Setting up Ubuntu from scratch

This is mostly to help me remember what I like to do when setting up Ubuntu on a new computer, but maybe other folks will find it useful too. I’ll probably update it over time.

Update Ubuntu

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get autoremove

Install frequently-used software (recommended for all)

sudo apt-get install vim flashplugin-nonfree ttf-mscorefonts-installer ubuntu-restricted-extras gimp

Install less-frequently-used software (my personal list)
Note: Skype requires the Canonical Partners repository. Goto System > Update Manager > Settings > Other Software and check “Canonical Partners” before running the following.
```
sudo apt-get install pidgin skype hugin audacity ffmpeg wine lame vorbis-tools dia meld inkscape alpine
```

Remove software I don’t use (or that gets in my way)

sudo apt-get remove evolution empathy gwibber shotwell

Make sure SSH connections stay open

echo "    ServerAliveInterval 120" | sudo tee -a /etc/ssh/ssh_config

Enable the TrackPoint (ThinkPad-specific)
```
sudo apt-get install gpointing-device-settings
gpointing-device-settings
```
In the TrackPoint section, select “Use wheel emulation”, set button to 2, and check “Enable horizontal scroll”
Configure Firefox
- Allow backspace to go back in history
  Goto about:config in the location bar and set browser.backspace_action = 0
- Under Edit > Preferences, turn off download manager, turn off password manager
- Install Add-ons (get from Justin Watt’s Firefox Add-ons Collection)
Install EditPlus in Wine
Keyboard remapping
Goto System > Preferences > Keyboard > Layouts > Options…
- Caps Lock key behavior > Caps Lock is disabled
- Compose key position > Right Ctrl
Set up “LAMP” for local web development (optional)

Also check out: Adventures in Linux with Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Guide. Everything else is just apt-get install and a lifetime of learning.

6 Comments

Braden

Sep 7, 2008 2:24pm

Heh, I did this myself this week.

The minimalist toolbar is brilliant, and Last Tab seems really nice. (Firefox comes one step closer to a full operating system.) Thanks.

You’re using vi and you have CapsLock as a Ctrl instead of Escape? xkeycaps for the win.

justin

Sep 7, 2008 3:44pm

Actually I just use vi/vim for in-terminal editing. Most of my code I write gets written in EditPlus (thanks to Wine).

Kenneth Reitz

Nov 7, 2008 2:09pm

I need to make a list like this. What’s more fun, though, is making your own bootable install image with the changes already made :D

justin

Nov 7, 2008 5:18pm

Kenneth—and update it every 6 mos? Nah. Well I’m not installing Ubuntu fresh all that often. But I’d love to see a set of instructions on how to appropriately script the changes I’ve described here. The apt-get ones would be easy. Not sure about FF and the various conf file changes.

justin

Feb 22, 2010 10:02pm

As of Ubuntu 9.10, the annoying pcspkr module is blacklisted (yay!), so I’ve removed the following from my standard list of instructions:

Turn off the PC speaker beep/bell

sudo rmmod pcspkr
sudo vi /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Then at the bottom add:

blacklist pcspkr

I also made the following updates, based on recent usage, and changes to Ubuntu since I wrote this.

Separated “Install frequently-used software” into two groups: general and personal
Added pidgin and pidgin-otr (since they are no longer installed by default) and thunderbird, which I use for email at work
Added dia and meld, which I use at work
Added Screengrab, a Firefox addon
Added a keyboard remapping step to enable the Compose key

justin

Sep 4, 2011 3:10pm

I’ve updated this post as of Ubuntu 11.04. I’ve also written a separate Natty Narwhal-specific post: Ubuntu Unity: Ugh.

6 Comments

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