Setup Ubuntu on Surface Go

Notes about setting up Ubuntu on Surface Go

Device: Surface Go (gen 1; LTE version)

Install Ubuntu on Surface Go:

Download Ubuntu image file from https://ubuntu.com/#download
Download 'balenaEtcher' from https://www.balena.io/etcher/
Insert USB stick
Launch 'balenaEtcher', select the image iso file downloaded in step 1, select the USB stick inserted in step 3, and run
Go to the Windows Settings App and search "Recovery Options"
Select Advanced start-up > USB device > Linpus Lite
After re-boot, install Ubuntu, select 'install third-party softwares' as well (orient the surface go in portrait mode so that the 'continue' button is clickable)
Unplug the USB stick after Ubuntu is installed
Restart and launch Ubuntu
To set-up wifi, download https://www.medo64.com/download/surface-go-wifi_0.0.2_amd64.deb [with a computer which can go online], copy to Surface Go and run:

sudo apt install ./surface-go-wifi_0.0.3_amd64.deb'

Restart, go to settings, select wifi network
Launch Terminal and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade

type 'Y' and press 'Enter'

Restart computer
Install Surface Kernel:

wget -qO - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/master/pkg/keys/surface.asc \
| gpg --dearmor | sudo dd of=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/linux-surface.gpg

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://pkg.surfacelinux.com/debian release main" \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/linux-surface.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install linux-image-surface linux-headers-surface iptsd libwacom-surface

sudo systemctl enable iptsd

sudo apt install linux-surface-secureboot-mok

Read details at https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installation-and-Setup#debian--ubuntu

Reboot
Select 'Enroll Mok' > OK / Yes
Enter 'surface' as password
Reboot and run:

sudo update-grub

Reboot and run, to check if kernel information has '-surface' suffix:

uname -a

Or install, run 'neofetch':

sudo apt install -y neofetch

neofetch

Download Linux Zoom App from https://zoom.us/download?os=linux , install Zoom App and dependencies:

sudo apt install -y libglib2.0-0 libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-0 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xfixes0 libxcb-randr0 libxcb-image0 libfontconfig1 libgl1-mesa-glx libxi6 libsm6 libxrender1 libpulse0 libxcomposite1 libxslt1.1 libsqlite3-0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-xtest0 ibus

sudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb

Set up camera driver

sudo apt install -y git build-essential meson ninja-build pkg-config libgnutls28-dev openssl python3-pip python3-yaml python3-ply python3-jinja2 qtbase5-dev libqt5core5a libqt5gui5 libqt5widgets5 qttools5-dev-tools libtiff-dev libevent-dev libyaml-dev gstreamer1.0-tools libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev

git clone https://git.libcamera.org/libcamera/libcamera.git

cd libcamera/

meson build -Dpipelines=uvcvideo,vimc,ipu3 -Dipas=vimc,ipu3 -Dprefix=/usr -Dgstreamer=enabled

ninja -C build

sudo ninja -C build install

Set Up Python

sudo apt install -y make build-essential python3 python-setuptools python3-pip python3-dev python3-venv libssl-dev libffi-dev libnss3 zlib1g-dev libbz2-dev libreadline-dev libsqlite3-dev wget curl llvm libncurses5-dev xz-utils tk-dev libxml2-dev libxmlsec1-dev libffi-dev liblzma-dev

Set Up Qt

sudo apt-get --no-install-recommends install libqt*5-dev qt*5-dev qml-module-qtquick-* qt*5-doc-html libqt5xml5 libqt5x11extras5 libqt5x11extras5-dev

cd $HOME

mkdir playqt6

cd playqt6

python3 -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activate

pip3 install PySide6

echo 'alias qt6examples="source $HOME/playqt6/venv/bin/activate && cd $HOME/playqt6/venv/lib/python3.10/site-packages/PySide6/examples"' >> $HOME/.bashrc

Install Common Fonts

sudo apt install fonts-dejavu* fonts-liberation* ttf-mscorefonts-installer fonts-crosextra-* fonts-takao-gothic fonts-opensymbol

Install Google Fonts

wget https://github.com/google/fonts/archive/master.tar.gz -O gf.tar.gz

sudo tar -xf gf.tar.gz --directory /usr/share

sudo chown -R :users /usr/share/fonts-main

sudo mkdir -p /usr/share/fonts/truetype/google-fonts

sudo find /usr/share/fonts-main/ -name "*.ttf" -exec install -m644 {} /usr/share/fonts/truetype/google-fonts/ \; || return 1

rm -f gf.tar.gz

sudo fc-cache -f && sudo rm -rf /var/cache/*

[Optional] Chinese Fonts

sudo apt install xfonts-wqy ttf-wqy-zenhei ttf-wqy-microhei fonts-arphic-bkai00mp fonts-arphic-bsmi00lp fonts-arphic-gbsn00lp fonts-arphic-gkai00mp xfonts-intl-chinese xfonts-intl-chinese-big

Set Up UniqueBible

cd

git clone https://github.com/eliranwong/UniqueBible

cd UniqueBible

python3 uba.py

Open menu 'UniqueBible > Config Flag Window', search for and check 'enableSystemTrayOnLinux', restart UBA

Connect Android phone

Android phone:

Install and run 'KDE Connect'; select a folder and grant permission for file sharing

On Ubuntu, run either:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-gsconnect gnome-shell-extension-manager

Related packages: kdeconnect nautilus-kdeconnect

Launch Gnome Shell Extension Manager to enable 'GSConnect'

Pair Android phone with Ubuntu via 'KDE Connect' on Android phone.

Support MP4 playback

sudo apt install -y ubuntu-restricted-addons ubuntu-restricted-extras gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly

Set up ibus

Settings > Language and Region > Manage Installed Languages > Install / Remove Languages > "Chinese (Simplified)" and "Chinese (Traditional)"

sudo locale-gen

sudo apt install ibus-pinyin

ibus restart

ibus-setup

Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources > Add > Chinese (Intelligent Pinyin) > Preferences > General > Chinese > Traditional

nano ~/.bashrc

export LC_CTYPE=zh_CN.UTF-8
export XIM=ibus
export XIM_PROGRAM=/usr/bin/ibus
export QT_IM_MODULE=ibus
export GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus
export XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus
export DefaultIMModule=ibus

Switch to Xorg Session

Ubuntu 22.04 uses wayland by default, switch to Xorg Session to improve application compatablility.

sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf

Uncomment the line "#WaylandEnable=false" by removing the "#" sign.

Note: moving window programmatically in Qt applications do not work on wayland, read https://forum.qt.io/topic/142043/pyside6-qmainwindow-move-not-working-on-ubuntu-22-04 Switch to Xorg session to work around the issue.

Do not use the touchegg package provided by Ubuntu. It does not work with X11 gestures.

Instaall X11 gestures:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:touchegg/stable

enter sudo password

press "Enter"

sudo apt update

sudo apt install touchegg

To verify,

systemctl status touchegg.service

Launch gnome shell extension manager > Browser > "X11 gestures"

Click "Install"

Read more about hand gestures on X11 at https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2022/06/touchpad-gestures-ubuntu-22-04-xorg/

Useful Gnome Shell Extension

GSConnect
Clipboard Indicator
Vitals
Caffeine
Apps Menu
Places Status Indicator
Removable Drive Menu
Replace Activities Text
Improved Workspace Indicator
Impatience
Just perfection
CPU Power Manager
Sound input & output device chooser
X11 gestures

Set up office 365 Email

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade

sudo apt install -y evolution evolution-ews

evolution

New > Mail Account, enter "Full Name" and "Email Address"
uncheck "Look up mail server details based on the entered email address" and click "Next"
Server Type > Exchange Web Services > Host URL, enter:

https://outlook.office365.com/EWS/Exchange.asmx

Authentication > Click "Check for Supported Types" and Keep "OAuth2 (Office365)"
Click "Fetch URL"
Enter username and password for authentication
Next > Next > Next > Apply

Alternately, read https://sites.utexas.edu/glenmark/2021/02/01/how-to-setup-your-office-365-email-using-evolution-ews-linux/#:~:text=Configuring%20Evolution%2DEWS%20to%20connect%20to%20Exchange%20Online&text=Enter%20your%20name%20and%20your,%2FEWS%2FExchange.asmx%20.

Free Up Space

sudo apt -s clean

sudo apt --purge autoremove

journalctl --disk-usage
sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=3d

sudo apt install stacer
stacer

Copy Shortcuts on Desktop

Copy favourite shortcuts files

from:

/usr/share/applications/

/var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/

to:

~/Desktop/

Right-click each shortcut file, select "Allow Launching"

Change Desktop to a Solid Color

Run in terminal:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background color-shading-type 'solid'

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri none

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background picture-uri-dark none

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.background primary-color '#0D1117'

Alternately, use run gui app 'dconf-editor'

sudo apt install dconf-editor

Install Waydroid

sudo apt install curl ca-certificates linux-headers-generic

curl https://repo.waydro.id | sudo bash

sudo apt install waydroid dkms

https://docs.waydro.id/usage/install-and-run-android-applications

Fix Pulseaudio Playback Delay

sudo nano /etc/pulse/default.pa

comment out 'load-module module-suspend-on-idle'

#load-module module-suspend-on-idle

systemctl --user restart pulseaudio

Read more about trouble-shooting pulseaudio at https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PulseAudio/Troubleshooting

Replace PulseAudio with PipeWire on Ubuntu 22.04

The fix for PulseAudio, mentioned above, is not a satisfactory one. Therefore, we find it better to replace PulseAudio with Pipewire on Ubuntu 22.04.

Check current status:

systemctl --user status pipewire pipewire-session-manager

Set up:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipewire-debian/pipewire-upstream

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pipewire-debian/wireplumber-upstream

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade

systemctl --user daemon-reload

sudo apt install pipewire-audio-client-libraries libspa-0.2-bluetooth libspa-0.2-jack

sudo apt install wireplumber pipewire-media-session-

NOTE: there’s a ‘-‘ in the end of the command indicates to remove the package. The command will also install the required pipewire-pulse automatically.