What To Do After Installing Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx? Run This Script!

Update 18 Apr. 2010: A new version of the script has been released. Please see: What To Do After A Fresh Ubuntu Install Script - New Version Released [Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx]

Back when Ubuntu Karmic was released, I translated a script which helps new users set up a few things most people do when they first install Ubuntu. Today I updated the script for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx and also added a few more tweaks.

Here's what the script does:

• add extra repositories (Medibuntu, Getdeb, etc)
• download and install the latest updates
• install Ubuntu Tweak
• install codecs, web browser plugins (Java, Flash), additional support for archives (RAR, 7-Zip) and additional fonts; installs the latest Flash Player for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx 64bit from Adobe's website
• Gconf tweaks: move the Metacity window buttons back to the right, disable the GDM login sound, fix the update manager behavior to always show updates and enable the icons in menus and buttons
• install GIMP (which has been removed from Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid)
• install VLC
• install Thunderbird email client
  
• install Chromium web browser
• install Google Chrome - the latest dev version (it will download the 32 or 64 bit version automatically - depending on your system architecture)
• install WINE
  
• install MPlayer
• set MPlayer and Totem character encoding to Central / Eastern European (Windows-1250), you can disable this by removing lines: 64 and 69,70,71,72,73,74,75, or selecting manual configuration from the script menu
• install Pidgin instant messaging client

It's not much, but relatively new users as well as people installing Ubuntu on multiple machines will definitely find this useful.

Like always, remember it's not recommended running a script without knowing exactly what it does, so I invite you to look at the code before running it.

The script does not requires "sudo" when you first run it and instead, your password will only be asked when the script tries to add a repository or install an application.

To download and run the script, simply paste this in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install zenity
wget http://launchpad.net/ubuntustart/0.4.x/0.4.9/+download/ubuntu-10.04-start-0.4.9.13.tar.gz
tar -xvf ubuntu-10.04-start-0.4.9.13.tar.gz
cd ubuntu-10.04-start/
sudo ./ubuntu-10.04-script

Update: I replaced the old download link above with the latest version!

If you encounter any issues or want to add some useful stuff to the script, don't hesitate in contacting me.



Remember, the script only runs on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx. For Ubuntu Karmic, see THIS script.


Credits for the Karmic script (which I translated and added some more tweaks): czytelnia.ubuntu.pl

Update: I've changed the script from "uninstall Empathy and replaces it with Pidgin" to only install Pidgin, without removing Empathy.

Update 18 Apr. 2010: A new version of the script has been released. Please see: What To Do After A Fresh Ubuntu Install Script - New Version Released [Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx]