Regular things I do after a fresh install. (Ubuntu 12.04/Mint 13)

Here's some things I like to do after a fresh install of ubuntu/mint.

Install apt-fast:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:apt-fast/stable
sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install apt-fast

Then update(I always use apt-fast since I know there will be a lot to download):
sudo apt-fast update; sudo apt-fast upgrade

Install vim from apt(if not already installed)

Edit my /etc/hosts file to include all of the computers on my home network. Copy over files that I backed up on those computers.

Disable apport(if ubuntu. if mint then disable after installing software-center):
sudo vim /etc/default/apport   --- change '1' to '0' and save.
sudo service apport stop

Install chromium-browser use apt
Install chrome from .deb file
Install google-earth from .deb
Install google music manager from .deb
Install google talk plugin from .deb
Install teamviewer from .deb
Install VMware Player from .bundle (rename from .txt when saving(yes you can just still execute it regardless... just change it... because.))
Install synapse from apt
Install fogger:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:loneowais/fogger
(update; and install fogger)

Install gimp if not at least 2.8(because I like the single window mode)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulash/gimp
(update; and install gimp)

Install dropbox from apt
run/setup dropbox

Moving the window buttons from the right side to the left in Ubuntu Gnome 12.10

Mostly posting this just as a reminder to me for when I forget how to do it again. Credit goes to 'jokerdino' from this link.

The command he gave is actually to move the buttons from the left to the right so it needs to be reversed for the opposite (which is what I'm trying to do). He gave this command for those using Unity:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout ":minimize,maximize,close"

And this one for those using Ubuntu Gnome/the Gnome-Shell(like me)

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.overrides button-layout ":minimize,maximize,close"

I simply took the second command and reversed it to my liking:

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.overrides button-layout "close,minimize,maximize:menu"

Using avconv (previously ffmpeg) to record the desktop

So I was trying to figure out how to record a video of the screen. I didn't have much use for recording the microphone though. All the instructions I could find would always describe how to record a video using the microphone for audio. Here's that command for that just in case that's what you are wanting:

avconv -f alsa -i hw:0,0 -f x11grab -s 1600x900 -r 25 -i :0.0 -vcodec libx264 -acodec libmp3lame vid_file.mp4

Of course, since I didn't need microphone and I actually wanted the program's audio output, that command didn't work for me. I tried many different variations on the alsa device (hw:0,0) to no avail. Finally I found the answer somewhere was to change from using alsa to pulse, then directing to the device, eventually coming up with the command:

avconv -f pulse -i alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor -f x11grab -s 1600x900 -r 25 -i :2.0 -vcodec libx264 -acodec libmp3lame vid_file.mp4

The pulse device name (mine is shown as alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor) can by found with the command:

pactl list sources|less

Listed next to "Name:"

I'd also like to break down the command I used as best I can because nothing else I found explained much about what was going on or how the command worked and/or could be changed.
avconv is the name of the program
I believe -f is to add a new stream to the video/file so,
-f alsa/pulse
adds a new audio stream, then -i designates a device.
-f alsa -i hw:0,0 
then adds alsa device hw:0,0.

then we use -f to add a video stream(no sound) with:
-f x11grab
-s for size which on my laptop is 1600x900.
-r I believe is the framerate.
-i then adds the device/display in this instance. Almost all the examples I saw used the display :0.0, after playing with it a bit I found that on my laptop it needed to be changed and was actually :2.0

so far we have:
avconv -f alsa -i hw:0,0 -f x11grab -s 1600x900 -r 25 -i :2.0
That takes care of where we get the input.
The rest of it is the output
-vcodec libx264 tells it to use x264 as the video codec (on of the most common and is used for mp4 files)
-acodec libmp3lame tells it to use mp3 encoding for the audio
vid_file.mp4 is the filename. (The extension tells it to save in an mp4 container)