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| title | date | draft | tags | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gushing about KDE applications | 2024-01-29 | false |
|
This a lazy and anti-rant post... I want to shine a light on the fantastic KDE software that I use daily. You can do similar things with GNOME and whatever else, but that's for someone else to write. I have some bias because I have contributed to several of these applications, but that doesn't detract from the point that I depend on them daily.
I check my work and personal mail using KMail. I'm one of those lucky few that checks my mail from two IMAP-compliant servers, so I steer clear from Outlook/GMail. I keep track of tasks, events and meetings using Merkuro. I can keep tabs on my calendar since the time applet is synced thanks to Akonadi. I really enjoy and use the integration between these Akonadi applications, such as accepting invitations to meetings which are automatically recorded into my calendar.
My work uses Rocket.Chat, and I use Ruqola for interacting with that:
Even when not working, I still use KDE software! One of them is drawing, and I use Krita for that (which is a great application in general, you should use it!) It's completely replaced Procreate and Clip Studio Paint which I used before. I really like it's integrated brush engines and default brush set, along with all of it's built-in functionality like animation support. I even use Krita when sketching on-the-go or in bed now instead of Procreate, since my Lenovo Yoga runs Linux and KDE Plasma. When I edit videos, my program of choice is Kdenlive (which is a great application in general, you should use it!) It does everything I want it to do, honestly I have very little trouble with it but my needs are minimal.
My primary chat platform is Matrix, so of course I use NeoChat as my preferred client everywhere I can. I chose Mastodon as my Twitter-replacement, and I use Tokodon so much that I don't even open up their web interface anymore! The less I have to run in the browser the better, in my opinion.
There's also lots of small utilities that I use, such as Spectacle for screenshots and quick screen recordings. I use Kate for all of my text editing, such as this post right now! Gwenview is my image viewer of choice too. Of course I use Okular for reading the occasional PDF. Can't forget about Okteta when I'm trying to dissect some binary file.
I even use KDE applications for consuming media, too. I use PlasmaTube to feed my YouTube addiction. I like to put videos in picture-in-picture and even added that to the next release, meaning I can stop using the web interface for Invidious. I have started listening to some podcasts, and have been using Kasts for those. I elarned recently that it even can sync via NextCloud!
Upcoming
Here's some software I recently learned about, and want to start using soon:
- Accessibility Inspector, which is a KDE-based alternative to GNOME's Accerciser.
- Codevis, a code visualization program, I used it once before but I need to try it again.
- Fielding, a REST API client. I plan to expand it's features further so I don't have to depend on Insomina.
- Powerplant, something to help keep your plants. I only have one plant to keep right now, so this is the perfect time to learn how to use it!
Hope this sheds some light on my favorite applications, and gives you ideas for using them! I enjoy how fast these applications are, and how integrated and nice they all look together. I couldn't go over every single one, but maybe I can expand in the future.