Most Linux distros are intentionally minimal to avoid bloat, offering a fresh and clean environment.While this is a major perk, knowing what to install first can be tricky for newcomers.So, to help kickstart your journey, here are five essential apps that belong on every new Linux PC.
I’ve always said that installing Linux is only half the job—you still need to install all your favorite apps and tweak your settings to favorable configurations.That said, these five apps should cover all the basic things you need—and then some—to ensure you have the optimal experience using Linux.GNOME Tweaks and GNOME Extensions (if using Ubuntu or Fedora) Make GNOME even better If you're using a GNOME-based distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora—two of the most popular options—the first thing you need to do is install GNOME Tweaks and GNOME Extensions.
They should be readily available from your distro's graphical software store.However, you can also install them using the terminal: sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions #for Ubuntu and Debian based distros sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions #for Fedora-based distros This is necessary because GNOME, by default, is fairly minimal and lacks crucial customization features.GNOME Tweaks gives you richer control over your desktop experience—you can change the placement of window buttons, switch themes, configure fonts, and set startup applications.
GNOME Extensions, on the other hand, lets you install community-built extensions that add impressive new functionalities to GNOME.There are literally dozens of fantastic extensions available that can completely transform your workflow and make GNOME one of the most powerful desktop environments.Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeThe origins of LinuxTrivia challengeFrom a Finnish dorm room to the world's servers — how well do you know the story behind Linux?HistoryPioneersOpen SourceUnixMilestonesBegin 01 / 8PioneersWho created the Linux kernel?ARichard StallmanBDennis RitchieCLinus TorvaldsDAndrew TanenbaumCorrect! Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel in 1991 while studying at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
He initially developed it as a personal project and famously announced it on a Usenet newsgroup.Not quite.The Linux kernel was created by Linus Torvalds, a Finnish student, in 1991.Richard Stallman founded the GNU Project, Dennis Ritchie co-created Unix and C, and Andrew Tanenbaum created the educational OS Minix.Continue 02 / 8HistoryIn what year did Linus Torvalds first announce the Linux kernel to the public?A1989B1991C1993D1995Correct! On August 25, 1991, Torvalds posted his now-famous message to the comp.os.minix Usenet newsgroup, describing Linux as 'just a hobby' and saying it 'won't be big and professional like GNU.' History proved him delightfully wrong.Not quite.
Torvalds made his famous announcement in 1991, posting to the comp.os.minix Usenet group.He described the project modestly as a hobby, little knowing it would eventually power billions of devices worldwide.Continue 03 / 8UnixWhich operating system directly inspired Linus Torvalds to create Linux?ABSD UnixBMS-DOSCMinixDSolarisCorrect! Torvalds was using Minix, a small Unix-like OS created by Andrew Tanenbaum for educational purposes, and wanted to build something more capable and freely usable.His frustration with Minix's limitations drove him to write his own kernel.Not quite.
The direct inspiration was Minix, an educational Unix-like system created by Andrew Tanenbaum.Torvalds used Minix on his PC but found it too limited for his needs, which motivated him to develop his own kernel from scratch.Continue 04 / 8Open SourceUnder which license was the Linux kernel released, making it freely available to modify and distribute?AMIT LicenseBApache LicenseCBSD LicenseDGNU General Public License (GPL)Correct! In 1992, Torvalds re-licensed the Linux kernel under the GNU General Public License (GPL), a move that proved transformative.The GPL ensures that anyone who distributes Linux or a modified version must also make the source code available.Not quite.
The Linux kernel is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which Torvalds adopted in 1992.This license was crucial to Linux's growth, as it guaranteed that the kernel and its derivatives would always remain open and freely modifiable.Continue 05 / 8HistoryWhat was the version number of the very first publicly released Linux kernel?A0.0.1B0.01C1.0D0.10Correct! The first publicly released version of the Linux kernel was 0.01, uploaded by Torvalds in September 1991.It was a rough early build not really intended for wide use, but it marked the true beginning of the Linux project.Not quite.
The first public release was version 0.01, uploaded in September 1991.It was a bare-bones kernel that could barely run any software, but it invited collaboration from developers around the world who helped shape what Linux would become.Continue 06 / 8PioneersWhich organization, founded by Richard Stallman, provided many of the essential tools and utilities that combined with the Linux kernel to form a complete operating system?AThe Open GroupBThe Free Software Foundation and the GNU ProjectCThe Apache Software FoundationDBell LabsCorrect! Richard Stallman's GNU Project had been developing free software tools since 1983, including compilers, editors, and shells.When the Linux kernel arrived, it filled the missing piece, and the combination became what many call GNU/Linux.Not quite.
The GNU Project, launched by Richard Stallman and backed by the Free Software Foundation, had built a nearly complete free OS by the time Linux appeared.The kernel was the missing link, and together they formed a fully functional free operating system.Continue 07 / 8MilestonesWhich was the first major Linux distribution aimed at making Linux accessible to everyday users?AFedoraBDebianCSlackwareDUbuntuCorrect! Slackware, created by Patrick Volkerding, was released in 1993 and is considered one of the earliest and most influential Linux distributions.It helped bring Linux out of purely academic and developer circles and toward a broader audience.Not quite.
Slackware, released in 1993 by Patrick Volkerding, was one of the first Linux distributions designed to make Linux more accessible.Debian also launched that same year, while Ubuntu didn't arrive until 2004, and Fedora followed in 2003.Continue 08 / 8HistoryWhat university was Linus Torvalds attending when he began developing the Linux kernel?AMITBUppsala UniversityCUniversity of HelsinkiDAalto UniversityCorrect! Torvalds was a computer science student at the University of Helsinki in Finland when he began work on the Linux kernel in 1991.He was running Minix on his new 386 PC and wanted a more powerful, free alternative.Not quite.
Torvalds was studying at the University of Helsinki in Finland when he started the Linux project.He had recently bought an Intel 386-based PC and was experimenting with Minix before deciding to write his own operating system kernel.See My Score Challenge CompleteYour Score/ 8Thanks for playing!Try Again KDE Connect (or GSConnect) Transfer files between all of your devices Close KDE Connect lets you pair your smartphone with your Linux PC and then use one to control the other.Once connected, you can see notifications on both devices, send files between your phone and PC, remotely control media playback, use your phone as a trackpad or remote keyboard, and even execute terminal commands on your PC directly from your phone.
The app comes pre-installed with KDE Plasma-based distros—but if you’re using a GNOME-based distro, you’ll need to install the GSConnect extension.On your smartphone, install it from the Play Store (or App Store), pair both devices, and voilà—your phone and PC can now communicate seamlessly.KDE Connect works seamlessly between Android and Linux, offering full feature support.
However, on iPhone, the feature set is a bit limited, and file transfers from PC to iPhone and background notifications don't work as reliably.A Chromium-based browser It doesn't have to be Chrome! Most Linux distributions ship with Firefox as the default browser—and while it’s definitely a great option, some web apps don’t work well on Firefox.For example, I’ve personally faced a lot of issues using Firefox to run Canva, Netflix, Notion, and Google Meet (which is what I use for all client meetings).
Now, you can definitely install Google Chrome on Linux if that’s what you’re used to, but I’d urge you to try Chromium—the open-source engine powering Google Chrome.You can also explore other Chromium-based browsers like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi—all of which are fully compatible with all Chrome extensions.You can install all of these from your distro’s official repo! OnlyOffice The better Office alternative While LibreOffice is the default office suite for almost every Linux distro, I personally think OnlyOffice is a better alternative—especially if you are used to working with Microsoft Office and need to collaborate with folks who use Word and Excel.
First, OnlyOffice offers a sleek and modern interface that’s similar to Microsoft Office, which should help you better navigate the app and find the options you need.LibreOffice, on the other hand, can look a bit old and dated while also following a different layout that can take some getting used to.I’ve also noticed that OnlyOffice offers better compatibility with files created using Microsoft Office.
I’ve opened DOCX and XLSX files and rarely encountered formatting issues, which is not something I can confidently say about LibreOffice—especially when working with complex documents with a lot of intricate styling and formatting.Related I replaced Microsoft Word with a self-hosted, open-source alternative It also includes a spreadsheet and presentation editor! Posts 23 By Nick Lewis Flatpak Install new apps the easy way Strictly speaking, Flatpak is not an app but a universal software repository, but since you install it like any other Linux app—and it’s my preferred way to install apps on Linux—I’m going to include it on the list.You see, most Linux distros will come with their own official software repository, and it might not have the app you want to use! However, most modern apps released for Linux now have Flatpak versions, so installing it gives you access to all of those apps, regardless of your distro choice.
A few distros come with Flatpak pre-installed, but if yours didn’t, check the installation guide—it’s usually two or three terminal commands.Once installed, immediately use it to download Bazaar and Flatseal using these commands: flatpak install flathub io.github.kolunmi.Bazaar #for Bazaar flatpak install flathub com.github.tchx84.Flatseal #for Flatseal Close Bazaar gives you a graphical software store to browse and download all available Flatpaks.Meanwhile, Flatseal lets you control the system permissions that each Flatpak has on your PC.
Remember, these are just the bare essentials There you have it—five Linux tools and apps that you should install on day one to get the smoothest experience using Linux.While this list just covers the essentials to get you started, the beauty of Linux is that there are always more cool apps to discover—so keep exploring!
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