Kubuntu Focus Tools

Simplify Your Life

This page shows the documentation for each Kubuntu Focus Tool. We create and constantly improve these tools to help you accomplish complex tasks with a click of a button. These tools are a portion of Curated Apps which you can see here.

If you are using a Focus system, you can click on a tool icon to launch it immediately. You can also access all tools using Start Menu > Kubuntu Focus Tools. If you are using a Focus system, and cannot launch a tool by clicking on its icon on this page, please see the Troubleshooting section.

Kubuntu Focus Tools make hard things easy.

Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.

• Hardware Optimization
• Hints Widget
• Anaconda GPU AI Suite Installer
• C Compiler Switcher
• Curated Apps
• Disk Passphrase Changer
• Extra Software Installer
• Feature Guide
• FocusRx System Repair
• Guided Solutions
• Kernel Cleaner
• Keyboard Color Chooser
• Power and Fan
• Reference Pages
• Reset Defaults
• System Rollback Dashboard
• Thunderbolt Control
• Video Sync Utility
• Welcome Wizard
• Troubleshooting
• Revisions
• Disclaimer

Hardware Optimization

Configure to the hardware

Hardware optimization is provided by the kfocus-hw package. This is installed by default, and may also be refreshed by FocusRx. It runs in two stages: Stage 1 applies configurations specific to the detected hardware. Stage 2 runs on the next login, which performs fixups and installs hardware-specific packages where appropriate. Optimizations include:

• Boot parameters for drivers, display, and logs
• Analog and digital audio, playback and record
• Curated drivers specific to the hardware
• Display scaling
• Fonts for virtual terminals (TTYs)
• GPU power saver
• Hints Widget per model
• Sleep-resume helpers
• Tools and support packages
• Touchpad, mouse, and keyboard

Hardware optimizations are automatically applied when needed.

Hints Widget

Find commands and shortcuts with the Hints Widget.

Anaconda GPU AI Suite Installer

Install GPU accelerated deep learning

Use this tool to install and test GPU-accelerated Anaconda, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Jupyter Notebook. See this article for more details.

Install tools for machine learning and AI with the Anaconda GPU AI Suite Installer.

C Compiler Switcher

Change default C compiler version

Use this tool to switch the compiler tool chain with a click. It may prompt you to install missing components when you change the version. It also requests authorization to coordinate symbolic links in /usr/bin. Each compiler version has the following components:

This is useful because AI and other tools often require a specific compiler toolchain version.

Switch C compiler versions with the C Compiler Switcher.

Extra Software Installer

Install extra optional software

Use this tool to review and optionally install restricted software. This software must be installed differently because of license restrictions or alternate installation mechanisms:

• DVD Support Libraries
• Microsoft Core Fonts like Arial and Comic Sans
• VirtualBox Extensions
• Nvidia Drivers
• Others as needed

FocusRx System Repair

System maintenance and repair

Use this tool to identify and fix undesirable system conditions. FocusRx automatically checks for some issues when you sign in, but you can also run it from the menu or terminal using the focusrx command.

• Refresh firmware information
• Remove xorg.conf file on user command to fix display issues
• Purge unused, older kernels (Kernel Clean)
• Check disk space
• Purge conflicting repositories
• Reinstall and repair broken packages
• Optimize to the hardware (Hardware Optimization)
• Check Nvidia driver packages and offer repair
• Update the initial RAM disk

Detect and fix system issues with FocusRx.

Guided Solutions

View Guided Solutions in browser

Use this tool to open Guided Solutions in a new browser window. HOWTOs and forum posts are a great sources of guidance, but they can be sub-optimal, out-of-date, incorrect, or designed for the wrong hardware. Guided Solutions are HOWTOs designed specifically for your system, and can save you hours of research and trial-and-error.

Use the search box at the top to quickly find answers you need.

Solve problems and accomplish complex tasks with Guided Solutions.

Kernel Cleaner

Remove unused and old kernel files

This tool checks the number of installed kernels when you sign in. If there are too many kernels, or if the /boot partition is getting full, it prompts you to remove old and unused kernels.

Do not ignore this tool if it appears when you sign in. All 24.04 LTS (Noble) systems and encrypted 22.04 LTS (Jammy) systems have a separate /boot partition, which should always have some free space.

Kernel Clean finds and offers to remove kernels that it believes are no longer necessary. It always tries to keep certain preferred kernels; for example, it never removes the running kernel. Other preferred kernels include OEM-kfocus, HWE-generic, and HWE-low-latency. However, if the kernel cleaner offers to remove a kernel you wish to retain, you should remove unneeded kernels manually.

Remove outdated Linux kernels with Kernel Cleaner.

Keyboard Color Chooser

Change keyboard color and brightness

Use this tool to set keyboard color and brightness on the systems with color keyboard LEDs. Even if your system does not support color LEDs, this tool will tell you how to change keyboard LED brightness, if possible.

You may set your keyboard LEDs to an exact color and brightness with this tool. The system then restores these settings on reboot. Notice the system does not restore colors that are set with the keyboard shortcuts.

Configure keyboard LEDs on your system with Keyboard Color Chooser.

Power and Fan

Review and adjust power settings

Use this tool to manage power consumption, performance, and fan profile.

Power Profile

This shows the power modes provided by power-profiles-daemon. The default on AC is Balanced. Performance lowers latency and improves performance a bit, but it also requires more power. The default on battery is Powersave, which saves battery but reduces performance.

Brightness

On laptop models, this shows the screen brightness control, which can have a substantial effect on battery life.

Frequency Profile

This shows frequency governor options. Choose higher in the list for more performance, or lower to extend battery life. There is often little advantage of using High over Normal, but Normal is always cooler and quieter.

If you are editing audio or video, pick a mode like Studio with a performance governor to avoid stutters or drops. You might also install the low-latency kernel.

GHz is the maximum CPU frequency for a mode. Lower values require less power and cooling. The Governor may be either Powersave or Performance, where the latter is more responsive but uses more power. Kbd LEDs shows if the keyboard LEDs are turned on. The Kbd LEDs column is shown only on M1 or M2 models with software LED controls.

Fan Profile

On M1, M2, and XE models, you may select a Soft or Linear fan curve. On other models, this section shows how to adjust the fan curves in the BIOS.

Configure power, performance, and fan settings with Power and Fan.

System Rollback Dashboard

Create, manage, and restore coherent system snapshots

Use the System Rollback Dashboard to create, annotate, restore, and delete system snapshots within seconds. One may also protect and compare snapshots, enable automatic snapshots, show snapshot sizes, free up disk space, and monitor partition health.

Snapshots are not are not traditional backups, but are instead coherent, “point-in-time” BTRFS images of the root and /boot filesystems and do not include the /home directory. One may, for example, take a snapshot before installing many software packages and then roll back afterwards to quickly and completely restore the prior state.

See the System Rollback Guided Solution for a full discussion.

Snapshot and restore with the System Rollback Dashboard.

Video Sync Utility

Change video sync settings

The Video Sync Utility can eliminate video tearing when using an Nvidia GPU. It detects all attached displays and then configures the Nvidia composition pipeline feature for all of them at once. This works even for displays that have different refresh rates, such as 144 Hz for the laptop panel and 30 Hz for an external 4K panel.

One could use the Nvidia Settings app to do this manually, but this can be tricky and time-consuming. This is especially true if you use multiple display configurations. This Video Sync Utility automates all of that with a few clicks.

We recommend using the Medium or High setting when watching videos. At other times, we usually switch it to Off because this often provides the best desktop responsiveness.

This utility may interact with System Settings > Display and Monitor > Compositor > Prevent Tearing (Vsync). We usually leave this to Automatic and have seen no issues, although Never should also be a safe bet.

Tune NVIDIA display responsiveness and tear prevention with the Video Sync Tool.

Welcome Wizard

Select tools and settings for your workflow

Configure the system for first use with the Welcome Wizard.

Disclaimer

We try hard to provide a useful solution validated by professionals. However, we cannot anticipate every situation, and therefore cannot guarantee this procedure will work for your needs. Always backup your data and test the solution to determine the correct procedure for you.

THIS SOLUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOLUTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.