Ubuntu – How to list user installed applications (not packages)

backupinstalled-programssoftware-center

Not packages and not all applications. Just the applications user installed by himself from whatever source (Software Center, manually added PPA, etc.).

If the above is not possible – a list of all installed applications or at least a GUI which lists the applications so I can take screenshots of it.

I've read a dozen of similar questions and people posting answers usually don't even get close to OP question merit. Please note that my question includes 'user installed'.

Answer:
It is not currently possible in Ubuntu Linux.
(choosing tijybba's answer as the closest one though)

Best Answer

You can actually use the Ubuntu Software Centre, as shown in the screenshot here:

Ubuntu Software Center: "Installed"-menu

Also you can see it in Synaptic Bottom left list selections.

By cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ && cat *.list you will get list of all repositories in your system.

You can also you Y PPA manager to backup and update your repositories.

Second Method

[Since this method involves installing all the packages , but if we think that newly Installed OS will already have those 90 % packages , so it will ignore the present ones and install the new manually added ones , which will be only your manually installed applications]

This method from here.

sudo dpkg --get-selections > installed-applications.txt

it will generate a list of installed applications in txt file in home folder.

To use this file to install the same applications you will have to do ( But before this please also add all the Third party Repositories as was present in older one)

sudo dpkg --set-selections < installed-applications.txt
sudo apt-get -y update
sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade

This is also possible through Gui way 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/mintbackup && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mintbackup

enter image description here

I guess image almost speaks itself, backup your selection, then in New installation restore it.

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