These are the apps that I currently (or more recently) run in various Linux distributions (mainly Debian), for desktop and server. Linux destop apps By desktop I mean those apps I run only on the desktop (not console-based apps that can run on a headless remote server). I'm a fan of XFCE which I use ... Read more
Updated 06-Apr-2026 Note 06-04-2026: Kontact is simply painful when compared with Fastmail and its web, desktop, and mobile apps. Yes, I have to pay for Fastmail, but this also covers all my email and calendar hosting needs. The user interface is so much more improved and should act as a model and a spur to ... Read more
Updated 06-Apr-2026 See also: Kontact the KDE PIM (email, calendar, etc.) Email, for so long was a client and server issue. Then it became cloud-based. Now we can't trust and cloud email providers, or at least damned few. As well, having your email locked in someone else's server with cloud access seems quite short-sighted. And ... Read more
Updated 06-Apr-2026 For XMPP clients, see XMPP Clients: Conversations, Dino. See also the Prosody IM chatroom itself. Preamble Note that after a year of using Snikket, I've installed Prosody (on which it is based) and find it to be more flexible, and more-or-less straightforward. Prosody is also super-easy to integrate with coturn for audio and ... Read more
While there is something to be said for actual self-hosting a server (at home or mobile), having a low-cost spot on the Internet is good for not having to worry about one's own personal connectivity at any given time, for services to work. By services, this could include: Web server (Caddy) Email server (Mox) File ... Read more
Updated 03-Apr-2026 Ungoogled Chromium for Debian This is meant to help with selecting and installing a chrome-based browser, with minimal tracking and other cruft. I've given up on Firefox as being too corrupt, and technically inferior. Yes, Chromium is a Google project, but the open source nature has produced two viable browser options for all ... Read more
I've avoided Flatpaks and Snaps for a long time, but now see three uses for Flatpaks (though none yet for Snaps). The main issues have to do with the size of files, security stuff, and simply being not as convenient as using apt repositories. But when some folks can't keep those things stable (or offer ... Read more
Updated 11-Dec-2025 Reaper is the DAW I've decided on based on a combination of functionality and affordability. Reaper is not open source, but it does have a reasonable and affordable license. I'm fine with supporting them, up until enshittification (which isn't 100% guaranteed in any case). See also Generative AI in Music The main thing ... Read more
Turns out there are a large number of games that can be played on Linux, without crap like WINE (though some still use it). 0ad A great open-source game that has had continued ongoing development. Downloadable via apt: sudo apt install 0ad -t trixie-backports Roblox Roblox can be installed via flatpak (sadly) using a tool ... Read more
Roblox is the only reason my children run Windows on their computers. What an annoying operating system, which regularly tries to sneakily install and configure more bloatware and suveillance. Well, the wait is over to axe these operating systems and install Linux (namely, Debian Trixie 13). Roblox can be installed and used by emulating Android ... Read more
Fail2ban is a security service that monitors the logs of common services (usually sshd and nginx). It uses a filter to identify an abnormality, then passes the IP address of the intruder to a firewall program (iptables or ufw, commonly). Files and configuration Install Fail2ban with sudo apt install fail2ban. The context for this configuration ... Read more
Updated 03-Oct-2025 Note: It's out, and looking good. Backports repositories now available. Trixie is release 13 of Debian GNU/Linux. It will be officially released likely sometime in August. It is common to answer the question: When will Debian (number) be released? with When it is ready. And so, an exact date cannot be predetermined, until ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 The venerable Neofetch hasn't been updated since 2020 (and was archived last year). Fastfetch is it's reasonable replacement (with a bit more info). Fastfetch is available in apt repositories and also from the git repository (latest editions). Fastfetch was last updated 18-July-2025 and gets ongoing support. The version in apt lags a bit ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 See also Ebooks and where to buy them which discusses DRM from each ebook seller. Kindle and other Ebook Readers Calibre Ebook Library, De-DRM, Conversion Jailbreak Kindle KO Reader open source ebook reader Update May 2025 It is still possible to decrypt (de-DRM) Kindle ebooks, just not possible to download them from Amazon. ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Thunar is the Saxon name for Thor. Thunar is the default file manager for the XFCE desktop but can of course be installed on most distributions. In general it is low-resource, highly flexible, and extensible (supports plugins, and custom actions). It can easily be used for SFTP connections as well. See also Thunar ... Read more
Updated 06-Apr-2026 I guess I'll be using Golang. Go Getting started Go packages Go applications of note In several cases venerable PHP and C applications have been replaced with Go, which to my mind is a good thing. Start with Awesome-Go a list of Go apps, like this one but bigger Mox, Chasquid, and Maddy ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 There are many choices for PDF readers and editors for the Linux platform. I've used a variety over the years. Lately I had preferred these two: Xournal++ (xournalpp), which is a reader and editor, and is touted as a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support ... supports pen input from devices such ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Upon installing XFCE, the xfce4-screenshooter is also installed. Create keyboard shortcut for screenshots Note that the Below will initiate a selection screenshot so that one may select the appropriate screen area using the crosshairs. It will also automatically save the screenshot in the Downloads directory and name it appropriately. In order to have ... Read more
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Git is great, and even better as a core part of a full development / deployment toolchain. These days there are choices as to which more robust Git platform to use. First, those not to use: Github (owned by Microsoft), proprietary Gitlab (owned publicly traded company), open core Both of these are worrisome ... Read more