end to the freeze issue but my hopes turned out to be in vain.

Having endured multiple freezes daily for over six months, my patience is now nearing its end.

Out of frustration, I switched to CentOS 7 and then CentOS 6 for a few weeks. End of the freeze problem.

But I couldn’t stay away from Linux Mint for long despite the vexing freezes.

How to Unfreeze Linux Mint

I have resorted to two techniques to unfreeze my Linux Mint computer.

The first method that’s helped me to fix a freeze is to press Alt and Tab keys simultaneously.

This technique works 99% of the time, unfreezes the computer instantly and lets me continue my work.

But sometimes the Alt-Tab technique method won’t work.

Then I resort to a different technique – I either open an application from my panel like the RSS news feed or Cherrynote or close a running app via right-click.

This unorthodox method liberates my computer from whatever freezing demon has taken possession of it.

Here’s hoping the smart minds will hunker down and end a problem bedevilling lots of Linux Mint users.

Linux Mint is a superb distro and fixing the freeze issue will enable it to remain the first choice of Linux newbies.

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