Categories
software

Software that is missing Dark Theme

This is a list of software that for some reason at the time of writing, still doesn’t have a dark theme option for the user interface.

This can include desktop applications as well as mobile applications

  • FileZilla FTP Client (may have workarounds depending on device)
  • Wolfram Mathematica (has a workaround only for documents)
  • Microsoft Excel (has a dark theme but not for documents natively)
  • Epic Games Launcher (no consistent UI, blinding after purchases)
  • Amazon Shopping
  • PayPal (neither website or mobile application)
  • Dunkin’ Donuts (requires light theme for barcode scanners)
  • Credit Karma
  • MyStudyLife

Categories
guides software

Setting up Kali-Kex on Ubuntu on WSL

I like to use Windows Subsystem for Linux. It makes running Linux applications on Windows very easy and efficient. It runs natively, instead of emulated, and makes a workflow maintainable, including compiling Linux binaries for C and C++ applications using compilers such as GCC and Clang without needing to use simulator tools such as Cygwin and MinGW

I prefer the Ubuntu builds. It was the first Linux distribution to initially work with WSL.

With WSL 2.0 we have the ability to run graphical applications. We can use WSLg to run Windows containing individual applications within our regular interface.

However, Kali Linux’s distro has an alternative option, known as Kex. Kex allows us to have a full desktop workspace within the WSL environment with the XFCE desktop, as opposed to Ubuntu’s GNOME, which is not supported by Kex.

Since both Kali and Ubuntu are Debian-based distros, this means that the XFCE desktop and Kex can run functionally on either if installed correctly. My preference is to install Kex on Ubuntu.

These steps assume that WSL 2 is enabled and Ubuntu is installed from the Windows store and configured.

  1. Set up the Kali Keyring. This allows us to pull from Kali’s repository. The latest version can be installed in the Bash shell with this command:
    • wget https://http.kali.org/kali/pool/main/k/kali-archive-keyring/kali-archive-keyring_2022.1_all.deb
    • sudo dpkg -i kali-archive-keyring_2022.1_all.deb
  2. Add the Kali public archive key
    • wget -q -O – https://archive.kali.org/archive-key.asc | sudo gpg –dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/kali-archive-keyring.gpg
  3. Ubuntu key for reference:
    • sudo apt-key adv –keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com –recv-keys 871920D1991BC93C
  4. Add the Kali repository to the /etc/apt/sources.list
    • sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
    • Add the following line to the bottom of the sources.
    • deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib
  5. Now run sudo apt update and sudo apt full -upgrade
  6. Now install Kex
    • sudo apt install -y kali-win-kex desktop-base xfce4 xfce4-places-plugin xfce4-goodies
  7. Kex should launch correctly. There are small configuration changes to make
  8. In Windows Terminal, the configuration can be added
    • wsl -d Ubuntu-22.04 kex –sl –wtstart -s
  9. For Ubuntu 22.04 on WSL. This would be the name of your distro on WSL. SL mode is integrated, vs Window mode.
  10. Set the new taskbar to autohide so it doesn’t cover the top of the screen in XFCE

Categories
software

Portable Apps

A portable application is one that doesn’t need to be installed in order to be used. Some may store configuration files in a dedicated sub-directory within the application. These programs are convenient as they can be deleted when no longer needed without leaving excessive residual data on a system. Additionally, these programs can be stored on various storage mediums including cloud folders or USB flash drives.

I personally use PortableApps.com and its dedicated PAF format for various applications used on a daily basis. Not all of these programs are available on the PortableApps website and are published independently. All programs are open source or free. These are my essentials:

  • Deluge – a fully featured bittorrent client
  • FileZilla – a useful FTP client
  • HexChat – a powerful IRC client
  • Notepad++ – a text and code editor
  • Telegram Desktop – an instant messaging client
  • VLC Media Player – a powerful video player
  • 7-Zip – an open source file archiver
  • Mozilla Firefox – good secondary browser to Microsoft Edge
  • OBS Studio – good for streaming and screen recording
  • MediaInfo – analyze various content information
  • Frhed – hexadecimal editor
  • Audacity – complex audio editing tool
  • WinDirStat – tool to calculate storage space
  • Rufus – utility to make bootable flash drives
Categories
software

Kodi Configuration

  1. Enable Expert Mode in settings under any settings sidebar
  2. Change Estuary colour to midnight under Settings/Interface/Skin/Colours
  3. Remove Main Menu items for Movies, Music, Music Videos, TV, Radio, Games
  4. Side-load the PlexKodiConnect repository and enable Unknown Sources
  5. Install and configure the PlexKodiConnect add-on to preference
  6. Sideload Discord Rich Presence addon
  7. Install service add-on Simkl TV Tracker, activate with PIN on site
  8. Install service addon-ons Unpause Jumpback
  9. Configure Jumpback to 10 seconds with minimum pause time of 0 seconds
  10. Install service add-on Stinger Scene notification
  11. Set TV shows view-type to Wall from the sidebar
  12. Flatten TV season hierchy under Settings/Media/Videos
  13. If on Windows with Bose QC45 headphones, change audio to WSAPI under Settings/System/Audio