Ubuntu is a free, open source Linux-based operating system that starts with the breadth of Debian and adds regular releases (every six months), a clear focus on the user and usability (it should "Just Work", TM) and a commitment to security updates with 18 months of support for every release (and with 6.06 LTS you get 3 years on the desktop and 5 on the server!). Ubuntu ships with the latest GNOME release as well as a selection of server and desktop software that makes for a comfortable desktop experience off a single installation CD.

I recently got the Ubuntu desktop insallation CD from one of my friends in Hitwise, and successfully installed as dual boot on my home computer. The next step was to install all the server software necessary for me to setup the development environment at home.




I have found very easy steps to install Apache 2, PHP 5, MySQL 5 and PostgreSQL 8. All you need to do is to run the following command from the shell in Ubuntu, Upon password request, just enter the password for your personal account.

To install Apache 2

sudo apt-get install apache2-mpm-worker

To install MySQL 5

sudo apt-get install mysql-server

To install PostgreSQL 8

sudo apt-get install postgresql-8.1

To install PHP 5

autoconf automake1.4 autotools-dev libapache2-mod-php5 php5 php5-common php5-curl php5-dev php5-gd php-pear php5-ldap php5-mhash php5-mysql php5-pgsql php5-mysqli php5-snmp php5-sqlite php5-xmlrpc php5-xsl php5-imap php5-mcrypt php5-pspell php5-gd

This command will install most commonly used PHP libraries.

It used to take me the whole day even without successfully installing and configure those software packages, but it only took me less than 2 hours to finish all the installation and configure properly to suit my needs on Ubuntu. Plus, I really like the interface of Ubuntu desktop and now I will move my freelance project development to Ubuntu environment from Windows.

A few reasons to install Ubuntu:

• Absolutely Free of Charge - you can download any time from their official website


• Fast, Easy Install - only around 10 mins


• Immediately Useful - contains all basic software for home and office applications


• More securer than Windows

The following are some screenshot I took from my Ubuntu desktop:

Directory Explorer




Firefox in Ubuntu




OpenOffice 2.0




I would recommand you guys to try it out and see whether you like it or not.

  pedro quintero on 2007-07-29 @ 08:36 PM says:  

Very interesting your site. I am newer in this and I have Ubuntu 5.10 and ca not pgrade via internet becouse of old version. I will wait to recieve version 7 and i will try again. In the mean while, can youteach me how to install the same stuff in my ubuntu version 5.10? Thank you. Pedro Quintero

  Matt on 2007-06-25 @ 12:44 AM says:  

This has got to be the worst, most retarded guide ever. It doesn't even explain anything except for what the fucking package names are for apt-get. You can just find the packages using synaptec. I mean what the hell. How about how to edit the httpd.conf file to use php jit with apache? And to use pgsql with php? I mean c'mon now. This is gay.

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