One of the great benefits of most Linux distributions is not just that they are free and open source, but so are most of the software applications used for Linux. Some commercial software comes at a cost, but for most home users, most of what they will need won't be. But what are the applications that most Linux systems will want to install? Fortunately, many Linux distributions come with a number of essential software packages already included with the operating system, such as Windows and Apple desktops. This means that you don't have to spend too much time searching for what you might need. However, Linux software is in constant development, as are the software applications that were used. While updates to these packages are easy to manage, you'll probably want to make sure you have the full range of most useful software packages, all of which are not included. Therefore, here we will examine the best Linux apps to make sure that your Linux experience is no less rich than other operating systems.
- Do you want your business or services added to this buyer's guide? Send your request to [email protected] with the URL of the buying guide in the subject.
(Image: © Synaptic) Some Linux distributions like Ubuntu come with their own flashy app stores, but they're just as simple and fast to use as Synaptic, which simply serves as the GUI for the command line utility. #39; & # apt-get 39,. You can install it on any Debian-based Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Browse app categories such as "Games & Entertainment" using the panel on the left. Click the box next to an app's name to mark it for installation (or uninstall), then click the Apply button at the top to commit the changes. All of the programs described in this article can be installed through Synaptic.
Image Credit: VLC Media Player (Image: © VLC Media Player) VLC is generally known to be a media player, although it does much more than that. Once installed, it downloads codecs for virtually any type of audio or video file, which means you'll probably never have reading problems again. The software can also play DVDs. You can use VLC to cut video files and even convert them from one format to another, for example, from AVI to MP4. See our guide on it here. The media player client can also act as a server, allowing you to stream media from one device to another (we've got a guide on what to do, too).
Image credit: Mozilla Firefox. (Image: © Mozilla Firefox) Firefox is the default web browser for various Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The browser's simple and fluid interface is one of its many attractions. Firefox plays YouTube videos right out of the box, and you can download plugins to read other formats for you. The browser is also updated from scratch, which means it always has the latest version. Firefox supports several extensions to enhance your web experience. You can further customize the browser via the Mozilla Add-ons page, where it is possible to install a colorful theme.
(Image: © GIMP) GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free image editor. It can be used to edit and edit images by resizing them, adding layers, and other special effects. You can access it through the toolbox or the dropdown menus. Take a look at our guide on using GIMP here. The GIMP website itself also offers a great selection of tutorials. If you're used to Adobe Photoshop, it may take you a while to adjust to GIMP's interface, but you can use just about anything professional image editors can do. You can even add some Photoshop plugins to GIMP. By default, the program takes up less than 100MB, which is another major benefit, especially for those who are short on disk space.
(Image: © Flood) While many Linux distributions already come with a BitTorrent client, Deluge stands out as a lightweight and comprehensive application for downloading your files. The interface is extremely easy to master and can be enhanced by a number of great community-supported plugins that allow you, for example, to stop your machine at the end of downloading. You can even configure the Deluge to be accessible via a web interface from other devices, allowing you to download files to your home computer while you're away.
Image credit: Thunderbird. (Image: © Thunderbird) Thunderbird is a free and powerful email client. The setup wizard guides you through the process of creating a new email address or setting up your existing address. The Thunderbird database contains email settings for all current providers and you can add as many email accounts as you like. Like Firefox, Thunderbird can be enhanced with add-ons like themes to make it more colorful or better ways to organize your mail folders. The most useful of these is undoubtedly the Lightning extension, which adds a fully functional calendar to your email client. We have a full Thunderbird review here.
Image credit: LibreOffice. (Image: © LibreOffice) LibreOffice is nothing short of a complete office suite, on a par with commercial alternatives like Microsoft Office. Although the interface may seem quite basic, this product has extremely advanced features. LibreOffice Writer word processor, Calc spreadsheet and Impress presentation application are pre-installed on Ubuntu and most of its derivatives. The suite also includes three lesser-known applications, Draw, Math, and Base, which are used for editing vector graphics, composing mathematical formulas, and managing databases. While LibreOffice uses the default Open Document Format (ODF), you can also open and save files that are compatible with Microsoft Office. Read our full LibreOffice review here.
(Image: © Pidgin) Pidgin is an instant messaging program that allows you to connect to multiple chat networks simultaneously. As of this writing, it includes AIM, Hello, IRC, and Google Talk. Unfortunately, Facebook chat is no longer available as the social network no longer supports the XMPP open mail protocol. Pidgin can be enhanced by installing third-party plugins. Some of them allow you to connect to other chat networks like Skype, while others can be used to protect your conversations, for example, the OTR (Off the record) email plugin.
(Image: © ClamAV) Although viruses designed to infect Windows cannot touch Linux machines, your PC can accidentally transfer harmful files to other computers, for example, in an email attachment. And these days, there are even cases of malware targeting Linux systems. The ClamAV antivirus scanner offers peace of mind because it can detect many types of malware. It is often used on mail servers, but it runs on your desktop if you want to scan files or folders. By default, ClamAV can only be used from the command line, but you can use Synaptic to install & # 39; clamtk & # 39; and & # 39; clamtk-nautilus & # 39; to allow you to analyze your system and individual files in a few mouse clicks.
(Image: © Audacity) Audacity is an editing program that allows you to record and play with audio. Audacity can not only simultaneously record audio from different inputs (for example, a USB microphone or an electric guitar), but also cut and edit clips. In addition, it supports multiple tracks, allowing you, for example, to record lyrics and accompany music separately. The software also supports a number of audio effects, such as noise reduction, as described in its full manual, supplied with Audacity and available online. Audacity is also compatible with Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins. Tracks can be exported in various popular audio formats such as WAV, OGG, and MP3. If you want to know more about Audacity, read our full article here.