# Free Software Hall of Fame Last updated: 2024-01-21 Some of my favorite free software projects ![An image of a laptop](/posts/free-software/software.jpg) As you might know, I'm an avid [free software advocate](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html), and I try to use free software over proprietary ones as much as I reasonably can. These are some of the free software projects that I have found, which I either use on a daily basis or have made me say "how did I possibly live before this?". Hopefully you'll be able to discover a project that'll make you feel the same, too! # Syncthing [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) is one of my favorite open-source projects right now and one I use on a daily basis. It syncs files between all of my devices, all through encrypted connections and with no need for my files to be stored on the cloud (read: someone else's computer). Its easy-to-use and highly customizable network-based UI is also extremely convenient. However, there is still a great client for Android as well. I use it to sync files between all my devices including my phone, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone needing to transfer files on any sort of regular basis or replace Box/Dropbox/Google Drive, etc. # Quod Libet [Quod Libet](https://quodlibet.readthedocs.io/en/quodlibet-4.6/) is currently the music player that I use on my desktop devices. It has hundreds of plugins that enable almost any functionality that you can think of, but the UI is still simple and easy to use. Also, it sounds great! 😊 # KDEConnect [KDEConnect](https://community.kde.org/KDEConnect) provides fantastic integration of your mobile device with a Linux computer. While it's natively a KDE application, I used to use it with GNOME desktop through a handy [gnome extension](https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1319/gsconnect/). In addition to MPRIS controls, GSConnect provides direct PulseAudio volume modification, as well as a bunch of other handy features like remote mouse/keyboard input, remote command execution, file transfers, 2-way notification syncing, SMS messaging and more, all connected through an encrypted connection. While its connections are restricted to local networks only, with a home VPN server it shouldn't be an issue. # MPV [MPV](https://mpv.io/) is a great minimalist video player, with a fantastic ecosystem of addons and plugins. I used to use [mpv-mpris](https://github.com/hoyon/mpv-mpris) to enable MPRIS audio controls. # i3 / sway i3 is a minimalist tiling window manager that allows you to greatly customize your desktop environment with keybinds. I find that it really makes it easy to move between different windows, and makes me more productive. The configuration relies on an intimate knowledge of command line and command line tools which may seem more difficult, but allow you to really customize your desktop experience. sway works exactly the same as i3, but is written to use Wayland instead of X. ## Addons - [blueman](https://github.com/blueman-project/blueman) - [grim](https://sr.ht/~emersion/grim/) - [ibus](https://github.com/ibus/ibus) - [kanshi](https://sr.ht/~emersion/kanshi/) - [kitty](https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/) - [mako](https://github.com/emersion/mako) - [nm-applet](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/network-manager-applet) - [playerctl](https://github.com/altdesktop/playerctl) - [rofi](https://github.com/davatorium/rofi) - [slurp](https://github.com/emersion/slurp) - [swayidle](https://github.com/swaywm/swayidle) - [swaylock](https://github.com/swaywm/swaylock) - [Waybar](https://github.com/Alexays/Waybar) - [wf-recorder](https://github.com/ammen99/wf-recorder) # Arch Linux I use [Arch](https://www.archlinux.org/) for my operating system. Among all the distros that can be considered minimalist, Arch Linux is very popular and in my experience, [just tends to work](/posts/free-software/works-on-my-machine.png), albeit after a non-insignificant amount of configuration time. Its modularity and emphasis on "working beneath the hood" are the main reasons why my computer literacy is where it is now. As a result of bootstrapping it from scratch, I've become extremely comfortable with essential system administration tools and learned so much more about how computers actually work than anything I could learn in a class. I highly recommend Arch to anyone who doesn't just want a great operating system, but also desires to truly know their computer from the ground up. # Librewolf I use [Librewolf](https://librewolf.net/), which is privacy-focused fork of Firefox, for my web browser for several reasons. Mozilla's commitment to open-source software and privacy has been encouraging, but I mainly use it for the [Tree Style Tabs](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tree-style-tab/) and [Temporary Container addons](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/temporary-containers/), which is all but a killer feature in my mind. This allows each tab to be isolated from cookies and other tracking features, as well as switching between multiple accounts super easily. ## Extensions - [Auto Tab Discard](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/auto-tab-discard/) - [Containers Helper](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/containers-helper/) - [Content-Type Fixer](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/): force certain content-types to display in browser instead of downloading as attachments - [Dark Reader](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/) - [Feed Preview](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/feed-preview/) - [Firefox Multi-Account Containers](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/) - [GPS Detect](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/gpsdetect/) - [GSConnect](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/gsconnect/) - [Hover Zoom+](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/hover-zoom-plus/) - [Image Search Options](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/image-search-options/) - [KeePassXC-Browser](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keepassxc-browser/) - [Live Reload](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/livereload-web-extension/) - [New Tab Override](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/) - [Reddit Enhancement Suite](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/reddit-enhancement-suite/) - [Reddit's Moderator Toolbox](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/reddit-moderator-toolbox/) - [Song Identifier](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/song-identifier/) - [Temporary Containers](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/temporary-containers/) - [To Google Translate](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/to-google-translate/) - [Tree Style Tabs](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tree-style-tab/) - [Custom style for TST](/posts/free-software/tst-style.css) - [Custom userChrome.css](/posts/free-software/userChrome.css) to hide the tab bar, too. - [TST Bookmarks Subpanel](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/tst-bookmarks-subpanel/) - [Move unloaded tabs for TST](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/move-unloaded-tabs-for-tst/) - [Tab Unloader for TST](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tab-unload-for-tree-style-tab/) - [Bookmark Tree for TST](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bookmark-tree-for-tst/) - [uBlock Origin](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/) - [Video Speed Controller](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/videospeed/) - [ViolentMonkey](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/violentmonkey/) - [Visual Hashing](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/visual-hashing-webext/): really cool, never type in your password wrong again # youtube-dl I use the incredibly comprehensive [youtube-dl](https://youtube-dl.org/) for downloading media from almost any website that hosts it, and its amount of customizability is unprecedented. Youtube-dl also integrates very nicely with [ffmpeg](https://ffmpeg.org) to convert files into almost any format imaginable with just one extra argument. # Lutris [Lutris](https://lutris.net/) allows you to effortlessly run your games with [Wine](https://www.winehq.org/) and Valve's [Proton](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton) with one click. It also boasts a great UI with impressive amounts of customization (even better than winecfg in my opinion!). # Quassel [Quassel](https://quassel-irc.org/) is a great IRC client that utilizes a server/client model, as well as allowing for extensive themeing and customization. What more could you need? # The Lounge Ok, so maybe you don't even want a local IRC client at all. Well, [The Lounge](https://thelounge.chat/) has you covered with a super easy to use and server-based IRC web client! # Gajim / Conversations I love XMPP, and I think it's the best chat platform, especially with OMEMO encryption. For my XMPP client on desktop, I used to use [Gajim](https://gajim.org/), but currently I use [Dino](https://dino.im/) and find it the perfect blend of features and minimalism. On mobile however, nothing can beat [Conversations](https://conversations.im), with some of the best UI for any XMPP application anywhere. In my opinion, OMEMO + XMPP imo is the best compromise between simplicity, security, and ease of use for instant messaging. # Anki [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/) is an incredibly solid flashcard program that adjusts to your knowledge level to help you learn as effectively as possible. I use it to improve my δΈ­ζ–‡ vocab, and the AnkiWeb platform allows you to effectively sync your sets to all your devices, and even your phone! # Keepass XC [Keepass XC](https://keepassxc.org/) securely stores all of your passwords. Combined with the browser extension, it can also prefill form data for websites and even fill in simple HTTP authentication, which is also super useful. # Deluge [Deluge](https://deluge-torrent.org/) is a torrent client that uses a client/server architecture. It meets the perfect balance of efficiency and handy features, like labels for easy sorting, that put it above other good choices such as [Transmission](https://transmissionbt.com/) or [rTorrent](https://github.com/rakshasa/rtorrent) for me personally. # Nginx Did you know its pronounced "engine-ex", and not "en-jinx"? I won't say how long it took me until I realized. Anyways, [nginx](https://nginx.org) is a great open-source hosting proxy server, and it is infinitely better than Apache. I've also recently been using [Caddy](https://caddyserver.com/) not for any of their awesome auto-cert features, but for a very nice built-in file browser. # rsync / rsnapshot [rsync](https://linux.die.net/man/1/rsync) is the swiss army knife of getting files from point a to point b, and can be pretty easily dropped in to replace `cp`, if you wanted. However, as the -sync suffix implies, rsync really shines when syncing files across folders, file systems, and even completely different machines with ssh. rsync will hash your files block by block, allowing you to skip redundant file transfers. I used to have a custom backup script to use rsync, but I've recently discovered [rsnapshot](https://rsnapshot.org/), which builds off of rsync to create the ultimate backup system. Making use of good use of hardlinks to save disk space, rsnapshot can create efficient snapshots every month, week, day and hour. If you're using Arch, the [Arch Wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Rsnapshot) makes editing the config file and setting up the systemd timers a breeze. I've found that rsnapshot makes it super easy to create versioned, efficient backups. # Jekyll / Hugo [Jekyll](https://jekyllrb.com/) and [Hugo](https://gohugo.io/) are very similar to each other, both being very easy and intuitive to use, with the biggest hurdle typically getting them installed properly. For me, site generators strike the perfect balance between manually creating HTML files and using monolith or proprietary platforms like Wordpress, while still being powerful, accessible and open-source. While there are many other platforms that I could have used instead of Hugo that would probably have worked just as well at hosting and sharing this content, there's just something special when you are in full control of the product from the raw words in the beginning to the final HTML files being served in the end. Setting up a simple generated website/blog is a fun project that I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't have a blog platform already or isn't satisfied with their current workflow, and also has an added bonus of having a nice product at the end. # Wireguard [Wireguard](https://wireguard.com/) is my recommended way of setting up a home VPN connection. It takes a bit of legwork at the beginning to generate all the appropriate keys and make sure things are working with your network, but at the end of the day you'll end up with a secure, reliable and fast VPN connection. As always, the [Arch wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/WireGuard) is very helpful, and if you use GDM, then NetworkManager will have full support. However, its important to note that GDM doesn't expose all of its settings in the default settings application (such as auto-connecting to your VPN on certain wifi connections); instead, you'll need to install and open [nm-connection-editor](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/nm-connection-editor/). Just a note that the default Arch package doesn't come with a `.desktop` file for you, either (although that's pretty easy to fix for yourself). # Calibre [Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/) is hands-down the absolute best way to manage your ebook collection. No matter how you source them, Calibre supports a bajillion different features from your standard metadata and tagging to some killer features in no particular order: automatic searching to find metadata from online sources such as Google Books or Amazon, downloading high resolution covers from said sources, device autoconnection, and content server hosting. Calibre is also super customizable too, allowing you to change almost every aspect of the UI and download new icon packs from within the default settings panel! If you want to get into reading books digitally, Calibre is absolutely essential. # Koreader Another e-reader tool that I can't recommend enough, [Koreader](https://koreader.rocks) is also an amazing open source offering, specifically tailored for low-refresh-rate e-ink screens like on my [Kobo Aura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobo_Aura), which I love so much. It has an incredible breadth of features, besides an almost infinitely configurable reading experience (size, text, font, dictionary addons, network and backlight settings) but also some extra fancy ones like Calibre server wireless connection (no need to plug in your device anymore!), wireless OTA updates, and even a built-in SSH server (!!!). Koreader was easy to install on my Kobo with the [Kobo Start Menu](https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=293804) (now unmaintained), and I know that I'll be very satisfied with this e-reading experience for years to come. ## E-reader sidenote Seriously, if you've never tried reading on an e-ink screen, go down to your local bookstore and try it out. It also has the added bonus of being able to store hundreds or thousands of books in a super light and convenient package. If you've ever taken more than a couple books with you at once before, you'll quickly realize how much bulk and volume physical books actually have, and how quickly they can add up. If you do get one, make sure to get one with a built-in backlight. As an owner of the original Kindle (rip that free unlimited 3G) and Kindle Touch, I never realized how indispensible that backlight actually was until I got my Kobo years later. Personally, I'd recommend the Kobo since it's much more straightforward to jailbreak and tweak the internals. However, one note you might encounter is that by default the file system is mounted `noatime` and `nodiratime`, which will break the "sort by last read" setting for Koreader (it'll sort via last modified instead). To fix this, you'll want to change to `relatime` if you can. The mounting script is in `/etc/init.d/rcS`, where you will need to modify the above accordingly. # FreshRSS [FreshRSS](https://freshrss.org) is an AGPL rss reader that is self-hosted. Personally, i've found that it's one of the most easy-to-use and feature-rich rss readers out there. While it needs to be self-hosted, it fully supports the greader API so that most mobile rss clients can sync with FreshRSS, keeping all of your feeds up to date even on the go. # Mumble [Mumble](https://www.mumble.info) is a free, open source voice chat application that's super lightweight and secure. I use it to chat or game with my friends, and the desktop and mobile clients work really well. There's even a handy self-hostable [web client](https://github.com/Johni0702/mumble-web)! # Searx [Searx](https://searx.github.io/searx/) is a self-hostable metasearch engine that aggregates results from a wide variety of search engines and services. With Searx, your searches will be protected from tracking and profiling, only returning you with the results that you need. Since it implements the [OpenSearch](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/OpenSearch) format, you can even add it easily to most major browsers! # ArchiveBox [ArchiveBox](https://archivebox.io/) is a self-hostable website archiver that can make copies of websites or media that you might want to save later on. Think of it like a personal [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/). # Mealie [Mealie](https://mealie.io/) is a self-hostable recipe planner that doesn't just let you save recipes for future use, but also plan out your mealplan for the week! Mealie's parser works on pretty much every recipe I've come across, getting rid of the super long paragraphs of junk and trimming down the recipes just to their steps. # Jellyfin [Jellyfin](https://jellyfin.org) is a self-hosted, open source media server much like Plex. I like using Jellyfin to view my media since it's fully open source and has lots of cool features like sync play that make watching your digital media library a joy. There are great mobile apps for Android to stream your media library on the go, as well. # Wakatime / Wakapi [Wakatime](https://wakatime.com) is a productivity-tracking application that hooks into Visual Studio Code and relays your activity to their servers. While this service and the extension might be proprietary, there are open-source compatible backend services like [Wakapi](https://github.com/muety/wakapi) that you can use the Wakatime extension with instead. You can even expose Prometheus metrics to feed your wakatime data into Grafana with [this dashboard](https://grafana.com/grafana/dashboards/12790)! # Home Assistant [Home Assistant](https://www.home-assistant.io/) is a modern home automation manager that has support for almost every device under the sun. It's super customizable, and I've been able to completely automate my apartment's comings and goings just from my phone's position in my pocket! If you have an interest in home automation, Home Assistant easily takes the cake. # And more [Awesome-selfhosted](https://awesome-selfhosted.net/) is an amazing list of open-source software that you can self-host for almost anything you can think of. If there's something I haven't mentioned here and it's self-hostable, you should check out this list! In addition, the list itself is open-source on [Github](https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted). # Conclusion Well, I hope that you've found something that can really enjoy from the list above. Got any more that you think I'd like to try out? Feel free to send them to [olivia@sculley.dev](mailto:olivia@sculley.dev) and I'll be more than happy to take a look!