Well. We have already installed Ubuntu MAT 16.04. And now what? Well, like everything in life, it will depend on everyone, but in this article I will tell you what I do after installing the MAT version of Ubuntu. And is that, like any operating system, Ubuntu MAT comes with some installed packages by default that we will probably never use and does not have others that we may use frequently.
I want you to keep in mind that what I will explain below is what I do, So you may be able to remove a package that interests you or install one that is not. For example, I install redshift which serves to change the screen temperature for nights and remove Thunderbird. In any case, I hope to explain everything step by step so that everyone can choose what suits them best.
Table of Contents
What to do after installing Ubuntu MAT
Install and uninstall packages
As soon as I install Ubuntu MAT, I start installing and removing packages. Install the following:
- Synaptic. As much as they launch different software centers, I always like to have it on hand. From Synaptic we can install and uninstall packages as in other software centers, but with more options.
- Shutter. The MAT screenshot tool or any other Ubuntu-based version is fine, but Shutter has more options and a very important one for me: it allows you to edit photos by easily adding arrows, boxes, pixels, etc., all from of a light application.
- GIMP. I think there are too many presentations. The most widely used “Photoshop” in Linux.
- qbittorrent. Transmission is great too, but qbittorrent also has a search engine, so I want to have it available for whatever might happen.
- Code. Formerly known as XBMC, it allows you to play virtually any type of content, whether local video, streaming, audio … the possibilities are endless, as long as you know what to do with it.
- UNetbootin. To create Live USBs.
- GParted. The tool for formatting, resizing and, ultimately, managing partitions.
- redshift. The aforementioned system that changes the temperature of the screen by eliminating blue tones.
- Kazam. To capture everything that happens on my desktop.
- PlayOnLinux. One more twist in Wine with which Photoshop can be installed, for example.
- OpenShot. A great video editor.
- Kdenlive. Another great video editor.
- Clementine. An Amarok-based audio player, but more streamlined.
Variety. To change the wallpaper. It changes me every hour. Now I create them myself without installing anything.- Software Center (Gnome-software). I was surprised to see that Ubuntu MAT only has “Software Boutique”. It has a good image, yes, but it does not allow you to search for packages. It only focuses on offering software that goes well in MAT.
I remove the following packages:
- Thunderbird. For many this will be heresy, but I’ve never liked Thunderbird, let alone after trying other more modern mail handlers. I prefer Nylas N1.
- Rhythmbox. Very limited for me and one of its shortcomings for me is unforgivable: it has no equalizer. I know it can be added, but I prefer to install Clementine.
- Hexchat. Simply put, I haven’t chatted on IRC in a long time.
- Tilda. A terminal emulator that I will never use.
- Pidgin. The same thing I said about Hexchat, I say about Pidgin.
- orca (Gnome-orca). Dictate what the desktop is with the voice. I don’t need it either.
If it turns out you want to do everything exactly like me in this regard, you can copy and paste the following text (I do) in a terminal. In case you didn’t know, “&&” (without the quotes) means we can add more than one command and (thank you, Victor 😉) “-i” makes us not ask for confirmation. The first one in the list, to avoid possible errors, is to update the repositories, the penultimate one is to update what I haven’t touched and the last one is to remove the dependencies that I will no longer use:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -i synaptic shutter gimp qbittorrent Kodi UNetbootin gparted redshift kazam PlayOnLinux OpenShot Kdenlive Clementine gnome-software && sudo apt-get remove -i thunderbird Rhythmbox hexchat titlla pidgin gnome-apt & get upgrade -i && sudo apt-get autoremove -i
NOTE: each of the changes must be accepted (with the “S” of “Yes” + Return).
Add application launchers
Although Ubuntu MAT 16.04 includes Plank, which is a Dock at the bottom, the truth is I just don’t like it, I don’t know why. I prefer to put my own pitchers at the top bar. To add a launcher just do the following:
- Let’s go to the applications menu.
- Right or right click on the application you want to add to the top bar.
- We choose the option “Add this launcher to the panel”.
For example, in addition to Firefox which is already set by default, I add the Terminal, screenshot, Shutter, System Monitor, Photoshop (I’ll explain how to install it), GIMP, a shortcut to a folder with images, two custom (the command “xkill” and “redshift”), the Franz application (which connects WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype and many other messaging services) and, a little further away for security, the command to reboot ).
Customize some aspects
I really like the MAT environment, truth be told, but you can always improve on something. des mate Tweak, We can make some modifications such as deleting the folder from the desktop. On my desktop I only leave the units mounted. We can also:
- Move the buttons to the left.
- Change the subject. There are several available, the most striking being Mutiny for resembling the standard version. I prefer the default Ubuntu MAT theme, but this is my personal preference.
- des System / Preferences / Hardware / Mouse / Touchpad also change to scroll through windows with two fingers, activate natural scrolling and horizontal scrolling.
- des Applications / Accessories we can access Synapse, an app launcher, file finder, etc., which comes in handy. What I do is open it, so it will appear at the top right, I tell it not to show the icon (I don’t need it) and to start with the system. To launch it, I use the CTRL + Bar keyboard shortcut.
And I think that’s it. I hope everything is clear. What do you do after installing Ubuntu MATE?
