Linux Lite Forums
General => On Topic => Topic started by: ralphy on February 26, 2018, 12:54:03 AM
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Hi everyone,
I'd like to share a collection of scripts I've put together to extend Lite's goodness; UnlockMe@github (https://github.com/ralphys/unlockme).
Brave souls willing to take it for a spin in Linux Lite are welcome to provide feedback, request 3rd party application additions to the Application Software section, add your own fixes or code improvements, etc.
UnlockMe app functionality will be certainly familiar to Linux Lite users.
What's included:
- An array of tweaks to further improve your system or simply provide an easy UI to tune core system settings and additional cleanup options.
(https://i.imgur.com/Bz48BnF.png)
- Additional checks are in place to prevent installation/uninstallation failures while other Package Managers are executing tasks in your system.
UnlockMe won't blindly kill a Package Manager process; it will ask the user for confirmation instead. That includes terminal processes (such as apt-get update or apt-get upgrade).
(https://i.imgur.com/O5x1mwB.png)
- Applications are removed from the system leaving as little leftovers behind as possible.
3rd party PPAs are removed during uninstallation
3rd party repos and keys are removed during uninstallation
Desktop shortcuts for All Users are removed when uninstalling applications whenever possible. (with plans to also remove Plank launchers on removal)
In the case of Web browsers, cache is also cleaned out during uninstall.
- Customization - options to download and install themes, icon themes and cursors themes.
(https://i.imgur.com/Whf8vUj.png)
- Options to remove browser's profile
- Overall code optimizations for faster executions - The Application Software section can read and display the list of installed and available applications at least twice as fast as Lite Software and it won't tax your system's resources as much as the list grows larger.
(https://i.imgur.com/pV9NBWq.png)
... and much more!
You can install or update UnlockMe, simply by running the following command from Terminal (all in one line):
cd /tmp && wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ralphys/unlockme/master/install.sh && chmod +x install.sh && ./install.sh
To uninstall UnlockMe, from Terminal:
/usr/share/unlockme/tools/uninstall.sh
Find it at github: https://github.com/ralphys/unlockme
Your feedback is appreciated :)
Cheers!
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I have been testing this for weeks, and in just the last couple of days even more super-cool stuff has been added and improved. It's like a neatly organized, all-in-one tool box. I'm honored that @ralphy has actually added some of the apps I requested, fixed a little YAD bug I discovered (in a matter of hours!), and made a few other little changes I suggested. It's so cool to have input on what is sure to become a standard treasure chest of awesomeness for Ubuntu-based distros.
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@ralphy Kudos for UnlockMe. It's an impressive toolbox.
Regarding the Blacklist Generator:
As I understand it, the benefit of the dnsmasq.d blacklist method over the hosts file method of blocking is that it allows for a shorter and theoretically more effective block list to be used.
However, the performance improvement of a UnlockMe blacklist with 68000+ lines over my rather large hosts file with 30000+ lines may not be a positive one.
Most likely, you could count on one hand the number of folks like myself who have large hosts files. Certainly, that's not many who may suffer parsing 98000, often redundant, lines of site blockage after using the Blacklist Generator.
Perhaps your blockhosts script could easily be made to query the user's hosts file, and if it exceeds a reasonable size, then
1. offer to defer to the user's hosts file and exit, or
2. advise the user that he should restore to a generic hosts file after he has utilized your feature-rich utility.
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@Oobuntus interesting recommendation. Indeed! I was in fact working directly on a hosts file substitution with this based on the fact that TLDs do matter for dnsmasq (DNS) - while the hosts file doesn't care for TLDs at all - and I never thought even once about implementing additional checks for cases as the one you have just described. Kudos to you!
But yeah, to also address part of your initial comment... the difference between the hosts file approach and dnsmasq is that we are dealing with TLDs in dnsmasq, which is more effective for blocking in my opinion. For example, you could tell the hosts file to block domain.tld and it will not care about any other subdomain - *.domain.tld would still be accessible... while with dnsmasq blocking domain.tld effectively blocks all *.domain.tld subdomains.
Also, just so you know, I was trying to "hit two birds in one shot" with the Blacklist Generator... The generated list can be used on security appliances such as pfsense; which offers dnsmasq and unbound DNS Server services. Blacklist Generator can actually generate lists for either service for later use on pfsense appliances ;) - unbound list cleanup needs more work but I'll get to that at some point, besides I'm getting off-topic there.
Back to your suggestion... perhaps hint users with hosts files with more than 100 lines? Would that be a reasonable threshold? That's assuming users blocking via hosts file blacklists will easily exceed the 100 lines threshold.
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@RandomBoy you deserve much more credit than that :)
You actually spotted bugs and reported them (which is the only way they got addressed in the first place) - but to hit a bug you have to actually test it and then test it some more. You also made eye opening recommendations in more than one occasion. The yad bug, the waterfox uninstall issue, the do not kill update manager issue, the kernel dialog issue... should I continue? :P
Thank you so much for all the feedback you provided and for having taken the time to test and report your findings. You rock!
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Will this or any of its code be replacing Lite Software or parts of it and which versions of Linux Lite ?
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Thanks Ralphy, works fine. Thanks.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn WAS-LX1A met Tapatalk
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Will this or any of its code be replacing Lite Software or parts of it and which versions of Linux Lite ?
This is not a Lite Software replacement. Linux Lite offers a set of commonly used apps for its users in Lite Software. UnlockMe app simply adds some of those that didn't make it to Lite's list.
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Thanks Ralphy, works fine. Thanks.
You're welcome! :)
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@ralphy Regarding the Blacklist Generator, Thank you for elaborating. One learns a little more every day.
I agree that 100 lines would be a reasonable threshold. Now I ruminate on how I ought respond to the 'hint' when it came.
For a very long time I have used the hblock script by Hector Fernandez, https://github.com/zant95/hBlock/blob/master/hblock, to periodically update my 'enhanced' hosts file. Would you mind offering a critique of this script?
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This is not a Lite Software replacement. Linux Lite offers a set of commonly used apps for its users in Lite Software. UnlockMe app simply adds some of those that didn't make it to Lite's list.
Thank You for explaining
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@Oobuntus I added an info dialog at the beginning of the execution. I did not make it a warning dialog; just an info box letting the user know there is a custom /etc/hosts file in place.
I don't know how effective it will be but for the vast majority of users it should be fine considering that mostly advanced users will ever dare to edit the hosts file in the first place.
(https://i.imgur.com/uHnP74L.png)
Thoughts?
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@ralphy Works for me.
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@ralphy Works for me.
Great! I'm pushing the update for UnlockMe to github tonight.
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I have included few new tweaks specifically tailored for Linux Lite:
1- LXTerminal Geometry:
Change default LXTerminal geometry in Linux Lite system-wide so that LXTerminal opens with your desired geometry whether it is launched from wiskermenu, panel shortcut, right-click custom action or a dock.
(https://i.imgur.com/vRC0Fzs.png)
2- Open as Administrator
Use pkexec policykit instead of gksu to open directories as Administrator in Thunar (Open as Administrator Custom Action). This tweak allows opening directories as super user from non admin accounts with proper elevation. Also, if combined with bypass pkexec prompt for admins, you wont be asked to enter your password each time.
(https://i.imgur.com/g7TQ3PD.png)
3- Open Terminal Here
Opens Terminal in the selected folder path (Open Terminal Here Custom Action)
(https://i.imgur.com/YWIyWU8.png)
Hope you find them useful! ;D
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:) Ralphy, thanks for all the excellent, hard work.
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@Scott you're most welcome!
Here goes another tweak I will be committing to UnlockMe @Github soon:
Compton Compositor - Compton Compositor for beautiful tear free compositing in Xfce
This is the one display compositor that has saved my old machines running Linux Lite. The default compositor does not provide tear free compositing for many old (and some new) video cards, e.g.: Intel G33 or Nvidia 9800GT in my case. With Compton, there is not only beautiful and lightweight animations in LL but also a really nice tear free compositing in Xfce - no more choppy Youtube videos... the other route is compiz but that's an entire different beast.
I've read posts in the forum from users asking how to install and configure compton. While the installation is not difficult at all, the configuration is what makes compton usable. So, UnlockMe tweak will handle this out of the box :)
What the tweak does:
- Installs compton and provides a functional/tested/optimized configuration out of the box.
- It disables the default compositor during installation (if enabled) to prevent display compositing conflicts.
- Compton configuration is installed and available for all user accounts on install.
- Compton Autostart is installed and available for all user accounts. Each user account can enable or disable compton compositor individually.
- Elevation is only required for install/uninstall. It uses pkexec so that it can be installed or removed from any account with proper elevation.
- When user enables compton it sets itself to autostart. When disabled, it removes itself from the autostart to prevent conflicts with other display compositor the user may enable.
- If compton was installed prior to UnlockMe, a configuration file will be set for the user in those cases if it doesn't exists.
- GUI displays Compton status Enabled/Disabled and hints whether it is set for Autostart or not.
Now we can just point and click to get it all done and done. No more copying config files after installing compton, no more manually adding autostart. The list keeps on growing :)
(https://i.imgur.com/0KCRdl0.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/tOByYd1.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/v2k1Qtb.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/tM9zW0H.png)
What's not included but already in my ToDo's:
- Option to backup compton configuration
- Better detection of compton config - Instead of installing the config included in UnlockMe, prompt the user if a previous compton config exists and provide options to backup the previous config or to overwrite it.
- GUI to manage compton parameters (this is way down at the bottom of the list because each config file can be directly edited by the user with no admin privileges required).
I'm pushing it up to github by the end of the day ;D
Cheers!
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im just got it on my machine- im loving it so far
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im just got it on my machine- im loving it so far
Glad you like it @bluzeo . That makes it two of us ;D
Please run UnlockMe updater (install.sh) once again to get the latest updates. There was a small but important bug fix pushed to Github and a set of features added for Compton:
(https://i.imgur.com/K0sY2uJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/HNgRTpK.png)
* Fixed retrieving/storing username for non admins executions
* Added new features for Compton Compositor
- Check if APT processes are running before compton install/uninstall
- Check if compton.conf file exists during install/uninstall and prompt user to backup config file.
- Added “Backup configuration” GUI option
- Added “Restore from backup” GUI option
- Added “Use Unlockme default config” GUI option
- Added “Push config to all users” GUI option
Admins can login into a non admin accounts and configure or edit the compton.conf for that account and then push it to all users accounts in the computer. That makes making changes for all users in the configuration really easy if ever necessary.
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UnlockMe is an awesome tool set and keeps getting better and better! That's why I linked it in my signature.
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UnlockMe is an awesome tool set and keeps getting better and better! That's why I linked it in my signature.
Thank you for the compliment @RandomBoy !
I just pushed a big update ( hopefully I didn't break too many things :P
unlockme-appearance had been left behind and it needed quite a few features it was missing.
- Updated the Appearance section from list selection to checkboxes, which is something I was asked for a while ago. Now it is ready to throw at it all those themes we want to have just a click away.
- Checks were added to detect Synaptic/APT processes before attempting to install a theme or icon theme where necessary and prompt the user before killing the processes.
- Appearance section now shows icons from user's active icon theme instead of static images.
*** I consider this a test drive - will wait for some feedback. The icons are only 16x16; yad takes this icons size by default. I do not know how to tell yad to use 22x22 icons instead, for example :-[ - haven't found a way to make it happen! :-\
- Code cleanup - removed many dpkg -l, cat, echo, etc. to optimize the code and make it more readable.
I'm now considering moving the Appearance section. Maybe it makes sense to run it unprivileged and only elevate when the admin wants to install a specific theme for all users... as it is right now the script runs with privileges by default. Moving it out will take quite a bit of work... we'll see, I think I can pull it off with time.
Also, I need to find more generic icons for themes and icons (in Faenza icon theme) - Looks like Faenza uses the same icons for themes and icon themes by default.
(https://i.imgur.com/PJz0tKt.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/xbRH0xv.png)
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And now that Linux Lite forum is back, let me share the latest additions with you all :)
UnlockMe app received yet another feature addition; Compton Settings Editor. Compton is not only a lightweight compositor but it can also bring a little extra eye candy to your desktop.
To access Compton Settings Editor, launch UnlockMe, select Compton Compositor and a new Config button will be there for you. You will be able to manage all the options compton has to offer right from the GUI.
(https://i.imgur.com/sS8j0Xg.png)
Below you can find a video that even though it was not created in Linux Lite specifically, it does show Compton in action and some of the features you will be able to install and use with UnlockMe out of the box.
https://unlockforus.com/downloads/peppermint/compton-unlockme.mp4
Cheers!
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UnlockMe support for Linux Lite 4.0 is currently in the works. The upcoming version will include a Details panel to provide additional information regarding each tweak. I'm also planning on packaging it so that it can be installed and updated with apt install/update. That will make it easier for users to keep up with updates.
(https://i.imgur.com/LuPiE4R.png)
If someone is interested in helping out by simply writing tweaks descriptions, please pm me. Thanks!
Cheers!
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So Screenlets can be used with it? and will it work with LL3.8 32 bit?
http://www.webupd8.org/2017/02/screenlets-desktop-widgets-fixed-for.html
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This app is under development.
It was good before, and after a brief hiatus, it's back with a roar. Beta testers welcome!
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@Artim,
UnlockMe App is not dead, at least not yet ;D ... I have pushed an updated version that works fine in Linux Lite 4.4. There are some rough edges there (such as not all descriptions are completed) but the application is definitely usable and improved.
Users running the latest (or even earlier versions) of Linux Lite, please provide feedback or report any issues with the application. UnlockMe App supports all 3.x and 4.x series.
To install and/or update UnlockMe app:
Open Terminal and run:
cd /tmp && wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ralphys/unlockme/master/install.sh && chmod +x install.sh && ./install.sh
To Uninstall UnlockMe app:
/usr/share/unlockme/tools/uninstall.sh
As always, your feedback is appreciated. When reporting bugs, please make sure to mention your Linux Lite version.
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cd: command not found
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cd: command not found
Looks like the cd command was pasted twice or something... try it again.
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Yup. I messed up the first attempt. The second worked and brought me the wonderful familiar tool box I always thought makes Linux Lite "complete." I have had only a little time to test it thus far because I'm traveling a lot all week. But so far so good! I PMed you with a suggestion, but it may not be a very practical one: A way to preview some of the themes, icon sets, and cursors?
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I understand. You say implement something such as in the icon-themes script:
(https://i.imgur.com/otWQ1vS.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/MnAD2et.png)
... the concern is the amount of code that will need to be implemented for such a small feature. It takes way too much to get it done in YAD with bash scripts for the sake of having an icon-pack or theme preview. Then there is always the time when we may want to add another theme, cursor or icon set and we will need to add a lot of code again. Basically, it is not worth the trouble for such a small feature, at least not with YAD - I do not know how to do it efficiently.
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Just a wish list kinda thing, offered with absolutely no knowledge of what it would take to implement. It's not important enough to bother with, really. I can try one and then another and so on 'til I settle on one.
Thanks for the outstanding work!