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Quick Walkthrough of Ubuntu

Great job on installing Ubuntu as a Virtual Machine!

To get good at using Ubuntu, it's important to start using Ubuntu every day for everything you do on your computer. Switching from your usual Operating System to Ubuntu might seem hard at first, but it's worth it because Linux runs a lot of the world's technology. Using Ubuntu for your daily tasks, like browsing the internet, writing documents, and coding, will help you learn it faster. The more you use Ubuntu, especially its command line, the easier it will become.

Our Tip💡: Only use your main OS for things you can't do on Ubuntu. This way, you'll learn Ubuntu quickly and understand how powerful and useful it is. Being proficient in Linux and especially the command line is a significant advantage in the tech world.

Essential Hands-on Tasks

Let's dive into Ubuntu’s user interface with some hands-on tasks. If Ubuntu is new to you, these activities will help you adapt to the basics you're accustomed to in other Operating Systems.

Task 1: File System Navigation

Browse different directories

Create a new folder

Copy, paste, move, and delete files

Restore and permanently delete files

Task 2: Managing Apps

Discover the Ubuntu Software Center

Learn to install and uninstall apps

App Suggestions for Daily Use:

Office Suite: LibreOffice (similar to Microsoft Office) or OnlyOffice

Media Players: VLC (for videos) and Rhythmbox (for music)

Web Browsers: Mozilla Firefox (built-in) and Google Chrome or Chromium (Chrome’s open-source counterpart)

Task 3: Explore Ubuntu OS Settings

Task 4: Understanding Virtual Machine Settings

Try playing and adjusting settings at both level:

VMWare App level

Ubuntu VM level

Task 5: Exploring and getting used to shortcuts

Efficient programmers use shortcuts to boost productivity. Identify and practice shortcuts relevant to your workflow. Here are some essential Ubuntu shortcuts to start with:

Navigational Shortcuts

App Shortcuts

Let’s see the difference between windows, tabs, and an app window, using Google Chrome as an example.

First, the Chrome Window: Your main workspace when you launch Chrome. It can be moved, resized, or minimized for space.

Next, Tabs: Within a single Chrome window, you can open multiple tabs, each showing a different website, making it easy to switch between sites.

Lastly, an App Window: When you have multiple Chrome windows open, each acts as a separate Chrome instance, like having multiple desks for different tasks or projects.

These concepts are key when using the shortcuts explained below.

Shortcut Guide for VMware Workstation and Fusion Users

For VMware Workstation PlayStation (Windows)

Navigational Shortcuts

Ctrl + left/right arrow key: Jumps cursor one word at a time

Ctrl + Shift + left/right arrow key: Select one word at a time

Crtl + Home/End: Take the cursor to the start/end of the page

Alt + Tab: Switch between windows

App Shortcuts

Windows key: Switch between the Activities overview and desktop

Ctrl + Q: Close an application

Windows key + Page up: Switch between workspaces

Windows key + D: Show Desktop

Windows key + H: Minimise a window

Alt + ~(tilde): Switch between windows in the same app

Ctrl + Alt: Host key (Detach keyboard and mouse from VM OS)

Miscellaneous Shortcuts

Print Sc: Launch the screenshot/screen recording tool

Alt+Print: Take a screenshot of a window

Shift+Print: Take a screenshot of the entire screen

For VMware Fusion (MacOS)

For MacOS, VMware Fusion has already built the compatibility layer. You need not to learn or go in deep. Just go to VMware Setting -> keyboard setting and you can see all the keyboard mapping there.

Navigational Shortcuts

Option (⌥) + left/right arrow key: Jumps cursor one word at a time

Option (⌥) + Shift + left/right arrow key: Select one word at a time.

Command (⌘) + Up/Down arrow key: Take the cursor to the start/end of the page

Command (⌘) + Tab: Switch between windows

App Shortcuts

Command (⌘) + Tab: Switch between apps

Command (⌘) + Q: Close an application

Control (^) + Up arrow key: Switch between workspaces

Control (^) + Left/Right arrow key: Move between spaces

Command (⌘) + F3: Show desktop

Command (⌘) + M: Minimise a window

Command (⌘) + ~: Switch between windows in the same app

Control (^) + Command (⌘): Host key (Detach keyboard and mouse from VM OS)

Miscellaneous Shortcuts

Shift (⇧) + Command (⌘) + 3: Screenshot for entire screen

Shift (⇧) + Command (⌘) + 4: Launch the screenshot/screen recording tool

Consistent practice is key. The more you engage with Ubuntu, the more intuitive and less daunting it becomes. Transitioning to a new OS isn't easy, but over time, it will start to feel like second nature. Dedication and regular practice will make all the difference.

Note: As we are using VMware Workstation Player on Windows and VMware Fusion on MacOS, certain commands might vary. Check for the appropriate commands with the same functionality for each platform and use them correctly.

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.