Install complete collection of Google fonts on Debian/Ubuntu

Google Fonts is an extensive collection of Free and Open Source fonts. The collection includes more than one thousand fonts and releases under Open licenses (SIL Open Font License and Apache License). Google fonts can make use with word processors (LibreOffice, Abiword) after the installation on Linux based operating systems.

Users have to visit the Google Fonts website to download and install the font one by one, and it's a time-consuming process. The font collection maintains through the GitHub repository, where all font files can be download directly. Users can download the entire font collection and put it in the font directory of Linux based operating systems. Then the fonts become available for the entire system.

Download font collection

Visit https://github.com/google/fonts and download the fonts package.

Installation of fonts

A compressed file with the name fonts-main.zip download to the Download folder. Extract the zip file. A folder will appear with the name fonts-main. Rename the fonts-main folder to gfonts and copy the folder to home.

Move the gfonts folder to /usr/share/fonts, where fonts are located in Ubuntu. Apply the following command to move the fonts to the Ubuntu font folder.

sudo mv gfonts /usr/share/fonts

Refresh the cache of the font directory to take effect the changes.

sudo fc-cache -f -v

Check the new fonts available.

Open LibreOffice Writer and check the font, EB Garamond available.

Install Brave browser on Ubuntu and Debian

Brave is a free and open-source web browser based on the Chromium web browser. Brave is a privacy-focused browser and automatically blocking online advertisements and website trackers in its default settings. The extensions of the Chrome browser also works with Brave. Bookmarks and extensions from Chrome import after the installation of Brave browser. Brave browser has its own search engine for web search.

Following are the commands to install, apply the commands one by one.

sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl

sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main"|sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install brave-browser

Install Teamviewer on Debian/Ubuntu from DEB repository

Teamviewer is a popular remote desktop access software. Often, Linux users install Teamviewer from .deb package. Users need to upgrade the software manually whenever new version arrives. Now Linux users can install Teamviewer by adding software repository. This method is convenient to keep the software new all time. Teamviewer update along with updating Linux operating system. This method can apply to install Teamviewer on Ubuntu and Debian. Following are the steps to add and install Teamviewer from DEB repository. Open a Terminal and apply the following commands for each purpose.

Add the repository address to the system (change editor name, here I am using Mousepad)

sudo mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.list

Add software repository address in the file,

deb https://linux.teamviewer.com/deb stable main

Save and close the file.

Add the repository key,

sudo su

wget -O - https://download.teamviewer.com/download/linux/signature/TeamViewer2017.asc | apt-key add -

sudo apt update

sudo apt install teamviewer

The software will appear on Applications > Internet after the successful installation.

Reference

https://community.teamviewer.com/English/kb/articles/30666-how-to-update-teamviewer-on-linux-via-repository

Install Anydesk from DEB repository

Anydesk is a remote desktop access software and offer user friendly interface. Traditionally Anydesk install from .deb package. Users need to upgrade the software manually whenever new version arrives. Now Linux users can install Anydesk by adding software repository. This method is convenient to keep the software new all time. Anydesk update along with updating Linux operating system. Following are the steps to add and install Anydesk from DEB repository.

Open a Terminal and run the following commands as Root user,

Become a Root user,

sudo su

Add the repository key,

wget -qO - https://keys.anydesk.com/repos/DEB-GPG-KEY | apt-key add -

Add the repository

echo "deb http://deb.anydesk.com/ all main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/anydesk-stable.list

Update the software index.

apt update

Install Anydesk

apt install anydesk

The software will appear on Applications > Internet after the successful installation.

Reference

http://deb.anydesk.com/howto.html?_ga=2.12911607.170071280.1612773999-782358492.1612773999

Find a Dell Vostro laptop with Ubuntu Linux

Image courtesy: Dell.com

Dell Vostro is a product segment of business-oriented laptop computers. I love the Vostro series because of its durability and good performance compared with other brands. Hard core Linux lovers would like to buy laptops without Windows operating system. They prefer to get laptop with either pre-loaded Linux operating system or to install the favourite Linux. Often computer shops and online stores stocked with laptops with pre-loaded Windows operating system. Windows operating system with laptop computer cost you extra Rs. 8000. If you buy from Dell website, customers can select either Windows/Linux as operating system and help to save money. Visit the Dell website and there you can choose laptop computer with Linux operating system.

Speed up updates in Linux Mint

Software repositories are computers located in various places. Indian Linux users can select servers located in India to download and install packages to keep the system new. Linux Mint allow the users to select fastest software repository and speed up the update process. This feature facilitates the packages download speedy manner. Otherwise, need to stick on with slow software repository and wait more for downloading the package updates.

Open Application Launcher > Administration > Software Sources.

The Software Sources will open up. Two sources available, one for Linux Mint and another for Ubuntu. We need to select fast sources for our computer.

 Click on Mirrors and find the fastest mirror accessible from your place.

Select the software repositories for both Linux Mint and Ubuntu. Open Terminal and apply following commands to update the system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Hypnotix: a live TV app for Linux

Here is a Live TV streaming application for Linux based operating systems. Nowadays, people depend on YouTube for watching Live TV. Commercial streaming services display advertisements while managing channels, and it disturbs the watching experience. 

Hypnotix is a Free Software and licensed under GPLv3. It is a stand-alone application and free from advertisements. 

Install LibreOffice 7 on Debian 10 (Buster)

LibreOffice 7 is now out and Debian 10 users can try it. Follow the steps mentioned below,

Update the Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install Gnome icons

sudo apt install libreoffice-gnome

Add LibreOffice 7 software repository

sudo mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list

Add the following line at the bottom

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-backports main

Save and close the file and apply the following commands,

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -t buster-backports libreoffice

Install Zotero using Snap package management tool

Image courtesy: https://snapcraft.io

Zotero reference management tool has no Debian/Redhat package for installation. Users had to install from source. Installation from source is not easy for Linux newbies. Now Zotero snaps packaging available.

Snap is a software package management and deployment system developed by Canonical (Mother organisation of Ubuntu Linux). It's easy to deploy applications using the Snap tool. Snap package management system can work with most Linux distributions (e.g. Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch). Packages are called 'snaps' and the package management tool called 'snapd'. Linux users have to install the snapd tool in Linux to install applications in the snap repository.

Install Snap 

sudo apt update

sudo apt install snapd

Restart the computer after the installation of snapd.

Install Zotero using snap

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organise, cite, and share your research sources.

Apply the following command to install Zotero snap package,

sudo snap install zotero-snap

Zotero icon will appear in application launcher (Zotero icon appeared in Office > Zotero in my Ubuntu 20.04 LTS).

If Zotero icon not appeared on the application launcher, apply following command to run manually,

sudo cp /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/* /usr/share/applications/

A Snap store is available; users can search and find apps from here, https://snapcraft.io/store. 

Reference

Snap getting started

https://snapcraft.io/docs/getting-started

How to Install and Use Snap on Ubuntu 18.04

https://codeburst.io/how-to-install-and-use-snap-on-ubuntu-18-04-9fcb6e3b34f9

Introduction to Ubuntu Linux

Introduction to Ubuntu Linux is a user guide that suits newbies. This book based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It includes information on the evolution of Linux-based operating systems, Ubuntu flavours, Ubuntu basics, installation of Ubuntu, and basic commands. This book gives the step-by-step instructions with clear explanations that demystify Ubuntu Linux.

This book is for persons with little or no knowledge of Ubuntu. It takes you, step by step, through what you need to know to work with Ubuntu. 

• Gives an idea on how to install Ubuntu.
• Selection of Ubuntu flavours.
• Introduction to Ubuntu desktop.
• Basics of Linux commands.
• How to enable regional languages with Ubuntu.
• How to keep in touch with the changes in Ubuntu Linux.

Introduction to Ubuntu Linux is the learning companion you need. It assists in hands-on learning that lets you dive into Ubuntu Linux. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.

Download the book from here. 

Install GNOME Classic desktop on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

GNOME Classic desktop.

The default desktop of Ubuntu is Gnome 3. Its new interface is different from the older version of GNOME 2. Those who are reluctant to use GNOME 3 can switch to the old fashioned desktop. Install the gnome-shell-extensions package to give the classic desktop look for GNOME 3. GNOME Classic is an old-fashioned desktop compared to the GNOME 3. GNOME Classic Desktop can work faster than GNOME 3 Desktop.

Apply the following command to install GNOME Classic desktop,

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extensions

Once the installation complete, log out from the Gnome desktop to enter into the classic desktop. Select the Log Out option from the System Menu on the top right of the Gnome desktop.

Pressing the button at the bottom of the login screen will pop up the list of desktops. Select the GNOME Classic from the list. Enter the password and log in.

Autocrat for bulk certificate generation

Autocrat is a multi-purpose document merge tool works with Google Drive. It allows you to take data from a spreadsheet and merge it into a document via a template.  Tell Autocrat which fields to merge via <<merge tags>> and then let Autocrat mass-generate personalized documents.  Users can also send the documents as email attachments. Autocrat is useful to generate certificates when conducting, seminar, webinar, competitions, quiz etc. It's possible to reuse the template for further use.

Here I am going to discuss how to create and send event certificates in large numbers using Google Drive and Autocrat.

Prepare a certificate template

First, create a folder for the certificate making purpose inside Google Drive. All files regarding the certificate save here.

Prepare a certificate from Google Slide available at Google Drive. Select a good template from there. Here First Name and Last Name put inside <<merge tags>>. Here values will load from the user's details from a spreadsheet.

Add metadata to LibreOffice Writer document

Metadata in document files helpful to search and find the document in computer and World Wide Web. When the author export the document to PDF format, the metadata will also with the document. Here are the steps to add metadata to a LibreOffice Writer document.

Add author details

Visit Tools > Option > LibreOffice > User Data

Enter the details of the author.

Want to experience pure Android?

Mobile vendors not regularly update Android mobile operating systems. Make available a new version of Android for mobiles will take too much time. Therefore mobile users are not able to experience the features of the latest Android version and security updates. Mobile vendors do not release updates for the old devices, and they concentrate on releasing new models. 

AOSP (Android Open Source Project) regularly release updates and new versions. But users are not lucky to receive the latest releases of Android new versions on old devices. Android Project introduced Project Treble to speed up the distribution of new releases. Android Project releases new versions, and the mobile phone vendors make changes to suitable for the hardware. This process requires too much workforce, and frequent updates from vendors are not possible. With the introduction of Project Treble, users can install Android latest version on their devices. Project Treble Android image can install on compatible mobile hardware same like installing an Ubuntu Linux on any computer. All mobile phones preloaded with Android Oreo (Android 8.0) at the time of purchasing is suitable for the Treble project. It means that the mobile user can download and install a Project Treble image of the Android operating system. The mobile users can check the Treble compatibility using the following app; they can be download from Google Play Store.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kevintresuelo.treble&hl=en_IN

Users can find various generic system image (GSI) suitable to install on Treble supported mobile devices irrespective of hardware type. Android GSI images are appropriate to fit in any Treble supported mobile phones. 

Lot of Android custom ROMs in GSI format. One of the leading GSI AOSP project by phhusson. He regularly releases GSI images of the latest versions of Android operating systems. GSI images by Phhusson are unmodified Android; users can experience pure Android experience. It does not contain any customisations and beautifications usually available with stock Android available with new mobiles. For example, Xiaomi mobile company customise the ROM and add beautifications and other changes. They also add apps not desired by the users (bloatware). It makes the vendor ROM heavy and noisy. GSI image of phhusson contain an only base version of Android, and users can add required apps later. AOSP GSI images are run smooth and provide good battery life.

https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations

Users can find GSI images of other custom ROMS. Lineage OS, Arrow OS, Havoc OS, CrDroid, AospExtended etc. are the popular custom ROMs. Most of the GSI images of custom ROMs build on phhusson project. Here is the list of custom ROMs based on phhusson.

https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations/wiki/Generic-System-Image-%28GSI%29-list

Here is a detailed article on how to install a GSI image on a mobile a Treble supported phone.

https://www.xda-developers.com/flash-generic-system-image-project-treble-device/

Here are the popular releases GSI for various custom ROMS,
https://sourceforge.net/projects/amber-gsi/files/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/expressluke-gsis/files/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/

Resize file system from TWRP

While the installation of Android Treble GSI images, GAPPS installation fails due to insufficient storage space. Here is the screenshot of the error message,