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Despite the frailties and vulnerabilities of Windows, it still dominates the PC (Personal Computer) market. Windows 7 alone accounts for close to 49% of the desktop operating systems (OS) worldwide as of August 2017. In fact, I still use Windows 7 and have no plans to upgrade. Below are some useful Windows tools I personally use.
GetApp and Efficient.App are search engines for the best web apps to grow your business. It has reviews to help you choose which ones to use. Product Hunt is a place to launch and discover new tech products. If not satisfied with your existing online service, use AlternativeTo.
Awesome at GitHub is a large collection of curated awesome stuff. More awesome lists: Awesome Static Web Site Generators, Awesome Atomic(curated knowledge-base about atomic systems), and Awesome KDE here and here.
EcoSyste.ms brag as the world's most comprehensive and accurate dataset about open source production and use, for free. Of interest is the Awesome list.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could install all your favorite desktop software in one go? I haven't really thought about it since my hard drive gave up on me once. But the second time it happened, I searched for a multiple software installer, haha.
And I came across Ninite, and they happen to offer just what I'm looking for. The software is a real time-saver as you don't have to install and set-up each program; it takes care of the installation for you. It supports most of the popular programs for basic computing needs. It downloads the latest versions from official sites, so it is safe to use. Just select the programs and it will package everything into one giant installer. The good thing is, once it is packaged, you can re-use it again if the need arises. TuxMate is for Linux.
RuckZuck Tools is of a similar mold, but offers a lot more packages and is constantly adding new ones. Other alternatives are WindowsRemix and Chocolatey.
For the technology savvy, Npackd maybe a good fit. It is not exactly a mass installer in the strict sense. It is a command-driven software installer, manager and uninstaller. Using sets of commands via cmd.exe, you can search through over 900 free for personal use packages in the default repository. The packages are safe, they do not install any unwanted programs, adware or toolbars. It is also automatically updated and you can use it to uninstall programs. The process is being executed silently in the background, with no user action required. Novice users need not despair, they also have a Graphical User Interface(GUI) version downloadable here.
If you're a hardcore programmer, Just-Install is a command-driven installer from the very start. You download it via cmd.exe. They also have a custom installer.
After installing all those programs, I'm pretty sure you'll have second thoughts on some of them. If that's the case, no worries. As there are batch installers, there are also mass uninstallers.
You know what's better than installing apps? Use free portable apps, which are stored in a USB and are plug and play.
WinLauncher is a Windows app launcher.
My favorite is Absolute Uninstaller. As the name suggests, it completely removes any traces of the uninstalled program. Unlike others, it auto-fixes invalid program entries, so there's no need to use separate software to clean up the registry.
FreeCommander is an easy-to-use alternative to the standard windows file manager.
Microsoft offers a free PC Manager tool. Read these hacks to find for large files. Kill runaway programs and processes instantly with CTRL+ALT+F4 keys using SuperF4.
BleachBit is a free open-source tool to obliterate junk files, shred sensitive data, and keep the system running clean. Supported in Windows and Linux.
UltraDefrag is a free defragmentation tool. Two things I like about it is, it is very fast, and you can continue using your PC while it runs in the background. It works efficiently, and computer speed dramatically improves. Enhance Windows debloating, optimizing and customizing the system, for more control over how it performs using Winhance.
PassMark have PC benchmarking and diagnostic software. CrystalDiskInfo monitors your hard drive or SSD and help detect any issues.
RustDesk, AnyDesk and TeamViewer are two of the best remote desktop programs. They are free for personal use, but AnyDesk is the faster one. AeroAdmin is portable, no installer needed, free for personal and business use. If the client is using the Google Chrome browser, they have Chrome Remote Desktop.
VirtualBox is a powerful open source virtualization software for personal and enterprise use. Windows virtualization allows a single physical computer to run multiple virtual machines(VM), each acting like a separate computer with its own operating system and resources. This is achieved through software that emulates hardware, enabling different operating systems or applications to run concurrently without interfering with each other. It allows you to run Windows together with Linux in the same PC.
PodMan(Pod Manager) is a daemonless, open source, Linux native tool designed to make it easy to find, run, build, share and deploy applications using Open Containers Initiative(OCI) containers and container Images. Manages the entire container ecosystem using the libpod library. Pods is a frontend for Podman/Docker. It uses libadwaita for its user interface and strives to meet the design principles of GNOME.
DistroBox acts as a wrapper for container engines like Podman or Docker, allowing the installation of packages and running of applications as if they are part of the main OS. BuddyBox, and DistroShelf are GUIs. Other VM options in Linux are Vagrant, and GNOME Boxes. Kontainer is a native KDE application that provides a user-friendly graphical interface for managing Distrobox containers. Built specifically for the KDE Plasma desktop environment, it integrates seamlessly with your workflow and makes container management simple and intuitive.
QuickEmu quickly create and run optimised Windows, macOS and Linux virtual machines from the terminal on Linux and macOS. QuickGUI is the desktop frontend app created with Flutter.
BlueStack is an android emulator.
OpenThinClient, and ThinStation are open source thin client operating systems.
For a faster and more secure internet compared to ISP defaults, use free and reliable public DNS providers:
Google: 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4
Quad9: 9.9.9.9
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1. 1.1.1.1 connects to any website even a malicious one without a warning message. While 1.1.1.2 comes with an integrated security filter that provides protection from websites known for phishing, running command and control servers, distributing malware, or other kinds of malicious activity. 1.1.1.3, includes everything that 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2 do, but takes it a step further by blocking websites that are known to host adult-only content.
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I love free open source software(FOSS). ReactOS can run Windows applications, still in Alpha version. There are also FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Linux, and Redox.
FreeBSD and Linux are both Unix like operating systems, but they are not the same, read the explainer here. Vanilla FreeBSD is purely text based, but here's the documentation, and video of installing DEs, including KDE Plasma using the Desktop-Installer script. It is a post-install script that automates the process of configuring a BSD, including OpenBSD, and NetBSD workstation or laptop computer, allowing typical users to set up a fully functional desktop environment on modern hardware with a fast Internet connection. It supports every desktop environment or window manager provided by the native package manager, every supported version of the operating system, and every hardware platform supported by the operating system. Link on FreshPorts.
FreeBSD does have GUI versions like GhostBSD with MATE DE, and NomadBSD which is a persistent live system for USB flash drives with XFCE DE. GhostBSD follows a slow rolling release cycle, and can run most Linux apps as it pulls and compile binaries from open source projects. Here's a video on how to install KDE Plasma in GhostBSD. However, my WiFi didn't work.
HelloSystem, and RavynOS are FreeBSD-based distros that cater to MacOS users, both are in active development stage.
While, Redox OS is a promising, Unix-like operating system written entirely in Rust, which eliminates major classes of memory errors. It is focusing on security, stability, and high performance via a microkernel design, that ensures in case of a driver crash, the system stays up and running. The OS boots very fast and offers efficient resource usage(512MB RAM for desktop). It features a modern graphical interface(Orbital), supports Rust/C/C++ libraries, and runs COSMIC applications, offering a functional file manager, editor, and web browser. But it is not yet suitable for daily use due to limited hardware support.
There are lots of Linux distros around, but I highly recommend Ubuntu which is based on Debian. Compared to others, Ubuntu is easy to install, and the user interface is user-friendly. Unlike in its early days, much of the popular Windows software has been successfully ported to Linux, so you'll be more likely to “feel at home” if you decide to switch.
When downloading large ISO and the connection is unstable, use this terminal command:
wget -O "iso_filename" -P "download_path" --tries=inf --retry-connrefused --timeout=0 -c "iso_url"
Or use CURL:
curl -O -L "iso_url". To resume an interrupted download, prefix -C -.
You can use Rufus or Balena Etcher to create a USB bootable Kubuntu installer. Here's a simple instruction on how to install Ubuntu Desktop. Or this simplified version. GLIM(GRUB2 Live ISO MultiBoot) is a Linux based app that allows a single USB stick to hold several ISOs. Here's tutorial on how to use it. This is a manual way of creating a multiboot USB drive. When using Fedora ISO, use Fedora Media Writer.
Rufus is a reliable tool that can do a lot of tasks. It can recognize a write protected a USB stick even if other apps can't. As a bonus, it can format a USB stick that even Windows built-in formatter fail. If the drive doesn't appear on the "Device" drop-down list, click "Show advanced drive properties" and check "List USB Hard Drives". When setting a bootable USB, set to GPT, UEFI, and NTFS. For legacy systems set to MBR/CSM.
To enter BIOS, press the designated key(F2, F10, F12, DEL or ESC depending on the manufacturer). In BIOS, disable secure boot, and ensure the bootable drive is listed as the first boot device. When booting Linux, select AHCI, if Windows, choose RAID. After booting, if there are any issues, just update on the latest releases, including any pre-release.
When installing, take note of the PC's default firmware. If UEFI(Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), then format the EFI partition or ESP(EFI System Partition) as FAT32, set Mount Point to /boot/efi and Flag value to boot. Future proof the partition, by allocating a generous 2 GB space.
To remove FSO(File System Object) or UEFI boot entries in BIOS, follow these steps:
- First, list the entries, by issuing the command in the terminal: sudo efibootmgr. Note the 4 character boot number(e.g.000A).
- Then type: sudo efibootmgr -b XXXX -B. Where "XXXX" is the boot number.
- Finally, open the /boot/efi/EFI folder, as "Administrator". Delete the folder of the entry to remove. Take note, do not remove the "Windows Boot Manager" or the "Dell" or "Firmware" entries. Reboot to confirm.
UNetBootIn creates bootable Live USB drive with persistence feature, but it applies only in Ubuntu-based distros. Its available in AUR. Here's an article with steps on how to create an persistent Ubuntu live USB using mkusb. It can also be used to install without using a USB. The MX Linux Live USB Maker persistence only applies for MX Linux and AntiX. Another option is MultiBootUSB.
Its also possible to live boot without USB, just use GRUB 2 bootloader.
Ubuntu have a lot of flavors, Linux Mint is an Ubuntu based distro that's the closest thing to Windows UI, especially with Cinnamon DE. Another option is Linux Lite with XFCE DE. Rhino Linux is also Ubuntu-based but rolling release with a custom XFCE DE.
MX Linux is Debian based, and is ideal for low spec computers. Q4OS is also lightweight, and it has a Windows installer. For the security conscious, there's Qubes OS, it runs apps and ISOs in virtual machines(VM). PikaOS is a free, gaming-centric Linux distribution designed to provide a pain-free gaming and productivity experience right out of the box. Sparky Linux has a rolling release version with KDE Plasma DE, and Calamares installer. Vanilla OS is an immutable distro, with rolling release. Of the same mold is Nitrux, but unique as it is using the CachyOS kernel. Desktop is currently Hyprland Windows Manager(WM) which is keyboard centric.
Tails(The Amnesic Incognito Live System) OS is a security-focused, Debian-based Linux distribution designed specifically to provide maximum privacy and anonymity to its users. It is a "live" operating system that boots from a USB stick and runs entirely in the computer's RAM(Random Access Memory). When the system is shut down or restarted, all data is wiped, ensuring that no logs, history, or files remain on the machine. It forces all outgoing internet traffic through the Tor anonymity network. It blocks any connection attempts that bypass Tor, ensuring user anonymity. While "amnesic" by default, users can create an encrypted, password-protected partition on their USB stick to save files, browser bookmarks, and settings between sessions for persistence.
OpenSUSE Tumbleweed is a rolling release version, it is based on SUSE Linux. Kalpa Desktop combines the benefits of a rolling release model of Tumbleweed, the read-only root filesystem of MicroOS, and the customizability of KDE Plasma desktop. Still in Alpha.
CachyOS, EndeavourOS, Manjaro, AxOS, and PearOS NiceCOre, are based on Arch Linux with rolling releases for the latest software and hardware support, including KDE environment and Nvidia graphics. EndeavourOS pull packages directly from the Arch repo, however it is terminal centric with few GUI tools. CachyOS's Snapshot feature leverages the BTRFS filesystem for automatic system rollback by creating snapshots before updates. If an update breaks things, easily revert by selecting an older state from the boot menu. Arka Linux GUI(ALG) is Calamares-based installer for vanilla Arch with KDE Plasma, GNOME, or XFCE DEs. Other options are Calam Arch Installer with XFCE as default DE and RebornOS which supports a lot of DEs.
Garuda Linux is an Arch-based gaming version, equipped with a powerful system management application called Toolbox. It replaced and unified older standalone utilities like Welcome, Assistant, and Gamer acting as an all-in-one control center making the administration easy for users. Garuda KDE Lite is a bare minimum edition with stock KDE Plasma. It doesn't come with the usual apps which requires the user to set up most of the theming and device settings.
Terminal command to install FlatPak: sudo pacman -S flatpak
Install Shelly Package Manager, pulled from official Chaotic-AUR repo: sudo pacman -S shelly
Enable the UFW(Uncomplicated Firewall) and UFW Service via Toolbox -> System Settings, then Firewall section.
To enable the KDE Plasma Firewall feature: sudo pacman -S plasma-firewall
Install Kup personal file backup: sudo pacman -S kup
For a fast, incremental, and deduplicated backups using Bup: sudo pacman -S bup
To use the native KDE PLM(Plasma Login Manager) instead of SDDM(Simple Desktop Display Manager), follow these steps:
- Install PLM, type in the terminal: sudo pacman -S plasma-login-manager
- Disable SDDM: sudo systemctl disable sddm
- Enable PLM: sudo systemctl enable plasmalogin
- Reboot. Once verified PLM is working, remove the old SDDM user and service:
sudo pacman -R sddm sddm-kcm
sudo userdel -r sddm
To install Info Center: sudo pacman -S kinfocenter
Kiro is an Arch-based Claude AI assisted project from the creator of ArcoLinux. Comes with a choice of XFCE and ChadWM DE but after installation, there are more options(KDE Plasma, GNOME, Budgie, Cinnamon, Mate, Awesome, BspWM, I3, LeftWM, OhMyChadWM, QTile). Ships with Claude AI Assistance, it is but opt-in. It is kernel-agnostic, pick between CachyOS, Zen, Hardened, an LTS, or a custom built kernel. ATT(ArchLinux Tweak Tool) is a GUI that handles system-level tweaks(install any of the 13 desktops, manage packages, change SDDM themes, swap kernels, configure autostart, and more). Of interest is the Kiro ISO Builder, a GUI that allows building of a custom ISO(pick the desktop, kernel(s), NVIDIA driver, remove packages to slim the ISO or add extra apps), no terminal needed.
BigLinux is a Manjaro-based distro that comes with KDE Plasma, Calamares installer, automatic file compression, web application support, and TKG kernel. Made in Brazil. TromJaro is another Majaro-based distro with XFCE DE. It is trade-free.
Prism Linux is Arch-based with Sway Niri as default DE. It has a custom installer that allows selection of DE(KDE Plasma, GNOME, Cosmic, and Cinnamon, or a fully customized Niri or Hyprland WM), Liquorix or Zen kernel, and apps. Uses GRUB bootloader. It's made in Ukraine!
In CachyOS, the frequent updates can break the system, especially those involving the kernels. When disaster do happen, just reboot and select the LTS kernel which is usually stable. However, the previous working state can be restored using the snapshots. Restart and in the GRUB boot menu, select a previous snapshot. Once booted, open the "Btrfs Assistant" app, navigate to the "Snapper" tab, click the "Browse/Restore" sub-tab and select the previous snapshot. Click "Restore", then reboot. The system will now use that snapshot as its active state.
Artix Linux supports XFCE, LXQt, KDE Plasma, and many more DEs, and uses Calamares installer. What makes it unique is, it is a non-systemd init system, opting to use new, fast and low resource alternatives like s6, dinit, and others.
ShaniOS is immutable and uses KDE Plasma, seems to be out of the Beta/Testing phase and is in stable release status. However, when testing the testing version, it is booting very slowly. The first time it booted, I thought the system hanged and I have to restart twice. And the SDDM login is not customizable, in fact, selecting the unsupported theme, breaks the system and I have to re-install.
ObsidianOS have the same A/B partitioning concept, but immutability and atomicity are optional. Uses the ext4 filesystem and the installer is a custom GUI built with Qt6 and Python. Option for Arch, Debian, Gentoo, and Void as base. Still in development stage.
Arkane Linux is atomic and immutable, but GNOME only DE. Unlike other immutable distros that use A/B partitioning, instead it uses the BTRFS subvolume with the help of Arkdep deployment manager. Arkdep is a self-developed deployment manager utilized to build, manage and atomically deploy an immutable, BTRFS-based system. Think of it as a package manager which reinstalls the entire OS upon update leaving the old deployment untouched and available there's a need to roll back to the pre-update state. It is not a "hard" immutable, the system is flexible and allows the user to unlock it at any time, and the it becomes just like any other Arch-based distribution.
KDE Linux is still in alpha. BlendOS is also immutable with GNOME as default DE, but KDE Plasma, Mate, XFCE, Cinnamon, and LXQt are also supported. It checks all the keywords of a blockbuster Linux distro. Arch based, rolling release, immutable, atomic, and declarative. Supports other distros(Fedora, Debian, CentOS Stream and Ubuntu), the associated apps or binaries, even from Android, and kernels by using PodMan containers. Still in Beta stage.
Origami Linux is immutable based on Fedora Atomic desktops like Fedora Kinoite. What makes it unique are the Cosmic DE and CachyOS kernel.
AshOS(Any Snapshot Hierarchical OS), bring immutability even to distros that do not have this very useful feature i.e. Arch Linux, Gentoo, etc. Can use on CachyOS.
SnowFlakeOS is a NixOS based Linux distribution focused on beginner friendliness and ease of use. It is immutable, and reproducible, still in Apha version.
GLF(Gaming Linux from France) OS is a NixOS based gaming oriented distro that comes with GNOME or KDE Plasma DE. It is immutable and atomic, and follows a rolling release cycle. Updates automatically when computer starts up, within the first 5 minutes, which also includes system maintenance and cleaning. No manual intervention in the terminal is required. Uses Calamares installer and supports FlatPaks. In Beta stage. When I tried, it failed to boot after installation.
A declarative Linux distro is an operating system where the entire system configuration—including installed packages, system services, and user settings—is defined in a single, centralized configuration file. Instead of manually running commands to install software or change settings(an "imperative" approach), the desired final state of the system is described in a configuration file, and the package manager handles the necessary steps to achieve that state. It is reproducible, meaning, the same configuration file can be used to replicate the exact same system on multiple machines.
CalamaroOS is a Gentoo-based distro with with Calamares installer. It supports MATE, XFCE, and KDE Plasma DE.
KaOS is an independent distro, built from scratch primarily for KDE Plasma DE. Andromeda Plasma 6 is a beautiful eye friendly theme, it supports light or dark mode, and the icons are large by default. It ships with an intuitive Andromeda Launcher. AppGrid is another native KDE Plasma grid-based app launcher, currently available in AUR only.
AerynOS is an independent performance-oriented Linux-based operating system with roots to Solus OS. Still in alpha "technical preview" stage. Comes with FlatHub integration. It features live atomic updates that apply instantly, while ensuring the system stays protected through atomic rollbacks if anything goes wrong. There's GNOME, KDE Plasma, COSMIC and a "Terminal Only" versions. The "Terminal Only" version can be used to install MangoWC, Niri or Sway.
Chimera Linux is an independent, general-purpose Linux distribution built from scratch, designed to be modern, simple, and fast. It is not a GNU system, instead it uses BSD-licensed userland utilities(chimerautils) and the musl libc library. It leverages the Alpine Package Manager(apk-tools) and a custom build system called cports to provide a fast and secure system. Follows a rolling release model. Despite being lightweight, it offers full-featured desktops such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, and Enlightenment. It can run FlatPaks, but the installer is command driven.
GNU Guix is a purely functional package manager and stand-alone GNU/Linux operating system. Modeled after Nix, it uses a functional deployment model to ensure that software installation and system configurations are entirely reproducible, isolated, and manageable on a per-user basis. Every system update is atomic. If a package update breaks the system, instantly roll back the entire environment to a previously working state with a single command. Unlike traditional package managers, Guix defines packages and operating system configurations using Guile Scheme. Developed under the umbrella of the GNU Project, its main package repository strictly excludes proprietary software and drivers, adhering strictly to the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines.
Some of the USB Portable Linux distros: Slax is Debian-based with FluxBox DE, but requires legacy boot. MiniOS, is also Debian-based with XFCE DE, but it is USB live persistent. Porteus is based on Slackware can boot on both UEFI and legacy, supports KDE Plasma and LXQt DEs. Peppermint OS is either Debian or Devuan, supports only XFCE DE, comes with Calamares installer. Devuan is non-systemd. Manjaro can be made portable too.
EasyOS is an experimental but stable Linux distribution designed to run entirely in RAM for blazing-fast performance and features unique, ultra-lightweight custom containers that isolate applications and the desktop for enhanced security. It is portable, can be deployed as an image file that is easily flashed to a USB drive. Sessions are saved to the flash drive or internal or external drive. With administrator("root") access, but all individual applications and containers are isolated with heavily restricted permissions, removing the need for sudo commands.
Kubuntu, CachyOS, Manjaro OS, and Garuda Linux are easy to set up, and just works right out of the box. My current daily driver is now Garuda Linux KDE Lite, and Manjaro OS as my backup. It's exciting to watch GLF OS, Shani OS, BlendOS, AerynOS, Chimera Linux, FreeBSD, and GhostBSD mature.
After installing the OS, the very first thing to do, is to set the display resolution and KDE Plasma allows this via desktop right click menu. Select the highest resolution and set the scaling accordingly. The 16:9 aspect ratio is the modern widescreen standard for televisions, monitors, and digital video. It means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height. Common 16:9 resolutions include:
720p: 1280×720 pixels
1080p(Full HD): 1920×1080 pixels
1440p(QHD): 2560×1440 pixels
4K (UHD): 3840×2160 pixels
8K: 7680×4320 pixels
Panel Colorizer, Application Title Bar, Window Buttons Applet 6 Prebuilt, and Window Title Reborn are some of the KDE Plasma 6 Applets I'm using. Here's a curated list of awesome apps, extensions, modules, themes and tools for the KDE Plasma DE.
Sonic Desktop Environment(SonicDE) is a community-driven fork of the KDE Plasma and KDE Frameworks components, each rebuilt with X11 display server, while still inheriting improvements from the upstream. It is init system agnostic and it isn't locked to systemd. BSD support is one of the stated goals too.
GNOME is a minimalist but beautiful DE, I can consider it the MacOS of Linux. It is the most touch ready DE design, that can be used in tablets. GNOME Apps like Text Editor, Papers document viewer, Nautilus file manager, GRSync, Unison, Pika Backup and Deja Dup are based on GTK. By the way, BorgBase offer free 10 GB hosting for Borg and Restic repositories.
Extension Manager, GNOME Tweaks, Dock to Panel, Just Perfection, OpenBar, and ArcMenu are some of the useful apps and extensions to customize GNOME. Here's a customization guide video. You can find a curated list of GNOME apps, extensions, modules, themes and tools at Awesome GNOME, and for GTK-based apps at Awesome GTK.
XFCE DE and apps are also based on GTK, so to improve its outdated look, use themes like Flat Remix GTK, Pop XFWM and Skeuos. Customized it for a modern look. Find more at XFCE Look. MATE, and Cinnamon are also GTK based.
Here's are steps to achieve a uniform look between Qt and GTK based-apps and themes.
Lomiri is a free and open-source graphical operating environment and desktop shell designed for Linux with roots from Ubuntu Unity 8. It is built on the Qt framework and utilizes Mir as its Wayland display compositor. Uses the exact same codebase and interoperability whether on a phone, tablet, or desktop. The dynamic user interface automatically adapts to the screen size and input method of the device. It provides a touch-first interface for smartphones and tablets, and switches to a traditional desktop environment with window management, mouse, and keyboard support on laptops and PCs.
Aside from DEs there's also Niri, and Mango compositors that uses the Wayland protocol to manage the display of windows and handle input from users. Here's a compilation of Wayland compositors. They require set-up and are keyboard-centric. Dank Material and Noctalia are desktop shells or GUI for Wayland compositors. Caelestia Shell is for HyprLand but no WayBar. HyprMod is a HyprLand settings GUI.
Save Desktop is a cross-desktop tool to back up, restore and sync your entire Linux desktop setup. It can save themes, icons, fonts, settings, wallpapers(even dynamic ones), Flatpak apps and user data – and bring them back in just a few clicks. Works with GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, Budgie, COSMIC, Pantheon, MATE, Deepin and Hyprland. Another option is KDE Migrant. It is a single file browser and command-line script that backups full or partial KDE configuration including apps, dotfiles and any customizations in a ZIP file. It works for KDE Plasma widgets as well.
Pamac, Octopi, and PacHub are Pacman and AUR front-ends. Pamac supports Flatpak. Shelly is modern, visual, and intuitive Arch Package Management built with GTK 4 and supports FlatPak and AppImage. It currently have separate tabs for Arch packages and Flatpak, so there's a separate process and interface for updating. Personally, its best to combine the install, update and manage process and interface like Pamac does. Of the same mold is PKGER(Professional Package Manager), presently available in AUR only. Chaotic-AUR is a repo for pre-built AUR packages.
Flatpak packages applications into isolated environments called "sandboxes." These sandboxes contain all the necessary dependencies an application needs to run, preventing conflicts with the host system's libraries and ensuring consistent behavior regardless of the underlying distribution, so they are safer to use. Klia Store, Bazaar, and Dupot Easy FlatPak are apps for browsing, installing, and managing Flatpak applications from Flathub. FlatSeal is a graphical utility to review and modify permissions from your Flatpak applications.
AppImage is a universal, portable software packaging format for Linux that run applications directly from a single .AppImage file without needing installation. The self-contained file bundle the app and its required libraries, so it works on most Linux distribution without any system changes, similar to PDF. AppImageHub, is an aggregator, when downloading, make sure it is from the official publisher. AppImagePool is an AppImageHub client, that integrate AppImages in the system. Gear Lever is an AppImage manager, it integrates AppImages in the app menu, organize them in a custom folder and manage updates. AppImage Pool’s integration feature is buggy, but can use it as a downloader, its default location is /home/{user}/Applications folder, and use Gear Lever for integration instead. Set the “AppImage default location”, and “File management” to “Move AppImages into the destination folder” in the Preferences. Awesome AppImage is a collection of AppImage tools and resources. AppImage requires the FUSE library, install the "fuse2" package.
Package Forge(PkgForge) is a new project that aims to deliver truly distro-independent portable applications that run the same way across systems. It’s an ecosystem made of several components that publishes portable packages and static binaries in a curated repositories. It has thousands of statically compiled binaries, portable packages in formats like AppImage and more.
Soar is PkgForge's package manager component, designed to install and manage the curated packages. It serves as a companion alongside the distro’s own package manager, by providing additional packages or newer version of packages that the distro may not have. It pulls from PkgForge's own caches, and other compatible sources, and manages desktop integration through freedesktop.org specifications, including menu entries and icons.
PkgForge maybe the closest thing to a universal package manager for all Unix-based systems. Read more about it here.
When the package manager starts acting which is the case of Pamac when the update involves large files, its more reliable to use the terminal and issue the command: sudo pacman -Syu for packages, and flatpak update for Flatpaks.
To install a specific package, search for it in the official repositories by typing this command in the terminal: sudo pacman -Ss "package_name or keyword", it will list packages with the name, then isue sudo pacman -Syu package_name
command.
To install a specific Flatpak, go to FlatHub and search for it. Open the link of the search result and click the dropdown arrow besides the Install button, and copy the terminal command, which will look like: flatpak install flathub com.example.AppName.
Sometimes uninstalling a Flatpak fails remove the associated .desktop file, ending up as orphaned. To delete, follow these commands:
cd ~/.local/share/applications
ls
rm <app_name>.desktop
Assuming that a Linux distro is already installed, its possible to boot an ISO without a USB using the grml-rescueboot utility. In Arch-based distros, it can be installed using Octopi, just search with the keyword of the same name. In Ubutu or Debian based distro, install via command: sudo apt install grml-rescueboot. After the installation, as "admin" copy the ISO files in the /boot/grml/ folder. In the terminal type: sudo update-grub, and reboot. Another method is using GRUB2, follow the steps here.
These are my preferred programs: Dolphin, PCManFM, or Thunar file manager, Kate text editor, Micro terminal-based text editor, Ark file archiver, Qalculate calculator, GwenView image viewer, ClamAV antivirus + ClamUI or ClamTk GUI, Kamoso camera, Spectacle screenshot, Motrix, Varia, Gopeed, Free Download Manager, and KGet download managers, KDE Partition Manager, and KDE ISO Image Writer.
Ptyxis, Wave, Tabby, WezTerm, and Ghostty are modern terminals. WTerm is a lightweight web-based terminal emulator. Unlike traditional web terminals wterm renders natively into the DOM and supports built-in browser search(CMD+F/CTRL+F), native text selection, copy-paste, and screen readers. Fresh is a new terminal text editor loaded with features. StarShip is a minimal, blazing-fast, and infinitely customizable prompt for any shell. Yazi is a terminal-based file manager written in Rust, based on async I/O. Konsole has a Quick Commands feature, useful for setting shortcuts of commonly used commands.
Terminal Trove has an extensive list of terminal tools, more can be had in Awesome TUIs, Awesome CLI Apps, and Awesome CLI Apps in a CSV.
Viber, and Ferdium are available in FlatHub. In Kubuntu, Publii, Local, Mega Sync, and Filen .deb files can be installed via Discover, just open the .deb file.
Warzone 2100 and FreeCiv are 100% free and open-source strategy games that runs on Linux. Red Eclipse and HateArena are first person arena shooter games.
Most distros have ARM and x86 versions that can be installed on portable devices. But Mobian, PostMarketOS, and SailFish OS are dedicated for mobile phones and tablets. Ubuntu Touch, and PureOS can run in mobile or desktop. Phosh, and Plasma Mobile are DEs for mobile that runs on top of a distro. Here's an excellent list of Linux-based tablets.
GrapheneOS is a private and secure mobile "Android/Linux" based operating system with Android app compatibility. It is a non-profit open source project.
FydeOS is a lightweight, secure, and cloud-focused operating system based on a "de-Googled" Chromium OS. It runs efficiently on older PCs, laptops, and single-board computers and supports web apps, Android applications, and Linux apps. FydeOS for PC is the free version. But there's a caveat, upgrading via Over-The-Air (OTA) charges $1.59 USD per update. Manually downloading and installing the new version is the free alternative.
Termux is an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment app that works directly with no rooting or setup required. A minimal base system is installed automatically - additional packages are available using the APT package manager. Here's how to install a Linux distro in mobile phone using Termux.
Here's easy tutorial on how to recover a failed system using a live Linux environment. MemTest86+, CloneZilla, and GParted are some popular recovery tools.
DistroWatch list the top trending Linux distros, take a look at their informative periodic table of Linux distros!
LifeHacker compiled essential Linux apps. WinBoat, Bottles, and PlayOnLinux run Windows apps on Linux with seamless integration, its still in Beta.
Here's a list of common Linux ports.
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After installing CachyOS with KDE Plasma and the login screen is stubbornly not scaling as desired(the issue is resolved by the Plasma Login Manager), follow these steps:
- Edit the SDDM KDE settings file:
sudo micro /etc/sddm.conf.d/kde_settings.conf
- Add the following code in the "[General]" section:
GreeterEnvironment=QT_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTORS=2.5
- Set the preferred scale value.
- To exit the terminal editor, press CTRL + Q keys and press Y key to save changes. Confirm if the login screen resolution is adjusted.
If using GRUB bootlader, to adjust the boot menu resolution of CachyOS, follow these steps:
- While booting, press C key, then type videoinfo, take note of the supported screen resolutions. Press ESC to exit and continue booting.
- Open the terminal and type: sudo micro /etc/default/grub
- To set the resolution, insert these codes:
GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768,1280x1024,1600x1200,1920x1080,auto
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
- Replace GRUB_GFXMODE value with the chosen resolution.
- Save the changes and exit the terminal editor.
- To update GRUB, run this command: sudo update-grub. Or this command: sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
- Reboot to confirm.
GRUB BootSelector is a simple GUI to set default entry in GRUB and reboot into any installed OS/kernel/UEFI firmware settings directly.
If using the Limine bootloader, adjust the resolution by following these steps:
- Open the terminal and type sudo micro /boot/limine.conf. Or in case the OS is in a partition, the file is /boot/efi/limine.conf.
- In the terminal editor, at the top, add the line interface_resolution: 1280x1024 or the preferred supported resolution. Another option is to use the line term_font_scale 2x2, it will increase the font size to twice the current size.
- Save and exit the editor.
- Rebuild the config, type command, sudo limine-mkinitcpio.
- Reboot.
To add an OS in the Limine boot menu, issue the command, sudo limine-scan. The tool will list any OS found. Input the number of the selected OS, and it will add the entry to the /boot/limine.conf file. Reboot to confirm.
To remove an OS entry in the Limine boot menu, issue the command, sudo limine-list. It displays boot entries, take note of the "entry name". Then type, sudo limine-entry-tool --remove-os "entry name". It removes the menu entry that matched the "entry name". Reboot to confirm. Take note, that there's a need to remove the specific UEFI boot entry in the BIOS.
EFIBoots is a simple GUI to manage EFI boot loader entries, no need to boot into BIOS. It enables the reorder, add, delete, edit, enable or disable of boot entries, choose what to boot into at the next reboot and set the time to wait before the selected entry is booted. Another option is EFI Boot Editor.
Unlike CachyOS, Manjaro has a stable release model. What it means is, it is still rolling release, but packages are tested before being released to ensure stability. This makes it an ideal backup OS.
My experience after installing Manjaro OS, its GRUB bootloader is able to detect CachyOS fine, but CachyOS’ is not able to find Manjaro. I’ve tried a lot of solutions including this one, but none worked.
Then in an eureka moment, I came up with a pencil solution by setting these values in the GRUB file:
GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true
It will remember the previously selected menu item at boot, haha.
While you're at it, set the GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY to false, it may come in handy, if there's a issue.
Here's an article about doing some tweaks on an existing Linux installation, instead of a dedicated gaming distro. To replace Manjaro’s kernel with the faster CachyOS kernel, open the terminal and issue the following commands:
sudo pacman-key --recv-keys F3B607488DB35A47 --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com
sudo pacman-key --lsign-key F3B607488DB35A47
sudo pacman -U "https://mirror.cachyos.org/repo/x86_64/cachyos/cachyos-keyring-20240331-1-any.pkg.tar.zst" \
"https://mirror.cachyos.org/repo/x86_64/cachyos/cachyos-mirrorlist-22-1-any.pkg.tar.zst"
Here's CachyOS' repo for reference.
Edit the pacman configuration file:
sudo micro /etc/pacman.conf
Add the CachyOS Repository to the bottom of the file:
[cachyos]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/cachyos-mirrorlist
Make sure to comment out any v3 or v4 mirrorlist to avoid updates of apps from CachyOS repos.
Next, update and install the kernel:
sudo pacman -Sy
sudo pacman -S linux-cachyos linux-cachyos-headers
If you are using Nvidia graphics, consider installing linux-cachyos-nvidia instead. Here's a list of CachyOS kernels.
Update GRUB, and reboot. Then uname -r in the terminal to confirm you are booting with the CachyOS kernel.
Optionally, you can install the Kernel Manager: cachyos-kernel-manager to manage kernel versions more easily.
Its possible to install 2 instance of CachyOS, each in their own partitions, by using different bootloaders, GRUB and Limine for example.
There are 2 official Linux kernel releases, Stable, and Long-Term Support(LTS). Stable kernel supports most hardware and have the latest features, ideal for general use. LTS kernel is very stable and reliable, used in servers, and systems.
There are several unofficial stable release kernels with custom patches like Zen, Liquorix, and CachyOS kernels. These are performance-tuned for better responsiveness, used for gaming, Do take note, that the build process for Liquorix kernel takes a long time. XanMod kernel is for Debian and Ubuntu based distros. It would be interesting to install these on Sparky Linux or Rhino Linux.
Its possible to build custom kernel using TKG Kernel. It is a build system for the kernel, that enables appling different patches for better desktop/gaming experience. The provided patches can be enabled/disabled by editing the customization.cfg file and/or by following the interactive install script.
It would be an exciting undertaking to build a custom distro. Here's a general overview.
The basic components of a distro:
- Kernel: The actual “Linux” in Linux distros, handling communication between hardware and software.
- Core system libraries: Often based on GNU(as in GNU/Linux), providing essential APIs and tools.
- Package manager: Software to install, remove, and update applications. Examples include APT(Debian/Ubuntu), and Pacman(Arch).
- Repositories: Curated libraries of software, ensuring updates and easy installation.
- Desktop environment: The visual layer like GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, XFCE, LXQt.
- Installer: A tool for end users to partition disks, create users, and configure the system. Calamares is a popular, modular graphical installer.
- System initialization: Handles booting, hardware detection, starting services. Most modern distros use systemd but alternatives exist.
- Security features: Package signing, repository verification, sandboxing, and more.
There are two ways of doing it. The most practical route is customizing an existing and stable distribution like:
- Build an Ubuntu-based distro using Cubic(Custom Ubuntu ISO Creator), follow the guide here.
- An Arch-based one using ArchISO, read the instructions here, and view the how-to video tutorial by DistroTube.
- A Debian-based using Debian Live, follow the steps here.
The other way is to build from scratch for full control, but maximum challenge, by following guides in Linux From Scratch(LFS).
After installation I do the follow steps:
- Customize the KDE Plasma desktop: screen reso(16:9), brightness(35%) and night light(on), theme(Breeze Dark), wallpaper, user profile, window decors(large titlebar buttons and circle around close button) and minimum animation, normal windows border, draw border on maximized windows, font(Adwaita Sans, 11pt), set default apps, login screen image, screen locking(never) image and session(no confirmation) settings, auto-start apps, power management(critical level: shutdown), date/time widget settings(date and time format, local holidays).
- Update the system.
- Optimize by checking system tweaks, change DNS server to CloudFlare/Quad9.
- Install and setup Flatpak apps. If not available, use packages from official repos.
- Copy personal files from external drive to respective folders.
- Set up the backup to external drive using Kups(synched, active usage, confirm) and/or online backup.
- Set up BTRFS snapshots, max of 4 snapshots of post and pre pairs for a total of 8 entries.
- Remove unwanted apps.
Right now, there’s a lot of distros but in the long run, I think the ecosystem will consolidate. The ones backed by organizations with cash flow like Red Hat, Ubuntu, Zorin OS, and POP!_OS or by large community of contributors, and volunteers like Linux Mint, and Debian, or by those offering niche systems like CachyOS, Bazzite and Manjaro OS will thrive. These are the things I consider the future of Linux desktop:
- Immutable systems, but immutability can be turned on and off. For users who like to tinker, they can turn it off, and turn back on once done.
- A true distro-independent portable application that just runs. Combining the portability of AppImages, and the security of Flatpaks without accessing the core packages because of immutability. Package Forge hopefully matures into this.
- Supports Qt/GTK+, and other app frameworks. Apps automatically integrate the local theme for a consistent look and feel, regardless of the developement framework used.
- Beautifully designed apps incorporating the simple design language of GNOME and GTK apps, with the customizability of KDE and Qt apps. For example, there’s an option to move the window title to the left, the preferences to the right with the window buttons. Same goes for the menu, toolbar and panels. This way, most of the mouse clicks can be done on the right side, and there’s no need to move the mouse all the way to the left.
- Unified GUI for system maintenance and optimization like Garuda Linux's Toolbox.
- Fast, rolling release with option for stable release, if needed.
- Atomic updates, with easy 1-click rollback. Can turn off feature.
- Can be declarative and reproducible.
- Able to select GNU or non-GNU based system.
- Option for systemd or non-systemd initialization system and service manager.
- Able to select from multiple desktop environments, via sessions.
- Easy to use and reliable installer like Calamares installer, with online/offline installation option.
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File sharing is an integral part of web development, and what's the faster way to share than peer-to-peer (P2P)? P2P allows the sender to transfer file/s directly to the recipient without storing any data on an intermediary server. However, for the transfer to be successful, the connection between the sender and receiver must be maintained until the download is complete. In the online realm, this means the sender's tab in the browser, where the transfer was initiated, must be kept "alive". The sender doesn't have to be a medical practitioner to do this, just keep the tab open.
I've collected some of the best P2P services out there. Here are some of the criteria for inclusion:
- Well, we already know that it is fast, so the main factor here would be the file size. There must be no limit.
- No registration is required. No need to provide recipient email, message, etc.
- Everything must be online. No need to download software. No need to use Flash or plugins or other crap.
- It is very easy to use. Here's my concept of easy: upload the file and share the link. That's it!
- Although not as important, good criteria nevertheless: you must have a clean and professional-looking page. Preferably, no ads.
ToffeeShare has no file limit. Try CopyPaste.ME and File.pizza. CheezyPizza has no filesize limit.
Wait! SendAnywhere deserves a special mention here. Instead of giving the recipient links to download, you give out an auto-generated 6-digit code. The main reason why it didn't qualify is because the online service has a maximum file size limit of 1 GB (it is huge, but I have criteria to follow). If you don't mind installing their software, which is available on Android, iOS, Windows(desktop and phone), Mac, Linux, and Chrome devices, there is no limit what so ever.
OpenCloud is a free self-hosted file sharing app. LinShare is an open-source self-hosted and secure file sharing solution for business. Requires an email account.
ShareX is a screen capture, file sharing and productivity tool. Windows only.
To share files between devices there's LocalSend, very easy and straightforward to use. To easily copy text, links and access files and photos from mobile phone to computer and vice versa, Microsoft have Phone Link. If using a Samsung phone, try Samsung Flow. Winpinator is a Windows only file transfer tool equivalent to Linux's version of Warpinator. KDE Connect also share text between devices, works on Linux and Windows. Packet allows sending and receiving files wirelessly from Android devices using Quick Share, or another device with Packet.
Hamster ZIP Archiver is fast and easy to use. They also have other software in which you may be interested. Another good option is 7-Zip.
The Unzipper extracts .zip and .rar archives or .gz/tar.gz files on webservers. It detects .zip/.rar/.tar.gz/.gz archives and let you choose which one to extract(if there are multiple archives available). It also supports creating archives. It's handy if there's no shell access.
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BitTorrents aka "torrents", work by downloading small bits of files from many different web sources at the same time. Since it is easy and free to use, it has become the most popular form of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. To start downloading software, music, movies, and digital books, all you need is a torrent file and the client software.
A torrent file is a computer file with .torrent extension. It does not contain the actual content to be distributed but rather metadata holding various pieces of information, such as files and folders to be distributed. It also has a list of the network locations of trackers, which are computers that help participants in the system find each other and form efficient distribution groups called swarms.
These files are downloaded from torrent sites. There are a lot of excellent sources such as TorLock, LimeTorrents and TorentGalaxy with fewer ads and an easy to navigate design.
The .torrent information is used by a BitTorrent client like KGet, KTorrent, PikaTorrent, Tixati, Transmission, qBitTorrent, uTorrent and BitComet. These are free, lightweight, and ad-free.
Use KGet Integration extension to have seamless integration with FireFox or any FireFox-based browser. To set-up, follow the steps here. In case there are errors downloading torrent files, install these libraries by typing the command: sudo pacman -S libktorrent libmms in an Arch-based distro.
Better safe than sorry. Before downloading, learn how to spot a fake torrent.
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When it comes to clouds, I usually consider the storage size, file size, and bandwidth limitations above anything else. Of course, it must be free, haha. I believe that bigger is better and unlimited is the best. However, competition in this segment is stiff and free unlimited services are hard to come by. Still, there are quite a few providers that offer huge storage space at zero cost.
OpenDrive gives 5 GB of cloud storage on their free account. But one advantage of their free offer is the hot linking of files in their Public folder, useful when integrating external files into websites.
Koofr provide 10 GB free forever plan, with no file size restriction. Connect it to Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive, but the free account is limited to only 2 external accounts. Transfer pictures, videos from Instagram, and Facebook. It has Vault feature to store sensitive files. It does have a 50 GB daily public sharing transfer limit, which is not a deal breaker for me. Get their 1 TB lifetime plan offer for just $199.99.
pCloud offers task-based 10 GB for free, and a lifetime one-time payment of $199 for 500 GB of data storage and 500 GB of traffic. IceDrive also offers 10 GB. A cheaper Starter lifetime with 100 GB storage but with unlimited bandwidth is being offered by Filen for €29.99. They also offer 10 GB in the free plan.
Impressed? That's just the appetizer, haha. Google is one of the most trustworthy names in the business, and Drive gives you 15 GB for storing files of any type. Take note, the total size already includes space for products like Gmail and Docs, so upload only the most important files here. KIO GDrive - KDE Applications is a KIO(KDE Input/Output) worker that enables KIO-aware applications(Dolphin, Kate or GwenView) to access and edit Google Drive files on the cloud.
Drime offers a free 20 GB, its French! The paid Starter plan cost €2.99/month with 500 GB storage. Check out their 2 TB lifetime offer for just $149.99!
Mega.IO also offers 20 GB free storage. Their prices are very competitive with Pro Lite plan costing €4.99/month featuring 750 GB of storage and 1 TB of transfer.
BackBlaze has a Personal Computer Backup plan that is unlimited for just $9/month or $99/year. You can't, however, share files with others. They do have a pay-as-you-go B2 Cloud Storage starting at $6/TB/month. Egress up to 3x that is free, then a $0.01/GB for additional egress.
Got server? Host your own cloud using OwnCloud. The software is part of the Softaculous package.
Now that you have lots of cloud accounts, how do you organize all the files and data spread throughout different cloud providers? AirExplorer is free cloud storage account managers. AirCluster is a sister software that combines all your cloud account into one cluster.
RClone is an open-source, command-line program designed to manage, sync, and back up files between a local computer and the cloud storage provider, and even between different providers. It integrates with Mega, Filen, Koofr, Drime and lots more. It supports WebDAV, S3, HTTP, FTP, SFTP, and many more transfer protocols. RClone Manager, RClone Shuttle, RClone View, and RClone UI are some of the GUIs.
To backup and sync files to an external storage like SDD or HDD, try FreeFileSync. Kopia.IO is a free open-source backup software with GUI, supports Windows, MacOS, and Linux, it can send backups to major cloud providers. Duplicacy is another option, free for personal use. Borg and Restic are command driven. BorgWarehouse, and Borgitory are some GUIs for Borg, more can be found here. BackRest, Restic Browser, and NPBackup are GUIs for Restic.
RSync is a fast and extraordinarily versatile file copying and syching tool for both remote and local files. GRSync is its GUI.
Other options are KBackup, and Bup and it's GUI, Bups. Kup is a file level backup that seamlessly integrates into KDE Plasma DE.
SyncThing is a continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes files between two or more computers in real time. Your data is yours alone and you choose where it is stored.
If copying files manually is preferred, TeraCopy does it blazing fast.
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Sometimes there's just a situation where we have to run Windows 7 or 8 on a USB. Luckily, there's the WinToUSB program. It allows you to install and run the Windows operating system on a USB hard drive or flash drive, using an ISO image or CD/DVD drive as the source of installation. To do so, you'll need the Windows image file. The free version is good enough for basic personal needs.
If there's a need to clone the OS to another SSD or simply backup, try RescueZilla. DiskGenius and AOMEI have free versions.
SystemRescue(formerly known as SystemRescueCd) is a USB bootable Arch Linux distro with XFCE desktop, terminal, browser, and recovery utilities such as GParted, fsarchiver, filesystem tools and basic tools(editors, midnight commander, network tools). Used for administrating or repairing system and data on both Linux and Windows PCs and servers. Supports all important file systems(ext4, xfs, btrfs, vfat, ntfs), as well as network filesystems such as Samba and NFS. How to use SystemRescue troubleshoot and fix broken PC.
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For personal laptop, my options would be MSI Modern 14 and Asus VivoBook X1500EA-BQ2585WS. Both have backlit keyboards. Asus V16 and Intel NUC M15. Framework laptops are repairable and sustainable with replaceable components like the CPU, WiFi, battery, and more, so you can easily upgrade it. HP OmniBook 3 has 16-inch screen, 1920x1200 resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, HDMI, 2 USB-A 2.0, 2 USB-C 3.0, headphone jack ports cost only $515.
Can install Linux in a refurbished Thinkpad T480, it is well known for being durable and upgradable.
LapTap sell 2nd-hand laptops, they have a branch in Iloilo City and here's their list of products.
A more portable alternative to a laptops are tablets with laptop like specs, paired with keyboard cover or bluetooth keyboard, and installed with desktop Linux OS. There are already several specialty Linux based tablets, but would love a mainstream version like Chromium based tablets.
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