Optimize Ubuntu System With Stacer

Windows users often look for CCleaner alternatives for LinuxCCleaner is a popular Windows application that lets you easily free up space by removing unnecessary files and completely uninstalling software.

Stacer is a new application for Ubuntu that functions similar to CCleaner, i.e., to optimize your system.

The entire app is written in C++. This ensures that the applications perform fast and helps you optimize the system without getting in your way.

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As per Stacer GitHub project, the development has stopped and there will be no further releases. You may still find Stacer in Ubuntu's repositories and use it but don't expect fixes for any bugs you encounter. Personally, I feel more comfortable using a tool that is under active development.

Stacer: System Optimizer for Linux

The features of Stacer can be broken down into five sections:

1. Dashboard: For a quick glance at your system resources

The dashboard shows various information about your system (like Memory, CPU etc.) and a visual overview of resource usage, similar to what you see in Ubuntu task manager.

Stacer - Dashboard
Stacer – Dashboard

2. System Cleaner: To free up space

The system Cleaner section gives you the option to search for and clean potentially unnecessary files of four types:

  • Apt Cache: If you read our guide to apt-get commands, you already know that every time you install packages with the apt command, the downloaded package files are cached. This is helpful for reinstalling the same version of those packages without downloading them again. But you may want to remove them to free up disk space.
  • Crash Reports: Whenever any application crashes, a crash report is automatically generated to be sent to the developer of that application for debugging purposes. You can remove those reports from here.
  • System Logs: This contains log files from various processes and the system.
  • App Cache: Applications stores cache files for performance improvements. You can remove cache files for various applications from here.
stacer systemcleaner

Be careful while removing the App Caches though. You might encounter performance penalties and unwanted behaviors, for example — clearing Web Browsers cache will cause you to sign-out from all signed-in websites etc.

3. Startup Apps: To manage startup applications

Startup Applications have a performance impact on system startup time. The more applications load during system startup, the more time it will take the system to be ready for use.

This is why effectively managing startup applications in Ubuntu is one of the many ways to make Ubuntu faster.

stacer startupapps

The startup Apps section lets you decide which applications you want to keep here and delete other entries.

4. Services: Manage services

The Services section lets you search for available system services in your system. You can toggle them to enable or disable them from here. Disabling services will help free up memory.

stacer services

But, be careful about which services you disable, as it might be a critical service that is needed for the system.

5. Processes: Find and Manage processes

The Processes section lists all the processes currently running on the system.

This is similar to system monitoring tools like top where users can find PID of processes, CPU usage, memory usage, etc., of various processes.

stacer processes

You can end processes that you find unnecessary or unresponsive. Use this feature with care, because ending some processes may affect the working of your system.

6. Uninstaller: Find and remove software

The Uninstaller section lists every package installed on your Ubuntu system. You can search for any package you want and uninstall it.

I would also suggest reading our complete guide to installing and removing software in Ubuntu.

stacer uninstaller

Again, be careful about this section too. You might end up uninstalling packages that are necessary for the system to operate properly.

How to Install Stacer in Ubuntu

You can install Stacer using AppImage or using the DEB package. Head to its GitHub releases section to download the packages available.

Download Stacer

Is Stacer worth using?

For new Ubuntu users, Stacer is of course very helpful because it gathers various system optimization features under a single application. So, new users can get things done without digging too deep. Give it a try!

What do you think about Stacer? Will you give it a try? Have you tried it already?

About the author
Ankush Das

Ankush Das

A passionate technophile who also happens to be a Computer Science graduate. You will usually see cats dancing to the beautiful tunes sung by him.

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