Most Common Tasks to Learn How To Use Linux

This article aims to be a one-stop shop for all of the common tasks we conduct on Linux. It contains everything from managing files to setting up a new printer, vpn, and so on.

If you’re a regular LinuxAndUbuntu reader, you’re probably aware that we focus on teaching Linux in the simplest way possible. We have often stated that Linux is a user-friendly operating system. If you’ve ever considered switching to Linux but didn’t because someone said it was too sophisticated operating system for people like you, that’s not true.

In this article, we’ll show you how to execute common operations on a Linux distribution using either a graphical user interface or a command-line interface. In all circumstances, it is very simpler than you may imagine.

These frequent tasks have been divided into two sections: Basic and Advanced. Basic actions are those that we execute much too frequently, whereas advanced actions are those that we may not need to conduct as frequently as others. For advanced actions, the user may need a little more knowledge to grasp what’s going on.

And this list is not complete yet. You can comment your suggestions and I will consider updating the article with your suggestions.

Basic Tasks

User Management on Linux

In Linux, user management involves creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts, as well as managing their privileges and permissions. Here are some common tasks:

1. Add user: useradd or adduser command
2. Delete user: userdel command
3. Modify user: usermod command
4. Change password: passwd command
5. Add user to group: usermod -a -G groupname username
6. View user information: id, finger, getent commands.

It is recommended to use the usermod command instead of directly modifying the user configuration files in the /etc/passwd directory, as it ensures the consistency of the system files.

Adding a user on Linux

$ useradd or adduser

useradd and adduser are both Linux commands used to create new users on a system. useradd is the standard Linux command to create a new user, whereas adduser is a more user-friendly alternative found in some distributions (e.g. Debian and Ubuntu).

Both commands perform the same basic function, but adduser may offer additional features and better defaults compared to useradd.

Depending on the distribution you’re using, the above two commands can be used to create a new Linux user.

$ useradd sandy

Delete a Linux user

$ userdel -r username

Adding a group on Linux

$ groupadd group_name

Delete a Linux user group

$ groupdel group_name

Add a user to a group

$ usermod -aG group_name username

Remove a user from a group

$ gpasswd -d username group_name

Or

$ deluser username group_name

File Management on Linux

Linux file management can be performed using the terminal or a graphical user interface.

Terminal commands:

1. ls – list the contents of a directory
2. cd – change the current working directory
3. mkdir – create a new directory
4. rm – delete a file or directory
5. cp – copy a file or directory
6. mv – move or rename a file or directory
7. touch – create a new file
8. chmod – change file permissions

Graphical interface:

1. Nautilus – default file manager for GNOME
2. Dolphin – default file manager for KDE
3. Thunar – default file manager for Xfce.

Copying files on Linux

cp path-to-file path-to-destination-directory

Moving or renaming a file on Linux

mv path-to-file path-to-destination-directory

Rename a file on Linux

mv path-to-file/test.txt path-to-file/new-filename.txt

Deleting a file on Linux

rm path-to-file

Creating a directory on Linux

mkdir directory-name

Moving a directory on Linux

mv -r path-to-target-directory path-to-destination

Deleting a directory on Linux

rm -r path-to-directory

Package Management on Linux

Linux Package Management is a crucial aspect of operating a Linux-based system. It provides a simple and efficient way to install, update, and remove software packages, making it easier for users to keep their systems up-to-date and running smoothly.

The most popular package managers on Linux are apt (Debian/Ubuntu), yum/dnf (Fedora/RHEL/CentOS), and pacman (Arch). Each of these package managers has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the goal remains the same – to keep the system stable and functioning correctly.

One of the key benefits of package management is the ability to handle dependencies automatically. When installing a package, the package manager checks for any other packages that are required for it to run correctly, and installs them if necessary. This means that users don’t have to worry about manually installing each dependency, saving time and reducing the chance of human error.

Another advantage of package management is the ability to easily update packages. With just a single command, users can update all installed packages to the latest version, ensuring that their systems are always secure and up-to-date. Additionally, users can roll back to a previous version of a package if there is a problem with an update.

In conclusion, Linux package management is a critical component of any Linux-based system. It provides a simple and efficient way to install, update, and remove software packages, while ensuring that the system remains stable and functioning correctly. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Linux user, taking advantage of package management is essential to keeping your system running smoothly.

Installing or Uninstalling software on Linux

• apt (Debian/Ubuntu) – This package manager is used on Debian and Ubuntu-based systems and offers a simple and efficient way to manage packages.

1. Install a package: apt-get install <package_name> or apt install <package_name>
2. Update a package: apt-get upgrade <package_name> or apt upgrade <package_name>
3. Remove a package: apt-get remove <package_name> or apt remove <package_name>
4. Search for a package: apt-cache search <package_name>
5. List installed packages: dpkg -l or apt list --installed
6. List available updates: apt-get update or apt update
7. Upgrade all packages: apt-get upgrade or apt upgrade
8. Check for broken dependencies: apt-get check or apt check
9. Clean up repository cache: apt-get clean or apt clean

• yum/dnf (Fedora/RHEL/CentOS) – dnf is a package manager for Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and CentOS systems that provides an easy-to-use interface for managing packages. Here are some basic commands for using dnf:

1. Install a package: dnf install <package_name>
2. Update a package: dnf update <package_name>
3. Remove a package: dnf remove <package_name>
4. Search for a package: dnf search <package_name>
5. List installed packages: dnf list installed
6. List available updates: dnf check-update
7. Upgrade all packages: dnf upgrade
8. Check for broken dependencies: dnf repoquery --whatrequires <package_name>
9. Clean up repository cache: dnf clean all

1. Install a package: yum install <package_name>
2. Update a package: yum update <package_name>
3. Remove a package: yum remove <package_name>
4. Search for a package: yum search <package_name>
5. List installed packages: yum list installed
6. List available updates: yum check-update
7. Upgrade all packages: yum upgrade
8. Clean up repository cache: yum clean all
9. Show information about a package: yum info <package_name>

• pacman (Arch Linux) – pacman is a package manager for Arch Linux and provides a simple and fast way to manage packages. Here are some basic commands for using pacman:

1. Install a package: pacman -S <package_name>
2. Update a package: pacman -U <package_name.pkg.tar.xz>
3. Remove a package: pacman -R <package_name>
4. Search for a package: pacman -Ss <package_name>
5. List installed packages: pacman -Q
6. List available updates: pacman -Syu
7. Upgrade all packages: pacman -Syu
8. Check for broken dependencies: pacman -Qkk
9. Clean up repository cache: pacman -Sc

• zypper (openSUSE) – zypper is a package manager for openSUSE systems that provides a robust and versatile package management system. Here are some basic commands for using zypper:

1. Install a package: zypper install <package_name>
2. Update a package: zypper update <package_name>
3. Remove a package: zypper remove <package_name>
4. Search for a package: zypper search <package_name>
5. List installed packages: zypper list-installed
6. List available updates: zypper list-updates
7. Upgrade all packages: zypper upgrade
8. Check for broken dependencies: zypper verify
9. Clean up repository cache: zypper clean

• urpmi (Mandriva) – urpmi is a package manager for Mandriva and Mageia Linux systems that provides a simple and reliable way to manage packages. Here are some basic commands for using urpmi:

1. Install a package: urpmi <package_name>
2. Update a package: urpmi --auto-update <package_name>
3. Remove a package: urpme <package_name>
4. Search for a package: urpmq --list-media and urpmq --list <package_name>
5. List installed packages: urpmq --list-installed
6. List available updates: urpmi --auto-update --test
7. Upgrade all packages: urpmi --auto-update
8. Check for broken dependencies: urpmi --auto-orphans
9. Clean up repository cache: urpmi.removemedia <media_name>

Network Management on Linux

Network Management on Linux systems is the process of monitoring, controlling, and configuring the network devices and connections in a Linux environment. Linux provides a number of tools for managing networks, including ifconfig, ip, netstat, and nmap, which can be used to monitor network interfaces, set up IP addresses, and troubleshoot network problems.

For larger, more complex networks, Linux also provides network management software such as Nagios, Zabbix, and Cacti, which offer advanced monitoring and reporting capabilities, including real-time network performance monitoring, alerting, and reporting.

In addition to monitoring and controlling the network, Linux also provides a number of utilities for configuring and securing networks, including firewall management tools such as iptables and ufw, as well as VPN software such as OpenVPN and PPTP.

Network Management on Linux systems is a critical aspect of operating a Linux-based network, offering a variety of tools and utilities for monitoring, controlling, and securing networks. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Linux user, taking advantage of the available network management tools and utilities is essential to ensuring that your Linux-based network operates smoothly and efficiently.

Connect to WiFi on Linux

wifi-menu

wifi-menu is a command-line utility in Arch Linux used to connect to wireless networks. It is part of the netctl package and provides a graphical interface to configure and connect to wireless networks.

To use wifi-menu, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and run the following command:

wifi-menu

2. A list of available wireless networks will be displayed. Select the network you wish to connect to and press Enter.
3. Enter the password for the selected network.
4. The connection will be established, and you should be able to access the internet.

Note: wifi-menu is only available in Arch Linux and its derivatives. Other Linux distributions may have different tools for connecting to wireless networks.

nmcli

nmcli is a command-line tool for managing network connections and devices in Linux systems that use the NetworkManager service. Here are some basic commands for using nmcli:

1. Display status of network connections: nmcli general status
2. Display information about a network device: nmcli device show <device_name>
3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network: nmcli device wifi connect <SSID> password <password>
4. Connect to an Ethernet network: nmcli device connect <device_name>
5. Disconnect from a network: nmcli connection down <connection_name>
6. Edit an existing network connection: nmcli connection edit <connection_name>
7. Create a new network connection: nmcli connection add type <type> con-name <connection_name> ifname <device_name>
8. Monitor network status changes: nmcli monitor

Compress or decompress files on Linux

To compress a file on Linux, use the gzip command:

gzip filename

The original file will be replaced with a .gz file.

To decompress a .gz file, use the gunzip command:

gunzip filename.gz

If you need to compress multiple files into a single archive, use the tar command, e.g.:

tar -cvzf archive.tar.gz file1 file2 file3

To extract files from a tar archive, use:

tar -xvzf archive.tar.gz

Devices Management on Linux

Devices management on Linux involves managing physical and virtual devices on a Linux system. Linux provides a number of tools and techniques to manage devices, including:

1. lsblk: displays block device information.
2. dmesg: displays kernel ring buffer information about devices.
3. lspci: displays information about PCI buses and devices.
4. lsusb: displays information about USB buses and devices.
5. hwinfo: displays detailed information about hardware on the system.
6. udev: dynamically creates and manages device nodes.
7. /dev/: the directory where device nodes are located.
8. /sys/: the sysfs file system where information about devices is stored.

In addition, Linux also provides various device drivers to manage devices such as hard disks, network interfaces, and graphics cards.

To manage devices, a Linux administrator typically uses commands and tools to view information about devices, configure device settings, and troubleshoot device issues. For example, they might use the dmesg command to view messages related to a specific device, or modify settings in the /sys/ file system to configure a device’s behavior.

In summary, Linux provides a number of tools and techniques for managing devices, which helps to ensure that devices work properly and efficiently on a Linux system.

Install printers on Linux

The process of installing a printer on Linux can vary depending on the distribution you are using. Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow to install a printer on Linux:

1. Connect the printer to your computer and turn it on.
2. Open the terminal and type the following command to check if the printer is recognized:

lpinfo -v

3. If the printer is recognized, use the following command to install it:

sudo apt-get install cups

4. Once the installation is complete, open the printer configuration tool:

system-config-printer

5. In the printer configuration tool, click on the “Add” button to add a new printer.
6. Follow the prompts to select the printer and configure it.
7. Test the printer by printing a test page.

Note: The specific steps for installing a printer may vary depending on your Linux distribution. Be sure to consult the documentation for your distribution for more information.

Install open source printing drivers –

sudo apt install gutenprint

For HP printers –

sudo apt install hplip

Playing Games on Linux

Linux is a popular open-source operating system, but it doesn’t natively support Windows games. However, with the help of compatibility layers like Wine and PlayOnLinux, you can play Windows games on Linux with ease. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to play Windows games on Linux:

1. Install Wine or PlayOnLinux: Wine is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on Linux. PlayOnLinux is a graphical frontend for Wine that makes it easier to install and manage Windows games on Linux. To install Wine, open the terminal and type in the following command:

sudo apt-get install wine

To install PlayOnLinux, type in the following command:

sudo apt-get install playonlinux

2. Install the Windows Game: Once you have installed Wine or PlayOnLinux, you can install the Windows game. If you are using Wine, you can install the game by simply double-clicking on the installation file. If you are using PlayOnLinux, you can install the game by clicking on the Install button and following the on-screen instructions.
3. Configure Wine or PlayOnLinux Settings: Before launching the game, you may need to configure Wine or PlayOnLinux settings to get the best performance. You can access the Wine configuration by typing “winecfg” in the terminal. You can access the PlayOnLinux configuration by clicking on the Configure button in the PlayOnLinux menu.
4. Launch the Game: Once you have installed the game and configured the settings, you can launch the game by double-clicking on the game icon or by typing the game name in the terminal.
5. Enjoy Playing the Game: Finally, start playing the game. With the help of Wine or PlayOnLinux, you can enjoy your favorite Windows games on Linux.

Note: Some Windows games may not work well on Linux using Wine or PlayOnLinux, so it’s important to research the compatibility of the game before installing it.

Install Steam Play

Steam Play is a feature of the Steam platform that allows users to play Windows games on Linux. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Steam Play on Linux:

1. Install Steam: To use Steam Play on Linux, you’ll need to install Steam on your Linux distribution. You can download the Steam installer from the Steam website and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
2. Enable Steam Play: Once you have installed Steam, you’ll need to enable Steam Play. To do this, go to the Steam settings and select the Steam Play tab. Make sure the box next to “Enable Steam Play for supported titles” is checked.
3. Install a Windows Game: You can install a Windows game from the Steam Store by clicking the Install button. Steam Play will automatically detect if the game is compatible and will run the game in a compatibility layer if necessary.
4. Launch the Game: Once the game is installed, you can launch it from the Steam Library. The game will run just like any other Linux game.
5. Enjoy Playing the Game: Finally, start playing the game. With Steam Play, you can enjoy your favorite Windows games on Linux without any compatibility issues.

Programming on Linux

Install PHP on Linux

Here are the steps to install the latest version of PHP on a Linux system:

1. Add the Ondřej Surý’s PPA repository:bashCopy codesudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
2. Update the package index:sqlCopy codesudo apt-get update
3. Install PHP and its dependencies:csharpCopy codesudo apt-get install php
4. Verify the installation by checking the PHP version:Copy codephp -v

Note: These steps are for Ubuntu/Debian systems. If you’re using a different Linux distribution, the steps may vary. Please use the package manager of your specific distribution to install php.

Install Ruby on Linux

1. Install dependencies: sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev libreadline-dev zlib1g-dev
2. Download the latest version of Ruby source code: wget https://cache.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/ruby-<version>.tar.gz
3. Extract the downloaded file: tar -xzvf ruby-<version>.tar.gz
4. Change to the extracted directory: cd ruby-<version>
5. Configure and install:
   ./configure
make
sudo make install
6. Verify the installation by checking the Ruby version: ruby -v

Note: You can replace <version> with the desired version number (e.g. 2.7.3).

Install Python on Linux

1. Download the latest version of Python source code: wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/<version>/Python-<version>.tar.xz
2. Extract the downloaded file: tar -xf Python-<version>.tar.xz
3. Change to the extracted directory: cd Python-<version>
4. Configure and install:
   ./configure --enable-optimizations
make
sudo make altinstall
5. Verify the installation by checking the Python version: python<version> -V

Note: You can replace <version> with the desired version number (e.g. 3.10.0).

Install NodeJS on Linux

To install Node.js on different Linux distributions, use the following commands:

1. Debian/Ubuntu:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

2. Fedora:

curl -sL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install nodejs

3. CentOS/RHEL:

curl -sL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo bash -
sudo yum install nodejs

4. SUSE:

curl -sL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo bash -
sudo zypper install nodejs

Verify the installation by checking the version:

node -v

Install Apache on Linux

To install Apache Web Server on different Linux distributions, use the following commands:

1. Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install apache2

2. Fedora:

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install httpd

3. CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum update
sudo yum install httpd

4. SUSE:

sudo zypper update
sudo zypper install apache2

After installation, start the Apache service:

sudo systemctl start apache2

You can verify the installation by visiting http://localhost in your web browser. The default Apache page should be displayed.

Install LiteSpeed on Linux distributions

To install LiteSpeed Web Server on Linux, follow these steps:

1. Download the LiteSpeed Enterprise Web Server package:

wget https://www.litespeedtech.com/packages/5.4/lsws-5.4.4-ent-x86_64-linux.tar.gz

2. Extract the package:

tar xvzf lsws-5.4.4-ent-x86_64-linux.tar.gz

3. Change the current directory to the extracted folder:

cd lsws-5.4.4

4. Run the installation script:

./install.sh

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
6. Start the LiteSpeed service:

systemctl start lsws

7. Verify the installation by visiting http://localhost in your web browser. The default LiteSpeed page should be displayed.

Install Nginx on Linux

To install Nginx on different Linux distributions, use the following commands:

1. Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nginx

2. Fedora:

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install nginx

3. CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum update
sudo yum install nginx

4. SUSE:

sudo zypper update
sudo zypper install nginx

After installation, start the Nginx service:

sudo systemctl start nginx

You can verify the installation by visiting http://localhost in your web browser. The default Nginx page should be displayed.

Install Laravel on Linux

To install Laravel on different Linux distributions, follow these steps:

1. Install PHP and required dependencies:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install php php-common php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

Fedora:

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install php php-common php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum update
sudo yum install php php-common php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

SUSE:

sudo zypper update
sudo zypper install php7 php7-mbstring php7-xml php7-zip

2. Install the Composer package manager:

curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php
sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer

3. Create a new Laravel project:

composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel project_name

4. Configure the web server to serve the Laravel project. For Nginx, the default configuration file is located at /etc/nginx/sites-available/default. For Apache, it’s located at /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf.
5. Restart the web server:

Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Apache:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

6. Verify the installation by visiting http://localhost in your web browser. The Laravel welcome page should be displayed.

Install Ruby On Rails (RoR) on Linux

To install Ruby on Rails on Linux, follow these steps:

1. Install the required dependencies:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install curl git-core zlib1g-dev build-essential libssl-dev libreadline-dev libyaml-dev libsqlite3-dev sqlite3 libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev software-properties-common libffi-dev

Fedora:

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install curl git-core zlib-devel gcc openssl-devel readline-devel libyaml-devel sqlite-devel libxml2-devel libxslt-devel libcurl-devel libffi-devel

CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum update
sudo yum install curl git-core zlib-devel gcc openssl-devel readline-devel libyaml-devel sqlite-devel libxml2-devel libxslt-devel libcurl-devel libffi-devel

SUSE:

sudo zypper update
sudo zypper install curl git-core zlib-devel gcc openssl-devel readline-devel libyaml-devel sqlite3-devel libxml2-devel libxslt-devel libcurl-devel libffi-devel

2. Install rbenv, a Ruby version manager:

curl -fsSL https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv-installer/raw/master/bin/rbenv-installer | bash

3. Configure rbenv to be available in your shell:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.rbenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
echo 'eval "$(rbenv init -)"' >> ~/.bashrc

4. Restart the terminal or run the following command:

source ~/.bashrc

5. Install Ruby using rbenv:

rbenv install 2.7.2
rbenv global 2.7.2

6. Confirm the installation by checking the Ruby version:

ruby -v

7. Install Rails:

gem install rails

8. Confirm the installation by checking the Rails version:

rails -v

Now you can create a new Rails project by running the following command:

rails new myapp

Install C# on Linux

To install the latest version of C# on Linux, you need to install .NET Core, a cross-platform version of the .NET framework.

Here are the steps to install the latest version of .NET Core on a Linux distribution:

1. Download the .NET Core runtime and SDK from the Microsoft website (https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet-core).
2. Install the required dependencies, including the SDK and runtime:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dotnet-sdk-5.0

Fedora:

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install dotnet-sdk-5.0

CentOS/RHEL:

sudo rpm -Uvh https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-7.noarch.rpm
sudo rpm -Uvh https://packages.microsoft.com/config/centos/7/packages-microsoft-prod.rpm
sudo yum install dotnet-sdk-5.0

SUSE:

sudo zypper update
sudo zypper install dotnet-sdk-5.0

3. Verify the installation by checking the .NET Core version:

dotnet --version

4. Create a new C# project using the .NET CLI:

dotnet new console -n myapp
cd myapp
dotnet run

Now you can start writing and running C# applications on Linux with the latest version of .NET Core.

Install IDE (Integrated Development Environment) on Linux

Install VS code

To install Visual Studio Code (VSCode) on a Linux distribution, you can follow these steps:

1. Download the VSCode DEB or RPM package from the Visual Studio Code website (https://code.visualstudio.com/download).
2. Install the package using the appropriate package manager for your distribution:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo dpkg -i <vscode_deb_package>.deb
sudo apt-get install -f

Fedora:

sudo dnf install <vscode_rpm_package>.rpm

CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum install <vscode_rpm_package>.rpm

SUSE:

sudo zypper install <vscode_rpm_package>.rpm

3. Start VSCode from the terminal or from the application menu.

code

That’s it! You should now have Visual Studio Code installed and ready to use on your Linux distribution.

Install Sublime Text on Linux

To install Sublime Text on a Linux distribution, you can follow these steps:

1. Download the Sublime Text tar archive from the Sublime Text website (https://www.sublimetext.com/download).
2. Extract the tar archive to the desired location, for example, in /opt:

tar xvf Sublime\ Text\ Build\*.tar.bz2 -C /opt

3. Create a symlink to the subl executable in a location that’s included in your $PATH environment variable, such as /usr/bin:

ln -s /opt/Sublime\ Text\ Build\*/sublime_text /usr/bin/subl

4. To start Sublime Text from the terminal, run:

subl

5. To add a desktop entry for Sublime Text, create a new file named sublime-text.desktop in /usr/share/applications/ with the following contents:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Sublime Text
Exec=subl %F
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=/opt/Sublime Text Build*/Icon/128x128/sublime-text.png
Categories=TextEditor;Development;

That’s it! You should now have Sublime Text installed and ready to use on your Linux distribution.

Photo Editing on Linux

There are several photo editing applications available for Linux users, offering a range of features and capabilities for both amateur and professional photographers. Some of the most popular photo editing tools for Linux include GIMP, Rawtherapee, Darktable, and Krita.

GIMP is a powerful, open-source image editor with a large number of tools and features, including support for layers, masks, and filters. Rawtherapee is a high-quality RAW image processor that offers advanced color correction and tone mapping capabilities.

Darktable is a RAW image editor that offers a non-destructive editing workflow, while Krita is a digital painting and illustration tool with a focus on providing artists with a wide range of brushes and tools.

Whether you are looking to retouch a photo, edit images in bulk, or create digital artwork, there is a photo editing application for Linux that will meet your needs. With these tools, Linux users have access to professional-level photo editing capabilities, right at their fingertips.

Communication on Linux

Install Skype on Linux distributions

To install Skype on Linux distributions, you have several options:

1. Snap Package: Skype is available as a Snap package, which can be installed on a wide range of Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS. To install, run the following command in the terminal:

sudo snap install skype --classic

2. Debian Package: For Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, you can download the Debian package from the Skype website and install it using the following commands:

wget https://go.skype.com/skypeforlinux-64.deb
sudo apt-get install ./skypeforlinux-64.deb

3. RPM Package: For Fedora and CentOS distributions, you can download the RPM package from the Skype website and install it using the following command:

sudo yum install skypeforlinux-64.rpm

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Skype from the application menu or by typing “skype” in the terminal. Note that some Linux distributions may have older versions of Skype in their software repositories, so it’s recommended to install the latest version from the Skype website for the best experience.

Install Zoom on Linux distributions

To install Zoom on Linux distributions, follow these steps:

1. Download the Zoom package from the Zoom website.
2. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the Zoom package is saved using the cd command.
3. Run the following command to make the package executable:

chmod +x zoom_amd64.deb

4. Install the package using the following command:

sudo dpkg -i zoom_amd64.deb

5. If any dependencies are missing, run the following command to install them:

sudo apt-get install -f

6. Launch Zoom from the application menu or by typing “zoom” in the terminal.

Note: The process for installing Zoom may vary slightly depending on your specific Linux distribution. For more information, refer to the Zoom website.

Install Discord on Linux distributions

To install Discord on Linux distributions, follow these steps:

1. Download the Discord package from the Discord website.
2. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the Discord package is saved using the cd command.
3. Run the following command to make the package executable:

chmod +x Discord-*.deb

4. Install the package using the following command:

sudo dpkg -i Discord-*.deb

5. If any dependencies are missing, run the following command to install them:

sudo apt-get install -f

6. Launch Discord from the application menu or by typing “discord” in the terminal.

Note: The process for installing Discord may vary slightly depending on your specific Linux distribution. For more information, please read the detailed article written on LinuxAndUbuntu.

Installing anti-viruses on Linux

To install ClamAV antivirus on Linux distributions, follow these steps:

1. Update your system’s package index using the following command:

sudo apt update

2. Install ClamAV using the following command:

sudo apt install clamav

3. Once the installation is complete, start the ClamAV service using the following command:

sudo systemctl start clamav-freshclam

4. Schedule regular scans to ensure that your system is protected. You can schedule scans using the cron job scheduler. For example, to schedule a weekly scan with ClamAV, add the following line to your crontab:

0 0 * * 7 /usr/bin/clamscan -r /

5. To run a manual scan, use the following command:

clamscan -r /

Note: The specific steps for installing ClamAV may vary depending on your Linux distribution. Be sure to consult the ClamAV documentation for more information.

Virtualization on Linux

Virtualization is the process of creating virtual machines (VMs) that run on a host computer. Virtualization allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine, each in its own isolated environment. Linux is one of the most popular operating systems for virtualization, and there are several virtualization solutions available for Linux, including:

1. VirtualBox – a free, open-source virtualization solution that supports both Linux and Windows VMs.
2. KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) – a virtualization solution built into the Linux kernel.
3. VMware Workstation – a commercial virtualization solution that supports multiple operating systems, including Linux and Windows.

Each virtualization solution provides its own set of features and benefits, so it’s important to choose the right solution based on your specific needs.

Install Windows on Linux

Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow to install Windows on Linux using VirtualBox:

1. Download and install VirtualBox on your Linux machine.
2. Create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox and select Windows as the operating system.
3. Allocate the necessary system resources (e.g., memory, disk space) for the Windows virtual machine.
4. Insert the Windows installation media (e.g., DVD or ISO image) into your Linux machine.
5. Start the virtual machine and begin the Windows installation process.
6. Follow the Windows installation prompts to complete the process.
7. Once Windows is installed, you can run it inside the virtual machine and access the Linux host operating system as needed.

Advanced Tasks

Linux Desktop Environments

Installing or changing a desktop environment on Linux can greatly improve the user experience and customization of your system. A desktop environment is a bundle of software that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for easy access to the underlying operating system. Linux offers a variety of desktop environments to choose from, each with its own unique features, looks, and functionalities.

To install a new desktop environment, the first step is to update your system’s software repositories to ensure that you have the latest versions of the packages. This can be done using the package manager for your specific Linux distribution.

Next, you need to determine the name of the desktop environment you want to install. Popular options include Gnome, Xfce, KDE, Cinnamon, and Mate. Use your package manager to search for the desired desktop environment and install it, for example, if you wanted to install Xfce, the command on Ubuntu would be:

sudo apt-get install xfce4

After the installation is complete, log out of your current desktop environment and select the new desktop environment from the login screen. You should now be presented with the new desktop environment, ready to use and customize as desired.

To change your existing desktop environment to a different one, simply follow the same steps as above, but instead of installing the new desktop environment, you will need to uninstall the old one first. For example, to switch from Gnome to Xfce, the command on Ubuntu would be:

sudo apt-get remove gnome-shell
sudo apt-get install xfce4

It’s important to note that when switching between desktop environments, you may lose some of your personalized settings and configurations. Make sure to backup any important data before making any changes.

Installing or changing a desktop environment on Linux is a straightforward process, and can greatly enhance the overall user experience. With a variety of options to choose from, you can easily find the perfect desktop environment to meet your specific needs and preferences. Whether you are looking for a sleek and modern look, or a more traditional and functional design, the choice is yours with Linux.

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Source: LinuxAndUbuntu