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Mint Linux is based on Ubuntu- the Long Term Support (LTS) Ubuntu distributions. Therefore, many of the customizations mentioned in [[Kubuntu and Ubuntu Linux Distribution Reference]] are applicable to Mint. A distribution based on and compatible with Ubuntu, which is shipped with integrated proprietary or patented media codecs. Mint is more user friendly, stable, and supports 3D acceleration better than Ubuntu. For frustrated Ubuntu users, Mint just might be the answer. Reference [[New Linux Workstation Post Installation Tips]] for other post installation suggestions that apply to Mint. To determine what version of Mint that you currently have installed, cat /etc/apt/sources.list The default windows manager / desktop environment is called Cinnamon. Cinnamon is an independent desktop environment that retains many features that users appreciated in GNOME. The toolbar is called the Cinnamon Panel. == web browsers == Uninstall Firefox Replace with one of the following 2 options (or both) === Install Pale Moon Web Browser === Imagine the classic Firefox before they destroyed it (current Firefox developers are more political than skilled.) It is recommended that you install [[Pale Moon]] and forget Firefox altogether. It works like the classic Firefox and it is efficient, fast, and more stable. === Install Firefox ESR Version === The Firefox Extended Support Release so that you don't get forcefully upgraded to the dreaded Quantum 57. # Open Software Manager # In the search box type "Firefox" and click "remove" # Close Software Manager # Launch Software Sources (Menu button - Administration - Software Sources) # Choose PPAs and +Add a new PPA # enter: ppa:mozillateam/ppa # Click "update the cache" and close Software Sources # Open Software Manager # In the search box type "Firefox-esr" and when located "install" See also: [[Firefox]] , [[Favorite Firefox Extensions]] == UI Preferences and Features == === launch Welcome Screen === At the console prompt type: /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/mintwelcome-launcher & === Fast Light File Manager === PCMan File Manager (PCManFM) is meant to be a replacement for Nautilus, Konqueror and Thunar. PCManFM is the standard file manager in LXDE. apt install pcmanfm == Useful system tools and software == === Secure Shell Support for Remote Login === I don't know why they do not include SSH by default. Allows remote secure terminal shell connection. apt install openssh-server openssh-client service ssh start === vncserver as a boot service === {{:Configure vncserver on Mint}} === Vinagre Remote Desktop Viewer === The vinagre software allows you to remote connect to another computer via protocols such as vnc and rdp. apt install vinagre === Cinnamon Task Bar Thumbnail Previews === When the mouse cursor is over a running program label and icon in the task bar a preview window opens up to show a mini view of the running program application. Sometimes this is an annoyance when the user inadvertently parks the mouse cursor at the bottom of the screen out of the way while working, causing the preview window to pop up and cover part of the workspace. The preview feature can be disabled, the setting is a little bit buried. To disable (or enable): # click the Menu # Hover the mouse cursor over the Preferences icon under "All Applications" # In the next column over a list selection will appear, scroll up and click on "Applets" # In the Applets dialog under the Installed Applets list scroll down and locate "Window List" # There are two icon symbols on the right side of "Window List," click on the gears (configure) # Under "Display" toggle "Show window thumbnails on hover" on or off == Mint comes with a lame vim == Get full vim apt install vim == Shell Environment Path == Need to add a directory path to the shell path statement for your own scripts? * Per user shell vi ~/.provile Look for the line with a comment about "set PATH so it includes user's private bin directories" and add your custom path in there like this: ( added /myscripts to the path ) PATH="$HOME/bin:$HOME/.local/bin:/myscripts:$PATH" note: In the past we used ~/.bash_profile and had to include "export PATH" Look at /etc/profile which is used for each new user directory created. It has a script still looking for .bash_profile so it appears that if a .bash_profile is created, the script will identify its existence and use it. Also note that .bashrc is executed every time a bash shell is opened and .bash_profile only if it's a login shell. Also, it appears that the default profile still looks for == Put important LAN addresses in /etc/hosts == This is primarily for the LAN file server or any machine you wish to access shares on, and only machines that have a static IP address. vi /etc/hosts You'll need this if you put any shares in /etc/fstab ref: [[New_Linux_Workstation_Post_Installation_Tips#CIFS_Windows_file_share_connectivity]] == File Managers == Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop includes [[Nemo File Manager]] by default. Nemo is fine. Pcmanfm is another good file manager. pcmanfm file manager apt install pcmanfm pcmanfm does some useful things nemo does not do. For example, to backup a file in the directory with pcmanfm simply click the filename, choose "copy" and then choose "paste" from the menubar. pcmanfm will prompt you because the copy has the same filename as the original, and give you the option to rename, in which I simply change the extension to .bak or something like that. This simple task that you can do in Microsoft Windows and in Linux using pcmanfm cannot be done with nemo! == Java == OpenJDK Java Runtime sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre == Wine == The Windows emulator, I mean, [[Wine]] Is Not an Emulator... {{:Mint Linux- Install Wine}} see also: [[Wine]] as a resource to using wine and installing windows software. == Chrome rather than Chromium == Google Chrome is not FOSS. But it does stuff Chromium does not do. Lets install Google Chrome not because we love it, but because we might need it. This cannot be done with the Mint Software manager. Instead we shall go to console and install it. * Create a text file in the path /etc/apt/sources.list.d cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d vi chrome.list * Add the following text to the newly created chrome.list file deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main * Download the current signed key wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add - apt-get update * Install Google Chrome from the new repository apt install google-chrome-stable ''This procedure was verified in 2017 on Mint 18.3 Sylvia installed Google Chrome Version 63.0.3239.108 (Official Build) (64-bit)'' <nowiki>***</nowiki>note:Although Ubuntu requires the repository be added manually as shown above, it is probably not necessary with Mint as this distribution allows non-FOSS. Try installing w/o adding the repo first. == Mint changes computer clock on reboot == This is only noticed on a dual boot machine when the other OS is Microsoft Windows. On a dual boot system, or comparing bios time to the time in Mint- Windows tries to keep HW clock at the local time. Linux tries to keep them at the UTC. The fix for Mint 18 or newer is to execute this: sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 1 Related Issue on Ubuntu (for reference): [[Ubuntu_Troubleshooting#Ubuntu_changes_computer_clock_on_reboot]] The folks over at Mint don't want you to use local time. Here's the warning: Warning: The system is configured to read the RTC time in the local time zone. This mode can not be fully supported. It will create various problems with time zone changes and daylight saving time adjustments. The RTC time is never updated, it relies on external facilities to maintain it. If at all possible, use RTC in UTC by calling 'timedatectl set-local-rtc 0'. == Image Viewer == Xviewer is the default image viewer installed in Mint 18. You may find that Xviewer is lacking some useful features in an image viewer. Gimp is also included in Mint however Gimp is quite a bit more than an image viewer, and most people are looking for something lightweight in an image viewer. Here are some alternatives: === Geeqie === {{:Geeqie}} === viewnoir === {{:Viewnoir}} == Related == *[[Kubuntu and Ubuntu Linux Distribution Reference]] [[Category:Computer_Technology]] [[Category:Linux]]

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