Applications and Software on Linux

Introduction

The Linux ecosystem offers many free and open-source applications for work, creativity, learning, entertainment, programming and computer maintenance. There is also a growing selection of professional and commercial software with official Linux support. Software is usually installed through repositories, graphical software stores or universal package formats such as Flatpak, Snap and AppImage.

One important thing for beginners to understand is that Linux software usually does not need to be downloaded from random websites. Many applications can be installed directly through the operating system, in a similar way to using an app store on a smartphone.

Contents

• What is a repository?
• Main package management systems
• Flatpak and Flathub
• Graphical package managers
• Recommended applications for beginners
• Commercial and professional software for Linux
• Useful GNOME and KDE tools
• Artificial intelligence
• Popular Linux applications

What Is a Repository?

A repository is an online collection of software used by a particular Linux distribution. The system downloads the application from the repository and also takes care of any additional libraries or dependencies that are required.

Example of installing VLC on Debian, Ubuntu or Linux Mint:

sudo apt install vlc

One advantage of repositories is security, because applications are usually checked by the community or by the developers of the distribution. This means that installing software on Linux is often more organised than manually downloading installation files from the web.

Main Package Management Systems

• APT – used on Debian, Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
• DPKG – the underlying system for .deb packages.
• DNF – used on Fedora and related systems.
• Zypper – used on openSUSE.
• Pacman – used on Arch Linux and Manjaro.
• AUR – a user-maintained repository containing additional software for Arch-based systems.
• Snap – a universal package system developed by Canonical.
• Flatpak – a universal system for installing applications across different distributions.
• AppImage – an application packaged as a single file that often does not require traditional installation.

Flatpak and Flathub – Like an App Store for Linux

For beginners, Flatpak can be thought of as a kind of App Store or Software Center for Linux. It allows applications to be installed on different Linux distributions, whether you use Linux Mint, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE or another system.

The best-known online repository for Flatpak applications is Flathub . It contains many familiar applications, including VLC, OBS Studio, LibreOffice, GIMP, Inkscape, Kdenlive, Blender, Discord, Spotify and many others.

One advantage of Flatpak is that applications are often newer than the versions available in traditional distribution repositories. One disadvantage is that they may use slightly more disk space.

Graphical Package Managers

Many users do not install applications through the command line, but instead use graphical tools. These work in a similar way to app stores.

• GNOME Software – a simple software store used in GNOME and Ubuntu-based environments.
• Discover – the software store used in KDE Plasma.
• Pamac – commonly used in Manjaro and related distributions.
• Synaptic – a powerful graphical package manager for Debian and Ubuntu-based systems.
• YaST – an advanced system management tool used in openSUSE.

Recommended Applications for Beginners

• LibreOffice – documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Firefox – web browser.
• Thunderbird – email client.
• VLC – video and music playback.
• GIMP – image editing.
• Kdenlive – video editing.
• Audacity – audio recording and editing.
• Timeshift – system snapshots and restore points.

Commercial and Professional Software for Linux

Linux is not limited to free and open-source software. Some companies also develop professional, proprietary or paid applications with official Linux support. This can be especially useful for people who use Linux for creative or professional work.

• Fog Panther – a professional image editor developed specifically for Linux. It supports layers, masks, non-destructive adjustments, PSD, RAW, HDR and CMYK. A trial version is available, followed by a one-time licence purchase.
• SoftMaker Office – a commercial office suite for Linux with word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, with strong compatibility with Microsoft Office documents.
• DaVinci Resolve – a professional environment for video editing, colour correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post-production. Free and paid Studio editions are available.
• REAPER – a powerful digital audio workstation for recording, editing and producing audio, with an official Linux version.
• Bitwig Studio – a professional environment for music production and sound design with Linux support, including a Flatpak package.
• CrossOver Linux – a commercial CodeWeavers solution for running many Windows applications and games on Linux without using a traditional virtual machine.

Linuxabc note: before installing proprietary or commercial software, check the price, licence terms, supported distributions and hardware requirements.

Useful GNOME and KDE Tools

GNOME

• GNOME Tweaks – a useful tool for additional GNOME desktop customisation.
• Extension Manager – an easy way to manage GNOME extensions.
• Evolution – email, calendar, contacts and tasks in one application.

KDE Plasma

• KMail – an email client for the KDE environment.
• Kontact – a complete KDE suite for email, calendars, contacts and organisation.
• KOrganizer – calendar, reminders, meetings and time management.
• Discover – KDE's software store for installing applications.

Artificial Intelligence and Online Assistants

Artificial intelligence is now widely used to help with learning, writing, programming, translation, generating ideas and explaining more complex concepts. Most well-known tools work directly in a web browser, which means they can also be used on Linux.

• ChatGPT – a conversational assistant for explanations, writing, learning, programming and content creation.
• Gemini – Google's artificial intelligence tool.
• Mistral AI – a European artificial intelligence company.
• Claude – a conversational assistant from Anthropic.
• Ollama – a tool for running certain artificial intelligence models locally on your computer.
• Open WebUI – a web interface for using AI models locally.
• LM Studio – a graphical tool for running language models locally.

It is important to remember that artificial intelligence is not always correct. Answers should be checked, especially when dealing with important technical, medical, legal or financial questions.

Popular Linux Applications

📂 Office

• LibreOffice – a free office suite.
• OnlyOffice – a modern office suite.
• Gnumeric – a lightweight spreadsheet application.
• Scribus – desktop publishing for brochures, flyers and printed materials.

📄 PDF, Documents and Notes

• Okular – a powerful PDF and document viewer with annotation and commenting tools.
• PDF Arranger – merge, split, rotate and rearrange pages in PDF documents.
• Xournal++ – handwriting, drawing and annotation for PDF documents.
• Joplin – open-source notes and organisation with synchronisation support.

🎨 Graphics

• GIMP – image and photo editing.
• Inkscape – vector graphics and logo design.
• Krita – digital painting and illustration.
• Darktable – photo and RAW image processing.
• Blender – 3D modelling and animation.

📐 CAD, 3D Design and Electronics

• FreeCAD – an open-source parametric 3D CAD application for technical design, modelling and engineering.
• LibreCAD – an open-source application for 2D technical drawing and drafting.
• OpenSCAD – creates precise 3D models by describing geometry with code.
• KiCad – an open-source suite for electronic schematic design and printed circuit boards (PCB).
• SolveSpace – a lightweight parametric 2D and 3D CAD application for technical models and mechanical designs.

🎧 Audio, Video and Content Creation

• VLC – video and music playback.
• Audacity – audio recording and editing.
• Ardour – more advanced audio production.
• LMMS – music and beat creation.
• Kdenlive – video editing.
• Shotcut – video editing.
• OBS Studio – screen recording and live streaming.
• HandBrake – video conversion and compression.

🌐 Internet, Email and Communication

• Firefox – an open-source web browser.
• Chromium – the open-source foundation of Chrome.
• Brave – a browser with a stronger focus on privacy.
• Vivaldi – a powerful and highly customisable web browser with official Linux support.
• Thunderbird – an email client.
• Evolution – email, calendar, contacts and tasks.
• KMail – an email client for KDE Plasma.
• Kontact – a personal information management suite for KDE Plasma.
• KOrganizer – a calendar and organiser for KDE Plasma.
• Jitsi Meet – video conferencing.

⚙️ System Tools

• Timeshift – system snapshots and restore points.
• GParted – partition management.
• Htop – system resource monitoring.
• Linux Assistant – assistance with managing a Linux computer.
• BleachBit – system cleaning.
• KDiskMark – disk speed testing.
• CPU-X – processor and system information.
• Hardinfo – hardware information.

💾 Backups and Data Recovery

• Déjà Dup – a simple graphical tool for regular backups of personal files.
• Pika Backup – a modern backup application based on BorgBackup.
• Vorta – a graphical interface for the powerful BorgBackup system.
• Rescuezilla – a graphical tool for creating and restoring complete disk and partition images.

Linuxabc tip: Timeshift is mainly intended for system recovery. For personal documents and other data, it is best to use a separate backup solution as well.

🖥️ Desktop Appearance and Customisation

• GNOME Tweaks – additional GNOME desktop appearance settings.
• Extension Manager – management of GNOME extensions.
• KDE Store – themes, icons, add-ons and visual customisation for KDE Plasma.

☁️ Cloud and Synchronisation

• Nextcloud – an open-source alternative to cloud services.
• Syncthing – file synchronisation between devices.
• Rclone – advanced tools for working with various cloud services.

🖥️ Virtualisation

• VirtualBox – an easy way to run virtual machines.
• GNOME Boxes – simple virtualisation for GNOME users.
• Virt-Manager – graphical management of KVM/QEMU virtual machines.
• QEMU – a powerful tool for emulation and virtualisation.

🛡️ Security and Privacy

• KeePassXC – password manager.
• Bitwarden – cloud-based password manager.
• VeraCrypt – file and disk encryption.
• BleachBit – cleaning temporary files and privacy-related data.

💻 Programming

• Visual Studio Code – a popular code editor.
• VSCodium – an open-source build of VS Code without Microsoft's telemetry.
• Geany – a lightweight code editor.
• Git – a version control system.
• Python – a popular programming language.
• Node.js – a JavaScript runtime used for web development.

🪟 Windows Applications and Games

• Wine – allows many Windows applications to run on Linux.
• Bottles – graphical management of Wine environments.
• Lutris – management of games and emulators.
• Steam – a gaming platform.
• Heroic Games Launcher – a launcher for Epic Games and GOG games on Linux.

Conclusion

Linux offers a very rich selection of software. For beginners, the most important thing to understand is that applications are often installed from trusted sources such as repositories, software stores, Flathub or official project websites. This allows users to safely try different applications and customise the system to suit their needs. Linux also offers strong tools for technical design, working with PDF documents, backups, and professional and commercial applications.