Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#1

Post by anikdas » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:36 AM UTC

I have switched to Ubuntu 16.04 from MacOS two years ago. Compiz is one of the things helped me manage my workspace and windows which really boosted my productivity. I wonder what other tools I might be missing out.

Thank you.

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#2

Post by jasonhansel » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:41 AM UTC

I suggest:

- AutoKey (key shortcuts)

- Conky (desktop widgets)

- lsyncd (syncing files)

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#3

Post by anikdas » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:46 AM UTC

To add another one of my favorite: gotop[1] (drop in replacement of htop) is really good.

[1]https://github.com/cjbassi/gotop

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#4

Post by ArtWomb » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:51 AM UTC

Mkusb for making USB thumb drive bootable ISOs. If you want to try a lot of "flavors" it can definitely save a lot of time configuring ;)

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#5

Post by anikdas » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:53 AM UTC

jasonhansel wrote: post #2

I suggest: - AutoKey (key shortcuts) - Conky (desktop widgets) - lsyncd (syncing files)

lsync looks really good. Currently I was using rsync with a custom gulp script to mimic similar functionality.

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#6

Post by ChrisGranger » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 3:23 AM UTC

I'd suggest a clipboard manager. I use Glipper, but there are a lot of others.

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#7

Post by anikdas » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 3:28 AM UTC

ChrisGranger wrote: post #6

I'd suggest a clipboard manager. I use Glipper, but there are a lot of others.

I use docky as my dock and it has a clipper docklet. It's really handy.

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#8

Post by dhruvkar » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 4:44 AM UTC

Switched around the same time as well from MacOS. I really missed Spotlight. A suitable alternative I use on my Lubuntu 16.04 machine:

https://cerebroapp.com

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#9

Post by craftyguy » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 5:05 AM UTC

Tmux, vim + handful of plugins, i3wm, mutt, qutebrowser. Without the ability to completely control my systems from the keyboard, I would suffer a bit hit to productivity and these applications allow me to do that.

Re: Ask HN: What linux desktop tools/apps boosted your productivity?

#10

Post by jac08h » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 5:34 AM UTC

craftyguy wrote: post #9

Tmux, vim + handful of plugins, i3wm, mutt, qutebrowser. Without the ability to completely control my systems from the keyboard, I would suffer a bit hit to productivity and these applications allow me to do that.

also ranger for file management and saka key firefox/chrome extension