Linus Torvalds

Linus Torvalds

Below is a phrase cut out from real life story of Linus and his erstwhile (current too)  friend.

I won't tell you where it is posted but it is an inspirational piece of writing and how a young undergraduates feels about his/her life in the campus and his/her career accomplishment thereafter and how collaboration works and isolation ruins.

Go and find it yourself.

1. It is relevant here to state how the politicians (whatever the party affiliation that would be) should not ruin the minds of young entrants by propaganda.

2. It is also relevant that a university computer student in early 1990 could not save money enough to buy a home computer.

List of Little Linux Utilities

This web site was created to promote Linux distributions when no one was interested in Linux.

There were only 32 PCs worldwide at that time and I was one of them in Ceylon, statistically insignificant number and India did not have any.

Currently only about 3% users but about 10% of the guys in YouTube talk about it, like people talking about Meiditation but never practice it.

Google uses gDeb and it about to 6% the total.

Apple is a variant of Unix from which Linux started its origin.

Linux Torvalds had a little outing with his professor ?Thanabaum and outcome was Linux.

My aim is to promote Linux so that before I kick the bucket at least 10% of the PC users use it as a "Freedom Project".

 

1. pidgin

Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a free and open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple that has support for many instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to simultaneously log in to various services from a single application, with a single interface for both popular and obsolete protocols (from AIM to Discord), thus avoiding the hassle of having to deal with new software for each device and protocol.

As of 2007, the number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over three million.

Pidgin is widely used for its Off-the-Record Messaging(OTR) plugin, which offers end-to-end encryption.

For this reason it is included in the privacy and anonymity focused operating systemTails.

2. ping

Ping (blogging), used for blogs, RSS, and related web services

Ping (networking utility), a computer network monitoring tool

Ping (video games), the network latency between computers used in online gaming

Ping.fm, a defunct microblog social networ

iTunes Ping, a social network for music that was once built into Apple iTunes

Ping Identity, an American software compan

3. Bluefish

Bluefish is a powerful editor targeted towards programmers and web developers, with many options to write websites, scripts and programming code. Bluefish supports many programming and markup languages. See features for an extensive overview, take a look at the screenshots, or download it right away. Bluefish is an open source development project, released under the GNU GPL licence.

Bluefish is a multi-platform application that runs on most desktop operating systems including Linux, Mac OSX, Windows, FreeBSD and OpenBSD.

4. Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is free and open-source email client software which also functions as a full personal information manager with a calendar and contact book, as well as an RSS feed reader, chat client (IRC/XMPP/Matrix), and news client.

Available cross-platform, it is operated by the Mozilla Foundation's subsidiary MZLA Technologies Corporation. Thunderbird is an independent, community-driven project that is managed and overseen by the Thunderbird Council, which is elected by the Thunderbird Community. The project strategy was originally modelled after that of Mozilla's Firefox Web browser and is an interface built on top of that Web browser.

5. Stacer

Stacer is an all-in-one solution for optimizing Linux.

It monitors system resources, cleans up disk space, and manages startup applications. Whether you're a seasoned Linux user or new to the platform, learn how Stacer can enhance your system's performance and usability.

6. notepadqq

Notepadqq is text editor and is versatile enough to use on daily basis.

Notepad++ is a free and open-source text and source code editor for use with Microsoft Windows. It supports tabbed editing, which allows working with multiple open files in a single window. The product's name comes from the C postfix increment operator.

It is sometimes referred to as npp or NPP.

Notepad++ is distributed as free software.

At first, the project was hosted on SourceForge, from where it was downloaded over 28 million times and twice won the SourceForge Community Choice Award for Best Developer Tool.

The project was hosted on TuxFamily from 2010 to 2015.

Since 2015, Notepad++ has been hosted on GitHub.

Notepad++ uses the Scintilla editor component.

7. jitsi

Jitsi  is a collection of free and open-source multi-platform voice (VoIP), video conferencing and instant messaging applications for the Web platform, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.

The Jitsi project began with the Jitsi Desktop (previously known as SIP Communicator).

With the growth of WebRTC, the project team focus shifted to the Jitsi Videobridge for allowing web-based multi-party video calling. Later the team added Jitsi Meet, a full video conferencing application that includes web, Android, and iOS clients. Jitsi also operates meet.jit.si, a version of Jitsi Meet hosted by Jitsi for free community use. Other projects include: Jigasi, lib-jitsi-meet, Jidesha, and Jitsi.

Jitsi has received support from various institutions such as the NLnet Foundation, the University of Strasbourg and the Region of Alsace, the European Commission and it has also had multiple participations in the Google Summer of Code program.

8.Text Editors

There is a lot of them and I have highlighted a few of them above.

9.Ranger

Is a very good terminal with simple graphic features

Ranger is a free and open-source file manager with text-based user interface for Unix-like systems. It is developed by Roman Zimbelmann and licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The program can accomplish file management tasks with a few keystrokes and mouse input is optional.

In conjunction with extensions including the rifle file opener and scope.sh, ranger can be scripted to open files with pre-defined programs and to display a preview of the selected file by calling external programs.

10. Neofetch

Neofetch is a system information tool written in the Bash shell scripting language. By default, on the left side is a logo of the distribution, rendered in ASCII art. Unlike a system monitor, the tool only features a static display of the computer's basic hardware and software configurations and their versions, typically operating system, the host (namely the technical name of the machine), uptime, package managers, the shell, display resolution, desktop environment, window manager, themes and icons, the computer terminal, CPU, GPU, and RAM. Neofetch can also display images on the terminal with w3m-img in place of the ASCII logo art.

Neofetch development has been discontinued as of April 26, 2024.

Ranger Linux Utility

Ranger is a free and open-source file manager with text-based user interface for Unix-like systems. It is developed by Roman Zimbelmann and licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The program can accomplish file management tasks with a few keystrokes, and mouse input is optional. In conjunction with extensions including the rifle file opener and scope.sh, ranger can be scripted to open files with pre-defined programs, and to display a preview of the selected file by calling external programs.

Linux Ping

Ping

Ping (blogging), used for blogs, RSS, and related web services

Ping (networking utility), a computer network monitoring tool

Ping (video games), the network latency between computers used in online gaming

Ping.fm, a defunct microblog social network

iTunes Ping, a social network for music that was once built into Apple iTunes

Ping Identity, an American software company

Linux Pidgin

 Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a free and open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple that has support for many instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to simultaneously log in to various services from a single application, with a single interface for both popular and obsolete protocols (from AIM to Discord), thus avoiding the hassle of having to deal with new software for each device and protocol.

As of 2007, the number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over three million.

Pidgin is widely used for its Off-the-Record Messaging(OTR) plugin, which offers end-to-end encryption.

For this reason it is included in the privacy and anonymity focused operating systemTails.

Box Utility of Gnome

I am testing Parrot OS and Endless on Box Utility.

Parrot OS has done a clever thing.

It has a Home edition and a Security edition.

Home edition has almost everything one needs to work.

Security edition is for penetration testing.

Endless OS has nothing (in a way it is good for a guy like me who wants nothing and would build up on the base) in its base iso.

It directs straight to SNAP application store which I do not like for many reasons.

I decided to download Debian testing image.

It is taking time.

Mind this all done not on root level but on a user level permission.

I have given root permission to download Debian Testing.

Box Utility wanted Express Install on my NUC Box  which I declined and decided to write on a USB.

Be aware of what one is doing.

Box would have destroyed my two Editions of Debian in my NUC!

Download speed of box utility is slow, it often breaks down if one is downloading torrent file simultaneously.

I prefer torrent downloads.

It is far better download the image separately to your download folder,

Each member of the Linux box has his or her own /home and a download folder.

That is the beauty of Linux.

I decided to download Debian Testing and I will Install it.

I have never done this before, since I use only the stable edition.

Installation failed.

I think it did not have the KDE multi-language package to install, so it stalled.

Without KDE, my installation went on smoothly.

MATE desktop booted up.

It had everything but Synaptic Package Manager wanted CD/DVD to install AbiWord.

More importantly GRUB file missed my Regular Gnome Edition.

The Testing Gnome was OK.

Well I have to Instal Debian Regular again.

In summary,

1. WiFi configuration was OK.

2. Clock configuration was OK.

3. It has introduced few more desktop types including Gnome X11.

4. My current Debian image is 6.1.-.....and the new image is 6.7......

5. It had nearly 3000 files at least 300 more than the stable versions.

6. I realize if I use Gnome, Gnome Flashback and MATE it saves me 1500 files (nearly half of the total installation).

7. KDE takes the most that is why I do not use KDE or Plasma.

Besides it takes shorter time to install.

8. I always make a point to be connected to home site and they have free permission to scan we hat I do and no virus attacks at all.

9. LibreOffice takes to the bulk due to its multi-lamguage support.

10. Testing guys should test one desktop at a time.

Then report to the Debian base instead of bashing in the YouTube for Patreon contributions.

11. Reporting on individual file may nelong to a specific group of people.

12. Please note Linux supports (voiced installation) visually handicapped and they do not need a Glossy Desktop.

MATE is a light weight desktop which Parrot Linux prefers.

By the way, I tried sddm (do not know what it is) instead of light gdm.

These new 300 odd packages have to be text edited line by line.

Kernel itself has of million lines.

This the answer to the Young Guys who wanted the latest but untested software.

Even for an Old Linux guy there is something to do for the first time.

That is the way, life is all about strange associations with reality.

I am going to Install it again but my gut feeling is it will fail again.

I have the two working Debian images not harmed.

Debian Linux Update-Live DVD Version

I have been Using Debian from Version 8 on a regular basis, even though I have tested it from version 6 in the 32 bit time.

Version 12 is fantastic and there is no other distribution to rival it.

It comes in two year cycles and stable.

One need not update it daily like Mint or Manjaro (sleek but finicky).

One need not save a copy or a Time-shift, fearing fragmentation.

Corporate guys like Redhat and Suse fear fragmentation and that is their nature and they are worried about their commercial outcome.

I say, use the useless Microsoft Windows or very expensive Apple.

Linux fragments only one fiddles with its original intentions.

That intention is FREE SOFTWARE for the WORLD and the human consumption from East to West and North to South.

Coming to Debian, I finally got two version of Debian in my NUC computer of 320GB.

It consumes little over 100GB with a handsomely large /home folder (with 10 partitions including Efi partition).

Of course it can reside on a single partition like Endless OS. and a boot partition, that is OK for a an old laptop, which I have. It is working fine.

I use two version for two reasons.

1. One is my workhorse which I do not fiddle with after getting my applications installed. I come to applications in a little while.

2. The other version is for fiddling round. Currently I am fiddling round with various Desktops, especially the light weight ones, including SUGAR for old computers which can be used productively.

I of course had a network of 14 to 16 IBM computers discarded from America in our home network and quickly disbanded them when our electricity bill went up. I was nearing retirement and and it came down to 3 one for the family and other two exclusively for me.

Currently two basic NUCs but only one is connected to the Internet.

Other is for my son who is not interested in computers now.

In the good old days, I had two versions of Debian, one running the older version and the other the latest version. I cannot remember whether Debian had a two year cycle, then.

3. I use only Gnome and said good bye to KDE and Plasma (consume lot of memory in the boot up itself, even before doing some work).

I tried PCLinux and erased it after 24 hours.

It is clunky.

Same thing with Devuan (probably an European version of Debian derivative), not worth trying.

4. Now to the applications

1. I do not use bulky LibreOffice.

Of course, LibreOffice has a database management system for storing films, videos, etc.

I have not tested this fully.

Instead, I download AbiWord my favorite Word Processor.

It used to be 28MB when mounted but has expanded to 250MB to accommodate various worldly formats.

2. Stacer

3. notepadqq a new conversion

4. VLC as old as my Linux conversion

5. GIMP

6. Htop a terminal

7. Audacity as old as my Linux conversion.

8. Box Virtual Box (not proprietary Oracle Virtual Box) 

New adventure to test new Linux distributions on a virtual machine

9. Xournal (not Vim or Emac ), my old favorite but haven't used for a long time!

Xouranl has both text editor and hand writing tool which are amazing

10.  Firefox and several other web browsers (Falkon, Opera, Dillo)

Firefox is my fovourite browser with Thunderbird as the Linux Email client.

11. Of course, Bluefish, just in case I need to do few lines of Code.

It has python, PHP and Perl and lot of Code Breakers.

12. Gnumeric is for money matters

Joplin I believe is proprietary and Rednote is a worthy note taker.

Excuse my Typos and I am back to my writing mode and occasional testing of a new Linux Distribution,

Four books on various topics.