How can I install Ubuntu tweak on Ubuntu 16.04

Solution 1:

Although the program is now abandonware (I am sad too) there is a repackaged version which works on 16.04 announced in this article.

There is a ppa here

deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu xenial-getdeb apps

for which the key is

wget -q -O- http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

Or you can just download the .deb from here

http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu/pool/apps/u/ubuntu-tweak/ubuntu-tweak_0.8.7-1~getdeb2~xenial_all.deb

Solution 2:

Quick answer:

The program you're trying to install is abandonware (has been abondon and is no longer supported)... it isn't available for the latest Ubuntu (16.04). You would have to use one of the other tweak programs available for the later versions of Ubuntu such as:

gnome-tweak-tool
or
unity-tweak-tool

Detailed Resolution

Alternatively ubuntu-tweak-tool has been repackaged of which you can find detailed installation instructions here:
How can I install Ubuntu tweak on Ubuntu 16.04

Another alternative of this gir1.2-vte-2.90error been reported to bugs.launchpad.net, where one of the users has described a method and provided files to make it run on Ubuntu 16.04. Hist direct entry in the bug report is: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/+bug/1555706/comments/5

He has included a video report of how to use his resolution.

Solution 3:

As L. D. James has already answered that Ubuntu tweak is discontinued and you better use other alternatives like Unity Tweak tool or Gnome Tweak Tool, but If you really want to use Ubuntu tweak on Xenial Xerus (16.04), here is the procedure. But, be warned that, many of the functionalities may not work properly.

1. Add GetDeb repository

I can see that you already downloaded Ubuntu Tweak's deb file. however, for others they need to add GetDeb's repository. Since this is the only repository still providing builds for Ubuntu Tweak (afaik).

Here is the procedure to add Getdeb's repository. http://www.getdeb.net/updates/Ubuntu/16.04#how_to_install

The easiest way is just downloading getdeb package and installing it with

sudo dpkg -i getdeb-repository_0.1-1~getdeb1_all.deb

2. Create a package that provides gir1.2-vte-2.90

You can skip building of this proxy package by downloading my built one (If you trust of course). Here is the dropbox link of that package .deb file. If you download .deb file, you can skip step 1, 2 and just install the package by following step 3.

• gir1.2-vte-2.90-provider deb file

Some Background:

Ubuntu 16.04 has the package gir1.2-vte-2.91. If you don't have it already installed, install it with

sudo apt install gir1.2-vte-2.91

Now, This package is a higher versioned of gir1.2-vte-2.90 upon which Ubuntu Tweak depends. But since the version number is included in the package name, apt is failing to treat gir1.2-vte-2.91 as a higher version of gir1.2-vte-2.91. But a package gir1.2-vte-2.91 should really work in place of it.

So, our idea is, we will create a package that will provide gir1.2-vte-2.90, because we know, What Ubuntu Tweak needs is already in our system via gir1.2-vte-2.91.

Let's start.

1. First install equivs

   sudo apt install equivs
   

2. Then create a control file for our provider package gir1.2-vte-2.90-provider

   equivs-control gir1.2-vte-2.90
   

3. Step 2 will create a file named gir1.2-vte-2.90. Open it and replace it's content with these lines

   Section: misc
   Priority: optional
   Standards-Version: 3.9.2
   Package: gir1.2-vte-2.90-provider
   Version: 1.0
   Depends: gir1.2-vte-2.91
   Provides: gir1.2-vte-2.90
   Description: A proxy provider for gir1.2-vte-2.90 package
    A proxy provider for gir1.2-vte-2.90 package
   

4. Now use this command to generate the package

   equivs-build gir1.2-vte-2.90
   

5. Install newly generate package with dpkg

   sudo dpkg -i gir1.2-vte-2.90-provider_1.0_all.deb
   

3. Install Ubuntu Tweak

1. Now go to GetDeb's Ubuntu tweak page http://www.getdeb.net/software/ubuntu-tweak

2. Click on Install this now button.

3. A dialog will popup requesting permission to install package. Allow it.

Ubuntu tweak should be installed on your Xenial!