Prepare a workable Ubuntu desktop computer

I started using computer with the Windows operating system. I started with the ancient Windows-95 back in 1999. I must accept that Windows is pretty easy to learn. But, the bad thing was, we used cracked versions, not the copyrighted ones. Being a poor country, copyright violations were (and still are) very common in Bangladesh. I was not an exception. But I felt guilty inside. I was not aware of Linux at the beginning. I was thrilled when I knew about Linux, a free open-source operating system: I don't have to violate law anymore! But then I found, to my utter dismay, that the system is very very very complex. The installation process, software installation, and basically everything was far more complex than Windows. Graphical interface was very poor; you have to write commands to run your programs; you have to memorize syntax. A scarcity of software made the situation worse. I failed not run mp3 files after trying for a day! Ultimately, I came back to Windows along with the guilty feeling.

Now, Linux has improved very much. It is almost as easy to learn as Windows; sometimes it is even easier than Windows. Especially, Ubuntu has improved a great deal. In the meantime, I also got rid of my command-line fear. Internet has also made software easily available. Few days ago, I thought, why don't I start using Linux now? Although I now use copyrighted version of Windows, I still feel a soft corner Linux philosophy - free and open source. So, I decided to move to Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is now mature enough. It is really easy to use these day. If you want to use it, may be to avoid the guilty feeling of law violation, you just need to have an honest will, and a good internet connection. That's it!

Here I note down a few instructions I used to prepare a workable Ubuntu desktop computer for me.

Basic Installation

1. Download Ubuntu. I downloaded the 32-bit version. [url] 
2. Create a bootable usb drive. (You may also create a DVD) [url] 
3. Plug-in the usb (or DVD) and (re)start your computer. 
4. Set your computer to boot from USB (or DVD). You have to choose appropriate boot order. The priority of USB (or DVD) has to be higher than that of hard disk. [url]
5. Install Ubuntu. [url]

Software Installations

You can install common software from Ubuntu Software Center using graphical user interface (gui) easily. However, sometimes you may need to write commands in Terminal (Press Ctrl+Alt+T). Personally, I prefer terminal to gui. So, here I note down the commands to write in terminal.

1. Avro. [url]
2. Skype. 
1. Download: [url] 
2. Install command: sudo dpkg -i skype-ubuntu-precise_4.2.0.11-1_i386.deb 
3. Sound troubleshooting: [url]
4. Background noise: System Settings > Sound > Input. Make sure your recording device is not amplified.
5. To run skype with pulseaudio: PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60 skype
3. Google Chrome 
1. Download: [url] 
2. Install command: sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb 
4. Dictionary plug-in in Chrome [url] 
5. VLC media player [url] 
1. Install command: sudo apt-get install vlc 
6. Git 
1. sudo apt-get install git 
2. git config --global user.name "User Name" 
3. git config --global user.email "UserEmail@example.com" 
7. Apache Web Server [url] 
1. sudo apt-get install apache2 
2. check by hitting in browser: http://localhost/ 
8. PHP 
1. sudo apt-get install php5 
2. sudo apt-get install libapache2-mod-php5 
3. To check installation, create a small php page (test.php) in /var/www/html
   <?php
   phpinfo();
   ?>
4. Finally, hit in web browser (mozilla/chrome) with http://localhost/test.php. See this for detail configuration. 
9. Latex [url] 
1. TexStudio: sudo apt-get install texstudio 
2. Extra packages: sudo apt-get install texlive-latex-extra 
10. R. [url] 
11. RStudio. 
1. Download: [url] 
2. Install command: sudo dpkg -i rstudio-0.98.945-i386.deb 
12. Teamviewer [url] 
1. Download: wget http://download.teamviewer.com/download/teamviewer_linux.deb 
2. sudo dpkg -i teamviewer_linux.deb 
13. Copy [url] 
1. wget https://copy.com/install/linux/Copy.tgz 
2. sudo tar -xvpzf Copy.tgz -C /etc 
3. cd /etc/copy/ 
4. ./x86/CopyAgent 
14. Bittorent
1. Install command:  sudo apt-get install bittorrent
15. MySQL:
1. sudo apt-get install mysql-server
2. sudo apt-get install mysql-workbench
16. SQLite:
1. sudo apt-get install sqlite
2. sudo apt-get install sqlitebrowser 

Tips

1. Shortcut to open a terminal: Ctrl + Alt + T 
2. Shortcut to copy-paste Terminal: Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V 
3. Shortcut to toggle desktop: Ctrl+Super+D 
4. Keyboard shortcuts: [url] 
5. Install/Uninstall *.deb files. [url] 
1. sudo dpkg -i package_file.deb 
6. Fix dependency error / installation error: 
1. sudo apt-get -f install  
7. Disable certificate authentication for wifi connection: 
1. Open /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/YOUR-CONNECTION file. 
2. Edit one configuration: system-ca-certs=false 
8. If you cannot edit a text file, you might need administrator permission. You can do so by opening gedit (text editor) in admin mode, and then edit the file. 
1. command: sudo gedit 
9. Close an unresponsive program: [url]
1. Write a command in terminal: xkill
2. You mouse will look like 'x' and click on the unresponsive program window.