Ubuntu has always been my favorite Linux distribution for its stability, good support, and out-of-the-box performance. I installed it in one of my older laptops because of all these qualities. However, like any other OS, it isn’t immune to slowdowns, especially when I use it for most of my Linux experiments and testing. After several months of using Ubuntu 24 and testing various applications, I noticed my system wasn’t as snappy as it used to be.

Instead of going through the hassle of manually finding the culprit processes, services, and unused packages, I tried a free, all-in-one system optimizer tool, Stacer.

What is Stacer?

A free and open-source system optimizer for Linux

Stacer is a graphical system optimization tool specifically for Linux systems, including Ubuntu. It’s entirely free to use, open-source, lightweight, and surprisingly intuitive. If you prefer a graphical interface instead of command-line tools, Stacer is especially useful for you.

The best thing I like about it is that, instead of installing separate tools for system monitoring, cleaning, startup management, and package removal, Stacer combines all of these into a single straightforward dashboard. For this reason, it is the best option for new Linux users or even seasoned users who like to have a quicker way to organize and maintain their systems.

How I installed Stacer on Ubuntu 24

Quick and simple setup

It is pretty straightforward to install Stacer on a Ubuntu system. It’s available directly via apt for most Ubuntu-based systems, or you can also fetch it from its GitHub repository.

Here are the steps I took:

1. First, I launched Terminal and updated my system with this command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

1. Next, I simply downloaded and installed it from Ubuntu’s official repository using this command:

sudo apt install stacer -y

1. If, for some reason, the apt version doesn’t work for you, use this command to fetch the latest stable version of Stacer from its GitHub release:

wget https://github.com/oguzhaninan/Stacer/releases/download/v1.1.0/stacer_1.1.0_amd64.debsudo apt install ./stacer_1.1.0_amd64.deb -y

And that’s it. It would take only a few seconds to install it completely. I started Stacer directly from the Terminal itself; you can also find it in the App Launcher.

The features that make Stacer so useful

Everything you need to monitor and clean your system

Stacer comes with exceptional graphical features that give you tight control of your system without deep-diving into the terminal.

Upon launching the tool, I was welcomed with a dashboard showing the live status of my system’s CPU, memory, and disk usage. It’s an excellent way to spot performance issues and quickly address them. Further, it also shows the downloading and uploading speed of the network my system is connected to. On the dashboard, I can also check my system details like processor, RAM, disk space, and more.

Then there’s a dedicated system cleaner, which is one of my favorite features. With a single click, it scans for package caches, crash reports, system logs, and app leftovers that I can safely remove from my system. I don’t have to run multiple terminal commands.

Next, I switched to the Startup tab, where I can manage startup applications — the ones that start automatically when the system boots up. I was able to find and disable some unnecessary Docker containers and packages that were slowing down my system boot.

The Stacer also has a dedicated services manager from whom I can view all the active and inactive system services. If any service is hogging system resources in the background, I can easily stop or disable it.

Another valuable feature of the Stacer tool is the built-in package uninstaller. It quickly lists all installed applications on my Ubuntu system and lets me uninstall them with a single click. Now I don’t have to rely on the “apt remove” command to get rid of applications on my PC. Another benefit of this feature is that it lets you identify and delete the apps you installed once and no longer need or use, but have totally forgotten about.

Further, there’s a processes tab, which is a full-featured task manager where I can check all running processes, sort them by CPU or memory usage, and end those that are misbehaving or slowing down the system.

Stacer also offers a system resources and logs section that gives me insights into disk I/O and other resource usage in real-time. I can also access logs that may help diagnose background issues in my system.

When it comes to the Stacer app itself, I can customize everything from update intervals to whether I want it to launch on startup or not. It also has the dark and light themes option for those who are concerned about it.

The drawbacks

A few things to keep in mind

While it’s an excellent tool, Stacer is obviously not without flaws. I have used other tools like BleachBit, and frankly, Stacer doesn’t dive as deep as those. I mean, any general user might not want that advanced-level optimization, but if you like to have some advanced cleanup or automation options, Stacer probably isn’t for you, but decide that after using it.

Also, you need to be extra cautious when disabling services through Stacer. It doesn’t provide you with a clear warning or descriptions when you stop services. Further, Stacer doesn’t support built-in automation in any of its services. You’ll have to run it manually, which is fine for most users, but for automation-focused users, this might not be the tool they are looking for.

Should you use Stacer?

Yes, it’s a must-have for Ubuntu users

If your Linux system is struggling with performance, Stacer is probably the best app for diagnosing and resolving the issues causing it. Even if your system is running well, having Stacer lets you keep an eye on its performance and keep it clean and running smoothly. Basically, if you don’t want to put much effort into maintaining your Ubuntu system, Stacer is worth having.