Favourite Lesser Known Programs

General system Applications
553

If I yay dialect this is what it’s trying to install:

:: Checking for conflicts...
:: Checking for inner conflicts...
[Repo:14]  python-charset-normalizer-2.0.4-1  python-sniffio-1.2.0-3  python-anyio-3.3.4-1  python-h11-0.12.0-1  python-httpcore-0.14.3-1  python-rfc3986-1.5.0-1  python-typing_extensions-3.10.0.2-2  python-future-0.18.2-5  python-commonmark-0.9.1-3  python-rich-10.15.1-1  python-httpx-0.21.1-1  python-hpack-4.0.0-1  python-hyperframe-6.0.1-1  python-h2-4.0.0-1
[Aur:3]  python-googletrans-git-r116.d15c94f-1  python-gtts-2.2.3-1  dialect-1.4.1-2

:: (1/3) Downloaded PKGBUILD: python-googletrans-git
:: (2/3) Downloaded PKGBUILD: python-gtts
:: (3/3) Downloaded PKGBUILD: dialect
  3 python-googletrans-git           (Build Files Exist)
  2 python-gtts                      (Build Files Exist)
  1 dialect                          (Build Files Exist)
==> Diffs to show?
==> [N]one [A]ll [Ab]ort [I]nstalled [No]tInstalled or (1 2 3, 1-3, ^4)

python-googletrans-git still uses google as a source for the translations. it even warns that google might ban your IP from accessing the API in some cases (if abused, whatever that means):
excerpt from the readme of py-googletrans git page:

Note on library usage

DISCLAIMER: this is an unofficial library using the web API of translate.google.com and also is not associated with Google.

  • The maximum character limit on a single text is 15k.
  • Due to limitations of the web version of google translate, this API does not guarantee that the library would work properly at all times (so please use this library if you don’t care about stability).
  • Important: If you want to use a stable API, I highly recommend you to use Google’s official translate API.
  • If you get HTTP 5xx error or errors like #6, it’s probably because Google has banned your client IP address.

This library provides free access to google API, as in free of charge only.

1 Like
554

Yep, but like Mental have said in video you can enable offline mode and it will still work…Although it seems to produce best results out of those 3, i’m not a fan of fact it uses Goolag…

555

I am still learning to use this item, so I can’t review it, but what I have tried so far impresses. It is broot - a program that COULD replace a file manager if you wished it to. It is capable of displaying file sizes, multi-panel operation, and of course viewing and copying and moving files as needed. It also includes a ‘fuzzy search’ capability.

Here’s a take on it from ComputingforGeeks:

and obviously more Arch people knew of it than I suspected, as it is in the repos…

Tempting for WM users? It would tempt me if I could successfully use a WM…

8 Likes
556

Wow. Just installed it and took a quick look. Pretty amazing at first glance.

557

This is Mas cool!
Thanks and Merry Christmas! I just got one present :+1:

558

Stopwatch, requires installation of tc and tcl, which I assume should be available in the EndeavourOS repos (I’m an Arch and Debian user).

After downloading Stopwatch, copy it to /usr/bin or maybe /opt as stopwatch. Then using a text editor in superuser mode (sudo -i text-editor-name), comment out the first line and save your change:

#!/usr/bin/wish -f

stopwatch_screenshot

559

PDF Studio, a full-fledged PDF editor similar to Adobe Acrobat available for Linux, MacOS, and Windows. Developed using Java and installs with its own JRE. One software license entitles you to use the software on 2 computers. If you multi-boot Linux on 1 computer and use the same user name for all installs, the license counts as being used on 1 computer.

pdfstudio_screenshot

1 Like
560

Don’t do that. Installing software manually makes it invisible to your package manager, which can create conflicts with other packages.

If you must do it like that, keep it somewhere in your user space (e.g. ~/.local/bin) and adjust the PATH variable accordingly.

However, Stopwatch is in the AUR, conveniently, so one can package it and install it properly:
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/stopwatch

Do not run a graphical text editor (or any other GUI program) with sudo. If you must, use a TUI editor like nano or vim, or a GUI editor with polkit support.

6 Likes
561

You could perhaps add in micro to the list of non-GUI but effective text editors… no configuration needed to be understandable for common commands…

1 Like
562

Bloat! :frog:

Seriously, there are hundreds of text editors that can be added to this list. nano and vim are just examples.

2 Likes
563

The link provided in duple’s post has

A command line tool to identify a pixel color on an X Window.

KDE Plasma’s ColorPicker widget works in Wayland.
For Sway, see this.
No idea about GNOME.

1 Like
564

I have been researching task management (to-do list) apps, and I thought I’d share a list of the apps I found most interesting. I have been testing apps dedicated to task management, of course, but also note-taking apps with some task-management functionality. My criteria for inclusion in my lists of favored apps below include app stability; an absence of bugs during normal use; evidence of ongoing development; intuitive functionality (without need to refer to documentation); useful documentation when needed; a project hierarchy; a useful tagging system; and a way to filter tasks by project, tags and priority. My criteria do not include cloud functionality or team collaboration.

Within each section below, I list apps from most capable (at the top) to least capable. However, a less-capable app might be the perfect app for you. For example, Sleek, at the bottom of my list of to-do apps, is a wonderful app, and it might be perfect for someone who doesn’t need the time-tracking functionality offered by Super Productivity, at the top of my list. As another example, CherryTree, at the bottom of my note-taking list, is probably my favorite note-taking app, especially for its ability to organize content in a hierarchy and then restructure the hierarchy easily (drag and drop) as needed, but its task management functionality (for my own needs) is lacking.

Below you’ll also see my list of the apps I tested and rejected for one reason or another. Your criteria for a useful app might be different than mine, so please do not reject out of hand the apps I have rejected.

Some great apps focused on task management:

  • Super Productivity
  • Planner [Flatpak] Edit: see below
  • Sleek

Some great apps focused on note writing, but with some task-management functionality:

  • Obsidian
  • Trilium
  • Joplin
  • CherryTree

Some other apps I tested (not right for my own needs, but they might be perfect for your needs):

  • Task Coach
  • QOwnNotes
  • Taskwarrior [thanks to @Celty]
  • Standard Notes
  • P3X OneNote
  • Zanshin
  • Go For It!
  • Yoctodo

Some commercial apps (some of them free for personal use on Linux, but perhaps with a price for useful to-do functionality):

  • Todoist
  • Notion
  • Trello
  • TickTick

Edit: Almost as soon as I had posted above the results of my research into to-do applications, one of my recommendations, Planner, had a catastrophic upgrade (from 2.7 to 3.0) which resulted in the loss of all of my test data. This issue is being discussed here:

Please don’t push unfinished products to main branch

To all the people who experienced this problem, we apologize

Obviously, I can no longer recommend Planner.

1 Like
565

I use taskwarrior for tasks (taskwarrior-tui on aur). It is simplistic yet feature packed (but requires a bit of learning). Joplin is fantastic for notes.

Zettlr is an open source alternative to Obsidian. It is similar to Joplin, but with a lot more features. Might be worth looking into.

I’ve been looking for some alternative task/note taking applications, so your list will be useful. Thanks!

2 Likes
566

Completely forgot this game existed, loved it as a kid

2 Likes
567

Such a masterpiece for it’s time :partying_face:

568

Yer I know what I’m going to be up playing all night now

1 Like
569

I love this game and I hated it equally, because I was bad at it:)

1 Like
570

Same, found out after installing it earlier I still love it and am still terrible at it

571

One can run a graphical text editor with sudo, but it should be run with the flag -e or with sudoedit as command, that will create a temporary copy of the file you want to edit and then move it to the folder without ever giving sudo to the actual editor.

Example:
sudoedit emacs /etc/locale.conf

572

Over the past month I’ve become extremely fond Logseq. Simple interface, privacy focused note taking app. Can be used for to dos. Check it out.

1 Like