I read this article of Ten Linux Apps That You Can’t Do Without and was surprised. Why was I surprised?
I was surprised to see how little of the list I consider “must have” applications. Most of the applications I probably would never use, and would be quite happy without. Even the two stalwart entries from Mozilla, Firefox and Thunderbird, aren’t really must have applications.
Of course, this sets one to thinking – if those aren’t the Top 10, then what is? What are the Top 10 Applications you must have?
This is an interesting question – especially as I’m leaning toward using my MacMini more and more these days (but that’s a future topic).
- BasKet. This is a very nice note-taking application, which provides for beautifully done notes with links, application launchers, hyperlinks to the web, and full color graphics et al.
- Kontakt. This is a PIM that combines KMail, BasKet, KTimer, and many more into one single PIM. Very nicely done, and well worth using.
- KMyMoney. This is quite possibly the most advanced personal budgeting tool for KDE, and it is very nice.
- Thinkfree Office. There are some extremely capable office suites, such as KOffice and OpenOffice. However, only Thinkfree not only synchronizes with an online repository, but also provides a way to edit online as well as on other platforms.
- Amarok. What’s productivity without some background music? Amarok is easy to use and provides all the capabilities you could hope for.
- Zim. A personal wiki: empty your brain here!
- KPDF. Why try to utilize a presentation tool when you can just create a PDF and use KPDF instead?
- digiKam. Store your photos, tag them, and more.
- KRDC. Access your desktop with this application, and work like you are at your desk.
- Keep. Back up those files! Keep is simple enough to run every day and not get in your way. You won’t have any qualms about backing up if you use this tool.
What’s on your list?
UNIX Administratosphere 
I am the author of the Linux Cauldron, and I respect you opinion. Thank you for not using foul language. It is stated in that list that this is my opinion an I hope you respect that. You seem to be a KDE (dont get me started) user, so it makes perfect sense that ALL of you apps are KDE apps 🙂 Thank you for being respectfull.
I did want to be respectful – it would not do to be spiteful. After all, not everyone has the same list.
And, yes, they are all KDE apps (I thought of mentioning that…..!) but the concepts are what matters, really. Substitute the KDE app with an excellent GNOME app and the list can be done over again.
and FYI, if you mention “Mac” anywhere in a linux IRC channel, or around a major Linux player, you’ll sure to have your eyes gouged , just a fair warning
I was quite excited when i saw that you had posted an enlightened list of “must have” Linux apps.
I imagined a list of exotic console-based apps, screen plug-ins… etc.
Instead I get a list of KDE apps. 😦 I was a little disappointed.
It doesn’t help that I have never been a fan of KDE. 🙂
Perhaps your list might be better described as a list of must-have KDE desktop apps.
Oh well… I’ll take a look at some of the recommended apps anyway- if you found them essential perhaps I will too.
-Tom
I should note that I’m not stuck on KDE – though I do like KDE 3. Like Linus Torvalds, KDE 4 may be the perfect reason to switch to GNOME.
It doesn’t help that OpenSUSE, Fedora, and Kubuntu all implemented beta and alpha versions of KDE 4 for their KDE users.
My must haves would be screen, ssh, rsync, apache, postgresql, python, and perl.
I must admit I purposely stayed away from command line tools – these were applications, not tools 🙂
I would include ruby in that list as well as the ones you mentioned, plus sudo.
gnome-do
tilda
screen
mondorescue
songbird. I am not a fan of amarok. It’s nice, but it’s too bloated for my taste.