Setting up Ubuntu for development requires installing some additional tools and software packages to get your system ready for a smooth and efficient programming experience. Follow these steps to set up your Ubuntu environment as a developer for the first time:
- Update and upgrade the system:
Open the Terminal (press Ctrl
+ Alt
+ T
), then run the following commands to update your package list and upgrade your system:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
- Install essential tools and utilities:
These tools are commonly used for development and system maintenance. Install them by running the following command:
sudo apt install build-essential curl wget git vim htop unzip zip gnome-tweaks
- Install a better terminal (optional):
Consider using a more feature-rich terminal, such as Terminator, which offers multiple panes, custom keyboard shortcuts, and more:
sudo apt install terminator
- Install a text editor or IDE:
Choose a text editor or IDE that suits your development needs. Some popular options are:
Visual Studio Code:
wget -q https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install code
Sublime Text:
wget -qO - https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-add-repository "deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sublime-text
JetBrains IDEs (like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.): Download and install JetBrains Toolbox from https://www.jetbrains.com/toolbox-app/, which allows you to manage the installation of different JetBrains IDEs easily.
- Configure Git:
Set up your Git username and email by running:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"
- Install programming languages and frameworks:
Install the programming languages and frameworks you’ll be working with. Some common choices include:
Python:
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv
Node.js and NPM:
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_14.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
Java:
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk
Ruby:
sudo apt install ruby-full
Go:
sudo apt install golang
- Install database systems:
Install the database systems you plan to work with. Some popular choices are:
MySQL:
sudo apt install mysql-server
sudo mysql_secure_installation