Top Linux Downloads

[SecretMethod70]

This (among the two other variations of it for different major OS's) was one of my favorite threads on TFP 3.

List your favorite suggestions for Linux downloads here and briefly explain why.

To start, I recommend <a href="http://www.abiword.org">abiword</a> - my personal favorite word processor.

More to come

[Motry Latchman]

I mentioned in another thread I use Mandrake - it comes with so many apps it's sometimes hard to find anything useful and functional to download that isn't already on the distribution disks. A nice contrast to the windows world.

[Dave]

If you need to find some software for *nix, start with freshmeat.

[bullgoose]

I'm a distro-slut; if a penguin winks at me, I've got to take it home. I'm using RedHat 9.0 right now, but I could just as well re-boot and use Debian Sarge; Debian is my personal preference, but RH 9 is really pretty; more user-friendly so to speak, which brings me to my software reccomendation; if you're using RedHat, the default package management system is RPMS (spelled S-U-C-K-S), there is an application that allows RedHat users to experience the joy of using Debians wonderful package management system; it's called apt-rpm, and it beats RedHat's default system six ways to Sunday. My suggestion would be to do a Google search (Google is your friend) and D/L and install apt-rpm immediatly, along with Synaptic, a GUI frontend for apt-rpm; once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it!

[Krycheck]

Kopete - A Trillian like instant messenger client. Supports AIM, ICQ, MSN and IRC. Support for Yahoo comming soon

Rdesktop - A Terminal Server client for of course linux.

Explore2fs - A nifty program for browsing your linux partitions from Windows. Nice for recovering and editing linux files from Windows.

WineX - A different flavor of Wine for linux that is made for gaming. Works great!! Buy a subcription and get the latest betas and pre-packaged versions.

I think that about covers it for me for now

[fracturedmind]

Apt-Get - Easy rpm updater, for linux noobs like me!

[bullgoose]

Originally posted by fracturedmind
Apt-Get - Easy rpm updater, for linux noobs like me!

Damn straight, Skippy; BUT apt-get is a command that you use to get dpkg to work in Debian; there is a port of Debian's packaging system to use on RPM-type systems, but make sure you use the correct one for whatever disto you're running; if you don't, it won't work, or worse, it'll kark your system. When it's configured right, it's better'n a tight pussy!

[fracturedmind]

it's better'n a tight pussy!

Thought I was on the wrong board for a sec

Yeah people need to check on that site if the apt-get on freshrpms will work for their distro, I seriously have no idea how to use debian, I only wish :P

[bullgoose]

Originally posted by fracturedmind
Thought I was on the wrong board for a sec

Yeah people need to check on that site if the apt-get on freshrpms will work for their distro, I seriously have no idea how to use debian, I only wish :P

If you want to learn Debian, I'd suggest Libranet Linux 2.0; there's a new version due out soon, but you can D/L 2.0 from Libranet's website. Libranet is basically Debian 3.0 (Woody) with one REALLY nice proprietary app thrown in; adminmenu, it allows the root user to do the bullshit stuff ( adduser, kernel re-compile, SCSI emulation, etc.) right from the desktop, or, if you have an xwindow problem, you can use adminmenu at the CLI; just cd /usr/bin
./adminmenu and off you go. All the neat Debian utilities work in Libranet, most prominently apt/dpkg, and the install is nowhere near as daunting. My only problem with Libranet is that they're releasing upgrades about every 4 months; at (approx) $50.00 us, it's a little too rich for my blood. Oh well, you just edit /etc/sources.apt to point at whatever level of pure Debian you want (stable, testing or unstable) then apt-get update/apt-get dist upgrade and you're using pure Debian, upgraded to the latest software releases. I've see the claim made that there are Debian users who have only installed once; they just do an apt-get dist-upgrade when Debian has a new release.
DEBIAN- Breakfast of CHAMPIONS!!

[fracturedmind]

Hmm, well if I got the real Debian, and went thru a million FAQs and got it running ... would it be much like Redhat at all? I'm really a linux noob, I know how to use the terminal I mean... I don't just boot into XWindows and say "Yay I'm using Linux" and open Mozilla and gAIM :P

But say I install it, this apt-get for Debian is much like Redhat? So I can update the noob way? What about packages it comes with? Am I going to be stuck trying to install everything by hand or does it come with packages like redhat?

I'd like to get off Redhat to I can get a challenge but if its going to give me a useless laptop then I'll pass :P I do use it often, so if it wouldnt be working in a few days I'd be pissed at myself

[SecretMethod70]

I hear that Gentoo's portage cvan be installed on other distros - if so I HIGHLY recommend it. I don't know what kind of configuration it would require but whatever it is it would be well worth it.

One thing I forgot to mention was my favorite IRC client, XChat (www.xchat.org) The cool thing about Linux though is that most great downloads don't even need to be downloaded for most distros! Of course, with distros like LFS (Linux From Scratch), Gentoo, Slackware, etc, they're ALL downloads!

[ChipX86]

I'd have to say Gaim, but you knew I was going to say that.

Actually, I think galeon is an amazing browser. It feels comfortable and I love the smart bookmarks.

Another one is <a href="http://www.gkrellm.net/">gkrellm</a>. It's a very configurable, nice looking system monitor for Linux.

[duckduck]

Gotta be Quake or Quake II. Since they're now open source, just download them and you've got 2 of the best games EVER for free. Plus, what with executable mods like tenebrae, telejano, fuhquake, and so on, you get the classic games with the graphics of today (ie. telejano) or the graphics of tomorrow (ie. tenebrae). I also highly recommend getting the texture paks if you download them, though. It makes a rather large difference.

What are ya waiting for? Game on!

[Empty_One]

My favorite download is Galeon. Best mozilla based browser there is as far as I'm comcerned. I like the way it handles tabs better than mozilla or phoenix (firebird)

[Crimson]

irssi for irc and gaim

Also phoenix as it has the mozilal interface I love with the speed my 500mhz box needs

[bullgoose]

Originally posted by fracturedmind
Hmm, well if I got the real Debian, and went thru a million FAQs and got it running ... would it be much like Redhat at all? I'm really a linux noob, I know how to use the terminal I mean... I don't just boot into XWindows and say "Yay I'm using Linux" and open Mozilla and gAIM :P

But say I install it, this apt-get for Debian is much like Redhat? So I can update the noob way? What about packages it comes with? Am I going to be stuck trying to install everything by hand or does it come with packages like redhat?

I'd like to get off Redhat to I can get a challenge but if its going to give me a useless laptop then I'll pass :P I do use it often, so if it wouldnt be working in a few days I'd be pissed at myself

The biggest advantage that apt/dpkg has over RPM's is the fact that it's smart enough to know if there are unmet dependancies; if there are, it won't even D/L the package until it comes up with the other packages that meet the dependancies; with that accomplishes, THEN it D/L's everything, and hen installs AND CONFIGURES the software you want; no fuss, no muss.
The other thing is this; YOU have to determine when you want to upgrade Redhat, then you can do the dependancy fight, and with good luck, you won't trash your system; with apt/dpkg, you establish a connection to Debian's server, enter "apt-get update" (without quotes) and then Debian checks all the installed packages in your box; if there are newer versions, it notifies you, you then enter "apt-get dist-upgrade" and ALL the packages on your system are upgraded to the latest version, with all dependancies met and configured AUTOMATICALLY. The really cool thing is; if you WANT to do an upgrade everyday, you can! I love apt/dpkg, but be warned, go slow at first- even apt/dpkg can trash a system if you don't think before you act; otherwise, it's really the best package manager available, and yes, it works just as good at the command line (matter of fact, that's how I use it most of the time). There's lots more to apt/dpkg, but the upgrading ability is the best, as far as I'm concerned.
I have the 7-CD-ROM set of Woody, but all you really need is the 3 CD-ROM set for a pretty well setup installation; CheapBytes is a good place to deal with, or I can burn you a set, if you trust me (NOT a wise thing >GRIN<)

[Boner]

Here are my picks. Some of these are already included in some distros.

- GAIM
- Ximian Evolution (like Outlook)
- Mozilla
- PAN (Pimp Ass Newsreader)
- GIMP (Image Editor)
- apt-get for RPM, if a RedHat system
- SpamAssassin (kicks ass if you run your own mailserver)
- Gallery, an excellent PHP-based photo gallery

One last thing I want to mention, but not a Linux download:
- CYGWIN

CYGWIN is a port of the Unix API's to Windows. It includes many of the utilities and a compiler, and an X-Server. If you are forced to live in Windows land part time, it is definitely worth the download (http://sources.redhat.com)

[phunktastic]

Gaim, mozilla, PAN

[SecretMethod70]

Karamba (<a href="http://www.efd.lth.se/~d98hk/karamba/">LINK</a>) - a Samurize-like program for KDE.

slicKer (<a href="http://slicker.sourceforge.net/">LINK</a>) - designed to be a kicker replacement (also KDE), this utilizes desktop "cards." There is no actual release yet but It's very nice to run out of CVS.

[saberyo]

vim - personal favorite editor!

mozilla - cross platform browsing @ its best

spamassassin - a must to keep that email meat product free

maildrop - to wrangle emails into their appropriate folders

I could go on for ever, and luckily I don't have to down load any of these on my own:

"sudo emerge $MY_FAVORITE_APP" will handle it for me and "sudo emerge -u world" will keep 'em up to date!

[Binder]

Originally posted by SecretMethod70
This (among the two other variations of it for different major OS's) was one of my favorite threads on TFP 3.

this was a great thread, thanks for reviving it.

another good irc app is
bitchx

[SecretMethod70]

Time to have some FUN!

Been playing around with some games, so here are a few excellent ones ...

<a href="http://www.reptilelabour.com/software/chromium/">Chromium B.S.U.</a>
<a href="http://www.tobias-nopper.de/BillardGL/index-en.html">BillardGL</a>
<a href="http://www.frozen-bubble.org/">Frozen Bubble</a>
<a href="http://www.linux-games.com/penguin-command/">Penguin Command</a>

[SecretMethod70]

I'm making this same post on both the Windows and Linux threads because it can pertain to both. Also, it's actually an extension to a program rather than a program itself, but it's SO excellent that I just have to share it with people and these two threads seemed like the most appropriate places.

Anyways, it's called AdBlock and it's an extension to Mozilla and/or Firebird. It can be downloaded from http://adblock.mozdev.org

Basically, it makes it REALLY easy to block banner ads and other advertising images from websites as you browse them and it just recently had functionality added to block flash advertisements in pages too

If you use Mozilla or Firebird, I HIGHLY suggest you check this out!

[oberon]

Interesting that you just revived a thread that's been dead for nearly eight months...

In any case, I recently installed these cool games on my FreeBSD workstation at home but if you have DRI working on your Linux or FreeBSD machines these open-source 3D games are a lot of fun:

neverball and neverputt - tilt a board to roll a ball through an obstacle course; also 3D putt
gl-117 - flight simulator type game

[sailor]

My Debian install came from a Knoppix disk, so its pretty well packed with anything I could ever need...

Gkrellm, however, is far and away the best system monitor I have ever used.

I, too like apt-get. Its pretty much what keeps me running Debian.

[SecretMethod70]

Originally posted by oberon
Interesting that you just revived a thread that's been dead for nearly eight months...

Nothin' like placing posts in the appropriate pre-existing threads

[Latch]

Originally posted by SecretMethod70
Nothin' like placing posts in the appropriate pre-existing threads

You must have search privileges, huh? Otherwise this would have been a complete BITCH to go back and find hehe.

[Xirax]

I'd have to put a vote in for the noia iconset. Not very useful, but pretty good looking!

Also giFT-cvs + Apollon work nicely for me

did anyone mention xmms? More or less standard with any distro, i guess.

3ddesktop is another prog that's fun for a change. Impress those users of other OS's that don't get to see cool things everyday.