It was 3 years ago that I used Ubuntu as my main primary operating system. As a web developer, using a Linux-based operating system makes things easier. My last Ubuntu desktop was Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat. Now 3 years have passed and when I came back, I saw that Ubuntu has grown so fast. Now I installed Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr as my primary operating system again.
My first impression was great, it was fast and light, and the Unity UI is smooth and easy to learn. But I feel it is more like Mac OSX, especially the dock feature. And what makes me love Ubuntu the most is because it is ready out of the box. I didn’t have any difficulty after installation. Everything is working as it should be. Praise to the Ubuntu team 🙂
So what did I do after installing Ubuntu? If you are a web developer, this list might help you to jump-start your Ubuntu box:
- Install Google Chrome Browser: Since Google Chrome syncs with my Google Account, all the settings and bookmarks are synced with Google Chrome on my Ubuntu. So I don’t have to spend a lot of time redoing the settings.
- Install FileZilla FTP Client: I need this to transfer files from/to the servers.
- Install Dropbox for Linux: A lot of my documents are stored in the cloud, one of them using Dropbox, so I just install it and everything syncs.
- Install Skype for Linux: My primary communication with other people is using Skype, so this is a must.
- Install Git: Thanks Linus 🙂
- Install Sublime Text 3: This is my primary text editor, it is fast, light and the code snippets are the best so far.
- Install Nginx, Apache, MySQL and PHPMyAdmin: I’m using Nginx as the proxy server, because soon I will develop a web app using Node.js.
- Generate RSA key: I don’t like to remember passwords.
- Import my favorite music: Listening to music while developing is always an option.
- Install ReText for writing with Markdown: I love Markdown and use it everywhere.
One thing is missing in Ubuntu, and that is Evernote. Evernote doesn’t have a Linux application. So far I access all my notes using the web. But I heard that Evernote runs smoothly using Wine. So I will try it soon.
So far I’m happy with the performance of this newest Ubuntu. And the most important thing is that it helps me become more productive, since now I have higher mobility. Working anywhere and anytime is always fun 🙂
So if you have an experience using Ubuntu, please share it with me too.