Essential Ubuntu Apps Every Linux User Should Install

Recommended Ubuntu Applications

This article, originally compiled by AlicFeng on GitHub, shares a curated collection of useful Ubuntu software covering daily tools, system utilities, development environments, and terminal utilities. Each entry includes a short description and a ready‑to‑run installation command.

1. Daily Tools

Google Chrome – Cross‑platform web browser with sync and a rich extension ecosystem.

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy

sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable

Firefox – Secure, fast browser with strong privacy features and developer extensions. sudo apt-get install firefox -y GParted – Graphical partition editor for creating, resizing, and moving partitions. sudo apt-get install gparted -y Sogou Input Method – Chinese input method. sudo dpkg -i sogou*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy FileZilla – Open‑source FTP client with site manager and transfer queue. sudo apt-get install filezilla WPS Office – Lightweight office suite compatible with Microsoft formats. sudo dpkg -i wps*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy LibreOffice – Full‑featured open‑source office suite (pre‑installed on Ubuntu).

Youdao Dictionary – Free translation and dictionary tool. sudo dpkg -i youdao*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy NetEase Cloud Music – Music streaming client. sudo dpkg -i netease*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy VLC – Versatile media player supporting most audio/video formats. sudo apt-get install vlc -y Kazam – Simple screen recorder with YouTube upload support.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:and471/kazam-daily-builds && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install kazam

Silentcast – GIF screen‑capture tool.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sethj/silentcast && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install silentcast

SMPlayer – Cross‑platform media player with built‑in codecs. sudo apt-get install smplayer Audience – Minimalist video player (default on elementary OS). sudo apt-get install audience GIMP – Open‑source image editor, alternative to Photoshop.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp && sudo apt-get install gimp

Krita – Digital painting application.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports && sudo apt-get install kdelibs-bin kbuildsycoca4 --noincremental krita -y

gedit – Simple GNOME text editor with syntax highlighting. sudo apt-get install gedit x11vnc – VNC server for remote desktop access. sudo apt-get install x11vnc Shadowsocks‑qt5 – Proxy tool for bypassing network restrictions.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:hzwhuang/ss-qt5 && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install shadowsocks-qt5 -y

VirtualBox – Open‑source virtualization platform. sudo dpkg -i virtualbox*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy Steam – Gaming platform and store. sudo apt-get install steam Electronic‑WeChat – Linux desktop client for WeChat (Node.js based).

git clone https://github.com/geeeeeeeeek/electronic-wechat.git && cd electronic-wechat && npm install && npm start

Skype – Cross‑platform video‑calling and instant‑messaging app. sudo apt-get install skype Transmission – Lightweight BitTorrent client. sudo apt-get install transmission Thunderbird – Email client with RSS and chat support. sudo apt-get install thunderbird XMind – Mind‑mapping software (resource‑heavy on Ubuntu). sudo dpkg -i xmind*.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy Okular – Versatile document viewer for PDF, EPUB, etc. sudo apt install okular -y FocusWriter – Distraction‑free writing environment. sudo apt install focuswriter Typora – Minimalist Markdown editor with live preview.

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys BA300B7755AFCFAE && sudo add-apt-repository 'deb https://typora.io linux/' && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install typora

OBS Studio – Open‑source screen recorder and live‑streaming tool.

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install obs-studio

Pencil – Open‑source GUI prototyping tool (Linux Visio alternative).

wget -c http://pencil.evolus.vn/dl/V3.0.1/Pencil_3.0.1_i386.deb && sudo dpkg -i Pencil_3.0.1_i386.deb

Remmina – Remote desktop client supporting RDP, VNC, SSH, etc. sudo apt-get install remmina Meld – Visual diff and merge tool for developers.

sudo apt-get install meld

2. System Tools

deepin‑scrot – Screenshot utility from Deepin.

wget http://packages.linuxdeepin.com/deepin/pool/main/d/deepin-scrot/deepin-scrot_2.0-0deepin_all.deb && sudo dpkg -i deepin-scrot_2.0-0deepin_all.deb && sudo apt-get install -f

Albert Spotlight – Fast application launcher similar to macOS Spotlight.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/macbuntu && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install albert

Guake Terminal – Drop‑down terminal for GNOME.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/unstable && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install guake

BleachBit – System cleaner for removing unnecessary files.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/programs-ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install bleachbit -y

Psensor – Real‑time hardware temperature monitor (requires lm‑sensors and hddtemp).

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jfi/ppa && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install lm-sensors hddtemp psensor -y

Indicator Netspeed – Unity panel app showing upload/download speeds.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8 && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install indicator-netspeed

GNOME System Monitor – Graphical system resource monitor. sudo apt-get install gnome-system-monitor Catfish – Lightweight file‑search utility. sudo apt-get install catfish Docky – Simple dock launcher (inspired by macOS Dock). sudo apt-get install docky TLP – Power management tool for extending battery life.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linrunner/tlp && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install tlp tlp-rdw && sudo tlp start

Menulibre – Menu editor for customizing application menus.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:menulibre-dev/devel && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install menulibre

Indicator‑sysmonitor – Panel app showing CPU, memory, and network usage.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/indicator-sysmonitor && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install indicator-sysmonitor

3. Development Tools

JetBrains Toolbox (IDE bundle) – Collection of JetBrains IDEs covering Java, Python, PHP, etc.

Brackets – Open‑source web editor with live preview.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/brackets && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install brackets && sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:webupd8team/brackets

Android Studio – Official IDE for Android app development.

Sublime Text – Fast, extensible cross‑platform code editor.

Atom – Hackable editor built on web technologies.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/atom && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install atom

sqliteman – GUI manager for SQLite databases. sudo apt-get install sqliteman Git & Gitg – Distributed version control system and graphical front‑end.

sudo apt-get install git

sudo apt-get install gitg

MySQL Workbench – Visual database design and administration tool for MySQL.

# download .deb from official site and install with dpkg -i *.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy

MonoDevelop – Cross‑platform IDE for C#, F#, and other .NET languages. sudo apt-get install monodevelop g++ xterm -y Genymotion – Android emulator for testing apps.

# download .deb from official site, then sudo dpkg -i *.deb && sudo apt-get install -fy

Android Screen Monitor (ASM) – Tool for monitoring Android device or emulator screen.

4. Terminal Tools

enca & iconv – File encoding detection and conversion utilities. sudo apt-get install enca iconv Figlet – Generates large ASCII art text banners. sudo apt-get install figlet oh‑my‑zsh – Framework for managing Zsh configuration and themes.

sudo apt-get install git && wget https://github.com/robbyrussell/oh-my-zsh/raw/master/tools/install.sh -O - | sh

Asciinema – Record and share terminal sessions.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zanchey/asciinema && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install asciinema

Aria2 – Multi‑protocol command‑line download utility. sudo apt-get install aria2 Proxychains4 – Force any command to use a proxy chain.

git clone https://github.com/rofl0r/proxychains-ng.git && cd proxychains-ng && sudo ./configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc && sudo make && sudo make install && sudo make install-config

Ubuntu Make – Command‑line tool to install developer tools (e.g., WebStorm).

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-desktop/ubuntu-make && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ubuntu-make && sudo umake ide webstorm

sshfs – Mount remote directories over SSH using FUSE.

sudo apt-get install sshfs