How to finish setting up Ubuntu

Last changed Tue Apr 3 16:48:21 EDT 2007

This document assumes you have just installed Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) from the cd, and then are dismayed to find that emacs, tex, R, etc. are missing. This describes how to add the missing packages. If you're using Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake) replace all strings containing edgy with dapper.

log in
sudo -i		# give your personal login password

### Update with changes made after the cd was released

cp -p /etc/apt/sources.list{,.bak}	# making a backup copy
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list		# use gedit, emacs is not installed yet
	uncomment all "deb http" and "deb-src"
	add "deb http://cran.R-project.org/bin/linux/ubuntu edgy/" at bottom

# Add PGP key for R packages
gpg --keyserver subkeys.pgp.net --recv-key E2A11821
gpg -a --export E2A11821 | apt-key add -

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade
# there is a popup asking for a reboot
# do the reboot:
	Top menu bar: System -> Quit -> Restart

log in
sudo -i		# give your personal login password
# in new xterm window, do the following:

### Now add applications

# add applications most everyone will want:

	apt-get install build-essential
	#apt-get install emacs21
	apt-get install emacs
	apt-get install ess
	apt-get install tetex-base
	apt-get install auctex
	apt-get install xpdf
	apt-get install gv
	apt-get install r-base

# R packages may be installed as "apt-get install r-cran-PACKAGE_NAME",
# or browsed from the list in the Synaptics GUI, below

# start the gui package manager and add other things that seem attractive:

	Note: Synaptic locks the package system, and you can't use
	apt-get when Synaptic is running, even if you haven't asked
	for any operations to be performed.

	Top menu bar: System-> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager

		upper right panel gives list of packages,
			check square on left side of line, do 'mark for installation'
			do Apply from top menu bar

The new system administrator of a personally maintained system should skim through this document for everything that seems relevant: http://ubuntuguide.org

Ubuntu questions may be asked of more experienced users on this forum: http://www.ubuntuforums.org

Last modified: Thu Sep 10 13:40:00 EDT 2009