Many lightweight Linux distributions can be used to reincarnate older machines. The lightweight distros that will be discussed in this guide can give a new life to your older devices. Depending upon your requirements, various applications can also be installed, and they may even serve as an alternative for your current environment. This guide discusses the top seven lightweight Linux distributions available in 2021.

Top 7 Lightweight Linux Distros At a Glance

1. Tiny Core Linux
2. Absolute Linux
3. antiX
4. Lubuntu
5. LXLE
6. Linux Lite
7. Bunsen Labs

1. Tiny Core Linux

The Tiny Core Linux distribution is one of the tiniest distributions, and it comes in three different sizes.

The most lightweight edition of this distribution is called Core, which is only an 11 MB file, but there is no user-interface. The other variant is TinyCore, which is a 16 MB file and allows both FLTK and FLWM desktop environments. The third variant is CorePlus, which is a 106 MB file and supports two different desktop environments. Apart from that, a version for Raspberry Pie is also available for Tiny Core.

This distribution does not have any apps, apart from a terminal, basic text editor, and connectivity manager. Additionally, the control panel allows you to configure various I/O peripherals.

2. Absolute Linux

Absolute Linux is another lightweight desktop distribution and that comes preinstalled with the Firefox browser and LibreOffice suite. This distribution is built on Slackware and is designed to make maintenance less complex, unlike its parent OS. The installation process of Absolute Linux is text-based and a rather speedy process to follow.

This distribution is developed to assist you in installing and deleting programs to create your own distribution, but you may need time and experience with Linux to do so.

Absolute Linux is extremely nimble once it has been installed on your system. Providing users with common apps, such as LibreOffice and the lightweight IceWM window manager, this OS suitable is extremely suitable for older machines. Absolute Linux also contains numerous handy scripts and utilities to ease the setup and maintenance of the installation process. There is also plenty of documentation that comes with the operating system to help new users.

3. antiX

The antiX OS is another great choice for a machine with very few resources. This distribution uses IceWM and Rox File Manager with tons of applications. Like Debian, antiX uses its own repositories. Though this distribution comes with the Synaptic manager, the “metapackage” installer makes this distribution more convenient for new users. The antiX distro comes with visually appealing icons and a sleek minimalist IceWM window manager. The control panel can be used to adjust nearly all the elements of the installation, another interesting feature of this distro. For instance, using the custom modules in the control panel, different features of the desktop’s appearance, such as the theme or wallpaper, can be modified.

4. Lubuntu

The ‘L’ may very well stand for ‘Lightweight’ in Lubuntu, as this distro is designed for Ubuntu users who need an operating system that is not resource-hungry. Lubuntu uses the LXQt desktop, which is lightweight compared to the Gnome 3 environment. Along with a wide variety of useful tools and services, Lubuntu comes with an office suite and multimedia applications.

Lubuntu is a lightweight distro that focuses on speed. It also comes with lightweight versions of popular applications. This does not imply that Lubuntu is missing many features, and though it is based on Ubuntu, this distro is a modern Linux distribution that skips any needless applications.

One of the key features of Lubuntu is its support for Ubuntu’s package managers that allow users to obtain any program supported by Ubuntu.

5. LXLE

LXLE is a Linux distribution based on the Ubuntu LTS release with the LXDE desktop environment. This distribution mostly focuses on reliability and stability.

LXLE is mainly targeted to revive older machines, and it is intended to act as a desktop out-of-the-box, specifically tailored for current Windows users. The key area on which developers focus is the appearance of this distro.

The distro provides complete applications across several categories, such as Internet, audio and video, graphics, workplace, sports, and more. LXLE also comes with a range of useful terminal-based weather applications, as well as a graphical frontend for many virus scanners called Penguin Pills. LXLE is available as a Live Image for 32-bit and 64-bit computers, and, much like Lubuntu, the hardware specifications are a minimum of 512 MB of machine RAM, with a recommended 1 GB.

6. Linux Lite

Linux Lite, also Ubuntu-based, is designed to make Linux easy-to-use for Windows users who are just switching to Linux. This distro comes with a Firefox-like browser, VLC, and LibreOffice, with a zRAM memory compression tool that assists the system with running faster on older machines. There is even a special utility for the ‘Lite Update.’ This distribution requires at least a 1.5 GHz processor to function smoothly. Linux Lite also supports multi-booting.

7. BunsenLabs

Crunchbang, a very well-known Debian-based distribution, was explicitly intended to use as few device resources as possible. Though it was discontinued in 2013, to continue its legacy, the Crunchbhang community members developed two distros based on this distribution. Crunchbang++ is one of those descendants; however, this distro has now been discontinued.

But the other descendant, BunsenLabs, is still around. The latest Bunsenlabs release, Lithium, is based on the latest stable Debian update, featuring a beautifully designed Openbox window manager and the core package repository. This distribution comes with a variety of themes and wallpapers and includes a selection of desktop applications, providing a very functional out-of-the-box experience.

The following table shows the minimum system requirements of each lightweight Linux distribution discussed in this article:

Conclusion

Many computer users would like to have Linux on their secondary devices. Though many distributions work smoothly on most machines, newer editions of Linux distributions are becoming very hard to manage, demanding more memory and processing power than predecessors. Luckily, many lightweight Linux distributions can give a new life to older devices. Lightweight distros are less resource-consuming and can run very efficiently.

This article discussed various lightweight Linux distributions, such as Absolute Linux, a lightweight desktop distribution that comes with the Firefox browser and LibreOffice suite. The antiX distribution is well known as the best choice for machines with very few resources. Similarly, BunsenLabs provides the simplest desktop environment possible, and Linux Lite gives a Windows-like experience on Linux operating systems. Furthermore, Lubuntu is another great choice for users who enjoy using Ubuntu. The default desktop of Lubuntu is based on LXQt, which is significantly less resource-hungry than the Gnome 3 desktop environment. Finally, LXLE is a lightweight and well-liked Linux distribution based on the LTE release of Ubuntu that is mostly focused on stability.

These hex editors allow you to change hexadecimal values, thereby allowing users to modify file behavior even if they don’t have access to source code. However, the data represented by a hex editor is not exactly human readable. Reading and interpreting hexadecimal values to infer program logic and behavior is not an easy task by any means and it takes considerable efforts to find values and make even the smallest of change. A hex editor is one of the first tools used while reverse engineering a file.

Xxd

Xxd command allows you to dump hexadecimal data from a binary file. It can also reverse dump the hexadecimal data into a binary file, thus making it a useful command line hex editor. It is available in repositories of almost all major Linux distributions, usually as a part of the Vim text editor package.

To dump hex data from a file, run a command in the following format:

To convert a hexdump to binary, use “r” switch:

You can explore all of its options by running the two commands mentioned below:

Jeex

Jeex is an open source hex editor that can view and edit binary files. It can present data in binary, ASCII, hexadecimal and octal formats. It can be used to find and replace values in a variety of formats, explore data types and parse strings. It can also be used to view differences between two binary files.

You can install Jeex in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

Jeex is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install Jeex from the package manager. You can also compile a build from source code available here.

GHex

GHex or “GNOME Hex Editor” is part of the GNOME3 application stack and is available in default repositories of most Linux distributions. It can present data in both hex and ASCII formats and you can edit and save your changes to the original binary file. You can also use it to show a table of values converted into different notations.

You can install GHex in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

GHex is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install GHex from the package manager. You can also download it from the Flathub store.

wxHexEditor

wxHexEditor is a hex editor that is specially designed to handle large binary files whose size can run in GBs. Its other features are on par with GHex and Jeex as it can both modify contents of a binary file and save them into the original file.

You can install wxHexEditor in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

wxHexEditor is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install wxHexEditor from the package manager. You can also compile its executable binary file from source code.

Okteta

Okteta is a hex editor written in C++ and Qt libraries. It is part of the KDE application suite and it features a multi-pane layout for better visibility and readability of binary data. Okteta’s main features include multiple data views, dockable panes, numerical and character encodings, tabbed views and so on.

You can install Okteta in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

Okteta is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install Okteta from the package manager. You can also download it from the Flathub store.

Hexedit

Hexedit is an open source command line tool that can view and edit binary files by presenting data in hexadecimal and ASCII formats. It supports searching data by values and can show scrollable output. It also accepts numerous keyboard shortcuts to navigate through the hex data. Hexedit also features useful editing shortcuts for copying, pasting and selecting the data.

You can install Hexedit in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

Hexedit is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install Hexedit from the package manager. You can also compile its executable binary file from source code.

To open a binary file in Hexedit, use a command in the following format:

To learn more about its usage, run the following two commands:

Hexer

Hexer is a command line hex editor that supports vi-like interface and keybindings. It can show multiple buffers and supports auto-completion. It can also use RegEx expressions to search data and allows users to undo their changes.

You can install Hexer in Ubuntu by using the command mentioned below:

Hexer is available in repositories of all major Linux distributions, so you can install Hexer from the package manager. You can also compile its executable binary file from source code.

To open a binary file in Hexer, use a command in the following format:

To learn more about its usage, run the following two commands:

Conclusion

Hex editors are really useful to view binary data of pre-compiled files whose source code is typically not available. However, viewing hex data, finding right values, understanding patterns and editing data can be an extremely difficult task as often human readable data is not available. In Spite of these challenges, developers often use hex editors to reverse engineer binary data.

• Bourne shell: In a Bourne shell, the “$” character works as a default prompt. Examples of Bourne shells are Bourne shell (sh), POSIX shell (sh), Korn shell (ksh), etc.
• C shell: In a C shell, the “%” character works as a default prompt. Examples of C shells are TENEX/TOPS C shell (tcsh), C shell (csh), etc.

There are various open-source command shells available, and you can install different shells in a Linux distro. If you are looking for the best open-source shell, then read on for a list of the top five open-source shells available for Linux and select whichever shell best fits your requirements.

Top 5 Open-Source Shells Available for Linux

There are many open-source shells available for Linux, but in this article, we only include the top five shells recommended by the Linux experts.

1. Bash (Bourne-Again Shell)

The full form of the word “Bash” is “Bourne-Again Shell,” and it is one of the best open-source shells available for Linux. Bash is provided as a default shell in multiple Linux distros, such as Arch Linux, Ubuntu, and several other standard Linux distros. Bash also works for reading and executing commands from a specific file format known as a shell script.

Bash is an open-source shell that was developed from the original UNIX Bourne Shell, known as “sh,” and so Bash was designed to be compatible with an old script by combining different enhanced features. Bash can be your long-term shell option, as it comes with ample documentation and is recommended by Linux professionals.

The following is a list of some of the features offered by the Bash command shell:

• Incredible command-line editing
• Contains job control mechanisms to deal with Cron jobs specifically.
• Smoothly performs large series of integer arithmetic; can take from base 2 up to base 64.
• Unlimited size-indexed arrays and command history.

2. Zsh (Z-Shell)

Zsh or Z-Shell is a modern-day shell designed to be innovative and interactive by offering unique features in addition to the features of other Unix or GNU Linux shells, such as ksh, tcsh, Bash, etc. This open-source shell offers scripting features and is customizable, easy-to-use, and offers command completion, spelling correction, and more. If you want an advanced Linux shell, go for the Zsh shell. The installation procedure for Zsh is also effortless. In Zsh, you can even use open-source frameworks, such as oh-my-zsh customizable plugins and options.

The Zsh shell offers various features for Linux, including:

• Fantastic auto-completion functionality for files and paths.
• Command history sharing mechanism.
• Concept index, functions index, key index, and variable index.
• Various interactive features, such as smart escaping, spelling correction, recursive globbing, and more.

3. Ksh (Korn Shell)

The full form of Ksh is Korn shell because it was designed by David G. Korn. Ksh is a powerful, interactive command language and high-level programming language that can compete with other Unix shells. The development of the Korn shell was inspired by the interactivity of the C shell interactivity and the productivity of the Bash shell.

The following is a list of some of the features available in the Korn shell:

• Unique options to improve performance and capability, as shellcode is stored in the memory.
• Ctrl+Z tweak that can quickly stop a running job, and you can continue to execute your commands if they were initiated with fg (foreground) or bg (background) commands.
• Contains various advanced features for fast-paced executions.
• Includes advanced command-line editing features to edit commands more easily.

4. Tcsh (Tenex C Shell)

The full form of Tcsh is Tenex C Shell. This shell is an improved version of the C shell and is used as a shell script command processor and interactive login shell. Tcsh offers multiple options, including a command-line editor, job control, spellcheck support, configurable command-line completion, a modernized history mechanism, and more. This open-source shell for Linux is best for programmers because its syntax is like the C language, so these users can use the scripting features in Tcsh without any knowledge of Bash.

The features offered by Tcsh include the following:

• Filename completion and programmable words.
• C-like syntax and a command-line editor.
• FreeBSD operating system to power up modern servers.
• Job control and spelling correction features.

5. Fish (Friendly Interactive Shell)

The full form of Fish is Friendly Interactive Shell. Fish was released in 2005 and offers an easy-to-use, user-friendly, open-source shell for Linux. Fish is a great choice for new Linux users, as this shell uses color-coding to help new programmers. Fish includes various options, such as syntax highlighting, fancy tab completion, auto-complete suggestions, and more. As explained previously, Fish was designed to offer a user-friendly shell platform with easy installation.

The following is a list of the features available in Fish:

• Feature for man page completion.
• Provides auto-suggestions and web-based configuration.
• Offers advanced tab completion.
• Support for X clipboard and searchable command history.

Conclusion

An open-source shell provides an interface for the Unix system that allows a user to run multiple commands at once rather easily. This article provided a detailed description of the top five open-source shells available for Linux. All these shells come highly recommended by Linux experts due to their unique features and capabilities in Linux platforms. You can also read our other articles to learn more about the installation procedures for each shell.

Web development is reaching a new high with each passing year with various tools at disposal for web developers. These tools have helped developers develop powerful and popular modern-day web applications like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and AirBnB. End products like these have increased expectations from web developers.

Web development tools can be divided into different categories such as code/text editors, web application frameworks, front-end frameworks, API and testing clouds tools, and web design tools.

Hence, every web developer must have the right web development tools in his toolbox. In this article, we’re going to look at the best Linux tools for web developers.

Code/Text Editors

Code/Text editors are a very important tool in web development. If you have a perfect editor with support for web technologies, it will eventually help you develop high-quality web applications. A perfect editor will serve you for a lifetime.

Vim

Vim is my favorite code editor and the one I use the most. It is one of the best software programming and web development tools out there. It is a simple yet reliable terminal best code editor. It is highly configurable web development tool which will make web developer feel at home.

Vim code editor supports all the programming and mark-up languages such as Python, C#, C, C++, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. It is a feature-rich tool with features like syntax highlighting, DirectX support, mouse gestures, and many more.

Atom

Atom is a free and open-source cross-platform text editor for program and web development. It is a modern tool with a modern user interface that is very easy to use and highly customizable. It is embedded with the GitHub package, which helps you work directly with Git and GitHub.

It also comes with HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Node.js integration under the hood. It runs on an Electron framework, which lets you develop cross-platform applications for web technologies. You will find this tool very useful with support for every web development tool a web developer needs.

Web Application Frameworks

Whether you’re building a website, web service, or web applications, web application frameworks are very important ingredients in the procedure. These are nothing but the software libraries designed to build powerful web applications.

Django

Django is a Python-based web framework that ensures rapid development and clean design. It is a free and open-source web framework that is also most secure in competition.

Django makes it easier for web developers to build web apps more quickly and with less code. Django community is backed by Python community, which ensures thousands of useful packages and utilities.

ReactJS

ReactJS is a JavaScript library for building creative user interfaces and UI components. It makes the task of designing the user interface much easier for web developers. It is created and maintained by Facebook and a community of individual developers.

It is a great tool that can be used in the development of a single-page application or mobile application. It is one of the most flexible and efficient web application frameworks out there.

Download ReactJS

Front-End Frameworks

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear front-end framework? CSS, right? Well, front-end frameworks are the packages that contain standardized scripts or code.

Bootstrap

Bootstrap is a free and open-source CSS framework that encourages high-quality front-end web development. It is the most popular HTML, CSS, and JS library out there.

It is a great tool for developers, which is very useful and necessary. It has got everything that a professional web developer needs.

Download Bootstrap

Material

Material is one of the most popular front-end frameworks, and Google also backs it. As it is based on ReactJS, you might find it easier to integrate with ReactJS in the development cycle.

The components offered in this framework make it easier to develop and design responsive material design for web and mobile applications.

Download Material

API Testing Tools

Testing is very important in aspects of the web development cycle. Having the perfect tool at the disposal makes the whole process easier and faster.

SoapUI

SoapUI special tool dedicated to API testing, which lets you test web services and applications easily. It is supported and backed by SmartBear.

It comes in two packages; one is free to use, and the other is a Pro package with some premium features.

Download SoapUI

Package Managers

It is very important to offer post-deployment services like installation, upgrades/updates, and configurations. This process is made easier with the help of package managers.

NPM

NPM is a default package manager NodeJS, a JavaScript runtime environment. It is a very powerful and popular package manager out there used by many popular web applications and services.

Get It Here

Yarn

Yarn is a fast, popular, and reliable package manager out there. It had offered great competition to NPM, and for some time, it had led the race. It is built by Facebook and very easy to get started with.

Get It Here

These are the best Linux tools that web developers will find very important while developing a web application or service. Have any queries or suggestions? Feel free to ping us at @linuxhint and @SwapTirthakar.

This article covers a list of graphical and command line “world clock” applications that can be used to view current time and date values at different time zones / locations around the world.

GNOME Clocks

GNOME Clocks, as the name suggests, is a clock application that is included in default repositories of almost all major Linux distributions. It is part of the official GNOME-3 application stack and it supports displaying time and date for many different time zones. Other features of GNOME Clocks include support for stopwatch, countdown timers and alarm notifications. If you are looking for an all-in-one, comprehensive clock application for Linux, you won’t have to look beyond the GNOME Clocks application.

GNOME Clocks can be installed in Ubuntu by executing the command specified below:

In other Linux distributions, you can search for the term “GNOME Clocks” in the package manager to install it. Alternatively, it can be installed from the FlatHub store.

Gworldclock

Gworldclock is a simple clock application that can show current date and time for different regions around the world. Unlike GNOME Clocks, it doesn’t have any extra functionalities. However, you can manually add new time zones, customize the format of date and time string, and add your own remarks to the string format.

Gworldclock can be installed in Ubuntu by executing the command specified below:

To install it in other distributions, search for the term “Gworldclock” in the package manager.

Tty-clock

Tty-clock is a command line application that can show a real time, continuously updating clock in any terminal emulator. You can customize it extensively using its numerous command line options.

You can install “tty-clock” from the package manager of your Linux distribution by using the search function. To download it in Ubuntu, use the following command:

To view all of its options, run the following command:

The clock visible in the screenshot above has been created by running the following command:

By default, tty-clock shows time for default locale selected on your Linux system. You can show time for a different time zone by prefixing the command with “TZ” environment variable. The command below shows current date and time in New York.

You can refer to all possible values of the “TZ” environment variable here.

Note that tty-clock cannot simultaneously display multiple clocks. You will have to use a different window for each instance of tty-clock. You can also use multi-pane terminal emulators like “Terminator” to view time at multiple places at once.

Undertime

Undertime is a pretty handy command line utility that can be used to find correct meeting times at different time zones around the world. It automatically calculates time and date values according to user needs and presents them in a nice chart. For the purpose of just displaying a world clock, you can hide the chart by using the “grep” command.

You can download Undertime from the package manager of your Linux distribution by using the search function. To download it in Ubuntu, use the following command:

By default, Undertime takes the default locale time set on your Linux system. The command used in the above screenshot is specified below (you can customise it as per your needs):

The “New_York” and “Los_Angeles” parts in the command specify the time zones for which you want to show calculated time. To view names of all possible locations, use the following command:

You can continuously watch the output of undertime command by using a command in the following format (“n” stands for interval in seconds):

For more help on Undertime, use the following two commands:

Date command

Date command is available by default on most Linux distributions. It shows current system time according to the locale you have set on on your Linux PC.

To view time for a different locale, you can use “TZ” environment variable (as explained under tty-clock section in this article):

You can refer to all possible values of the “TZ” environment variable here. To continuously watch the output of date command, use a command in the following format (“n” stands for interval in seconds):

Osdclock

Osdclock shows current date and time as on OSD (On Screen Display) overlay. It works on all Linux distributions regardless of the desktop environment or panel used. It is especially useful when you are running a full screen app or game and want to know the current time. Below is an example showing the command and how its output looks like on a fullscreen Firefox window. You can customize its font style, size and display position using various command line options it comes with.

You can download Osdclock from the package manager of your Linux distribution. To download it in Ubuntu, use the following command:

To view time for a different locale, you can use “TZ” environment variable (as explained under tty-clock section in this article):

You can refer to all possible values of the “TZ” environment variable here.

Conclusion

There are only a limited number of world clock applications available for Linux. Apps listed in this article get the job done and some of them also come with handy extra features. If you know any command line application in Linux that can show current date and time, you can try prefixing it with the “TZ” environment variable explained in this article.

Computer Science itself has seen a large progression in its content as numerous subfields are being introduced. However, one aspect that has always been in the limelight is programming, which sits at the crux of stuff like game development, animations, mobile and web applications, social networking sites, etc.

Hence, our discussion topic in this article is to look at the best multi-platform text editors currently available.

VS Code

VS Code is one of the most popular text editors these days. Although it is a Microsoft product, it is open-source and is easily available for all major platforms such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc. VS Code is unlike other text editors. It offers much more than what a traditional text editor does and has some of the best features, some even rivaling those that come with the Integrated Development Environment (IDEs). It is extremely stable and fast and has a very customizable user interface that users can easily configure and tweak according to their interests.

Features such as auto-completion, color highlighting, snippets, code refactoring, and syntax highlighting are clear indicators of the power that sits behind the hood of the VS Code. Moreover, it is highly versatile and has several keyboard shortcuts, themes as well as a variety of extensions.

VS Code also comes along with a built-in command-line interface, a debugger, and integration with Git, which allows users to easily perform tasks such as making commits, cloning repositories, and pushing the updated data to the GitHub repositories.

Built-in Terminal:

Source Control:

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is another excellent choice for a Text Editor. It is a simple, multi-platform editor that, although it isn’t free, still has one of the largest communities in the industry. It is mainly known for its high-speed performance and stability and is a perfect fit for users who prefer performance and simplicity over other extensive features. It has a pretty slick user interface that is extremely flexible and customizable. You can customize everything about Sublime Text – from the color scheme to the font size, the key bindings to the syntax highlighting rules, and so on.

In addition to this, Sublime Text is bundled with a wide set of features such as having support for programming languages and file types in the two-digit figure range, multiple cursors as well as an innovative command palette that allows for easy navigation and an efficient searching system. It also has a package manager, which has a large number of packages that offer even more functionality to the already powerful editor.

Atom

Atom is an Electron-based free and open-source code editor that is available for all major platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Similar to VS Code and Sublime Text, it has a package manager having support for thousands of packages, which offer more extensibility and functionality to Atom. Furthermore, it is highly customizable and comes with features such as auto-completion, powerful searching feature, and embedded Git.

Editing features:

Embedded Git:

Vim

Vim is one of the oldest and one of the most popular text editors out there. Although it is more popular among Linux users, it is also available on Windows and macOS and is a good choice to have if you want fast performance and simplicity. It is an extremely powerful editor, with most of its power lying in it being highly customizable and extensible. It does this by offering users an abundance of plugins that allow them to easily tweak and configure it. Vim also has some amazing features such as Undo Tree, a powerful search and replace the system, and multiple window editing, all of which are extremely useful for programmers.

Emacs

Similar to VIM, Emacs is another old but highly popular text editor that is not only multi-platform but free and open-source as well. Emacs is often compared to an operating system and with good reason, as it is a fully-fledged machine, having support for a command line, an email client as well as the Git version control. It is also extremely customizable and can easily be molded in any form that suits your taste. In addition to this, it also has a large collection of plugins, each of which offers numerous features akin to those you can find in integrated development environments. Emacs also provides users with high-level built-in commands that allow users to perform multiple tasks like moving cursors or manipulating text.

Geany

Geany is a small and lightweight text editor that users of Windows, macOS, and Linux can use and run their code. It has support for a large number of programming languages and is integrated with several excellent features such as syntax highlighting, code folding, auto-completion, and code navigation. It has a simple and easy to use interface that is extremely user-friendly and resembles closely that of Notepad++. It has some basic IDE features as well, where it offers users a build system for compilation and execution of code.

Bluefish

Bluefish is a powerful multi-platform text editor that offers support for many programming as well as markup languages. It is extremely lightweight and has a very easy to use and user-friendly user interface. It has a variety of features integrated inside of it, the most notable ones being auto-completion, syntax highlighting, code folding, code navigation, and spell checker. Having been designed to suit the needs of both web developers as well as programmers, it has dialogs available for creating HTML5, CSS, tables, forms, and so on.

Which are the Best Multi-platform Text Editors?

There are several great multi-platform options available for text editors these days, each of which offers excellent features that match up to the standards of IDEs. All seven mentioned above are among the most popular and widely used alternatives, each providing users with exceptional features. All in all, any choice from among the above seven would be worth considering.

It offers both free and paid plans with additional features, so overall, it is an excellent tool. However, some Linux users don’t appreciate Slack and would prefer to find its alternative. So, this article will cover the five best Slack alternatives on Linux. Our article has required details of Slack alternatives, so you don’t need to do brainstorming while choosing one of these tools.

Best Slack Alternatives on Linux

Mattermost

Mattermost is a self-hostable, open-source Slack alternative that provides various features like embedded images, webhook support, video & audio calls, private chats, and so on. It is one of the best Slack alternatives on Linux because it is designed as an internal chat system for companies.

Mattermost has a free version, but it is limited to their online website, like a temporary session, so you have to purchase the license for using all premium features. In case you have an enterprise, then we recommend you to buy it. So here is the list of some notable features of Mattermost:

• It offers cross-platform support.
• It is most suitable for enterprise usage.
• It supports both personal and group chat in real-time.
• It has both free and premium plans.
• It supports self-hosting and UX/UI customization.
• It supports markdown formatting.
• The matter has an efficient Slack data importing tool to switch from their old application to it easily.

Note: All of the advantages & disadvantages explained in the article are based on the reviews by multiple users, so they are mostly correct as per the user experience.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Mattermost

Element (Riot.im)

Element (also known as Riot.im) is an open-source tool that works as one of the best Slack alternatives on Linux because of its features. It has cross-platform support. Users can create specific rooms for communications, and these rooms are like channels that work as a new group.

Element has various features similar to Slack, such as video & audio calling, emoticons, embedded images & video, individual text channels, and so on. It also has a self-hosting for a chat server, but it is up to a user to choose. So here are the significant features offers by Element:

• It has cross-platform and self-hosting support.
• It has both free and paid options for managed hosting.
• It is built on Matrix and offers decentralized communication.
• All data of Element is end-to-end encrypted to ensure user privacy.
• Element support embeddable widgets and bots to complete tasks as a team.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Element (Riot.im)

Déjà Dup

Déjà Dup is an open source, graphical backup tool that is shipped by default in most GNOME based Linux distributions. It is based on a couple of command line utilities called “duplicity” and “rsync”. It can automatically and periodically take backup of your selected files and upload them to Google Drive or on your own server (ftp, sftp etc.). All backups are encrypted and you can restore them anytime. You can also set a periodic schedule to delete backups automatically to free up disk space.

To install Déjà Dup on Ubuntu, you can execute the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Déjà Dup can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be compiled from its source code repository.

Clonezilla

Clonezilla is an open source backup software that allows you to take full and partial backups of entire hard drives. It supports numerous file systems you typically see on Linux devices and it is capable of creating one-to-one clones or mirror images of existing disk drives to other internal or external drives. It can also restore any images created previously using Clonezilla. Backups can be encrypted and Clonezilla takes backup of only used blocks on a hard disk to improve overall efficiency and reduces resource consumption. Clonezilla also provides bootable live images and it can also restore or reinstall GRUB bootloaders. Thus you can use Clonezilla to fully backup a Linux PC and restore the backup later to get back a fully functional Linux system.

You can install Clonezilla in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Clonezilla can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its official webpage.

Restic

Restic is a command line backup utility that can be used to backup files and folders on Linux, macOS and Windows. It can backup files on local drives as well as on cloud storage services. You can restore any snapshot at any point of time. All backups are encrypted. Restic saves system resources by backing up only changed parts of files.

You can install Restic in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Restic can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its documentation.

To backup files using Restic, first you need to create a new repository. To do so, run a command in following format:

Now you can backup files using a command in following format:

For further information, view its manual using the command below:

Timeshift

Timeshift is an open source backup tool that can be used to take incremental snapshots of an entire Linux system or user specified folders. It works quite similar to the “system restore” function you may have seen in Windows. By restoring these snapshots, you can revert to a previous state of your Linux system. You can also rollback to previous versions of files by using the same feature. Timeshift supports both RSYNC and BTRFS snapshots.

You can install Timeshift in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Timeshift can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its official source code repository.

Grsync

Grsync is a graphical frontend to command line utility “rsync”. You can synchronize files and directories and make backups at the same time. Grsync doesn’t have any options to automatically synchronize files periodically, so you will have to manually make the backups by launching Grsync application. Grsync can synchronize with cloud services as long as network drive is mounted on the local file system using some external utility.

You can install Grsync in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Grsync can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its official webpage.

LuckyBackup

LuckyBackup is yet another frontend to “rsync” command line utility. It can be used to backup, restore, and synchronize files and folders located on your device. LuckyBackup is almost at feature parity with Grsync, with addition of one very useful feature: scheduled backups. You can also use LuckyBackup as a command line application.

You can install LuckyBackup in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, LuckyBackup can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its official webpage.

Back In Time

Back in Time is an open source backup tool that can backup your entire filesystem or specific files and folders. You can schedule backups to periodically save files and restore them later. Like other tools mentioned above, Back in Time is also based upon “rsync” and features a GUI written in Qt.

You can install Back In Time in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, Back In Time can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its code repository.

GNOME Disks

GNOME Disks is a disk management tool shipped with all major Linux distributions that use GNOME based desktop environments. You can use GNOME Disks to create snapshots of entire disk drives and restore them later. You can create backup images of both internal and plugged-in drives. GNOME Disks doesn’t allow you to take backup of individual files and folders.

You can install GNOME Disks in latest builds of Ubuntu by executing the command mentioned below:

In any other Linux based distribution, GNOME Disks can be downloaded and installed from default repositories or can be downloaded from its code repository.

Conclusion

It is important to take regular backups of your important data. Backup tools these days provide more features and ease of use than simply copying files over to another drive. Various utilities listed in this article should help you in creating periodic backups and save your mission critical work.

This article lists free and open source PDF viewing applications available for Linux. Some of these applications provide some basic editing capabilities like annotation and highlighting tools while others are mostly PDF viewers intended only for viewing and reading documents.

Evince

Evince is the default document viewer application shipped with GNOME Shell based Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora. It supports multiple file formats, including the PDF file format. Other main features of Evince include night mode, auto-scroll mode, dual mode, continuous scrolling mode, slideshow mode, right-to-left mode and a full-screen mode.

Evince can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install Evince directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be installed from the Flathub store as well.

MuPDF

MuPDF is a minimalistic and lightweight document viewer for Linux. It can view PDF, EPUB, XPS and various other document file formats. It is primarily a command line application and includes basic editing, annotation and conversion support. By default, MuPDF uses optimized settings to display documents imitating real books or real paper as closely as possible.

MuPDF can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install MuPDF directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be downloaded from its official website as well.

To view a PDF file using MuPDF, use a command in the following format:

To view MuPDF manual, use the command below:

Atril

Atril is the default document viewer application included in the MATE desktop environment. It can be installed in other desktop environments without installing the entire MATE desktop interface. Its main features include support for PDF, DJVU, PS and other file formats, text search, full screen mode, continuous mode, dual-page mode, inverted colors mode, auto-fit mode, bookmarks, presentation mode and so on.

Atril can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install Atril directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be compiled from source code as well.

Qpdfview

Qpdfview is an open source PDF viewer written in Qt. It is based on the popular “Poppler” library which is mainly used for handling PDF documents. Besides PDF documents, Qpdfview also supports DJVU and PS file formats through plugins. Main features of Qpdfview include fullscreen mode, presentation mode, transformation tools, multi-page mode, continuous scroll mode, annotations and other basic editing tools, text search and so on.

Qpdfview can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install Qpdfview directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be compiled from source code as well.

Okular

Okular is a document viewer shipped by default in most KDE based Linux distributions and it is a part of the official KDE application stack. It supports numerous file formats, much more than any other PDF viewer listed in this article. Other features of Okular include bookmarks support, thumbnail view, annotation tools, full text search, presentation mode, full-screen mode and so on.

Okular can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install Okular directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be downloaded from its official website as well.

Zathura

Zathura is a minimal and lightweight document viewer for Linux. It doesn’t have any user interface elements, except for the window that displays a PDF document. It features “vim-like” commands and keyboard shortcuts. You can also extend it using plugins to improve support for other file formats. Similar to Qpdfview, Zathura’s PDF support is also based on the “Poppler” library. Other main features of Zathura include custom bookmarks, text search and hyperlink support.

Zathura can be directly downloaded from Ubuntu’s repositories using the command mentioned below:

You can install Zathura directly from the package manager in other Linux distributions. It can be downloaded from its official website as well.

To view a PDF file using Zathura, use a command in the following format:

To view Zathura manual, use the command below:

Firefox, Chrome and Chromium

All major web browsers today have built-in support for viewing PDF files. You can download Firefox and Chromium from the package manager of your Linux distribution. Chrome can be downloaded and installed from its official website. Once you have these browsers installed on your system, you can use any of these three commands to view PDF files. You can also press <CTRL+O> to open PDF files from browser UI, even when you are offline.

Conclusion

These PDF viewers stated above have been in development for many years. They include all major features you would expect from a PDF viewer, plus some additional features like dark mode and support for viewing other file formats like EPUB, CBZ and DJVU.

Photo management software acts as a tool that allows you to handle and organize images in your system. There are various tools available for picture management for Windows and macOS users, but Linux users have some restrictions due to an overall lack of options. However, there are still quite a few photo management programs that work well for organizing images in Linux.

In this article, we cover the top 10 Linux photo management software available. You may use any of the programs listed below, so simply choose according to your unique requirements for organizing your image collection.

Top 10 Linux Photo Management Software

gThumb

GThumb is one of the best Linux photo management programs available for viewing and organizing images. It is a lightweight tool designed for the GNOME desktop. This tool is designed to offer a clean and simple UI with multiple features, editing options, and some more advanced options. GThumb is based on GQView and contains a plug-in system for extensions.

Features of gThumb

GThumb includes many useful features, such as:

• Support for various image formats like GIF, EXIF, XMP.
• Various browsing options, such as bookmarking support, cut, copy, thumbnails, delete, and more.
• Multiple features for organizing pictures with catalogs and tags; importing photos from your Digital Camera; and integrating web albums, such as Picasa, Flickr, etc.
• Allows you to use various filters, photo editing options, image format conversions, etc.
• Advanced options, such as slideshow creation, setting a picture as a desktop background, exporting images, etc.

Shotwell

Shotwell is not as fantastic as gThumb. This photo management software was specifically developed for the GNOME desktop. This tool is beneficial for importing images from your camera or disk and viewing or organizing these images on your Linux system. Shotwell is the default photo management software that comes with Ubuntu 10.10, and it offers basic built-in editing options.

Features of Shotwell

Shotwell is a useful tool that comes with various features, such as:

• The software is easy to use.
• Allows you to import your images from a disk or camera to other folders.
• Offers various editing and format conversion options for images.
• Allows you to organize images according to events and tags.
• Supports a feature to upload images on web platforms, such as Facebook, Flickr, etc.

DigiKam

DigiKam is an advanced photo management software. Though mainly developed for KDE, DigiKam also works well in other desktop environments. This tool offers several different features, such as EXIF editing, built-in lightroom, picture editing, and more. Linux users can easily import and organize images using DigiKam. There is an image enhancement option by KIPI (KDE Image Plugins Interface) included in the program, as well. DigiKam is considered one of the best Linux photo management programs available in terms of its advanced operations and features.

Features of DigiKam

• Various features to maintain and organize a vast library of images.
• Easily manage albums, metadata, sub-albums, tags, and comments on your pictures.
• Easily import and export images from one folder to another.
• Supports various image formats, the popular ones being JPEG, PSD, PNG, and more.
• Various editing operations are available.
• Ability to upload images to many different web platforms (Facebook, Flickr, etc.).
• GPS editor, IPTC metadata viewer, and editor.

KPhotoAlbum

KPhotoAlbum is an excellent Linux photo management software created for the KDE desktop environment. This tool can be used to organize and view images in Linux, and it also offers some unique options, such as time-based browsing, categorization processes, and more. KPhotoAlbum also uses KIPI, which is used for improving the capabilities of this tool. With KPhotoAlbum, Linux users can categorize their images according to places, events, and people for better image management.

Features of KPhotoAlbum

• Advanced photo organization option that helps you organize photos according to tags, categories, sub-categories, Metadata, etc.
• Various editing options available.
• Supports the KIPI plug-in to manipulate photos in Linux.
• Multiple import and export options.
• Allows you to share your images on different platforms.
• Provides Boolean searches, as well as the ability to read raw photos.

Darktable

Darktable is an open-source photo management software and is something more than a photo organizer for Linux. This tool is great for managing images, allowing you to view them through a zoomable light table. The center of attraction in this tool is its interface and editing options. Overall, Darktable is one of the best Linux photo management programs available for editing pictures.

Features of Darktable

• Several advanced photo editing options.
• Easily organize and manage your pictures in Linux with this tool.
• Supports image export features for various platforms, such as Picasa, Flickr, etc.
• Allows you to convert image format using the format conversion feature.

GIMP

This Linux photo management software is a free and open-source tool that offers impressive options for image management, editing, support for various image formats, drawing on images, and more. GIMP provides flexibility as an image editor because it works on various platforms, such as Linux, Windows, and more.

GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is released under the GPLv3+ license. This program supports various languages, such as Perl, Python, C, Scheme, and C++ for programmers to work on scripted image manipulation. GIMP has multiple features available for illustrators, graphic designers, scientists, and photographers alike.

Features of GIMP

• Customizable user interface.
• Various options for image enhancement.
• Support for various image formats.
• Allows you to perform digital retouching and use graphic design elements.
• Hardware support.

Krita

Krita is a free and open-source tool that works well on various platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This Linux photo management software was primarily designed for animations and digital paintings.

Krita is an affordable tool that comes with various features, including color management, a minimalist UI, an advanced brush system, an HQ OpenGL acceleration canvas, a vector art option, layers and mask options, customizable profile switching, and more. This program even offers a clean and fantastic interface to users. Krita is generally used to create concept art, illustrations, textures, and comics.

Features of Krita

• Brush engines and color palette.
• Layer management and PSD support.
• Drawing Assistant and mirroring tools.
• Good HDR support and training resources.
• Supports different image formats and settings.
• OpenGL enhancement and a vast set of filters and effects.

Pinta

This Linux photo management software is an open-sourced tool that works the same as Windows paint, and Pinta is also known as the Linux version of Windows paint. Pinta includes many more features than MS paint does, but it is still simpler and offers fewer features than other open-source photo editing tools. Pinta has a flexible toolbar arrangement and contains a good layering system.

Features of Pinta

• Support for multiple operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Offers unlimited undo history and add-in capability.
• Can be customized according to user requirements.
• Supports 35 languages and provides a user-friendly UI.

RawTherapee

This Linux photo management software is an open-source tool used to optimize digital images. RawTherapee includes several different image editing options focused on increasing the user’s workflow by facilitating high-density image management. This tool has various features and offers quality images from raw files. You can also modify and save raw images in compressed format using this program.

Features of RawTherapee

• Offers an exemplary user interface.
• Supports various raw image formats, such as Pentax Pixel Shift, Canon Dual-Pixel, etc.
• Multiple adjustment tools and processing tools.
• Ability to select different output formats, such as TIFF, JPEG, PNG, etc.

ShowFOTO

This Linux management software is a fast image editor created under DigiKam. ShowFOTO is a lightweight tool that contains fewer features than other available options, but it is appropriate for small-scale image editing. It offers various options, such as adding effects, metadata editing, transformation, and filtering. This tool can be used for viewing, editing, and enhancing images.

Features of ShowFOTO

• Offers various image editing features.
• Provides an option for special effects editing.
• Ability to adjust images using image transformation tools.
• Ability to process raw images more efficiently.

Conclusion

This article covered the top ten Linux photo management programs available with a detailed description of the features of each program listed. Photo management tools allow you to view, organize, and edit images in your operating system. Although there are multiple photo management tools available only for Windows and macOS users, this article covered the ten tools that can specifically help Linux users to handle their images without trouble.

We will look at the best Linux distributions that can be easily used and installed on older computers with minimal hardware. Some of the Linux distributions listed here might be useful for beginners also.

So, let’s get started and have a look at lightweight Linux distros for an old laptop.

Slax

Slax is a pocket operating system; yes, this what the developers call it. Slax is a modern, portable but lightweight operating system that integrates well with older machines and laptops. This Linux distro has a clean and beautiful design.

You can install Slax on a USB flash drive so that you can carry it anywhere in your pocket and run on any computer. Maybe that’s why they call it a pocket operating system. Slax is based on Debian, which ensures good community support and updates.

Slax ships-in with a handful of useful pre-installed applications such as Terminal, Web Browser, and others. It is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This installation ISO file size is just around 270 MB, which makes it an ideal Linux distro for older laptops.

Minimum System Requirements:

Processor: i686 or newer

RAM: 128 MB (for desktop use)

512 MB (for web browser use)

Peripherals: CD or USB Drive to boot OS.

Get it here

Zorin OS Lite

Zorin OS Lite is another lightweight Linux distro that runs smooth and fast on machines as old as 15 years. This distro has a Windows desktop layout, which makes it ideal for Windows users, as this will make the transition from Windows to Linux easier.

It is also an ideal Linux distro for beginners as it has a simple but attractive user interface, which makes it easier to use and get used to.

Minimum System Requirements:

Processor: 700 MHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit or 32-bit processor

RAM: 512 MB

Storage: 8 GB

Display: 640 x 480 Resolution

Get it here

Linux Lite

Linux Lite is free to use the operating system, which is ideal for beginners and older computers. It offers a great deal of flexibility and usability, which makes it ideal for migrants from the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The user interface is clean and intuitive, which makes it look like a modern operating system. It is based on Ubuntu LTS and can be updated in just 2 clicks. More than 1000 applications to choose from, which can be installed and used for free.

Minimum System Requirements:

Processor: 1 GHz

RAM: 768 MB

Storage: 8 GB

Display: 1024 x 768 Resolution

Get it here

Bodhi Linux

Built on the top of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Bodhi Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution ideal for older laptops. They call this distribution as Enlightened Linux Distribution.

It has a very active and friendly community, so rest assured of seamless support. It is faster as compared to other Linux distributions. This distro also ships in with essential apps such as web browsers and terminals.

System Requirement:

Processor: 500 MHz (32-bit) and 1.0 GHz (64-bit)

RAM: 512 MB

Storage: 5 GB

Get it here

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is a lightweight Linux distro that can be easily installed and used on 32-bit and 64-bit older PCs. It can be easily booted from CD, DVD, or USB flash.

One thing that might go against this distro is that it doesn’t come with some necessary apps installed, but it is one of the fastest Linux distros that work effortlessly on older laptops.

System Requirement:

Processor: 900 MHz

RAM: 300 MB

Get it here

Peppermint OS

Peppermint OS is a lightweight Linux distro well known for its stable and superfast nature. It is a highly customizable distro as it is built on a long term support code base.

Community support makes it an ideal OS for beginners as well as older laptops. The user interface is clean and modern, which makes it easier to get used to for newbies.

System Requirement:

Processor: Intel x86

RAM: 1 GB

Storage: 20 GB

Get it here

Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a very popular lightweight Linux distro. It is a fast and energy-saving operating system, which makes it ideal for low-end computers. It comes with an essential suite of apps like office and multimedia apps.

It gives you a complete desktop experience on low-end computers and laptops. The user interface is simple and clean, making it ideal for new users and Windows users.

System Requirement:

Processor: Pentium II or Celeron

RAM: 128 MB

Storage: 2 GB

Get it Here

These are the best 7 Linux distros I have found, which are best suitable and can be relied on for older laptops. There are other distros available but might not provide community support and regular updates. Feel free to share your views with us at @linuxhint and @SwapTirthakar.

This article will cover a list of open source music streaming applications that can live-stream free radio channels available on the Web. Many of these applications come with channel presets and also allow users to add their own custom channels.

Radiotray-NG

Radiotray-NG is inspired by an open source radio streaming application called “RadioTray”. Development of RadioTray has stagnated over the years, making the application bug ridden and crash prone. To overcome these shortcomings, a new application was created with almost the same name but with more features and installable packages for modern Linux distributions. Today Radiotray-NG has feature parity with classic RadioTray application and allows you to stream music through genre based radio stations. It also features improved groups, improved system tray support, improved desktop notifications and better parsing of metadata.

You can install Radiotray-NG in the latest version of Ubuntu by downloading the “.deb” package available on its official GitHub repository. Once you have downloaded the “.deb” package, run a command in the following format to install Radiotray-NG on Ubuntu:

Packages for other Linux distributions and source code archives are available on its GitHub repository.

Goodvibes

Goodvibes is an open source radio streaming application for Linux. Featuring a lightweight and minimal GTK3 based user interface, Goodvibes allows you to play pre-defined radio stations as well as add your own. It also supports loop mode and a shuffle mode to randomly play saved radio stations.

You can install Goodvibes in latest version of Ubuntu by executing the command specified below:

Goodvibes can be installed in other Linux based distributions by following official installation instructions available here.

Streamtuner2

Streamtuner2 is an open source and cross-platform music stream explorer that allows you to browse varios radio station streams available across the Web. Streamtuner2 is not a radio player in itself, it just shows browsable radio streams in a multi-pane user interface. Any stream you want to play can be opened in any external media player of your choice by clicking on the “play” button visible in the top toolbar. Streamtuner2 also allows you to bookmark and record streams of your favorite radio channels.

You can install Streamtuner2 in latest version of Ubuntu by executing the command specified below:

Streamtuner2 can be installed from the package manager in other Linux based distributions or it can be downloaded from its source code repository.

Shortwave

Shortwave is an open source radio streaming application for Linux featuring a selection of over 25000 Web based radio stations. You can mix and match stations to create your own library and cast the music to other devices connected to the same network. Shortwave automatically detects titles of music streams and displays them in the sidebar. Shortwave is successor to another and now defunct radio streaming application named Gradio. Other features of Shortwave include a search bar to search catalog of radio stations and a responsive layout that works on handheld Linux devices.

Shortwave can be installed in Ubuntu from its Flathub page. To do so, execute the following commands in succession:

You can install Shortwave radio player in any Linux distribution from its Flathub listing. Make sure that you follow the setup guide before you run installation commands.

Tuner

Tuner is an open source radio streaming application for Linux. Its feature set is mostly identical to the Shortwave app mentioned above. Similar to Shortwave, it also uses an API from radio-browser to stream music from thousands of radio channels. Tuner also features a sidebar that allows you to quickly browse and manage radio stations.

Tuner can be installed in Ubuntu from its Flathub page. To do so, run the following commands in succession:

You can install Tuner in any Linux distribution from its Flathub page. Make sure that you follow the setup guide before you run installation commands.

Conclusion

These are some of the best radio players usable on Linux distributions. While almost all graphical and command line music players available for Linux can stream radio stations if you know the URL, this article covers only dedicated Internet radio streaming applications.

This article will list various video editing software installable on Linux. Most of them are free and open source, except a few that require proprietary licenses or registered user accounts for continued usage.

OpenShot

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open source and free video editing software. Based on ffmpeg, it comes with numerous features that are useful for both professional and casual video editing needs. Some of the main features of OpenShot include: animation effects, timeline management, clip resizing, clip re-arrangement, overlays, watermarks, user-defined templates, layers, tracks, audio tools and effect filters.

To install OpenShot in Ubuntu, use the command mentioned below:

OpenShot can be downloaded in other Linux based operating systems from package manager or from its official download page.

Pitivi

Pitivi is an open source video editor featuring an intuitive multi-panel layout. It comes with numerous animations, filters and effects that can be used between clips or overlayed on them. Other features of Pitivi video editor include clip resizing, cropping, live previews, drag and drop interface for clips, support for snapping and grouping of clips, an asset manager, audio editing tools, multiple export profiles, modern GTK3 interface, periodic backups, and so on.

To install Pitivi video editor in Ubuntu, use the following command:

Pitivi can be downloaded in other Linux based operating systems from package manager or from its official download page.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive is an open source video editor developed using Qt and KDE libraries. Even though it uses a handful of KDE libraries, it works on all kinds of Linux desktop environments. Being in development for nearly two decades, Kdenlive features numerous video editing features useful for beginners and experienced professionals alike. These features include support for multiple video formats, audio editing tools, multi-track clips, customizable panes, movable user interface elements, effects, animations, transitions, periodic backups, built-in add-on store, real-time previews, and so on.

To install Kdenlive in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Kdenlive can be downloaded in other Linux based operating systems from package manager or from its official download page.

Flowblade

Flowblade is an open source, non-linear video editing software available for Linux. Based on the ffmpeg library, Flowblade includes numerous video editing tools like trimming and clipping of video clips, multiple-tracks, editable timelines, animations and transition effects, overlay filters, batch rendering, sound mixer, layers, watermarks, slow motion and speed control, export profiles and so on.

To install Flowblade on Ubuntu, use the following command:

Flowblade can be downloaded in other Linux based operating systems from package manager or from its official download page.

Cinelerra GG Infinity

Cinelerra GG Infinity is a free and open source video editor for Linux that supports high resolution streams upto 8K. Unlike other video editors, it doesn’t feature a single window user interface but shows multiple detachable windows during video editing tasks. Besides the common feature set you see in most video editors, It also includes many other advanced video editing features like video stabilization, color enhancement and correction tools, LV2 plugins, video production through streams captured from multiple camera setups, motion tracking and so on.

You can install Cinelerra GG Infinity in Ubuntu and other Linux distributions by downloading “single user builds” or distribution specific packages available here.

Shotcut

Shotcut is yet another open source and cross-platform video editor. It supports many video and audio formats, thanks to its ffmpeg based backend. Other features of Shotcut include support for 4K streams, support for capturing camera and microphone streams, native handling of timeline, audio editing tools, animations, effects, filters, transitions, trimming and resizing of clips, multiple export profiles and so on.

To install Shotcut in Ubuntu, use the following command:

Shotcut can be downloaded in other Linux based operating systems from package manager or from its official download page.

Olive

Olive is a cross-platform and open source video editor written in Qt. Besides the common clip management and timeline features seen in other video editors, Olive video editor also includes support for color management tools, node based composition and cached rendering of frames.

You can download Olive “AppImage” file that works on all Linux distributions from here.

Lightworks

Lightworks is one of the most popular video editing software used extensively in film production. Many big film production houses have been using it for over two decades mainly because of its advanced features suitable for film production. Even if you are not creating full-fledged movies, Lightworks is pretty straightforward to use and you can even create simple YouTube videos with ease. Some of the main features of Lightworks include support for streams with variable frame rates, built-in video and audio effects, 4K video export presets, precision sequence grading, enhancements tools for media captured through mobile devices, support for custom metadata and so on.

You can get Lightworks packages for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions from here.

Note that Lightworks’ source code is not available and it is not an open source software. There have been some rumors in the past about it going open source but nothing concrete is known as of now.

Editly

Editly is a command line application that allows you to edit videos without using a graphical interface. You can also use its API to write code and programmatically create and edit videos. It supports importing and exporting of 4K videos, custom aspect ratios, speed control, overlay effects, custom shaders, GIF export, picture-in-picture mode, normalization and so on.

To install Editly, use the following command:

To learn more about how to use Editly, refer to its documentation.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular video editors available for Linux. Some of them are perfect for creating simple videos on video sharing platforms like YouTube, while others contain exhaustive feature sets to create Hollywood level films.

1. Firefox

Firefox is one of the best web browsers available today. Firefox is a free and open-source web browser developed by Mozilla, and it is the default browser for several Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The excellence of Firefox can be seen in the extensibility that it offers, while at the same time offering secure privacy to its users. Firefox provides some of the best features that one can find in web browsers, along with excellent support for syncing features, such as browsing history, bookmarks, etc. Firefox also comes with extensions, which further add more customizability and features to the already jam-packed browser.

2. LibreOffice

Even though Microsoft Office is not available in Linux, Linux users need not worry. Linux has its own excellent application for getting work done, called LibreOffice. LibreOffice is a free and open-source application that contains some extremely powerful tools, including a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation-making software, and several others. Moreover, LibreOffice allows users to add bookmarks to their workflows so that they can keep track of their work, supports a large set of file formats, and has excellent performance to boot.

3. VS Code

Computer Science is one of the hottest fields in the industry right now, and programmers are one of the most sought-after professions. For both those just starting off with development, as well as professional developers, VS Code should be the first choice when it comes to a code editor. VS Code is an application developed by Microsoft that is free and open-source. It has some of the best features that a programmer needs, and even offers a built-in debugger, a support system for Git, and a large set of extensions that provide support for several programming languages.

4. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is another application that deserves a place in this list of essential Linux applications. Though Linux comes with a built-in media player, VLC offers twice the number of features present inside of the default player. VLC has a large, extensive support system for file codecs, including MP4, AVI, MP3, etc. VLC is extremely lightweight, despite having a huge set of features, as well as highly customizable, which clearly shows the power and quality that exist behind this amazing tool.

5. Thunderbird

Thunderbird, a free and open-source application, is another Mozilla Foundation product that has earned its spot in this list. Thunderbird is one of the best email clients available for Linux. With a majority of companies switching to online systems and adopting digital communication, email has become essential in almost all departments. This is why Thunderbird is essential to have in your Linux system, as it helps to keep your emails secure. Thunderbird also provides support for add-ons with which users can easily customize the application, further testifying to its powerful nature.

6. Flameshot

Flameshot is a powerful and open-source screenshot application available for Linux, offering all the features that are essential for a screenshot tool. Flameshot is extremely easy-to-use and can be executed either from its graphical interface or from the command-line. Having markup tools such as freehand drawing, creating arrows and lines, highlighting, blurring, etc., make this application not only my personal favorite screenshot tool but also for millions of other people.

7. XDM

The amount of content that we are downloading from the Internet has greatly increased. Whether these are attachments, videos, or games, all are extremely important and urgently needed as soon as possible. This is where XDM comes into the picture, which is an extremely powerful download manager that can easily be integrated into web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. XDM also supports downloading files from websites such as YouTube, Facebook, DailyMotion, and more. The application even has a built-in video converter that you can use to convert the file formats of downloaded videos.

8. Timeshift

With security attacks becoming quite popular in recent times, it is always essential to make backups of your data. Timeshift for Linux comes highly recommended, as it not only allows you to make backups of your files but also provides functionality similar to what you get with System Restore in Windows. In other words, Timeshift does not just backup all your folders and applications – but your entire Operating system – all inside a single snapshot.

9. GIMP

Despite its low entry barrier, graphic design is considered one of the most sought-after skills in the world, and this field also occupies a huge portion of the freelance industry. Although Adobe products are not available in Linux, Linux itself offers an excellent application called GIMP that has one of the largest communities and some of the best features you can find in a photo editor, some of which you may not even be able to find in its Adobe counterpart.

10. OpenShot

Creating videos and uploading them on the Internet is one of the most popular hobbies that you can find on the Internet today. From YouTubers to TV Media, all require applications with which to edit video in the most creative and effective way. OpenShot is an excellent video editor available in Linux, and it comes with one of the most amazing and largest feature collection sets that you can find inside a video editor.

Conclusion

Linux is one of the best-operating systems these days, and it continues to improve after each update. With so many Linux distributions out there, it is imperative to know which applications to use to have the best experience possible. This article covered the ten most essential Linux applications out there to keep an eye on in 2021.

GIMP

If you are a regular Linux user, chances are that you must have heard about GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) or used it to edit images. It is considered to be one of the most comprehensive, free, and open source image editing software available not only on Linux, but also on other operating systems like Windows and macOS. While some users may prefer proprietary tools like Photoshop over it, GIMP itself is packed with tons of features and can do almost everything that Photoshop is capable of. You can see all major features of GIMP available at here and here. GIMP can be extended using plugins, some of them come with the official installation while others can be downloaded from third party websites.

GIMP can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install GIMP in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

Krita

Krita is an open source image editing and painting program available for Linux, Windows and macOS. It is mainly intended for artists who want to draw and create artwork from scratch. However, it can be used as an image editor to edit existing images as well. It features movable and customizable user interface elements, brush tools, text and vector tools, asset manager, animations and transitions, layers, color management tools, Python based plug-ins etc.

Krita can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install Krita in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a cross-platform and open source software that allows you to draw and edit vector graphics. It uses SVG as its main export format, allowing users to resize graphics without any kind of pixelation. It can also be used to edit existing images even if they are not in SVG format. Inkscape features tools for creating new and managing existing objects, path editing tools, command line tools, official and third-party extensions, multiple export formats and so on.

Inkscape can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install Inkscape in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

Showfoto

Showfoto is an open source image editor that comes with the DigiKam photo management application suite. While it’s editing tool lacks in comparison to GIMP, Inkscape and Krita, it still contains plenty of helpful options to do basic as well advanced image editing tasks. Showfoto can be run as a standalone application without launching DigiKam.

Showfoto can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install Showfoto in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here. You can also install DigiKam packages that already include Showfoto from here.

Pinta

Pinta is an open source image editing program that looks, feels and works similar to the popular MS Paint application that runs on Windows. Pinta is specially designed for painting and drawing but you can edit existing images as well. It features utilities for drawing different shapes, fill and stroke tools, layers, overlay effects and filters, and so on.

Pinta can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install Pinta in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

Fotoxx

Fotoxx is an open source application for managing photo albums and collections. It also features a built-in image editor for basic editing needs. The image editing tools are rather basic featuring resizing tools, transformation tools and effect filters. If you want something advanced, use other applications mentioned above, otherwise it gets the job done for simple tasks.

Fotoxx can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install Fotoxx in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

RawTherapee

RawTherapee is an open source image editing software specially designed for processing and handling “raw” images. You can also import and edit image files having other formats. RawTherapee features various utilities for processing raw images including color enhancement tools, compositing and masking utilities, pixel correction tools and HDR utilities.

RawTherapee can be installed in Ubuntu from the package manager. To do so, run the command specified below:

You can download and install RawTherapee in other Linux based distributions from the package manager or you can get it from here.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular, open source image editing programs installable on Linux. Some of these applications have been in development for decades and have matured enough for professional editing needs with their advanced and comprehensive feature sets.

This article will list various command line games available for Linux. These games do not require you to commit a lot of time and can be played in short bursts. If you are using a lightweight Linux distribution with minimal UI elements or using a headless OS based on Linux, this list should be useful for you.

BSD Games

BSD games contain a pack of free and open source games that have been included in numerous unix based systems for many decades and they are very popular even today. These games are text based and can be played in terminal emulators. Below is a list of games included in this pack:

To install BSD games in Ubuntu, use the following command:

Search in the package manager shipped with the OS to install BSD games in other Linux distributions.

To launch a game, run any command mentioned in the list above. Detailed information about these games can be found at manpages.

Nsnake

Nsnake is a snake-type game based on the classic “snake” game that used to be popular on keypad based cell phones back in the day. Besides an arcade mode, it also features custom levels and numerous other games modes. It can also track and keep high scores.

To install Nsnake in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Nsnake can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions. To launch Nsnake, use the following command:

Nudoku

Nudoku, as the name suggests, is a sudoku implementation that can be run in a terminal. The ncurses based game can be navigated in a terminal through arrow keys and various other keyboard shortcuts.

To install Nudoku in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Nudoku can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions. Further installation instructions for other Linux distributions can be found on its repository page.

To run Nudoku, use the following command:

Assorted Roguelike Games

Roguelike is a variation of the RPG genre where players have to face procedural and random maps with the possibility of permanent death of playable characters during combat. Once the playable character dies, a new game has to be started and all progress is lost, except for custom implementations where some bonuses are retained.

Some of the roguelike games that you can play in the terminal are: angband, crawl, gearhead, gearhead2, moria, tome, zangband, nethack, rogue, cataclysm etc.

You can install these games from the package manager by using their names as search terms. They are included by default in repositories of many popular Liunux distributions including Debian and Ubuntu. You can also search for the term “roguelike” in package manager to get relevant results.

Bastet

Bastet or “Bastard Tetris” is a free and open source game based on Tetris. The game requires the player to arrange falling blocks of various shapes and sizes to create levelled horizontal lines.

To install Bastet in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Bastet can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions. You can also compile the game from source code available on its repository page.

To launch Bastet game, execute the following command:

Pacman4Console

Pacman4Console, as the name suggests, is a Pacman inspired game that can be played in terminal emulators. In the game, you take control of Pacman and you have to guide it through a maze while avoiding monsters and collecting power-ups.

To install Pacman4Console in Ubuntu, execute the command specified below:

You can install Pacman4Console from the package manager in other Linux distributions or you can compile the game from source code.

To launch Pacman4Console, execute the following command:

Moon Buggy

Moon Buggy is a simple driving game where you drive a car on the moon’s surface while jumping over obstacles, pits and hurdles using the <space> key.

To install Moon Buggy in Ubuntu, execute the command mentioned below:

Moon Buggy can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions or you can compile the game from its source code.

To run Moon Buggy, use this command:

Greed

Greed is a text based game inspired by the classic DOS game called “Greed”. In the game, you can navigate cursor to any direction in a numbered grid, clearing up the “N” number of entries in that direction at the same time. “N” here stands for the number just adjacent to the cursor when you move it in a particular direction.

To install Greed in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Greed can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions. You can also compile the game from its source code available on its repository page.

To launch Greed, use the following command:

NInvaders

Ninvaders is a shoot-em-up game inspired by the classic shooter game called “Space Invaders”. In the game, you control a laser spewing spaceship and your objective is to kill aliens of different varieties.

To install Ninvaders in Ubuntu, execute the following command:

Ninvaders can be installed from the package manager in other Linux distributions. You can also get the source code and compile the game to get executable binaries.

You can launch Ninvaders by running the command below:

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular console based games for Linux. Even if you have a powerful system capable of playing games with high-end graphics, give these games a chance, some of them are very fun and can be played during short breaks.

Mpg123

Mpg123 is a command line music player and audio decoder for Linux. It can play and decode mp3 files in real time, shuffle songs, downmix music and has built-in support for an equalizer.

To install mpg123 in Ubuntu, use the following command:

You can install Mpg123 in other Linux distributions form the package manager or you can download it from here.

To play all mp3 files in a folder using Mpg123, run a command in the following format:

To view all command line options, run the following commands:

Ogg123

Ogg123 works similar to Mpg123, but only for “.ogg” files. Its feature set is also identical to Mpg123.

To install Ogg123 in Ubuntu, run the command below:

You can install Ogg123 in other Linux distributions by searching for “vorbis-tools” in package manage or you can compile it from source.

To play all ogg files in a folder using Ogg123, run a command in the following format:

To view all command line options, run the following commands:

MOC

MOC or “Music On Console” is a free and open source command line music player for Linux. It allows you to play music and control playback using an interactive keyboard-driven console based layout. It works like a dual pane file manager, all you have to do is navigate to the folder where your music is stored and hit the <Enter> key to start playback. Other features of MOC include customizable color schemes, an equalizer, and user defined keyboard shortcuts.

To install MOC in Ubuntu, you can use the command mentioned below:

You can install MOC music player in other Linux distributions by searching for it in the package manager. Alternatively, MOC can be downloaded from its official website.

You can launch MOC by running the command below:

For further information, you can run these commands:

Mp3blaster

Mp3blaster is a command line music player for Linux that can be navigated through a text based user interface using pre-defined keyboard shortcuts. It supports random and looped playback and running tracks can be paused and resumed using numeric keys on the keyboard.

To install Mp3blaster in Ubuntu, use the command specified below:

Mp3blaster can be installed in other Linux distributions from the package manager shipped with the OS. You can also compile it from source code available on its code repository.

You can run Mp3blaster by executing the command below:

For further information, you can run these commands:

Musikcube

Musickcube is a console based music player and streaming server for Linux. Its user interface is mainly keyboard driven but you can also control certain elements using mouse pointer. It features a robust library classification and management interface and can be used as a library to develop third party apps.

To install Musikcube in Ubuntu, use the following command:

You can also install it in Ubuntu using “.deb” packages available here. Packages for other Linux distributions are available on its GitHub page.

To run Musikcube app in the terminal, use the following command:

For further information, you can run the following command:

Mpv

Mpv is one of the most popular media players for Linux, capable of playing both video and audio files. While videos are played in a GUI window, you can use it as a command line music player by passing the “–no-video” option.

To install Mpv in Ubuntu, you can use the command mentioned below:

You can install Mpv in other Linux distributions from package manager or you can download packages available on its official website.

To play all music files in a folder, run a command in the following format:

You can pause and resume tracks using the <p> key. For further information on Mpv, run these commands:

VLC

VLC is a free, open source and cross-platform graphical media player. It also includes a command line tool that allows you to run VLC as a standalone music player.

To install VLC player in Ubuntu, you can use the following command:

To install VLC media player in other Linux distributions, search for the term “vlc” in the package manager shipped with the OS. You can also install VLC player from its official website.

To play all music files in a folder, run a command in the following format:

You can use the <space> key to pause and resume tracks and <m> to mute and unmute sound. For further information, use these commands:

Mplayer

Mplayer is a graphical media player for Linux capable of playing both audio and video files. You can also use it as a console based music player using its command line interface.

To install Mplayer in Ubuntu, execute the command below:

You can install Mplayer in other Linux distributions from the package manager or you can download packages from its official website.

To play all music files in a folder, run a command in the following format:

You can pause and resume tracks using the <p> key. For further information on Mplayer, use the following commands:

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular console based music players available for Linux. They are especially useful if you are using a minimal desktop environment to save up resources or if you are using a console only user interface.

In the modern world, the demand for computer scientists continues to grow. Everything around us is transforming, undergoing a digital makeover. With so many people becoming a part of this field, it comes as no surprise how much technology has expanded and the rate at which it is developing. Computer science itself is divided into various sub-fields, each of which has its own set of specialized workers.

However, one thing common to almost all these fields is the process of writing instructions in the form of code, commonly referred to as programming. This sits at the heart of computer science and gives it the power to create and remove things. With the number of existing programming languages reaching the three-digit mark, and as each programming job has its own specific set of requirements, it can be extremely daunting to figure out which language to learn.

To make your job easier, this article provides a list of the best programming languages to learn in 2021.

1) Python

For people just starting out with computer science in 2021, and even for those with some experience with this language, Python is something every programmer should be comfortable with. This language offers an intuitive and easy-to-learn syntax that makes it a popular choice among beginners and professionals alike. The beauty of Python is that it is extremely versatile, as it can almost be used anywhere. Whether you want to work on some back-end application of a website or mobile application, or you want to on some data science-related work, Python is critical to these tasks and many more. Python is the preferred language in the areas of machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, and other data science fields. Data science is the hottest topic these days, as businesses and companies are now extracting insights from data analysis and using that to further grow their markets. Libraries, such as TensorFlow, Keras, Scikit, etc., have made the computation required for running different models extremely cheap and fast to execute.

This versatility and availability of all kinds of libraries in Python have led to enormous growth in demand for this language. Python just keeps on growing without slowing down.

2) JavaScript

JavaScript is one of the most widely used languages, as it is considered the standard programming language of the web. It is used in almost every website you have seen on the Internet. JavaScript provides a syntax that allows it to be used in both the front-end and back-end sections of websites, showing the flexibility and power that it possesses. In addition to HTML and CSS, JavaScript offers a way that allows users to not only develop and design their websites but also make their websites more dynamic by adding functionalities to the elements present in the site. Moreover, Javascript is also the fundamental language used in web frameworks, such as React, Vue, and Node, making it the undisputed king in the web development department. Websites that you regularly visit, such as Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia, were all created using JavaScript.

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3) Java

Java is another immensely popular programming language that, albeit being one of the oldest languages out there, is still highly in-demand. Java is often used in the work of large organizations. It is also widely used in Android development, which, considering the popularity that Android applications have garnered, makes Java a highly sought-after skill to have. Due to Java’s scalability, strong memory allocation, and high performance, companies like Amazon, Twitter, and Adobe are a few names that come under the list of users of this programming language, along with a million other repositories that can be found at GitHub.

4) C/C++

C/C++ is among the fastest programming languages out there, providing a high level of functionality. This language is therefore used in the majority of low-level systems, such as operating systems, embedded systems, kernel development, etc. It is even used as a baseline in the development of other programming languages. Due to its large set of libraries and stable nature, C/C++ also plays a huge role in the areas of game development, computer graphics, virtual reality, and more. Companies like Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, and Apple are often on the lookout for C/C++ developers.

5) C#

C# is a programming language developed by Microsoft that has made quite a name for itself in the web and game development departments. C# is most regularly used in the Unity software, which is one of the most popular game engine software used for building 2D and 3D video games. C# also plays a huge role in building Windows applications and has therefore been used at the back-end side of websites such as Bing, Visual Studio, etc.

Code:

Script being used in Unity:

6) Golang

Golang, referred to as “Go” for short, is a programming language developed by Google. In recent times, with concepts of multithreading and distributed systems becoming highly popular, Golang is slowly gaining fame. This language is currently one of the most widely used languages in Silicon Valley. Go has been designed in such a way that it easily supports multithreading and it allows processes to run concurrently, which is why this language was used for creating projects like Kubernetes, Docker, Blockchain, etc.

7) R

With both Data Science and Machine Learning gaining huge popularity in the industry, R is another programming language that has emerged as a hot favorite among users. Like Python, R provides a large set of libraries and frameworks. This makes R ideal to use in developing Machine Learning algorithms, as well as creating statistical models. Any company that requires a large collection of their data to undergo a process of analysis and visualization will be looking for developers proficient in the R programming language.

8) PHP

Despite the huge popularity that languages like Python and JavaScript have garnered in backend development, PHP is still going strong and continues to be used by large companies, including Facebook, Yahoo, and Wikipedia. There remains a huge demand for PHP developers in the market, as many websites (particularly WordPress) around the web are running using PHP as their baseline. Therefore, PHP is still a great choice as a language to learn in 2021.

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Result:

9) Swift

Swift is a programming language developed by Apple for creating iOS applications. It is one of the most in-demand languages out there, as iOS applications are still extremely popular among users and Apple is still standing strong. Although Flutter (Dart) and React Native are also options for iOS development, Swift is still the more widely used and preferred option.

10) Kotlin

Kotlin is a language developed by JetBrains whose work revolves around the development of Android applications. This is precisely why Google decided to name Kotlin as the official language for Android development, putting it ahead of Java. And, as Android is the highest-selling mobile operating system, the fact that Kotlin is one of the languages to learn in 2021 comes as no surprise.

Which Programming Languages Should You Learn in 2021?

Computer science and software engineering are both considered some of the most well-known sectors in the tech industry. The popularity of these fields continues to grow without any indication of slowing down in the near future. However, computer science itself is an extremely vast field and, to keep up with the current times, it is important to know which programming languages to dip your fingertips into. All the languages mentioned above are among the most popular and widely used programming languages and are definitely worth learning. Happy coding!

GNOME Weather

GNOME weather application is a part of the official GNOME-3 application stack. It is available in most Linux distributions that ship GNOME applications and GTK-3 libraries. GNOME weather can display current weather conditions as well as weather forecasts for the next few days. You can configure it to automatically determine your location, or you can manually enter one. GNOME weather also supports multiple locations, and you can use it to monitor weather conditions of a number of places at the same time.

To install GNOME weather in Ubuntu, use the following command:

To install GNOME weather in other Linux distributions, either search for it in package manager or install it from FlatHub.

Inxi

Inxi is a command-line application that can show detailed software and hardware information about your system in a terminal. It can also show weather information based on your current timezone if you use the “-w” command-line switch.

You can also provide a custom location to Inxi using the “-W” switch (both city and country name is required).

To install Inxi in Ubuntu, use the command specified below:

You can install Inxi in other Linux distributions either from the package manager or by following instructions available here.

Meteo

Meteo is a weather app featuring a modern UI written in GTK-3 and Vala. Based on OpenWeatherMap, Meteo can show current weather conditions as well as forecasts for upcoming days. It can automatically detect your current location with an option to manually specify your desired location. Meteo integrates well with various desktop environments, and it can show a system tray applet/indicator on desktop panels.

To install Meteo in Ubuntu, run following commands one by one:

You can find installation instructions, snap, and other packages for various Linux distributions on its repository page.

My Weather Indicator

My Weather Indicator, as the name suggests, is a system tray indicator/applet that can display weather information in the top or bottom panel of your desktop environment. It supports multiple weather services, and you can have up to two indicators for different locations. It can also show detailed forecasts in a separate window.

You can install My Weather Indicator in Ubuntu from its official PPA, execute the following commands one by one to do so:

Packages for other Linux distributions are not available, so you may have to compile it from its source code.

AnsiWeather

AnsiWeather is a command-line application that can display current weather and future forecasts in a terminal emulator. It is highly configurable and comes with numerous command-line options and a config file that can be tweaked by users. It is based on OpenWeatherMap and supports Unicode symbols and ANSI colors.

To install AnsiWeather in Ubuntu, run the command below:

You can install AnsiWeather in other Linux distributions by following the official installation guide available here.

Once AnsiWeather is installed, run a command in the following format replacing city and country name:

Wttr.in

Wttr.in is a website and command-line application that can show current and future weather forecasts in a terminal. To access weather information using Wttr.in, you need to install the “Curl” command line downloader.

You can install Curl in Ubuntu by using the following command:

Curl can be installed in other Linux distributions from the package manager shipped with the OS.

Once Curl is installed, run the following command to view weather information for your current location:

You can also supply a custom location using a command in the following format:

For more customization options and innovative applications created using Wttr.in, visit its official GitHub page.

OpenWeather GNOME Shell Extension

OpenWeather is an extension for the GNOME Shell desktop environment. It can show current weather conditions as well as future forecasts in a drop-down system tray indicator. It supports automatic detection of location as well as provides an option to manually specify locations. You can also customize the appearance of the panel indicator and drop-down menu to suit your needs.

To install OpenWeather GNOME Shell extension in Ubuntu and other Linux distributions, visit its extension page and toggle it on. You may need to enable the installation of GNOME shell extensions through the browser by following the official guide available here.

Conclusion

These are some of the best GUI and command-line applications for viewing weather conditions on Linux desktops. Almost all of these applications support automatic detection of location as well as options to manually specify any location around the world.

Since ancient times, books have been man’s best friend, playing the role of guiders and philosophers. Books have always been there to inspire humans and help them broaden their horizons and open new avenues. As Neil Gaiman says, “a book is a dream that you hold in your hands.” However, in recent times, with the advancement shown in technology, printed books have seen a decline in its popularity as with the emergence of eBooks, electronic versions of printed books, this has totally brought about a huge change in the publishing industry and has made the electronic copies a much more sought-after and in-demand format. From among the dozens of eBook readers available, Adobe Reader has mostly been the get-go for Windows users due to its excellent features and support for several PDF manipulation functions.

However, with Adobe not actually having a Linux based version, it becomes necessary to look at some of its alternatives available on Linux which shall also be the topic of our discussion in this article.

1) Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a top tier freemium PDF reader that has gained a large following due to its impressive feature set and quality performance. Foxit has both a free and premium version, both of which offer high-grade features to its users, some of which even go toe to toe against those provided by Adobe. One of the best features that come along with Foxit is its ability to annotate PDF documents which allows for a better understanding of the text being read and helps in summarizing the text.

Tools:

Results:

Foxit also provides a very smooth and silky reader which further has several reading modes. In addition to this, you can rotate your screens, move to-and-fro, and even has multiple background themes from which users can choose from.

Reader Options:

Theme Modes:

It also provides a navigation panel that contains several different sections of your PDF such as Bookmarks, comments, etc.

2) Evince

Another great alternative that can be found on Linux is Evince, a free and open-source document reader developed by FOSS and is available for all major platforms such as Windows, Linux, and so on. Evince is actually the default document viewer for GNOME-based desktop environments, the most notable ones being Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. One of the most noteworthy features that come along with Evince is its ability to display dual pages simultaneously along with having support for displaying files in full screens and slide shows. It even allows users to switch the page view as in right to left or vice versa. 

Evince also has a powerful integrated search system that highlights the part and displays the page number where the specified searched element was found.

Search:

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Like Foxit, Evince also allows users to add notes as well as highlight text on their PDFs.

Tool:

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3) Okular

Okular is a lightweight and cross-platform document reader developed by the people working at KDE. Okular not only has the support for PDFs but also other file formats such as Epubs, ODF, XPS, and so on. Okular has a very easy to use and user-friendly interface with everything clearly set out in an organized manner. You can easily change the layout and add or remove some elements from it. For example, in the following image, all the different sections can be seen such as the navigation panel, the toolbar, the page, and menu bar:

One of the best things about Okular is that it provides several tools each with different functionalities. For example, you can use the Text Selection tool to copy some text and then apply the following operations to it:

Similar to the other PDF readers, Okular also possesses an extremely detailed annotation tool which includes adding notes, highlighting, drawing polygons, and so on.
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4) Master PDF

Master PDF is the next name to come into this list, a lightweight and easy to use PDF reader. Master PDF provides users with several outstanding features, the most notables ones including the ability to create, edit, merge files as well as adding comments, signatures to files, and even offering encryption of PDF files. It also has various annotation tools with which users can add notes, highlight text, and even include shapes into their PDF files.

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Master PDF also has an editing window in which you can edit your annotations. These edits can vary from changing colors to adding types and statuses. For example, in the above image, let’s say I want to change the color of my sticky Note to light green.

Window:

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5) MuPDF

MuPDF is the last name on our list, which is a free and open-source PDF reader and is well-known for its lightweight nature and quick response. What sets MuPDF apart from other software are the command line tools that it possesses, which allow users to create PDFs from text files, move about the pages and even adjust the width and height of the screen.

You can get the commands of MuPDF by entering the following command into the terminal:

Which are the Best Alternatives to Adobe Reader on Linux?

Adobe Reader has always been one of the most popular Adobe applications. However, with Adobe Reader not available in Linux, the Linux Community had to work hard in producing PDF readers that could counter Adobe. From among the variety of choices, all the five readers mentioned above are excellent choices for reading and editing PDFs and have features that even go head to head against those provided by Adobe Reader.

This article will cover a guide on installing various terminal emulators available for Linux. Compared to other operating systems, Linux has more command line applications and tools. Choosing a right terminal emulator for running these apps can improve efficiency, especially if you regularly deal with complex command line apps.

GNOME Terminal

GNOME terminal is shipped by default in all major Linux distributions having GNOME Shell as the default desktop environment. GNOME terminal provides all necessary features you would expect from a terminal emulator: tabbed browsing, user profiles, custom startup commands and a dark theme.

To install GNOME terminal in Ubuntu and its derivatives, use the following command:

GNOME terminal can be installed in other Linux distributions from package manager shipped with the OS.

XTerm

XTerm is a minimal and fast emulator that ships with “X” window manager. It doesn’t show any UI elements by default. However, menus can be accessed using <CTRL+LEFT_MOUSE_CLICK>, <CTRL+MIDDLE_MOUSE_CLICK> and <CTRL+RIGHT_MOUSE_CLICK> key combinations.

To install XTerm in Ubuntu and its derivatives, run the command below:

You can install XTerm in other Linux distributions from the package manager shipped with the OS.

Terminator

Terminator is a multi-pane terminal emulator for Linux that allows you to simultaneously launch and run multiple terminals in the same window. You can split terminals either horizontally or vertically to create new sub-terminals. Each pane can be assigned a name and has its own feature set. You can also save the layout of Terminator to straight away start using splitted panes next time you launch it. Terminator is pretty useful if you want to see what’s going on in multiple terminals at a glance.

To install terminator in Ubuntu, run the command below:

You can install Terminator in other Linux distributions by following the official installation guide available here (scroll down for instructions).

Tilix

Tilix is a multi-pane terminal emulator for Linux. Compared to Terminator, Tilix provides a much more modern and intuitive user interface. It also comes with a “Quake” mode that allows you to invoke a drop-down terminal from the system-tray panel usually located at top or bottom of the desktop. Tilix also comes with dark mode that changes UI theme to dark colors, independent of the terminal background color.

To install Tilix in Ubuntu, run the command below:

To install Tilix in other Linux distributions, download packages available on its official website.

Cool Retro Term

Cool Retro Term is a fancy terminal emulator that emulates retro looks of cathode displays. Developed using Qt libraries, Cool Retro Term offers many customization options to change color schemes of the terminal emulator. It also offers options for creating custom user profiles and changing startup shell commands.

To install Cool Retro Term in Ubuntu, use the following command:

Cool Retro Term can be installed in other Linux distributions by following its official installation guide available on GitHub.

Tilda

Tilda is a drop-down terminal emulator inspired by debug console usually seen in PC games. You can invoke it using the <F1> key and it will neatly slide on to your desktop from top or bottom panel. Hitting <F1> key again will hide the terminal. Tilda supports tabbed instances and you can add it to startup applications to automatically launch it in new sessions.

To install Tilda in Ubuntu, use the following command:

Tilda can be installed in other Linux distributions by following its official installation guide available on GitHub.

Guake

Guake is another drop-down terminal that works similar to Tilda terminal emulator. They have nearly identical feature sets with Guake also having support for multi-pane terminals (split mode).

To install Guake in Ubuntu, run the command below:

To install Gauke in other Linux distributions, follow instructions available on its official website.

Kitty

Kitty is a GPU accelerated terminal emulator created by developers of Calibre ebook management suite. Since it uses GPU for rendering, it reduces CPU consumption and improves overall responsiveness of the emulator. It supports tabbed browsing as well multiple panes in split mode. Kitty is a keyboard driven application and doesn’t have many UI elements.

To install Kitty in Ubuntu, use the following command:

To install Kitty in other Linux distributions, follow instructions available in its documentation.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular terminal emulators available for Linux. If you regularly work with shell commands and command line apps, you should invest some time to configure a terminal emulator that suits your needs to improve productivity.