favorite linux packages
posted: Wed, Jun 28, 2023 |
tagged: | | tech
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packages, packages everywhere, but not a script to chmod
There are simply some packages, you just can't live without. And when it comes to my preferred Linux setup, I have a handful of go-to packages that really make a big difference for me in terms of a good experience or a mediocre experience. Some of these are just creature comforts, while others I can't really live without. Not everything below is CLI-based. These are various packages and utilities I rely on regularly.
This list is in no particular order. And if I decide to start posting these sort of things on YouTube, this list below will get chunked into groups of either 5 or 7. I believe those are the obligatory list sizes for YouTube reviews.
- python3: included by default, my programming language du jur
- pip3: A Python package manager. I code in Python so can't live without pip nearby.
- npm: Node Package Manager. Now that this site is statically generated, NPM is a must.
- n (via npm): n manages my npm version, handy.
- 11ty (via npm): my static site generator for this site
- starship: a terminal beautifier
- keepassxc: a secure password manager
- ctop: A very nicely put together CLI process monitor.
- net-tools: I use these regularly with work and troubleshooting home networking
- tio (via homebrew): This one is new, and it is handy to aid in connecting to microcontrollers while coding
- tldr: Also a newbie, but provides some easier-on-the-brain manpages
- VS Code: my code editor of choice
- lt browser: a browser that can render across various mobile devices for testing code
- postman: a fantastic tool for working with and testing web-based APIs
- git: I would hope this one requires little to no explanation.
- iotop: another handy troubleshooting tool
- powertop: handy to review power draw and the power states of CPU cores
- rsync: powerful file mover / replicator
- rclone: rsync for cloud storage, invaluable
- aws-cli: a CLI interface for working with AWS via API
- tmux / screen: handy terminal emulation tools
- wget: a must for downloading packages via CLI
- whois: handy for querying domain registrations via CLI
- wavemon: a nifty wireless utility that can help troubleshoot connections
- ansible (via pip): a great configuration management tool for Linux
- gparted: useful tool for managing disk partitions
- gimp: A great open source image and photo manipulation tool
- obs studio: useful for screen recordings and other clever video use cases
- simplescreenrecorder: great for lighter-weight screen recording and screenshots
- terraform: infrastructure as code, something I'm working on learning
- docker: containers, yes please! runs so much better on Linux than Mac/Win
- docker-compose: a meta manager for docker and assembling containers / groups thereof
- cmatrix: what is life without whimsy? enter the matrix from the CLI
- homebrew: makes my work Mac act a bit more Linux-ey
- neofetch: nice presentation of core components of the running system
- dig: something I use all the time, helpful in DNS troubleshooting
- grep: filtering down searches? yes please
- history: a way to look back through your CLI command execution
- brave: a really nice, privacy focused browser
- nomachine: a high fidelity remote desktop management tool
- obsidian: a powerful and feature-rich markdown-based notes / PKM system
- fritzing: a great circuit mapping tool (learning this one)
- handbrake: an easy to use video conversion utility
- ffmpeg: someething I need to use and learn more, a CLI-based video tranformation tool
- nano: I really should learn VIM, but until then this is a simple CLI text editor
Some of the other built-in go-to packages include several obvious choices. Things like lsblk, lspci, dh, fdisk, etc.
Have a suggestion that isn't on this list? Please reach out and let me know!
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