Ubuntu User #21 - Digital Issue

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editor: My Blue Status Quo

Table of Contents

Who We All Are: Jono walks us through what's new in Ubuntu 14.04 – Trusty Tahr.

News

Ubuntu 14.04 – Trusty Tahr 32 and 64 bits

Features

• Linux Shell Is Your Friend: The shell may look like an old-fashioned bit of technology, only useful for the Linux hardcore programmers and system administrators, but knowing a few commands and how to link them together goes long way.
• PowerShell vs. Bash: Bash and PowerShell are related, but as in all large families, the branches of the tree often take on different forms.
• Writing Clearer Bash Scripts: Does the ingenious script your wrote last month look like confusing spaghetti code today? We show some proven style guidelines that can provide order and readability.
• Shell Script Dialogs: From simple queries to complex menus: Using dialog, you can create a graphical interface for shell scripts with only a few extra lines of code.
• Compiling Scripts: The Shell Script Compiler converts scripts into binaries, which protects against accidental changes but also carries some pitfalls.

Know-How

• Off-Road Navigation: Anyone doing off-road navigation needs special maps. You can create these maps in no time at all with some specialized tools.
• Bandwidth Monitoring: Many programs communicate over the network, and when a bottleneck occurs, these tools can help you determine the cause.
• Systemd: Some Linux followers see systemd as the best thing since sliced bread – for others, it’s the work of the devil. However, it also has the stuff to clear out old trenches and form a unified base for Linux.
• E-Books with Calibre: Calibre lets you bring some order to your digital library. You not only can restore reading material lost on your hard drive, but you can also convert digital books into a format of your choice.

Desktop

• Banking Applications: “Where does all my money go?” A good personal finance management app like Buddi or HomeBank can help you answer this question.
• Organize Tasks with Nitro: Nitro is an application with a modern design created for managing task lists. This free program synchronizes with different platforms on all your devices, even your smartphone.
• Minecraft: With the current version 1.7, Minecraft developers have dared to take a step away from the popular blocky look. However, the real thrill of the game is hardly its visual effects.
• The QupZilla Web Browser: QupZilla is a new Linux web browser that enters an already crowded arena. But, QupZilla holds its own when it comes to speed and ergonomics. We put the browser through its paces in our lab.
• Creative Inkscape Effects: The Inkscape vector graphics program not only lets you work with pencil and ink-like lines, it can also help you mimic the elegant brushstrokes of an oil painting or simulate water colors. Our three easy-to-follow examples show you how to paint your masterpiece.

Community

• Q&A with Stuart Langridge and Bryan Lunduke: Stuart Langridge and Bryan Lunduke, team up (more or less) to answer all your Ubuntu questions. This month: My Very Own OS and Office Space.
• Developing Free Hardware: We look at Aaron Seigo’s projects Vivaldi and Improv as examples and discover how hard it really is to manage a truly free hardware project.

Discovery Guide

• Installing Ubuntu 14.04
• Network and Updates
• Package Management
• Multimedia