In the process of building a web page using GitHub Pages we've got some new knowledge about recent developments in technologies. As for example the new position by Microsoft in Windows 10 in relation to the open-source system of software development. It´s a new world of possibilities since in Windows you did have little oportinity to see or know the internal procedures and systems that you were using, everything is so simplified and that's the goal. Now they're inviting people to get deep in the knowledge of how computers and programs work and get involved in the process of creation.

But happily the Windows 10 user now can do this within the system itself, that's the importance of the Windows Subsystem Lynux. Now you can use programs which are both long time certified or in development process and you can prove those programs and make your reports or your own modifications to share with the creators, something that some time ago couldn't be done by the Windows OS. In relation to that we can read here the words of the founder of Canonical about the releasing of Ubuntu for Windows 10:

In our journey to bring free software to the widest possible audience, this is not a moment we could have predicted. Nevertheless, we are delighted to stand behind Ubuntu for Windows, committed to addressing the needs of Windows developers exploring Linux in this amazing new way, and are excited at the possibilities heralded by this unexpected turn of events.”

— Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical

Here for example, we see in the page of Jekyll (an open-source program not typically allowed in Windows) how they get in the wave of the WSL to promote and instruct in the use of the program between Windows users with a complete guide and references to get through the process of setting your Bash on Ubuntu.

In this link you can see my tutorial on the process of installing Jekyll on Windows.

In this tutorial we will be going through the process of knowing more of the concepts, functions and commands from Linux in the Ubuntu console as working with files and folders, creating, organizing and finding them, but also we are going to know how to install some programs to get ready with any work in a computer system, most of all if you are working with text, images or internet files, etc. You need to understand that the goal of this tutorial is to start to get involved in basic methods performed by developers, something new for Windows users. The programs in this tutorial can be installed directly through Windows OS. Using this method you can learn from the use of the Bash, from the Xserver and in adition to this you will see the results of using programs from two diferent operative systems running at the same time in the same desktop. All this said, let's know some functions and sytems in both Linux and Windows.

The Xserver

Something important in a computer system is the UI, short for user interface. This is the way an user can comunicate with the system on what he want to do without speaking computer language. For example a web browser is an UI that allows you to search, watch or save internet files. But the Ubuntu console or Bash (Bourne again shell) by itself only allows to operate some few simple programs as nano which we use in the previous tutorial. But other programs need to run out of the box, these programs have to use a special visual system to work. In Windows 10 this system is called a Xserver from which there are some options to choose. Using the Xserver we are going to be able to work in an environment more like that we are used to but with new programs that came from the world of the open-source. Some of the programs we are going to install have their Windows OS version, but as we've said, in our new environment we are going to be able to use the newest versions or even alfa or beta versions before they become packed and released. So, let's start with the tutorial.

Basic commands in the Bash

The way the Bash works is from command lines which are instructions for the system to work, you can do almost everything through the Bash just writing the correct command lines. Let's begin with some basic commands on the Bash.


pwd -Print the directory you are located.
cd -Is the command line to travel in the folders.
ls -Is the command for listing the files in a directory.
mkdir -Is the command line to create a folder.
rmdir -Is the command line to remove an empty folder.
rm -r -Is the command line to remove a folder.
touch -Is the command line for create a file.
rm -Is the command line to remove a file.
nano -Is the command line to start a program to edit the files.
cat -Is the command line to view the content of the file.
clear -Refresh the Bash clearing the lines and re-starting fron line one.

Let's do some experiments with these commands.

Installing the Xserver

Let's do some more visualy complex and exciting things. Let's install the Xserver for more posibilities with the Bash.
Close your Bash and we are going to istall this Xserver: VcXsrv. This is a repository located in sourceforge, and you can acces the code there. This precise installation is through Windows so is not needed to explain, you going to see the installation wizard bellow. For more references of this procedure, please check here.



Then, you ned to do these steps:

+Locate the VcXsrv shortcut in the Start Menu
+Right click on it
+Select More>Open file location
+Copy the VcXsrv shortcut file
+Paste the shortcut in %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup


Launch VcXsrv for the first time
Attend to the Firewall confirmation.

You will see an icon in your task bar.


Now, open your Bash and we are going to configure the Xserver. We are going to use the command echo to copy a line and put it into a file.


echo "export DISPLAY=localhost:0.0" >> ~/.bashrc

Hit enter. Let's download and perform a simple graphic application that follows your mouse movements:
Write this (sudois a command to perform operations that require administrative permission as intalling a program which command is apt-get):

sudo apt-get install x11-apps
And run by writing :

xeyes&




(Note: the & symbol open the program but you still can use the bash. Without using it you won't be able to use the bash. If that's the case you just need to suspend and restart by using Ctrl+C, as I don't use it in this time I'd have to press the combination.

Installing LibreOffice

Installing a Shell

Now we are going to install first a general user interface that could serve us to manage our programs and files. This is the xfce4 program, another open-source program which is a desktop environment for Linux distributions. You can get involved in the development here: https://xfce.org/getinvolved?lang=en
Now we are going to type:

sudo apt-get install xfce4


Run it by typing: startxfce4
Use default configuration.

And now you will have this:


Now you have the control to find programs and files in Ubuntu. To close the system press: Ctrl+C

LibreOffice

Now that we are in a new land we are ready to install LibreOffice. Let's get this great package that is a complete group of programs to manage all kind of documents related to text documents, spreadsheets, drawing, or presentations, LibreOffice is the alternative we will be using instead of Microsoft Office.

You can find all the documentation about these programs included in LibreOffice in their website. Let's install it:

Type the next command lines one by one in the Bash. Through these commands you will get the most recent version of the package.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/pp
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
apt install libreoffice
apt install libreoffice-java-common

In some of the processes you will be asked for confirmation, type "y" or hit enter as requested. Be sure to have always internet connection, this will take a while. Here, the final result.



In adition to this you can also install Java Runtime Environment.
sudo apt-get install default-jre

You need to type the line (libreoffice + (--)(your_program) opt + (&). You can see a list of the programs and functions included by typing this:

libreoffice --help

Installing Mozilla Firefox

Just to get some more complete tools becuase any office needs a Web browser, let's choose Mozilla Firefox in this tutorial. Type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install firefox
sudo apt-get upgrade

Let's check everything installed so far. Type:
startxfce4 and in the program browser: search and open your programs!!