Amit Sharma – Linux Hint https://linuxhint.com Exploring and Master Linux Ecosystem Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:29:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.2 How to check Google Chrome Browser Version https://linuxhint.com/check-google-chrome-browser-version/ Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:18:19 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=93088 Google chrome is a web browsing tool developed by Google and has cross-platform support for Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and Mac. This web browser was initially released for Microsoft Windows in 2008, but later on, it was developed to offer support compatibility for different platforms. Google Chrome is an amazing web browsing software that works well to use Google services and various websites.

Google regularly works to deliver the latest versions to make Chrome faster and provide cutting-edge services. Hence, it is essential to update Google Chrome for a better experience because it requires regular updates for your system’s proper working and security.

In case you are facing some issues while using Google Chrome in your Linux system, make sure to check the Google Chrome browser version and update it as soon as possible. However, if you don’t know how to check the Google Chrome browser version in Linux, then read our article as we have mentioned the easiest ways to check it. You will get to know about three different procedures you can use to check Google Chrome in Ubuntu or any Linux operating system you are using on your computer/laptop.

Benefits of Google Chrome

Before jumping on the procedures to check the Google Chrome browser version, let’s consider some of the top benefits offered by Google Chrome:

  • It provides a sleek design and high-speed Browsing options.
  • It is safe, secure, and offers cross-platform support.
  • You can easily sync across multiple devices.
  • It has great features and integration with Google apps.
  • It has a strong developer console and a large extension base.

How to Check Google Chrome Browser Version

We are using Ubuntu 20.04 LTS to check the Google Chrome browser version as Ubuntu is a widely used operating system worldwide.

Check Google Chrome Browser Version using “chrome://version”

“chrome://version” is a URL for Google Chrome that you can use to check its version in your system.

First, open your Google Chrome browser and paste “chrome://version” in the URL box, and search it.

Once you press the Enter button on your keyboard, Google Chrome will open a page containing complete details about the version.

Check Google Chrome Browser Version from About Section

It is one of the easiest ways to check the Google Chrome version in Ubuntu or any other Linux device.
Open the Google Chrome browser on the screen and click on the three dots(Options) above at the top right corner.

After clicking on the dots, you will see a list of multiple options, so click on the “Help” option and select “About Google Chrome”.

It will open a new window having different details and the current Google Chrome version on your system.

Check Google Chrome Version using Command Line

If you don’t want to open Google Chrome to check its version, you can use a specific command to check it easily.
Open the Linux terminal and type the below command, then press Enter button:

$ google-chrome --version

Once you press the Enter button, your system will provide complete information regarding the Google Chrome version. So you will get a message like this:

mrlinux@ubuntu:~$ google-chrome --version

Google Chrome 88.0.4324.190

mrlinux@ubuntu:~$

Conclusion

So this is how you can easily check the Google Chrome Browser version, and we have also provided multiple convenience procedures. As we have mentioned earlier, Google Chrome is an amazing browser that offers excellent compatibility and web browsing features. However, it requires regular updates to regularly maintain proper security to check and update the Google Chrome version regularly. Try out these ways on your system and keep it up to date as per the latest Google Chrome requirement.

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Top 10 Most Secure Linux Distros for Personal Use https://linuxhint.com/most-secure-linux-distros-personal-use/ Fri, 05 Mar 2021 03:35:03 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=92680 It is no secret that everyone looks for a secure operating system that offers top-notch privacy. If you are using a system that is not secure enough, anyone can access your system and exploit your data, such as photos, videos, files, and sensitive financial information. Linux systems offer fantastic privacy and security as compared to other OS, like Windows or Mac. So, it is best to go for a Linux system for better security. But, there is an extensive list of secure Linux distros, and it can be difficult to choose one.

Several different kinds of secure Linux distros exist, and each is developed for unique usages, including spy-level security, personal use, organizational usage, and more. So, if you want standard security and privacy, you can use the Linux distros that are best for personal use. This article will help you to choose the best Linux distro for your personal usage needs. The following sections include complete information about the top 10 most secure Linux distros available for personal use.

Linux Kodachi

Linux Kodachi is a lightweight Linux distro based on Xubuntu 18.04 and developed for running from a USB or DVD. Kodachi is one of the most secure Linux distros available for personal use, offering an anonymous, anti-forensic, and secure system to users. For even tighter security, Linux Kodachi filters all network traffic by VPN, or Virtual Proxy Network, and a Tor network to obscure your location. This Linux distro also works to remove all activity traces after you use it. Kodachi is based on the stable distribution Linux Debian, with customized features from Xfce for higher stability, security, and singularity.

Kodachi also has a support system for a protocol, DNScrypt, and utility for encrypting a request for the OpenDNS server through elliptical cryptography. As mentioned previously, Kodachi also has a browser-based system on the Tor Browser, in which you can eliminate any uncertain Tor modules.

Pros and cons of Linux Kodachi

Pros Cons
Contains various pre-installed programs. Many users complain about the narrow service, as Kodachi is based on Xubuntu.
Offers a powerful security system.
Provides speedy network access.
Is highly stable.

2. Qubes OS

Qubes OS is one of the most secure Linux distros available. Many users recommend this distro for a high-level privacy system. Qubes is a security-oriented operating system (OS) that offers the compatibility to run other programs on a computer/laptop. This Linux distro works for isolating the user’s files from malicious activities and malware without affecting the data. Qubes OS provides top-notch security through compartmentalization, through which you can compartmentalize different tasks in the securely isolated compartment known as Qubes.

The Qubes operating system uses the RPM package manager to work on any desktop environment without consuming an excessive amount of resources. Most importantly, Qubes is an open-source operating system, so the source codes are easily available online. We recommend that you use Qube OS if you need advanced security, but it is a bit of an advanced operating system for new users.

Pros and Cons of Qubes OS

Pros Cons
Users can perform application separation with a sandboxed virtual machine, assuring that any malicious script or apps cannot be passed to system applications. Only recommended for advanced users.
Offers a higher level of separation through the Internet by forcing all Internet traffic via the Whonix Tor gateway. It is difficult to test Qubes OS because it does not work well in a virtual machine.

3. Whonix

Whonix is based on the Debian GNU/Linux to offer outstanding security and advanced level privacy. This distro is one of the most secure Linux distros if you want something different in your system’s security. Whonix is different because it does not have a live system rather than running on a virtual machine, particularly where it is isolated from the primary operating system to eliminate the DNS leakage risk.

There are two specific parts to Whonix. The first part is Whonix Gateway, which works as the Tor gateway. The second part is Whonix Workstation, an isolated network that works to route all connections via the Tor gateway. This Linux distro will work well if you need a private IP address for your system. As mentioned earlier, Whonix is based on Debian, so it utilizes two different VMs (virtual machines) that make it a little bit resource hungry.

Pros and Cons of Whonix

Pros Cons
Uses VirtualBox technology to ensure that many people can use this distro easily. Is somewhat resource hungry because it requires a high-end system for proper use.
Is easy to set up and use because it does not require special knowledge. Anonymity in Whonix is offered in the workstation virtual machine only, and users can forget it easily.

4. Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System)

Tails, or The Amnesic Incognito Live System, is a security-centric system based on Debian. It is one of the most secure Linux distros available for personal use because it was designed for protecting your identity by keeping your activities anonymous. Tails forces incoming or outgoing traffic through a Tor network and block all traceable connections. Tails was first released in 2009 for personal computers.

Tails is one of the most secure Linux distros available for personal use. It does not require any space in your hard disk, as Tails only needs space in the RAM, but it will be erased once a user shuts down the system. Hence, the default desktop environment of Tails is Gnome, and it can be used via a pen drive to save all the RAM data.

Pros and Cons of Tails

Pros Cons
Is an easy-to-use Linux distro. Must be used as the live boot OS.
You can quickly start browsing anonymously. Sometimes, users misplace the flash drive, which can create major issues.
Is packaged with a TOR Browser. TOR is a bit problematic, as it is compressed for Tails.
Offers a secured space to save passwords.

5. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is based on Debian and was created to offer an amazing penetration Linux distro for ethical hacking, security experts, digital forensics, and network security assessments. This distribution is one of the best and most secure Linux distros for personal, providing users with packages of tools like Foremost, Wireshark, Maltigo as-Aircrack-ng, Kismet, and more. These packages offer various benefits to users, such as exploiting a victim application, checking the targeted IP address, and performing a network discovery.

You can use Kali Linux via a USB stick or DVD, so this distro is quite easy to use, like the Tails distro mentioned earlier in the list. Kali Linux is compatible with both 32- and 64-bit systems. Apart from that, the basic requirements of Kali Linux are 512 MB of RAM and 10 GB of hard disk space. According to multiple surveys, developers consider Kali Linux to be one of the top-ranked and most secure Linux distros available.

Pros and Cons Kali Linux

Pros Cons
An open-source distribution that can be accessed easily. Can make the system a bit slower than usual.
Inxluswa multi-language support. Users face software-related issues.
Allows users to locate different binaries easily. Sometimes, Kali Linux corrupts the system.

6. Parrot Security OS

Parrot Security OS was developed by FrozenBox and is based on a Debian distribution. Released in 2013, this Linux distro was created for ethical hacking, working anonymously, and penetration testing. This Linux distro was specifically designed to test authorized simulated attacks on the computer system, which can be beneficial for assessing system vulnerabilities. As mentioned earlier, Parrot Security OS is an open-source and free GNU distribution made for security researchers, developers, penetration testers, privacy enthusiasts, and forensic investigators.

Parrot Security OS comes with a portable laboratory that works to protect your system from security-related issues while using the Internet, gaming, or browsing. This Linux distro is distributed as a rolling release (frequently providing updates and applications), so it offers some core applications, including Parrot Terminal, MATE, Tor Browser, and OnionShare, as its default desktop environment.

Pros and Cons Parrot Security OS

Pros Cons
Offers a large number of tools. It is not minimalistic.
The widgets are very easy to use. It has shortcut-related issues.
Does not require the GPU to run correctly.
Has a sleek UI, and things are easy to navigate.

7. BlackArch Linux

BlackArch is based on Arch Linux, and it is a lightweight Linux distro designed for penetration tester, security researchers, and computer experts. This Linux distro provides multiple features, combined with 2,000+ cybersecurity tools that users can install according to their requirements. BlackArch can be used on any hardware, as it is a lightweight Linux distro and also a new project, so many developers prefer to use this distro nowadays.

According to the reviews, this Linux distro can compete against many reliable OS due to the variety of features and tools for experts that it offers. Users can choose between different desktop environments, including Awesome, spectrwm, Fluxbox, and Blackbox. BlackArch is available in the DVD image, and you can also easily run it from a pen drive.

Pros and Cons of BlackArch Linux

Pros Cons
Offers a large repository. It is not recommended for beginners.
It is a suitable choice for professionals. Sometimes, the system becomes slower while using BlackArch.
It is better than ArchStrike.
It is based on Arch Linux.

8. IprediaOS

IprediaOS is a privacy-centered Linux distro based on Fedora. If you are looking for a platform to browse, email, and share files anonymously, then IprediaOS is a good choice for you. Along with privacy and anonymity, IprediaOS also provides stability, computing ability, and amazing speed. Compared to other Linux distros, IprediaOS is much faster, and you can run this distro smoothly even on older systems.

The Ipredia operating system is security-conscious, and it is designed with the minimalist ideology of shipping with vital applications. IprediaOS seeks to transparently encrypt and anonymize all traffic by sending it through an I2P anonymizing network. The basic features of IprediaOS include I2P Router, Anonymous BitTorrent client, Anonymous email client, Anonymous IRC client, and more.

Pros and Cons of IprediaOS

Pros Cons
Can be used on an older system. Sometimes, users face performance-related issues.
Provides anonymous email client services.
Provides anonymous email client services.

9. Discreete

Discreete Linux is based on Debian, and it was developed to offer protection from trojan-based surveillance by isolating working from a location with secured data. Discreete was formerly known as UPR (Ubuntu Privacy Remix), so it is a trusted and secure Linux distro that will protect your data. You can use this OS via CD, DVD, or USB drive, as it cannot be installed on the hard drive, and all networks are deliberately disabled when Discreete runs in the system.

Discreete is one of the unique Linux distros in terms of security, and it was developed for everyday computer activities, such as gaming or word processing. As we have mentioned above, Discreete disables the Internet connection while working to separate the data and cryptographic keys to remain protected from non-trusted networks.

Pros and Cons of Discreete

Pros Cons
It is best for everyday work. Disables the network when a user works on it.
You can use it via DVD, CD, or USB drive.

10. TENS

The full form of TENS is Trusted End Node Security. TENS was developed by the United States Department of Defense’s Air Force Research Laboratory. This Linux distro does not need administrator privileges for running without installation and storing it in the hard drive. TENS consists of an Xfce desktop, and it is customized to look like a Windows XP desktop. Everything about the appearance of TENS is similar to Windows, including the application names and placements.

This Linux distro is available in two editions. The first edition of TENS is a Deluxe edition that includes various applications, like LibreOffice, Evince PDF reader, Totem Movie Player, Thunderbird, and so on. The other edition of TENS is the regular edition that includes an encryption app and some other useful apps.

Pros and Cons of TENS

Pros Cons
Offers great security and privacy. The look of TENS
Provides two different editions for users. Exhibits performance-related issues.

Conclusion

This article provided a list of the top ten most secure Linux distros for personal use. All the distros discussed in this article offer amazing features and anonymity to the user. We have included these Linux distros according to user reviews and features, but the list position of each distribution is completely random. Privacy, security, and anonymity are important for performing specific computer-related tasks, and any of these Linux distros would be a great choice for keeping your information safe from malicious threats.

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How to remove a snap package on Ubuntu https://linuxhint.com/remove-snap-package-ubuntu/ Thu, 11 Feb 2021 03:31:19 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=89575 Snap packages are used in Linux distributions to offer multiple options like installing, deploying, and removing software. Snap package is beneficial for developers to use the newest versions of apps on their Linux machine.

Snap is a better alternative of apt. And many users prefer it for their system. Ubuntu and Canonical also consider it as one of the best installation repositories and package management tools for Linux. As per the consideration of advantages, Snap offers:

  • Snap apps work in the sandbox environment.
  • Snap repository has many applications from popular publishers such as Google, KDE, and Microsoft.
  • All snap packages are completely auto-updated
  • There is no additional installation required because dependencies are bundled in a snap package.

You can easily install and Use Ubuntu snap packages without having any trouble. Sometimes people want to remove a snap package, but they don’t know how to do it. So, if you are one of them, then please read our article to learn the easiest way to remove a snap package on Ubuntu(we are considering this Linux distro because it is the most commonly used operating system and the command line for removing a snap package is almost the same for every Linux distribution). However, before understanding the removal procedure of a snap package, let’s discuss some important information about snap packages.

What is Snap Package

Users can install the application in Linux using multiple methods, and source codes are one way to install different applications. In this case, “package” comes into the picture, so it is a software package created by developers after developing a program so that users can easily install it. That’s why .deb or Debian software packaging became popular, but it requires a little bit more effort for software installation. Therefore, the .snap package was created for the Ubuntu core system as it consists of all dependencies. These snap packages also have benefits compared to .deb dependency handling because anyone can easily use snap packages in their system.

How to Remove a Snap Package on Ubuntu

We will now cover the step-by-step procedure of removing a snap package easily, so let’s consider that you have OBS Studio from the system.

First, open the Linux terminal and run the following command in it:

sudo snap remove obs-studio

The basic command line to remove a snap package is sudo snap remove <package>. You have to put the name of a specific application instead of <package>.
Once you execute the command successfully, the terminal will ask you to enter the [sudo] password you put for the installation, but if you don’t have any password, press Enter to process it.

After completion of this procedure, you will see that OBS studio gets uninstalled from the system. However, the folder of OBS is still present in the snap folder, so execute the following command to remove it:

sudo snap rm - r obs - studio

As you can see in the image below, the command has removed the additional folder related to the uninstalled snap package.

Note: This procedure is appropriate for the older versions of Ubuntu, such as 18.04, 16.04, etc.

Conclusion

That’s it, and you are done, so this is how you can remove a snap package in Ubuntu easily. It is the most straightforward procedure for removing any snap package, and you can use it in the different versions of Ubuntu. We also mentioned complete details on snap packages and their benefits. However, we didn’t include the process of using a snap package because there is a comprehensive article on our website, so make sure to read it. This article also has a procedure to remove the additional folder after the uninstallation so that you don’t have to do it manually.

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Enable Disable Unattended Upgrades in Ubuntu https://linuxhint.com/enable-disable-unattended-upgrades-ubuntu/ Sun, 07 Feb 2021 19:16:10 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=89315 Update packages are essential for the system to protect the data because these packages have specific security patches. However, Ubuntu’s feature called Unattended Upgrades installs all of the latest security-related updates automatically.

This feature is enabled by default in the newest Ubuntu versions. Due to this auto-update feature, sometimes users face different errors, so for example, when users login after updating the system, they see the error message like this:

for example, when users force reboots their system in updating procedure, then they get this error message:

Therefore, this automatic update feature helps keep your system up to date but is very annoying for some users. If you also find this feature irritating, read our article to understand the complete procedures to enable/disable unattended upgrades in Ubuntu.

But before we discuss the procedure, we want to give a brief answer on “is it good to disable auto-updates in Ubuntu?” Remember that it is a security-related feature, and Linux allows users to keep their systems up to date. So, it is not good to disable auto-updates because it keeps the system safe. In case you disable auto-updates in Ubuntu, then make sure to update your system manually for your system’s security.

How to Enable/Disable Unattended Upgrades in Ubuntu

We will describe two procedures that you can use to enable/disable auto-updates easily for more convenience.

Enable/Disable unattended upgrades Using Command Line

There are multiple disable Unattended upgrades in Ubuntu using command lines, so ensure you use them correctly.

You need to edit the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades for disabling unattended upgrades in Ubuntu. So, open the Linux terminal and execute the following command line:

$ sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades

After executing the command, change the directives of Update-Package-Lists from 1 to 0.

APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "0";
APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "1";

In case you don’t an automatic update checking option, then change the directive like this:

APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists to 0.

In case you want to let your system check the regular update but don’t want to install them, then change the value from 0 to 1 like this:

APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "1";

APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "0";

If you change the value of periodic::Unattended-Upgrade from 0 to 1, then your system will check the updates every day. After changing the value, the command will look like this:

APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "0";

APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "1";

If you want to disable these automatic updates the right way, then run the below command in the terminal:

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

After executing the command, change the select No and press Enter button to disable unattended upgrades.

For removing this feature permanently, use the below command line:

$ sudo apt remove unattended-upgrades

This command will not harm other software or features of your Ubuntu system.
Once you disable unattended upgrades, then make sure to run these commands to update your system manually:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt upgrade

Enable/Disable unattended upgrades Graphically

Open the software & updates from the main menu search button.
In the software & updates option, go to the Updates section and find “Automatically check for updates“. You will see that it is already set to daily, and it is a by-default selection.

Change this by default option to Never so that it will turn the automatic updates download to never, and your system will not download it again.

Conclusion

This is how you can easily disable unattended upgrades in Ubuntu, and we aim to provide a different procedure to do it easily. As we have mentioned, it is a by default enabled feature that keeps your system up to date, but it is also annoying for many users due to the errors. You can disable these auto-updates but update your system manually as it is essential to maintain your data security in the system.

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Top 5 Open-Source Shells for Linux https://linuxhint.com/top-5-open-source-shells-linux/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:27:47 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=88604 In Linux, a Shell offers an interface for a Unix system that allows you to execute commands or utilities more easily. A shell collects an input from a user and executes a program according to that input. You can use a shell to perform various operations, including copying files, installing applications, restarting a system, and more. Linux command shells are divided into two types:

  • Bourne shell: In a Bourne shell, the “$” character works as a default prompt. Examples of Bourne shells are Bourne shell (sh), POSIX shell (sh), Korn shell (ksh), etc.
  • C shell: In a C shell, the “%” character works as a default prompt. Examples of C shells are TENEX/TOPS C shell (tcsh), C shell (csh), etc.

There are various open-source command shells available, and you can install different shells in a Linux distro. If you are looking for the best open-source shell, then read on for a list of the top five open-source shells available for Linux and select whichever shell best fits your requirements.

Top 5 Open-Source Shells Available for Linux

There are many open-source shells available for Linux, but in this article, we only include the top five shells recommended by the Linux experts.

1. Bash (Bourne-Again Shell)

The full form of the word “Bash” is “Bourne-Again Shell,” and it is one of the best open-source shells available for Linux. Bash is provided as a default shell in multiple Linux distros, such as Arch Linux, Ubuntu, and several other standard Linux distros. Bash also works for reading and executing commands from a specific file format known as a shell script.

Bash is an open-source shell that was developed from the original UNIX Bourne Shell, known as “sh,” and so Bash was designed to be compatible with an old script by combining different enhanced features. Bash can be your long-term shell option, as it comes with ample documentation and is recommended by Linux professionals.

The following is a list of some of the features offered by the Bash command shell:

  • Incredible command-line editing
  • Contains job control mechanisms to deal with Cron jobs specifically.
  • Smoothly performs large series of integer arithmetic; can take from base 2 up to base 64.
  • Unlimited size-indexed arrays and command history.

2. Zsh (Z-Shell)

Zsh or Z-Shell is a modern-day shell designed to be innovative and interactive by offering unique features in addition to the features of other Unix or GNU Linux shells, such as ksh, tcsh, Bash, etc. This open-source shell offers scripting features and is customizable, easy-to-use, and offers command completion, spelling correction, and more. If you want an advanced Linux shell, go for the Zsh shell. The installation procedure for Zsh is also effortless. In Zsh, you can even use open-source frameworks, such as oh-my-zsh customizable plugins and options.

The Zsh shell offers various features for Linux, including:

  • Fantastic auto-completion functionality for files and paths.
  • Command history sharing mechanism.
  • Concept index, functions index, key index, and variable index.
  • Various interactive features, such as smart escaping, spelling correction, recursive globbing, and more.

3. Ksh (Korn Shell)

The full form of Ksh is Korn shell because it was designed by David G. Korn. Ksh is a powerful, interactive command language and high-level programming language that can compete with other Unix shells. The development of the Korn shell was inspired by the interactivity of the C shell interactivity and the productivity of the Bash shell.

The following is a list of some of the features available in the Korn shell:

  • Unique options to improve performance and capability, as shellcode is stored in the memory.
  • Ctrl+Z tweak that can quickly stop a running job, and you can continue to execute your commands if they were initiated with fg (foreground) or bg (background) commands.
  • Contains various advanced features for fast-paced executions.
  • Includes advanced command-line editing features to edit commands more easily.

4. Tcsh (Tenex C Shell)

The full form of Tcsh is Tenex C Shell. This shell is an improved version of the C shell and is used as a shell script command processor and interactive login shell. Tcsh offers multiple options, including a command-line editor, job control, spellcheck support, configurable command-line completion, a modernized history mechanism, and more. This open-source shell for Linux is best for programmers because its syntax is like the C language, so these users can use the scripting features in Tcsh without any knowledge of Bash.

The features offered by Tcsh include the following:

  • Filename completion and programmable words.
  • C-like syntax and a command-line editor.
  • FreeBSD operating system to power up modern servers.
  • Job control and spelling correction features.

5. Fish (Friendly Interactive Shell)

The full form of Fish is Friendly Interactive Shell. Fish was released in 2005 and offers an easy-to-use, user-friendly, open-source shell for Linux. Fish is a great choice for new Linux users, as this shell uses color-coding to help new programmers. Fish includes various options, such as syntax highlighting, fancy tab completion, auto-complete suggestions, and more. As explained previously, Fish was designed to offer a user-friendly shell platform with easy installation.

The following is a list of the features available in Fish:

  • Feature for man page completion.
  • Provides auto-suggestions and web-based configuration.
  • Offers advanced tab completion.
  • Support for X clipboard and searchable command history.

Conclusion

An open-source shell provides an interface for the Unix system that allows a user to run multiple commands at once rather easily. This article provided a detailed description of the top five open-source shells available for Linux. All these shells come highly recommended by Linux experts due to their unique features and capabilities in Linux platforms. You can also read our other articles to learn more about the installation procedures for each shell.

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Plotting on Linux with KmPlot https://linuxhint.com/plotting_on_linux_with_kmplot/ Wed, 13 Jan 2021 06:45:37 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=85442

KmPlot is a KDE suite program that is used to plot a graph of a function and its integrals or derivatives. It is a fantastic mathematical plotter. KDE is capable of plotting different functions simultaneously and combining them in a new function. All of these graphs can be colorized, and views are scalable, zoomable, and configurable. KmPlot program offers a fantastic mathematical parser and multiple plot types such as polar, implicit, differential, parametric, etc.

It provides simple mathematical tools for finding the maximum/minimum of a function.  All parametrized functions can be viewed by adjusting variable parameters through a slider.  These plots can be exported as a BMP and PNG, and users can print them. So here is a list of features offered by KmPlot:

  • It offers visual and numerical features.
  • You can find maxima and minima.
  • You can dynamically change the function parameters.
  • It helps to plot Integra and derivative functions.
  • You can plot between a plot and the first axis of graphs.

It is good to go for the KmPlot program if you want to plot different functions and measure them to understand their behavior. This article will explain the entire procedure of plotting on Linux with KmPlot, including installation.

Plotting on Linux with KmPlot

As KmPlot is a part of the KDE project, it is available in most package management systems. We are using a Debian-based system to execute the below command for installing KmPlot in the system.

$ sudo apt-get install KmPlot

After opening the KmPlot, you will get a blank space for starting mathematical functions in it.  There is a function list window on the left side of the screen in which you can select the functions to work on your project.  There is a main plotting window at the right side representing all of the changes occurring in a graphical display.

Now, create functions for using them in KmPlot, so click on the Create button to open a new menu. In this option, you can select different plots like Cartesian, differential, or polar.

There are simple functions and predefined constants for creating specific functions in the KmPlot.  After finishing it, KmPlot will update your main window by generating plots on the graph. You can also go for the advanced options by clicking on the Advanced button. Now you can change the default options for your work.

After that, set the labels for a function’s name, maxima, and minima. Go on the lower left-hand pane to see the integrals and derivatives of selected functions. Now, click on the color button and select colors for the derivative curve for highlighting a new plot.

You can also create complicated plots using the combinations of functions in work.  This option is advantageous when you want to get in-depth details of the underlying behavior of functions.  KmPlot also offers some options to work with plots, so click on the Plot Area tools for opening a pop-up window. You can select Cartesian plots for calculating the area between the x-axis and curve. You can click on the Tools, then calculator option, to open a new window for calculations/quick calculations.

Two options in the Tools menu are used for finding local minima and maxima. Hence, you have to provide an appropriate range to search so that KmPlot can constrain the search. The coordinate system is the essential aspect of plotting a function in KmPlot. You can also tailor the coordinate system from a specific option, so click on the View and select Coordinate System for it.

If you want to change axes x and y limits by setting up axis grid spacing, you can define the tools options’ grid spacing functions. As we have described above, KmPlot is a part of the KDE suite, obtaining multiple parts of the project’s capabilities. You can easily script the KmPlot’s behavior using D-Bus commands. For instance, you can plot a function using the following command:

qdbus org.kde.kmplot-PID /parser

 ↪org.kde.kmplot.Parser.addFunction "f(x)=4sinx+2cosx" ""

After completing your work on KmPlot, you can save it by clicking on the File, then Save or Fake and Save. As for saving the work in any format, you can also save your work as an image by clicking on Click File and then Export to save a plot window into image formats.

Conclusion

KmPlot is a part of a KDE suite program that is used for the graph functions. It is a tremendous mathematical plotter KDE and can plot different functions simultaneously and combine them in a new function. In this article, we have included all of the required details regarding plotting on Linux with KmPlot so that you can use it on your system easily. We have covered the complete procedure from installation to saving a final file in your system.

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How to Setup a Wekan Kanban Server on Linux https://linuxhint.com/setup-wekan-kanban-server-linux/ Fri, 08 Jan 2021 06:06:49 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=84860 Wekan is an open-source tool that offers multiple features to maintain daily tasks through virtual cards. It is a fantastic Trello-like kanban board based on the Meteor Javascript framework and licensed by MIT.

Waken is beneficial for keeping things organized, planning tasks, creating personal to-do lists, managing teams, etc. This tool allows you to use a colored label on different cards for facilitating filtering, project grouping, and assigning projects to a particular person. So, here is the list of features offered by Wekan:

  • It is an open-source tool.
  • It offers a REST API
  • It has easy to use Kanban boards.
  • Wekan offers customization options.
  • It offers various task management.
  • Users can assign colored labels to cards.
  • It has Admin Panel, Authentication, SMTP Settings, and many more

It is excellent to go for Wekan on Linux, so this article covers the complete detail of setting up a Wekan Kanban server on Linux. We will explain everything in the most straightforward way possible, so read our entire article for better information.

Note: This procedure is applicable for almost every Linux distribution but requires slight changes in commands.

How to Setup a Wekan Kanban Server on Linux

We are using the Nginx web server for installing Wekan on Linux (this procedure will cover the installation process for both Ubuntu 18.04 and Fedora).

First, executing the commands for installing the NGINX web server. For Ubuntu 18.04 users:

$ sudo apt-get install nginx -y

For Fedora users:

$ sudo dnf install nginx

After installing NGINX in the system, enable it by using the following commands: For Ubuntu 18.04 users:

$ sudo systemctl start nginx
$ sudo systemctl enable nginx

For Fedora users:

$ sudo systemctl enable --now nginx

This enable procedure is beneficial because users don’t require to start the web service every time they restart their system.

Now, install Wekan by using snap packaging, so execute the following command for the installation: For Ubuntu 18.04 users:

$ sudo snap install wekan

For Fedora users:

$ sudo dnf install snapd

On Ubuntu 18.04, set a root URL address by the below command(“SERVER_IP” in the command is an IP address of a hosting server).

$ sudo snap set wekan root_url="http://SERVER_IP"

On Fedora, Snap requires a manual symlink so execute the following command for it:

$ sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

You can check the Snan version by snap version to verify the appropriate installation. For accessing a specific server for Wekan on Fedora, then executing the below command:

$ sudo snap set wekan \
root_url="http://<Ip Address of Server>"

Now, set a port for Wekan for accessing Wekan by your browser, so we recommend you to use a different port because Wekan is running on an Nginx. We are using port 3001 by executing the following command:

For Ubuntu 18.04 users:

$ sudo snap set wekan port='3001'

For Fedora users:

$ sudo snap set wekan port='3001'

After setting up the port, restart your Wekan services because Wekan uses a MongoDB database for saving the data, and its license is not OSI-verified. Hence MangoDB requires restarting Wekan for appropriate workings.
For Ubuntu 18.04 users, execute these commands:

$ sudo systemctl restart snap.wekan.mongodb
$ sudo systemctl restart snap.wekan.wekan

For Fedora users, execute these commands:

$ sudo systemctl restart snap.wekan.mongodb
$ sudo systemctl restart snap.wekan.wekan

Now, open the browser and go to the http://localhost:3001( you can also use http://<SERVER_IP>:3001 in which SERVER_IP is an IP address a particular hosting machine), and It will prompt you to the sign-in page of Wekan.
If you are a new user, click on the Register and enter all of the required details. You will see a warning of an internal error on the main page, so ignore the error and click on the sign-in button.

You can import the data from other Kanban software such as Trello, so clicking at the + sign from the top menu bar and clicking on Import, then follow the on-screen instructions. You can visit the admin panel to configure various features like user accounts, email, layouts, global webhooks, announcements, etc.

Conclusion

This is how you can easily set up a Wekan Kanban server on Linux, but you need to follow all steps to eliminate the chances of errors. So as we have explained previously, Wekan is an open-source tool that provides various features for managing daily tasks using virtual cards.

It is a great tool and works as amazing as other Kanban servers like Trello, Taiga, Restyaboard, etc. That’s why we have included all details to install and use Wekan on different Linux distributions such as Fedora and Ubuntu 18.04.

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5 Best Slacks Alternatives on Linux https://linuxhint.com/best-slacks-alternatives-on-linux/ Thu, 07 Jan 2021 04:08:21 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=84783 Slack is one of the most comprehensive team-based messaging tools that holds multiple features to manage teams easily. This application is used for organizing groups, communicating with members, and discussing projects. Slack has cross-platform support to use it on Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android.

It offers both free and paid plans with additional features, so overall, it is an excellent tool. However, some Linux users don’t appreciate Slack and would prefer to find its alternative. So, this article will cover the five best Slack alternatives on Linux. Our article has required details of Slack alternatives, so you don’t need to do brainstorming while choosing one of these tools.

Best Slack Alternatives on Linux

Mattermost

Mattermost is a self-hostable, open-source Slack alternative that provides various features like embedded images, webhook support, video & audio calls, private chats, and so on. It is one of the best Slack alternatives on Linux because it is designed as an internal chat system for companies.

Mattermost has a free version, but it is limited to their online website, like a temporary session, so you have to purchase the license for using all premium features. In case you have an enterprise, then we recommend you to buy it. So here is the list of some notable features of Mattermost:

  • It offers cross-platform support.
  • It is most suitable for enterprise usage.
  • It supports both personal and group chat in real-time.
  • It has both free and premium plans.
  • It supports self-hosting and UX/UI customization.
  • It supports markdown formatting.
  • The matter has an efficient Slack data importing tool to switch from their old application to it easily.

Note: All of the advantages & disadvantages explained in the article are based on the reviews by multiple users, so they are mostly correct as per the user experience.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Mattermost

Advantages Disadvantages
It is easy to use the tool. It is best suitable for the enterprise rather than a solo user.
It offers a wide range of plugin support. The user interface is a bit problematic, for instance, the video call button is slightly bigger.
It has a self-hosted option.
It assures the user security brilliantly.

Element (Riot.im)

Element (also known as Riot.im) is an open-source tool that works as one of the best Slack alternatives on Linux because of its features. It has cross-platform support. Users can create specific rooms for communications, and these rooms are like channels that work as a new group.

Element has various features similar to Slack, such as video & audio calling, emoticons, embedded images & video, individual text channels, and so on. It also has a self-hosting for a chat server, but it is up to a user to choose. So here are the significant features offers by Element:

  • It has cross-platform and self-hosting support.
  • It has both free and paid options for managed hosting.
  • It is built on Matrix and offers decentralized communication.
  • All data of Element is end-to-end encrypted to ensure user privacy.
  • Element support embeddable widgets and bots to complete tasks as a team.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Element (Riot.im)

Advantages Disadvantages
The Element uses Matrix, which is an open communications protocol. Users face interface related issues that require improvement.
It supports text, voice, and video.
It has widgets support.
It has a web and mobile version.

Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat can also work as an excellent Slack alternative to simplify your work by offering similar features like Slack. It has an attractive interface, and users can customize the look with different theme packages.

If you want to boost team productivity, then use Rocket.Chat as it offers features like messaging, video & audio calls, self-hosting support, and many more. However, there are free (limited features) and premium (for cloud hosting options) plans. So, here is a list of the features provided by Rocket.Chat:

  • It offers cross-platform support.
  • It supports LDAP authentication.
  • There is a real-time translation.
  • Users can do audio & video conferencing.
  • It has third-party integrations and self-hosting support.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Rocket.Chat

Advantages Disadvantages
Rocket.Chat is an easy to install on Linux. There are some bugs in the newest version.
It has a simple UI and cross-platform support. There are notification related issues.
It has fantastic user support.

Zulip

Zulip is a real-time chat platform that gives cross-platform support so Windows, Linux, mobile, and Mac users can use it in their system. It can be a great alternative to Slack due to its tremendous features like image & video sharing, team collaboration options, file-sharing support, history search function, and so on.

Zulip is helpful for team conversation, discussing, organizing, and completing projects. So here is a list of some notable features of Zulip:

  • Users can integrate it with multiple outside tools such as Trac, Jenkins, Nagios, Jira, Github, and many more.
  • It offers a full-history search option that allows a user to find a particular conversation quickly.
  • Zulip has a threaded conversation that allows users to get updates of the same chat even if they are not online on a chat.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Zulip

Advantages Disadvantages
Zulip offers amazing user support. It requires some time to understand the functions.
It is an open-source tool.
Users can keep track of multiple conversations.
It has cross-platform support.

Flock

Flock is a team chat application that works as one of the best Slack alternatives on Linux that offers both free and premium features. It is similar to Slack because users don’t need to host a chat server. It is designed for the teams, supporting various features like embedded images, video chat, audio calling, and many more. So here is the list of significant features of Flock:

  • It has a built-in to-do list, and users can share it with others to accomplish tasks.
  • Users can encrypt the Flock data by TLS 1.2.
  • This tool integrates with multiple services like Github, Trello, Google Drive, etc.
  • Users can get their team members’ input by using the polls option.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Flock

Advantages Disadvantages
It offers a free version and also a paid version at a low price. Enterprise features are not as unique as Slack or other tools.
It is an easy-to-use platform for communication between team members. Users face issues while using voice notes or video calls.
It has cross-platform support.

Conclusion

We have explained the five best Slack alternatives on Linux, including features, pros, and cons. Slack is an amazing tool, but many users want alternatives for improving productivity and team collaboration. It is better to switch on another software by knowing everything about it. You can get complete details of all software discussed above to choose the right one as per the requirements.

]]> 7 Best Command-Line Email Clients for Linux https://linuxhint.com/best_command_line_email_clients_linux/ Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:00:22 +0000 https://linuxhint.com/?p=83320 Command-line email clients are not rich in features, but they are powerful in mail management and handle its components easily. Command-line email clients are easy to set up but offer amazing compatibility for mail handling. Many Linux users prefer these text-based email clients for their system.There are various command-line email clients available for Linux, so it is important to choose the best one from it. That’s why we have covered all of the details regarding the 7 best command-line email clients for Linux so that you can choose the best one according to your requirements.

7 Best Command-Line Email Clients for Linux

Mutt (Mail User Agent)

Mutt is one of the best command-line email clients for Linux as it is a small, easy to install, and powerful text-based email client.  Mutt was written by Michael Elkins in 1995 then released under GNU General Public License.  We put this command-line email client on the top of the list because it is rich in features that can efficiently satisfy a user’s requirements.  So some of the top features are:

  • Message threading and various message tagging options
  • It supports different mailbox formats like Maildir, mbox, MMDF, MH, etc.
  • Mutt has good color support.
  • It has support for PGP/MIME.
  • It also supports the POP3 and IMAP protocols.
  • Users have full control over the message headings while composing it.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutt 

Advantages Disadvantages
It is small and efficient. There are no constant updates.
It is terminal-based and highly configurable. It doesn’t show the  HTML format.
It supports PGP encryption.
It has a thread email feature.

Basic Installation Process of Mutt

We are including two command lines for different Linux distributions, and they are:

For Debian or Ubuntu-based system, execute the following command:

# apt-get install mutt

For RHEL or CentOS or Fedora-based system, execute the following command:

# yum install mutt

Alpine (Internet News and Email)

Alpine’s full form is an Alternatively Licensed Program for Internet News and Email that works well for both beginners and professionals. This command-line email client for Linux is an easy to use, user-friendly, fast, and open-sourced terminal-based platform. It also has cross-platform support so that you can use it in both Windows and Linux. There are various features in it, and they are:

  • It is well documented.
  • It is packaged with the Pico text editor.
  • It has support for many protocols like SMT, IMAP, POP, and many more.
  • It supports on-screen contextual instructions.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Alpine (Internet News and Email)

Advantages Disadvantages
It offers on-screen contextual instructions. It doesn’t have an attachment option (requires a graphical application)
It is very user friendly. There are no frequent updates.
You can use a built-in- text editor.

Basic Installation Process of SUP

Execute the following command to install SUP in the system:

sudo yum install alpine

Sup

Sup is a good email client who shows a complete list of threads by different tags, and every thread is a hierarchical collection of messages. It is a console-based email client for handling many emails efficiently. It supports automatic contact-list management, high-speed full-text search, custom code insertion through the Ruby hook system, and so on. Sup has various features, so here is the list of those features:

  • It handles multiple emails.
  • It can manage emails from various sources like Maildir and mbox.
  • It supports GPG for privacy functionality.
  • It can manage multiple email accounts.
  • You can easily search by the complete email store.

Advantages and Disadvantages of SUP

Advantages Disadvantages
You can extend the features by extensions. There are no frequent updates.
It has support for many emails. You can’t permanently delete unwanted mails.

Basic Installation Process of SUP

Execute the following command to install SUP in the system:

gem install sup

sup-config

Mu4e

Mu4e is fully search based, which means it consists of only queries, and there are no folders available. It is an emacs-based email client, which helps the users manage emails for performing multiple tasks like searching, moving, deleting, reading, replying, etc.  The basic idea behind Mu4e is to configure the offline Imap clients to offer local computer syncing with the remote email servers.  Mu4e is rich with features, so here is a list of the best features of this command-line email client:

  • It is user friendly and offers high speed with a quick keystroke for any common action
  • It has good support for non-English languages
  • It has an asynchronous  that means any heavy action doesn’t block emacs
  • It has support for the encryption and signing

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mu4e

Advantages Disadvantages
Mu4e is highly customizable. Sometimes users face issues in viewing emails
It is completely search based.
Users can compose rich-text emails.
Mu4e UI is optimized.

Basic Installation Process of Mu4e
Execute the following command to install SUP in the system:

Notmuch

Notmuch is a powerful, fast, tag-based, and global-search email system. It is created in C, and its development was based on Sup to deliver fantastic performance and improvement in some features of Sup. It is not an email client, so users can’t receive or send mails but search through a big collection of emails. Notmuch offers various options and features to the user, so here is a list of its features:

  • It has excellent support for fast search and tags.
  • There is no specific user interface and mail composer.
  • It uses Xapian for performing its important task.
  • It has appropriate support for vim text editors,  command-line utilities, email clients, and Mutt integration script.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Notmuch

Advantages Disadvantages
It is powerful and fast Sometimes users face issues in viewing emails
It is completely search based. You can’t permanently delete unwanted mails.

Basic Installation Process of Notmuch

You have to download and install the Notmuch package to use it in the system and execute the following command for the configuration after installation:

notmuch setup

notmuch new

Lumail

Lumail is an advanced console-based email client that is developed for Linux. It supports operation on the remote IMAP mail-servers and local Maildir hierarchies. There are various graphical-based email clients for the Linux platform, but Lumail is entirely developed for command-line use and only built-in support for scripting through real language. It doesn’t have many features and options, but some features make Lumail different from others, so those are:

  • Lumail is a model- clients that means the user can use Maildir-mode, index-mode, and message-mode
  • It supports scripting with different languages.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Lumail

Advantages Disadvantages
It has multiple modes and a simple UI Updates are not frequent
It supports scripting

Basic Installation Process of Lumail

You have to download and install the Lumail package to use it in the system and execute the below command for installing the dependencies:

Aerc

Aerc is one of the best command-line email clients for Linux because it is a free and open-source tool. This email client is a powerful tool because it prevents emails from hackers and allows you to check the email and create email threads.  It has a simple and interactive terminal web browser, and users can browse with the embedded less session. So here is a list of features in Aerc:

  • It supports git & email.
  • It supports multiple accounts.
  • It has support for IMAP, Maildir,  SMTP, and sendmail transfer protocols.
  • It has a simple UI, and users can navigate to different options easily.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Aerc

Advantages Disadvantages
It is completely free and open-source software. Sometimes users face issues while composing mails.
Interactive and simple interface

Basic Installation Process of Aerc

Use the following command-line syntax to install Aerc in your Linux system.

Conclusion

Choosing the best command-line email client for Linux can be stressful because there are various text-based email clients available online. So, we tried to cover all of the required information to select the best one according to your needs.  We have also discussed the installation process, the advantages and disadvantages of every email client so that you can understand them better.

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