Essential applications (Linux, Android, Windows)

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Revision as of 13:12, 2 December 2006 by Elvanor (talk | contribs)
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A list of all the applications that I use, on various platforms.


Mac OS X Applications

Packaging Systems

  • SoftwareUpdate
    Built-in (from Apple), will only update the OS and Apple applications. Very easy.
  • Fink
    Large repository of UNIX open-source software.
  • DarwinPorts
    Other package manager. The repository has a lot of server software. Easy to use.


Internet

  • Mail
    Free as in beer (from Apple), good client except for the Spotlight search feature taking hours (and not returning anything useful, generally).
  • Thunderbird
    Good open-source email client from Mozilla.
  • Firefox
    The standard open-source browser that you can trust.
  • Safari
    Probably the best browser available for OS X (very fast). Based on Konqueror so should be open.
  • Cyberduck
    FTP client, open-source. I don't like it that much but it seems one of the best for the Mac.
  • X-Chat Aqua
    Open-source IRC client. Not awesome, but ok.
  • Fire
    Open-source multi-protocol IM client.


Development

  • GCC
    Included in the system from Apple.
  • X-Code
    Good IDE for C++/Objective-C/Java, unfortunately only available on the Mac. It manages its own build system, but this is not portable.


Multimedia

  • iTunes
    Excellent audio player.
  • MPlayer
    Best video player available on the Mac, but should be compiled from source. The binaries versions are not maintained it seems. Also, the GUI sucks.
  • VLC
    It will play less files than MPlayer, but the Mac port is official and better.
  • Adobe Photoshop
    Best image editing program.
  • Roxio Toast
    Good CD/DVD-burning software, but not free.


Office

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
    Essential to read PDF files.
  • Address Book
    Nice contact book manager.


Utilities

  • Built-in Unarchiver
    It will decompress .tar, .zip, and other formats. Nice integration into the Finder.
  • CDFinder
    Organizes a CD/DVD collection. Good but not multiplatform nor Open-Source.
  • CDCat
    Organizes a CD/DVD collection. Free as in speech, multiplatform, uses Qt3. But you must compile it yourself.
  • smartmontools
    Tool to monitor the SMART status of your hard drive. If you install using the Apple installer, the daemon will be automatically launched at startup (remove the StartupItem to prevent that).


Linux Applications

Packaging Systems (on Gentoo)

  • emerge
    THE only one tool that you will ever need.


Internet

  • Thunderbird
    Good open-source email client from Mozilla.
  • Firefox
    The standard open-source browser that you can trust.
  • gFTP
    FTP client, open-source. Although it seems old and not maintained it is fast and efficient.
  • X-Chat
    Open-source IRC client. Not awesome, but ok.
  • Gaim
    Open-source multi-protocol IM client. I don't like it that much, but it works - I hope version 2 will be better
  • Skype
    Closed source, free as in beer phone application.


Development

  • GCC
    The whole GNU tool chain will be of course included in the system.
  • Eclipse
    Excellent, complex IDE for Java and other languages as well with plugins.
  • KDevelop
    Very good IDE for C/C++ development.


Office

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
    To read PDF files.
  • Kpdf
    Free PDF viewer. Lighter than Acrobat Reader.


Multimedia

  • K3b
    Nice GUI to burn CDs/DVDs.
  • Amarok
    iTunes like audio player and collection manager.
  • Audacious
    Winamp like audio player, intended as an Xmms replacement. Light and efficient.
  • MPlayer
    This is the player that will play almost all your media files. On Linux the built-in GUI is OK.
  • VLC
    It will play less files than MPlayer, but is still good. Allows streaming over a network.
  • Xine
    Best multimedia player.
  • Picasa
    Photo organizer from Google. Not good for viewing single files.
  • Showimg
    Excellent image viewer.
  • Comix
    Really excellent viewer for reading comics.


Utilities

  • CDCat
    Organizes a CD/DVD collection. Free as in speech, multiplatform, uses Qt3. But you must compile it yourself (not in Portage).
  • smartmontools
    Tool to monitor the SMART status of your hard drive.


Games

  • GXMame
    Frontend for the XMame Linux version.
  • Gens
    Sega Genesis emulator.
  • Majesty
    Native port of the great fantasy kingdom simulation game.
  • Return to Castle Wolfenstein
    Native port of the FPS game.
  • Pingus
    Free clone of Lemmings, excellent.
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