In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing Lightworks on Kubuntu 24.04. Lightworks is a professional-grade video editing software that has been used to edit major Hollywood films, including The Wolf of Wall Street, Pulp Fiction, and The King's Speech. The best part? It's available for free on Linux, making professional video editing accessible to everyone.

The installation process is straightforward and involves downloading the official DEB package from Lightworks' servers and installing it using the command line. This method ensures you're getting the most recent version directly from the source, which is always the safest approach when installing software on your system.

What You'll Need

Before we begin, make sure you have:

• A system running Kubuntu 24.04 (this guide should also work for Ubuntu 24.04 and its derivatives)
• An active internet connection
• Administrator (sudo) access to your system
• Approximately 200-300 MB of free disk space for the installation

Installation Steps

The installation process consists of four simple commands. Let's break down what each one does:

Step 1: Update Your Package List

First, we'll update the package list to ensure your system has the latest repository information. This is a good practice before installing any new software.

sudo apt update

Step 2: Download Lightworks

Next, we'll download the Lightworks DEB package directly from the official HubSpot CDN servers. The wget command is a reliable tool for downloading files from the internet via the command line.

wget https://25893642.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/25893642/Lightworks%20Latest%20Version/lightworks_linux_deb.deb

This download may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection speed. The package is typically around 150-200 MB in size.

Step 3: Install the DEB Package

Now we'll install the downloaded package using dpkg, which is Debian's package manager. This command handles the actual installation of the software.

sudo dpkg -i lightworks_linux_deb.deb

Don't worry if you see some dependency errors at this stage—that's completely normal and expected. We'll resolve those in the next step.

Step 4: Fix Dependencies

This final command will automatically download and install any missing dependencies that Lightworks requires to function properly. The -f flag stands for "fix-broken" and tells apt to resolve any dependency issues.

sudo apt -f install

Launching Lightworks

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Lightworks in several ways:

• Search for "Lightworks" in your application menu
• Run lightworks from the terminal
• Find it in your Video/Multimedia applications category

On first launch, you'll need to create a free Lightworks account or sign in with an existing one. This is required even for the free version, as it allows you to access cloud features and save your preferences.

Understanding the Installation Method

You might wonder why we're using the command line instead of a software center. While graphical methods exist, using the terminal gives you more control and transparency over the installation process. You can see exactly what's happening at each step, which is invaluable for troubleshooting if something goes wrong.

The dpkg tool is the low-level package manager for Debian-based systems, while apt is a higher-level tool that handles dependencies automatically. By using both, we ensure a clean installation that resolves all required dependencies.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter any problems during installation, here are some common solutions:

Download Fails or Times Out

If the wget command fails, try running it again. Sometimes server connections can be interrupted. You can also try downloading the file through your web browser and then installing it with the dpkg command.

Permission Denied Errors

Make sure you're using sudo before commands that require administrator privileges. If you get a "sudo: command not found" error, your user might not have sudo access. Contact your system administrator or check your user permissions.

Dependency Issues Persist

If the apt -f install command doesn't resolve all dependencies, try running sudo apt update again followed by sudo apt upgrade to ensure your system is fully up to date.

What Makes Lightworks Special

Lightworks stands out among Linux video editors for several reasons. It offers a professional-grade editing interface with advanced features like multicam editing, real-time effects, and support for a wide range of video formats. The free version includes most features you'll need for personal projects, YouTube videos, and even some commercial work.

The software has been in development since 1989, giving it decades of refinement and optimization. Its non-linear editing workflow is highly efficient once you learn the basics, and there's an active community of users who share tips, tutorials, and support.

Additional Resources

For more information about Lightworks, including tutorials, documentation, and community forums, visit the official website:

https://newcp.net/

You're now ready to start creating professional-quality videos on your Kubuntu system. Whether you're editing vlogs, tutorials, short films, or commercial projects, Lightworks provides the tools you need to bring your vision to life.