Complete guide to linux

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Ubuntu Linux

Get started with Ubuntu the right way

Ubuntu (pronounced «oo-boon-too») is one of the most popular desktop Linux operating systems. The term Ubuntu derives from South Africa and roughly translates to «humanity toward others.» The name is a nod to the Ubuntu project’s commitment to the principles of open-source software development. It is free to install and free to modify, although donations to the project are welcome.

About Ubuntu

Ubuntu first burst onto the scene in 2004 and quickly shot to the top of the Distrowatch rankings, mostly because it’s easy to install and use.

The default desktop environment in Ubuntu is GNOME, a modern desktop environment with a powerful search tool for finding all your applications and documents. It integrates well with common applications such as audio players, video players, and social media.

Other desktop environments are available in the package manager, including Cinnamon, LXDE, XFCE, KDE, and MATE. In addition, specific versions of Ubuntu are designed to work and integrate well with desktop environments such as Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, and Ubuntu MATE.

The large company Canonical employs the core Ubuntu developers, who earn money in various ways that include providing support services.

How to Get Ubuntu

You can download Ubuntu free of charge. For desktop computers, two versions of Ubuntu are available, a long-term support (LTS) release that stays supported for five years and a regular release that arrives every six months and is only supported for around nine months.

The LTS version of Ubuntu is better for people who don’t like to upgrade an operating system regularly. On LTS systems, everything stays the same as long as possible. The system receives updates for security and bug fixes only. You can download older LTS versions from the alternative downloads page if that’s your preference.

The regular Ubuntu release provides up-to-date software and a recently developed Linux kernel, which means you get better hardware support. Not only that, but you also get the latest versions of the applications you use every day. Because the regular release refreshes quickly, you’ll have the newest version of your favorite programs.

How to Try Ubuntu

Before you install Ubuntu on top of your current operating system, it’s a good idea to try it out first. There are various ways to try Ubuntu, and the following guides will help:

• How to create a live Ubuntu USB Drive.
• How to run Ubuntu as a virtual machine using Windows.
• How to run Ubuntu as a virtual machine using Windows 10.

How to Install Ubuntu

The following guides will help you install Ubuntu on a hard drive:

• How to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 8.1.
• How to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7.
• How to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10.

How to Navigate the Ubuntu Desktop

A quick glance at the Ubuntu desktop shows a panel at the top of the screen and a quick launch bar on the left side.

Ubuntu offers many keyboard shortcuts that save time and effort, so these shortcuts are worth learning. To display a list of shortcuts, press Super key+Esc. The Super key varies with the type of computer:

• On a Windows keyboard, the Super key is denoted by the Windows logo and is located next to the left ALT key.
• On a Mac keyboard, look for the Command key.
• On a Chromebook, the Super key has a magnifying glass logo on it.

The other way to navigate Ubuntu is to use the mouse. Each icon on the launch bar points to an application such as the file manager, web browser, office suite, or software center. Like on mobile devices, use the Applications icon in the lower-left corner of the desktop to display a list of installed apps. Then, select the icon of the app you want to open.

Like anything, using the Ubuntu desktop is the best way to familiarize yourself with it. The layout is different from both Windows and macOS, despite the similar appearance to the current Mac design. That said, everything is designed to be intuitive to navigate with a mouse or a touch screen. And, the chance of breaking something is slim. Once you dive in and see what everything does, you’ll realize just how simple it is.

The Ubuntu GNOME Shell

The GNOME Shell is the graphical display belonging to the GNOME desktop environment, but this section covers the GNOME overview screens, both the activities and the applications. These are the closest equivalent to the old Ubuntu Unity Dash and are also the method used to find applications and keep running windows organized.

Start by pressing Activities in the upper-left corner of the Ubuntu desktop. When you do, the screen darkens and displays a new set of controls:

• In the middle of the screen, open windows are arranged in a convenient way to show what’s running, select what you want, or close something you’re done with.
• To the right, you can switch workspaces. Ubuntu, and Linux in general, have multiple virtual desktops that you can switch between at any time, giving you more screen space.
• At the top, you’ll find a search that looks through the applications, files, and apps available for download.

To launch the GNOME Applications Overview, select the Applications icon at the lower-left corner of the screen. This looks similar to the previous overview screen. This time, though, there is a listing of all the applications in icon form.

The same search option as before appears at the top of the screen. At the bottom, you can switch between all apps and the ones you commonly use.

Connect to the Internet

To connect to the internet, press the network icon on the top panel. This displays a list of wireless networks. Select the network to which you wish to connect, then enter its security key. If you are connected to a router using an Ethernet cable, you are connected to the internet automatically. You can browse the web using Firefox (the default browser that ships with Ubuntu) or whatever browser you prefer.

How to Keep Ubuntu up to Date

Ubuntu notifies you when updates are available for installation. You can change the settings so that the updates work the way you want. Unlike the process that Windows uses, you have full control as to when the updates are applied so you won’t suddenly turn on your computer to find that update 1 of 465 is installing.

You can also manually update the system by running the graphical Software Updater application. If you prefer the command line, which is an option on Ubuntu, open a terminal window, then enter the command below to update the system.

How to Browse the Web With Ubuntu

Launch Firefox by selecting its icon on the launcher or by going to the Applications Overview and searching for Firefox. If you prefer, you can install Google Chrome by downloading it from the Google website.

How to Set up the Thunderbird Email Client

The default email client for Ubuntu is Thunderbird. It has most of the features found in a home desktop operating system. You can set up Gmail to work with Thunderbird easily. To run Thunderbird, either press the Super key and search for it using the Dash, or press ALT+F2 and type Thunderbird.

How to Create Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations

The default office suite for Ubuntu is LibreOffice. LibreOffice is the standard for Linux-based office software. Icons reside in the quick launch bar for the word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation packages. For everything else, the product offers a help guide.

How to Manage Photos or View Images

Ubuntu has a number of packages for managing photos and viewing and editing images. For example:

• Shotwell is a dedicated photo manager. This guide by OMGUbuntu has a good overview of its features.
• A basic image viewer, Eye Of Gnome, allows you to view photos in a folder, zoom in and out, and rotate images.
• The LibreOffice draw package is part of the full office suite.

You can launch each of these programs from the Dash by searching for them.

How To Listen To Music Within Ubuntu

The default audio package for Ubuntu is called Rhythmbox. It provides all of the features expected of an audio player: the ability to import music from various folders, create and edit playlists, connect with external media devices, and listen to online radio stations. You also can set up Rhythmbox as a Digital Audio Access Protocol (DAAP) server, and play music on a computer from a phone and other devices.

To run Rhythmbox, press ALT+F2, then enter Rhythmbox or search for it.

How to Watch Videos in Ubuntu

GNOME Videos is the default movie player for Ubuntu. It’s a great basic option, but video players like VLC and Kodi are available on Ubuntu. Both can be found in GNOME Software, or you can install these apps from the command line.

If you want a good, all-around video player on Ubuntu, VLC is the recommended option.

Get Audio and Video Codecs and Watch Flash Video Using Ubuntu

By default, additional codecs required to play some audio and video formats and watch Flash video aren’t installed with Ubuntu for licensing reasons. However, you are able to install the items you need quite easily.

How to Install Software Using Ubuntu

The main graphical tool to use when installing the software in Ubuntu is Ubuntu Software. It is fairly clunky, but it is functional. One of the first tools you should install using Ubuntu Software is Synaptic, which provides a powerful base for installing other software.

Linux software is available from repositories—servers that hold software that can be installed for a particular distribution. A repository is stored on one or more servers known as mirrors. Each item of software within a repository is called a package. There are many package formats, but Ubuntu uses the Debian package format. You’ll find most of the things you need in the default repositories, but you can add and enable some extra repositories to acquire additional software.

Using graphical packages such as Ubuntu Software and Synaptic aren’t the only ways to install software using Ubuntu. You also can install packages from the command line using apt-get. While the command line may seem daunting, you will come to appreciate the power of apt-get after using it for a bit.

How to Customize Ubuntu

The GNOME Desktop isn’t as customizable as other Linux desktop environments. However, you can do basic things such as change the wallpaper and choose whether menus appear as part of the application or in the top panel. There are also tons of GNOME extensions and themes to help make your desktop your own.

Other Major Software Packages

There are some widely used packages that you probably will want to use. For example:

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A Beginners Guide to Linux

Linux offers a different take on desktop computing than Windows and macOS

The Linux operating system offers a rich mix of features and security that make it a great free and (mostly) open-source alternative to macOS and Microsoft Windows. Because it’s different «under the hood,» consider some of the big-picture aspects of Linux and how it compares to the other desktop operating systems before you take the plunge.

What Is Linux?

Linux powers a variety of computer systems from light bulbs to guns, laptops to large computer centers. Linux powers everything from your phone to your smart refrigerator.

In desktop computing, Linux provides an alternative to commercial operating systems such as Windows and macOS.

Linux sources from some of the earliest computer operating systems from the 1960s and 1970s, and so it retains its root philosophies of strong user-level security, customization, and system stability.

Why Use Linux Instead of Windows or macOS?

There are many reasons why you would use Linux instead of Windows or macOS and here are just a few of them:

Which Linux Distribution Should You Use?

The Linux kernel is like an engine. A distribution is an actual vehicle that houses the engine.

So which Linux distribution should you choose? Linux supports several hundred distributions, each optimized for some specific use case:

• Linux Mint: Requires low computer expertise, easy to install, easy to use and has a familiar-looking desktop for Windows users.
• Debian: For those seeking a truly free Linux distribution with no proprietary drivers, firmware or software, then Debian is for you.
• Ubuntu: A modern Linux distribution that is easy to install and easy to use.
• openSUSE: A stable and powerful Linux distribution. Not as easy to install as Mint and Ubuntu but a good alternative nonetheless.
• Fedora: The most up-to-date Linux distribution with all new concepts incorporated at the earliest possible opportunity.
• Mageia: Rose from the ashes of the formerly great Mandriva Linux. Easy to install and easy to use.
• CentOS: As with Fedora, CentOS is based on the commercial Linux distribution, Red Hat Linux. Unlike Fedora, it is built for stability.
• Manjaro: Based on Arch Linux, Manjaro provides a great balance between ease of use and up to date software.
• LXLE: Based on the lightweight Lubuntu distribution this provides a fully-featured Linux distribution for older hardware.
• Arch: A rolling release distribution, meaning that you don’t have to install new versions of the operating system at any point because it updates itself. More difficult for the new user to get to grips with but very powerful.
• Elementary: Linux for people who like a Mac-style interface.

How to Run Linux From a DVD or USB

A live Linux DVD or USB lets you run Linux without installing it to your hard drive. This basically lets you test drive Linux before committing to it and is also good for the occasional user.

Most distributions use a live loader to both test and install the distribution. Ubuntu Linux, a common choice for new Linux hobbyists, offers an excellent live environment.

How to Install Linux

Each Linux distribution relies upon a different installer, which is a program that guides you through configuring Linux. In most cases, you’re free to install Linux as the new operating system on a computer or as a separate OS that doesn’t overwrite Windows.

What Is a Desktop Environment?

A display manager logs you in while a window manager governs windows, panel, menus, dash interfaces and core applications. Many of these items are bundled together to make a desktop environment.

Some Linux distributions ship with just one desktop environment (although others are available in the software repositories), while others offer different versions of the distribution fine-tuned for different desktop environments.

Common desktop environments include Cinnamon, GNOME, Unity, KDE, Enlightenment, XFCE, LXDE and MATE.

Cinnamon is a more conventional desktop environment that looks much like Windows 7, with a panel at the bottom, a menu, system tray icons, and quick launch icons.

GNOME and Unity are fairly similar. They are modern desktop environments that use the concept of launcher icons and a dashboard-style display for picking applications. There are also core applications that integrate well with the overall theme of the desktop environment.

KDE is a classic-style desktop environment with many custom features and a core set of applications that are all highly customizable.

Enlightenment, XFCE, LXDE, and MATE are lightweight desktop environments with panels and menus.

Are There Any Decent Office Suites for Linux?

For personal use and for small- to medium-sized businesses, LibreOffice presents a strong alternative to Microsoft Office, for free.

LibreOffice comes with a word processor with the majority of the features you expect from a word processor. It also features a decent spreadsheet tool that is full-featured and includes a basic programming engine, although it isn’t compatible with Excel VBA.

Other tools include the presentation, maths, database, and drawing packages which are all good.

How to Install Software Using Linux

Linux does not install software the same way that Windows does. A package manager accesses repositories that archive various software applications that work on a given distribution. The package management tool provides a mechanism to search for software, install software, keep the software up to date, and remove the software.

Each distribution provides its own graphical tool. There are common command-line tools used by many different distributions.

For example, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian all use the apt-get package manager. Fedora and CentOS use the yum package manager. Arch and Manjaro use Pacman.

The Linux Command Line

Given its long heritage and the diversity of approach of modern desktop environments, a lot of Linux still works from a shell session. In the macOS world, these sessions are called the terminal; in Windows, the Command Prompt.

Although the graphical user interface of modern Linux DEs can do just about everything, much online education about Linux relies on the shell because it’s not tied to the peculiarities of a given distribution or window manager. People new to Linux can get away with rarely or never working from the shell, but people who grow to love Linux often go to the shell first because of how easy it is to type one command instead of clicking through many different menus.

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