Must Have Apps

A list of Apps that will cover 80% of the needs from 80% of the people.

Productivity

LogSec + Pomatez

flatpak install flathub com.logseq.Logseq #https://github.com/logseq/logseq/releases/download/0.10.2/Logseq-linux-x64-0.10.2.AppImage
snap install pomatez #https://zidoro.github.io/pomatez/

ℹ️

LogSec can do more than notes, Power your knowledge with F/OSS Local LLMs

Thunderbird: A Free email Client to rule them all

nix-shell -p thunderbird #flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.Thunderbird

ℹ️

If you need to create Diagrams, consider: Mermaid, Python Diagrams
And for PPT’s: Sli.dev, marp or revealjs

Daily Driver

Browser

nix-shell -p librewolf #flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.firefox
#flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.librewolf-community

#https://flathub.org/apps/org.chromium.Chromium 
#nix-shell -p mullvad-browser

Office

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.libreoffice

Cloud

nix-shell -p nextcloud-client

ℹ️

This installs a Nextcloud Client. You can also have your own Nextcloud Server.

Celeste: A simple GUI sync client which supports multiple cloud providers.

flatpak install flathub com.hunterwittenborn.Celeste

As simple as this, you have support for Google Drive or Proton Drive (among others) in Linux.

You can have a look also to FreeFileSync, RClone as well.

Weylus: A great App to use your Table as a second (Touch) Screen.

sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-dev libappindicator3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev
wget https://github.com/H-M-H/Weylus/releases/download/v0.11.4/Weylus_0.11.4_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i Weylus_*.deb
sudo apt-get -f install
#ifconfig

And this is it, visit http:localip:1701

You can also have a look to Deskreen or Remmina.

Also, you can try WebTops from your Tablet’s browser to have full desktop experience.

App Fleet: Create workspaces for your Desktop

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/omegaui/app_fleet/main/network-install.sh | bash

Dev + Content

VSCodium

nix-shell -p vscodium

OBS Studio

nix-shell -p obs-studio

Blender

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.blender

Have a look to other Apps for content creation.

❓

I am an engineer, where can I get the good stuff (FEM, CAD…) in Linux?

And that’s not All 🚀

Sec/Privacy

Bitwarden

nix-shell -p bitwarden

2Fa’s

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.waydroid
#https://github.com/twofas/2fas-android

Mullvad VPN

nix-shell -p mullvad-vpn

Freetube

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.freetube

Chat

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.element-desktop

ℹ️

This will install a client for Matrix. You can have own server, checkout the Matrix Server Docker installation.

Offline Maps

For offline explorers:

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.organicmaps

How to create bootable USB’s

Create a bootable usb with your favourite Linux:

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.rpi-imager

Use Ventoy to have MultiBoot USB Drive Tool:

wget https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases/download/v1.0.97/ventoy-1.0.97-linux.tar.gz

tar xvf ventoy-1.0.97-linux.tar.gz
cd ventoy

sudo sh VentoyWeb.sh

Access Ventoy at: localhost:24680

Create a Windows ISO with WoeUSB

sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0 grub2-common grub-pc-bin
sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng

What If I need to Format a Drive in Linux?

Use GParted:

apt install gparted

Or try with Fdisk:

Open a terminal.
Run the command `sudo fdisk -l` to list all available hard drives and partitions. Identify the device name of the hard drive you want to format (e.g., /dev/sdb) or try: lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL
lsblk /dev/sdb
See what mounted with mount | grep sdb
Run the command sudo fdisk /dev/sdX (replace X with the appropriate letter for your hard drive).
Use the m command to display the help menu and view available options.
Use the d command to delete existing partitions (if any).
Use the n command to create a new partition.
Use the t command to set the partition type.
Use the w command to write changes to the disk and exit.

Persistent Mounting - Mount USB on Boot

To mount always at the same place when reboot:

lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL
lsblk /dev/nvme0n1
mount | grep nvme0n1p1

sudo blkid /dev/nvme0n1p1 #provides uuid

sudo nano /etc/fstab #add the line below
UUID=YOUR-UUID-HERE /media/jalcocert/BackUp exfat defaults,uid=1000,gid=1000,fmask=0022,dmask=0022 0 0

# sudo mkdir -p /media/jalcocert/BackUp
# sudo chmod 777 /media/jalcocert/BackUp

#sudo apt install exfat-fuse
#sudo apt install fuse
#sudo mount.exfat-fuse /dev/sda1 /media/sda1_BackUp

FAQ

What if I am using Windows still?

You can get these Apps in Windows as well. It would be great if you try them out before switching to Linux as main OS.

If you want to make your life easier, check how to install them with Chocolatey.

What about browser extensions?

What about PWA?

Progressive Web Apps can fit any form factor (desktop, mobile, tablet, or forms yet to emerge).

They are also Connectivity independent – Service workers allow apps to work offline or on low-quality networks. And they are App-like – Feel like a native app to the user with app-style interactions and navigation, plus they can be distributed without using the Google/Apple stores, simply use them with a browser and no installation required*.

Hand Written notes in browser - ExcaliDraw
More Ideas? Awsome-PWA

What about the remaining 20% of people and 20% of use cases?

First, I did not want to make this a really complex and long list.

Secondly, if you are able to use Linux with these Apps covering most of your needs, you need to celebrate. You have already passed the most difficult part in your Linux journey.

And now, you should be able to find and use any other App that you need.

Still something offering resistance? Checkout how to Virtualize other OS’s