TheLifehacker Packis a yearly snapshot of our favorite, essential applications for each of our favorite platforms.
For our always-updating directory of all the best apps, be sure to bookmark ourLinux App Directory.
Alternatively,GNOME Dois still available for download, and if youre really a minimalist, you might likedmenu.
KDE users have the handyKRunnerbuilt in as well.
If you need more than the built-in editors can provide, Kate and Geany will make you happy.
If you want something even more hardcore than these, check outEclipseorSublime Text 2.
And if youre pining for Notepad++, check outNotepadqq.
AutoKey
Text expansion is one of the greatest improvements you might make to your productivity.
Thats what text expansion does, and it cansave you hours of typing.
There arent a ton of text expansion apps for Linux, butAutoKey fits the billwell enough.
Internet and Communication
Chrome
Chrome isour favoriteon all three platforms this year.
Its fast, powerful, syncs everything, and has an incredible extension library.
That said,Firefoxis also a great option if its what youre used to.
digiKamandShotwell
Linux actually has a few solid photo management tools, butour favorite is definitely digiKam.
It may not be Photoshop, butit can do an awful lot on its own.
Clementine
Picking a music player for this list was tough.
In the end, we decided on Clementine.
If you want something a bit different, we recommend checking outBansheeandAmarok, too.
you’re able to also just use theweb playerif you dont mind giving up a surfing app tab.
Utilities
Dropbox
These days, lots of us have more than just one rig.
Maybe its a Linux machine at home and a Windows computer at work.
Or maybe its three computers, a smartphone, a tablet, and anetbook running Archbang.
Linux has some good BitTorrent choices, butour favorite client is Deluge.
If you arent a fan of Deluge, tryqBitTorrentits equally as awesome.
CrashPlan
Everyone needs a backup.
Theres no worse feeling than having your hard drive crash and having to start from scratch.
Plus, itsreally easy to set up.
Set it, forget it, and relax.
But, if you need a more friendly GUI,PeaZip is our pick.
Plus, it still has the command line features advanced users crave, for when the GUI isnt necessary.
Theres more where those came from, though!
Here are a just a few bonus tools that you may not have realized existed.
Pdftkslices and dices PDFs.
Ever have to print and scan a ten-page contract just to sign the last page?
Joeis the perfect text editor for when you dont want to leave the terminal.
Its quick to load and easy to use, no matter what editor youre used to.
Thats because it comes with a chameleon-like set of aliases.
Do you have all theemacsshortcuts memorized?
Invoke it as jmacs.
Call it as jpico.
If you dont know what any of this means, just key in joe.
(Or scroll up to our recommendations for Kate and Geany.)
Smemmeasures the amount of memory that your gear is using.
Sure, youthoughtyou had a tool for that.
But some memory is shared, and tools like free dont count it in the most helpful way.
Smem gives more meaningful numbers.
It shows how much power each of your currently running programs are using.
Now you’ve got the option to find out.
Plenty of other tools in our pack have command-line equivalents, too.
Illustration by Nick Criscuolo.
