Posted on 07/03/2018 4:36:33 AM PDT by ShadowAce
Linux Mint is one of the best Linux distributions for new users. It runs pretty well out of the box. Still, there are a few recommended things to do after installing Linux Mint for the first time.
In this article, I am going to share some basic yet effective tips that will make your Linux Mint experience even better. If you follow these best practices, youll have a more user-friendly system.
I am using Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon edition while writing this article so some of the points in this list are specific to Mint Cinnamon. But this doesnt mean you can follow these suggestions on Xfce or MATE editions.
Another disclaimer is that this is just some recommendations from my point of view. Based on your interests and requirement, you would perhaps do a lot more than what I suggest here.
That said, lets see the top things to do after installing Linux Mint 19.
This is the first and foremost thing to do after a fresh install of Linux Mint or any Linux distribution. This ensures that your system has all the latest software and security updates. You can update Linux Mint by going to Menu->Update Manager.
You can also use a simple command to update your system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Linux Mint 19 recommends creating system snapshots using Timeshift application. It is integrated with update manager. This tool will create system snapshots so if you want to restore your Mint to a previous state, you could easily do that. This will help you in the unfortunate event of a broken system.
Its FOSS has a detailed article on using Timeshift. I recommend reading it to learn about Timeshift in detail.
Want to play MP3, watch videos in MP$ and other formats or play DVD? You need to install the codecs. Linux Mint provides an easy way to install these codecs in a package called Mint Codecs.
You can install it from the Welcome Screen or from the Software Manager.
You can also use this command to install the media codecs in Linux Mint:
sudo apt install mint-meta-codecs
Once you have set up your system, its time to install some useful software for your daily usage. Linux Mint itself comes with a number of applications pre-installed and hundreds or perhaps thousands of applications are available in the Software Manager. You just have to search for it.
In fact, I would recommend relying on Software Manager for your application needs.
If you want to know what software you should install, Ill recommend some useful Linux applications:
For your information, not all of these recommended applications are open source.
Snap is a universal packaging format from Ubuntu. You can easily install a number of applications via Snap packages. Though Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, it doesnt provide Snap support by default. Mint uses Flatpak instead, another universal packaging format from Fedora.
While Flatpak is integrated into the Software Manager, you cannot use Snaps in the same manner. You must use Snap commands here. If you are comfortable with command line, you will find that it is easy to use. With Snap, you can install some additional software that are not available in the Software Manager or in DEB format.
To enable Snap support, use the command below:
sudo apt install snapd
You can refer to this article to know how to use snap commands.
Linux Mint 19 doesnt have a KDE flavor. If you are fond of using KDE desktop, you can install KDE in Linux Mint 19 and use it. If you dont know what KDE is or have never used it, just ignore this part.
Before you install KDE, I recommend that you have configured Timeshift and taken system snapshots. Once you have it in place, use the command below to install KDE and some recommended KDE components.
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop konsole kscreen
After the installation, log out and switch the desktop environment from the login screen.
Linux Mint 19 itself has a nice look and feel but this doesnt mean you cannot change it. If you go to System Settings, youll find the option to change the icons and themes there. There are a few themes already available in this setting section that you can download and activate.
If you are looking for more eye candy, check out the best icon themes for Ubuntu and install them in Mint here.
Night Light is becoming a mandatory feature in operating systems and smartphones. This feature filters blue light at night and thus reduces the strain on your eyes.
Unfortunately, Linux Mint Cinnamon doesnt have built-in Night Light feature like GNOME. Therefore, Mint provides this feature using Redshift application.
Redshift is installed by default in Mint 19 so all you have do is to start this application and set it for autostart. Now, this app will automatically switch to yellow light after sunset.
There is no end to tweaking your system so I am not going to list out all the things you can do in Linux Mint. Ill leave that up to you to explore. Ill just mention a couple of tweaks I did.
I am used to of keeping a track on the battery life. Mint doesnt show battery percentage by default. But you can easily change this behavior.
Right click on the battery icon in the bottom panel and select Configure.
And in here, select Show percentage option.
I also liked that Mint allows setting the maximum volume between 0 and 150. You may use this tiny feature as well.
Keeping your system free of junk is important. I have discussed cleaning up Linux Mint in detail so I am not going to repeat it here.
If you want a quick way to clean your system, I recommend using this one single command from time to time:
sudo apt autoremove
This will help you get rid of unnecessary packages from your system.
Usually, when you are at home network, you are behind your routers firewall already. But when you connect to a public WiFi, you can have an additional security layer with a firewall.
Now, setting up a firewall is a complicated business and hence Linux Mint comes pre-installed with Ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall). Just search for Firewall in the menu and enable it at least for the Public mode.
So far I have noticed a few issues in Mint 19. Ill update this section as I find more bugs.
major bug in the Software Manager. If you try to install a Flatpak application, youll encounter an error:
An error occurred. Could not locate runtime/org.freedesktop.Sdk/x86_64/1.6 in any registered remotes
There is nothing wrong with Flatpak but the Software Manager has a bug that results in this error. This bug has been fixed and should be included in future updates. While that happens, youll have to use Flatpak commands in terminal to install these Flatpak applications.
I advise going to Flathub website and search for the application you were trying to install. If you click on the install button on this website, it downloads a .flatpakref file. Now all you need to do is to start a terminal, go to Downloads directory and use the command in the following fashion:
flatpak install <name_of_flatpakref_file>
Another bug is with Shutter screenshot tool. Youll find that the edit button has been disabled. It was the same case in Ubuntu 18.04. I have already written a tutorial for Shutter edit issue. You can use the same steps for Mint 19.
This is my recommendation of things to do after installing Linux Mint 19. Ill update this article as I explore Mint 19 and find interesting things to add to this list. Meanwhile, why dont you share what you did after installing Linux Mint?
Bkmk
My thoughts, exactly. When I was a programmer, I used to get into arguments with the geeks who absolutely LOVED the complexity of their code and applications. I told them basically the same thing you say and more often than not, was looked upon as a heretic.
When I learned COBOL in 1982, it was all about maintainable code. I used to love rewriting programs. It finally paid off when I rewrote the local long distance toll rating program for UsWest (now Quest). I reduced it from 10,500 lines to 5,600 lines and found four or five production errors that they knew existed but couldn’t find. They didn’t even know what program was causing them
I’ve not been a developer for about 15 years now (business analyst now), but I work with developers a lot. Apparently structured code has fallen out of favor these days. It’s all about getting it done via Agile, a chunk at a time.
Given the threads I see here on FR and elsewhere, every time MS releases a new major upgrade, it's actually a productivity drag, as random people try to deal with the aftermath.
I am on Linux Mint 100% because of productivity. How can I stay up and working with the least headaches. That means no viruses, no constant interface changes that don’t add function. Cost is one part of the productivity calculation.
“install it on a computer that is already working just fine”
I would not characterize any computer running a recent version of windows as “working just fine.”
This is a very helpful article.
The Codecs thing surprised me though. It seems to me that on all the earlier versions of Mint the codecs were installed as part of the app package (VLC, music players, etc.)
I fall into the “hobbyist” class.
I enjoy tinkering with hardware and piecing together working systems out of old parts. The beauty of Linux is that you can run most distros on minimal hardware.
I currently have three functional computers right here at my home desk (more throughout the house). I run W10 on this machine but run different flavors of Linux on the other two just for grins.
I used to write applications (I refuse to say "apps" to make them sound hipper and cooler...) and you're exactly right. Agile is an excuse IMO for creating coding messes for someone else to clean up later.
The entire concept of "Agile" itself is a wreck (again, IMO) primarily because it gives business users an excuse to never come up with a firm set of requirements for what an a-p-p-l-i-c-a-t-i-o-n needs to do. It's a never ending, sliding set of requirements that simply never gets met and the end product is always in a state of flux. Again because business users can't make up their mind what they want are complete idiots.
Absolutely agreed. For years, one of my big drivers to using Linux exclusively was lack of an adequate batch language. Microsoft has closed much of that gap with powershell, but I have no desire to learn yet another scripting language, especially since it's mainly targeted at microsoft-specific functions.
Like.
Thanks for the info. I like to stay current, so I’ll update to 19.0. I also like KDE enough to at least try the add-on install. I used the Cinnamon edition of Mint on my laptop a couple of releases back. It’s not bad, I just prefer KDE - I use KDE on RHEL at work so...
But hey, the real message is, use what works for you - Linux, Windows, MacOS...
Likewise, I prefer KDE over Cinnamon (or Mate). KDE is just so much more flexible, so we have more control of how our compter (and DE) operates.
Short, sweet and to the point!
BTTT
Linux users can get Chromium which is chrome, before google gets their hands on it.
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Great suggestion. Thanks.
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