I’ve been wanting to make another list of the apps on my workstation since the last one but I couldn’t because I was switching between my Linux Mint and Ubuntu PCs on an almost daily basis. Now, I have settled on using one PC to work and let go of the other so I can dive right into the topic.
My distro of choice is – you guessed it, Ubuntu. I run 17.10 and am waiting to see what 18.04 will officially bring when it is released in April. “Why 17.10 and not 16.04 LTS?“, I hear you ask. Well, I have always been one to test Ubuntu’s builds and it includes the new shell, so heaven yeah!
It wouldn’t be resourceful to list every single installation on my PC so my list will regard the apps that I use the most, especially for my web development and writing jobs. For my design gigs, I mainly use a Mac and easy-to-use online tools whenever I’m away from home.
Without further ado, below is the way my Linux workstation is set up.
Customization
- Gnome Tweak Tool – Makes customizing my desktop a whole lot easier.
- ArcMenu – This is the alternative menu on my GNOME Desktop
- Korembi 2 – A perfect desktop and wallpaper manager for Linux.
- NotifyOSD – a utility tool that adds customization features like “close notifications on click”.
Internet
- Google Chrome – Because it is ideal for my web development needs.
- Firefox – I’m beginning to like Firefox’s latest builds and UI updates so I will continue to use it until further notice.
- Mailspring – The best mail client for Linux, that boost your productivity and send better email.
File Sharing and Storage
- Dropbox – A best cloud hosting service for keeping files securely and privately.
- ODrive – My Google Drive Client.
- Gnome Photos – An elegant photo management app with which you can organize, share, and edit photos.
Messaging & VoIP
- Skype for Linux – A Communication tool for free calls and chat.
- Station – A smart workstation for my all-in-one app.
- Manageyum – A browser made precisely for all my apps.
Music and Video Players
- Auryo – For streaming SoundCloud music from my desktop.
- Museeks – This music player is simple, stylish, customizable, and powerful.
- VLC Video Player – I don’t think I will ever unlove VLC.
Productivity Tools
- Bookworm – A simple eBook reader created with an emphasis on a distraction-free mode.
- Boostnote – A note taking and markdown editor made for coders.
- GitBook Editor – My writer-collaboration platform.
- Master PDF Editor – My main PDF and documents reader.
- Temps – A beautiful weather app.
Audio, Image & Video Editing
- Ardour – For major audio editing tasks.
- Audacity – For simple audio editing tasks.
- VidCutter – For simple video editing tasks.
Text Editors and IDEs
- Atom – My main text editor for PHP development projects.
- Sublime Text 3 – My general purpose text editor.
- Visual Studio Code – My main text editor for JavaScript projects.
System utilities
- Cerebro – My universal searching tool just like Appl’es spotlight search.
- Filezilla – My main FTP Client for uploading files to server.
- GitBash – My main app for Git operations.
- OpenSSH – My main SSH Client.
- Peek – My favorite screen recording tool.
- PB for Desktop – I use Push Bullet for Desktop to transfer links, images, and copied text across my devices. On it, I also follow some cool comic channels.
- Penguin Subtitle Player – The only subtitle app I have ever needed.
- Rapid Photo Download – To download multiple image and video files at the same time.
- Stacer – For monitoring my system and uninstalling apps.
- Synaptic Package manager – My main package management app.
- Terminus – My main terminal client. I used to use Hyper.
- Transmission – My torrent downloader app.
- WoeUSB – To create bootable Windows USB Sticks.
I also use my PC for Python and JavaScript development. For Python-specific tasks I work with Fabric, Peewee, and Flask; and for JavaScript-specific tasks, I work with vue-cli, electron, and element-ui.
As I said earlier, I’ve left out some apps but they might not be useful to your workflow anyway.
How similar is my workstation setup to yours? Let me know what you think about my app collection in the comments section below.
#1 is Deepin 15.5. I have found it impossible to not like. My #2 is a tie between KDE Neon and Linux Mint Cinnamon.(ok, that’s cheating) My #3 was Solus Budgie but the new Ubuntu Budgie is impressive.
For the last year I have used Deepin as my daily driver. It’s been a perfect Windows replacement for me. My high regard comes from steady use. It is an almost professional OS.
There have been so many improvements and new features added since version 15 first released, it is not the same distribution.
The control panel is a great feature and is almost comparable to the openSUSE YaST. Outside of openSUSE, it’s the only distro with such a comprehensive administration capability built in.
It is almost unfair to have to choose a favorite. I love Linux. Most distros are fantastic, in their own way.
Arch & Gentoo are beyond my current skill set but I do like Manjaro. openSUSE is great, as is Fedora.
Elementary is certainly pretty, but too Mac-like. Just not for me. Linux is freedom, MacOS is not. Besides, Linux smokes MacOS on my old MacBook Pro.
I have to work with Windows daily as a computer repair technician. Windows 10 is the most impressive release since XP. Microsoft has improved not only security but other issues as well. They can’t do a thing about its users.
With all the problems Windows has had through the years, you would think the users would take steps to protect their investments. Most don’t. That combined with poor Internet habits is a recipe for…calling me.
Not even Microsoft can afford the manpower needed to truly fix Windows. Open source Windows. That would do it. It may happen. Microsoft is changing and Windows is less important now, in the grand scheme of things.
My guess is the GNU/Linux/FOSS communities would love a crack at the Windows code. I imagine they would whip it into shape in no time.
Windows could be what it will never be in its proprietary form – great. Well, that might be stretching. It would at least be fully realized in potential.
I have to really like Deepin 15.5. It has a very usable desktop. The control panel gives me access to all needed functions.
The developers have added many new features since version 15 released, such as tagging in the file manager. There’s even a built in weather applet in the control panel now. It is a complete OS, definitely worth another look if it has been awhile.
I used Linux Mint prior to Deepin and liked it. Linux Mint is good but Deepin’s better. It is a more modern, innovative desktop environment.
I never could warm to Gnome, with its continuous stripping of what was good about it. Nautilus is pretty much useless now. The Gnome I did like, is a distant memory.
KDE Plasma is awesome but I can’t get anything done. I start tinkering around with it, months pass and no works been done. But, man does my system rock! Yeah, KDE can’t be on a production machine.
Thank you, for the heads up with Cherrytree. How, it isn’t real well known, is beyond me. I hadn’t heard of it, prior to your article. I couldn’t live without it now.
many thanks for all the useful informations you provide on your website (not only on this specific page)
Thanks for coming around Patrick.
Don’t forget to share 😀
Personally had some stability issues with some communication services while using Franz. I find Rambox better these days.
I had issues when I tried Franz too and even that was almost 2 years ago
I use:
GIMP – For simple image editing tasks.
FRANZ – For messaging services like WhatsApp, Slack, Messenger, Telegram, HipChat, Hangouts, …
TOR – For to surf in the Internet dark side.
I use Polarr online for my simple editing tasks.
I would have loved to try Station on Linux to see if it does a better job than Franz.
You must love Boostnote, you listed it two times in the same section 🙂
I understand, it’s a young though great tool.