Xubuntu Blog

Howto: Backport the latest usplash to Dapper

If you’re interested in putting the latest and greatest usplash on Xubuntu Dapper, you can. Here’s how:

1) Get the needed development packages:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get build-dep usplash xubuntu-artwork

2) Get Edgy’s source packages (not binary), and download them:

sudo sh -c "echo 'deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy main restricted universe multiverse' >> /etc/apt/sources.list"
sudo apt-get update
apt-get source usplash xubuntu-artwork

3) Begin to build the packages for usplash:

cd usplash-0.4
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot

4) Install them:

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i usplash*.deb

5) Begin to build the packages for Xubuntu’s usplash:

cd xubuntu-artwork-0.11
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot

6) Install these too:

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i xubuntu-artwork-usplash*.deb

Enjoy! You’ll want to remove the line
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy main restricted universe multiverse
from /etc/apt/sources.list, or you’ll have problems compiling packages.

(Credit goes to jamadagni at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=264883.)

Howto: Gimp 2.3.10 on Ubuntu Edgy

Please note: it says Edgy. This won’t work on Dapper. At all. Unless you want to upgrade half your system. In that case, get Debian.

I know 2.3.11 is released, but there are no packages for it yet.

1) Download gimp, gimp-data, libgimp2.0 2.3.10, and libwmf0.2-7 0.2.8.4:

wget http://sadleder.de/debian/gimp_2.3.10-1.1_i386.deb
wget http://sadleder.de/debian/gimp-data_2.3.10-1.1_all.deb
wget http://sadleder.de/debian/libgimp2.0_2.3.10-1.1_i386.deb
wget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/libw/libwmf/libwmf0.2-7_0.2.8.4-2_i386.deb

2) Install them:


sudo dpkg -i gimp_2.3.10-1.1_i386.deb gimp-data_2.3.10-1.1_all.deb libgimp2.0_2.3.10-1.1_i386.deb libwmf0.2-7_0.2.8.4-2_i386.deb

3) Try it out:

gimp

*Note: Your shortcuts may still point to /usr/bin/gimp-remote-2.2. In that case:

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/gimp-2.3 /usr/bin/gimp-remote-2.2

Enjoy!

The most comprehensive list of lightweight apps I’ve seen

I’m suprised I’ve never mentioned this.

http://users.skynet.be/six/gpure/tech/linux/apps.html

This site has a very nice list of apps that can help you lighten up your Xubuntu even more. Some programs may need more tweaking than others: you can use his guide to setting up Debian here: http://users.skynet.be/six/gpure/tech/linux/debian.html (it should work on Xubuntu too).

I’ve been using this for years, no problems. I hope it works for you too.

Howto: Run Gimp in one window

1) Go to the terminal (Xfce menu > System > Terminal), and install the needed programs:

sudo apt-get install xnest xfwm4 gimp

2) Run this command to try it out:

Xnest :1 -ac -name GIMP -geometry 1024x690 & xfwm4 --display :1 & gimp --display :1

Cool, huh? Here’s how to make it a shortcut:

1) Make a file called /usr/bin/gimp1window:

sudo touch /usr/bin/gimp1window
sudo mousepad /usr/bin/gimp1window

2) Paste the following into it:

#!/bin/sh
Xnest :1 -ac -name GIMP -geometry 1024x690 & xfwm4 --display :1 & gimp --display :1

3) Run sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/gimp1window, and change your shortcuts from gimp to gimp1window.

Have fun!