Of course, all these features are available to all users completely free of charge, with no hidden payments, no locked features that invite us to pay, and no surprises. A 100% reliable program thanks to which we will cover two needs in Linux: that of recording videos of the screen and that of taking screenshots.
The only problem that we can put to this program is that it has been since 2014 without receiving updates. Luckily, it continues to work without problems in the latest versions of Linux distros, so we can install and use it without problems despite being an old software.
How to install
we are going to explain how to install kazam on ubuntu, using the APT package manager. However, if we have any other distro, we could also carry out the process by changing the commands by hand according to the distribution we use.
The first thing we are going to do is prepare the system. To do this, we open a terminal and install the following necessary libraries to be able to capture mouse clicks and keystrokes:
sudo apt install python3-cairo python3-xlib
Once these libraries are installed, we will have to make a decision. On the one hand, we can install the old version 1.4.5, which is found in the official repositories of the distributions, by simply executing the following command:
sudo apt install kazam
But there is a somewhat more updated version of this program in development, which we can install from an unofficial repository. To do this, what we will do is add the PPA with the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sylvain-pineau/kazam
We update the software lists with:
sudo apt-get update
And, finally, we install the program on our Linux distro by executing the command that we saw before:
sudo apt install kazam
Ready. We already have version 1.5.4 of the program installed, a more recent version, which is part of the test builds, but thanks to it we will be able to use a more updated version of the program.
How Kazam works
Once the program is installed on our Linux, we launch it and we can see an interface similar to the following.
In this interface we will be able to find the 4 essential functions of the program, which are to record the screen, take a screenshot, broadcast live on the Internet and record the webcam. In our case, as we do not have a webcam connected to the PC, this option does not appear.
Also, within each of these functions we can find their operating mode. Thus, for example, we can choose if we want to record/capture the entire screen, all the screens at the same time, a single window or an area that we indicate.
Depending on the option we select we can see one or the other options. For example, in video recording or streaming we can choose if we want to show the mouse, where we want to capture the sound from, if we want to show the keystrokes and the mouse and if we want to add the video from the webcam. In the case of a capture, we will simply choose if we want to capture the edges of the screen and if we want the mouse to be seen.
Also, in all modes, we can configure a delay, or delay, of a few seconds before it starts recording, to give us time to prepare.
When we have configured everything, we simply have to click on the “Capture” button and the recording will begin. After the countdown, the program will start recording on video what happens on our screen.
In the end, when we finish, we simply have to locate the program’s icon in the system tray, click on it and stop the recording.
At the end of the recording, it will give us the possibility to choose if we want to edit it using an editor that we have installed on the computer.
Program settings
Kazam is designed so that users can record the screen, and take screenshots, without any complications. But, if we want, we can find some configuration options for this software. To enter this menu, what we must do is click on File > Preferences, and we will see a window like the following.
In this window we will be able to choose the speakers and the microphone that we want to record, if we want to see a countdown, and, very importantly, the codec and the quality that we want to use in the captures. In addition, we will have specific tabs to configure the behavior of each of the tools.
Is Kazama worth it?
Of course, this is one of the simplest and most complete programs that we can install on our Linux. If we are one of those who take many screenshots, or we usually record the screen on video, it is a tool that cannot be missing from our computer. Or, at least, we should give it a chance.
The only handicap that we can put on this software is that it has been so long without receiving updates. The project has been abandoned by its developer long ago, and apart from a few maintenance builds by the community, the program is not updated, which is a shame.
For the rest, yes, we recommend using this program on any Linux distro, since it greatly improves the screenshots compared to the tools that are included as standard.
