explaingit

luong-komorebi/awesome-linux-software

★ 24,948HTMLAudience · generalComplexity · 1/5ActiveSetup · easy

TLDR

A curated directory of Linux applications and tools across dozens of categories, from audio editors to window managers, helping users discover what's available for their Linux system.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Curated app list
      Organized by category
      Links to projects
    Categories covered
      Development tools
      Graphics and media
      System utilities
      Productivity apps
    Use cases
      New Linux users
      Setting up workstation
      Finding alternatives
    Audience
      Beginners
      Developers
      Linux switchers

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Discover what audio, graphics, and productivity software is available for Linux.

USE CASE 2

Find recommended terminal emulators, text editors, and development tools organized by programming language.

USE CASE 3

Build a complete Linux workstation by browsing curated recommendations across system utilities, security tools, and customization options.

USE CASE 4

Compare alternatives to tools you already use on other operating systems.

Tech stack

HTML

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
License could not be detected automatically. Check the repository's LICENSE file before use.

In plain English

Awesome Linux Software is a curated list of applications and tools for Linux users and developers. Rather than a piece of software you run, it's a reference document, a long, organized collection of recommendations covering every category of software you might want on a Linux system. The list spans audio editors, music players, chat clients, backup tools, desktop customization, development tools (organized by language: C++, Python, JavaScript, Go, Java, Rust, and more), games, graphics editors, browsers, office suites, productivity apps, security tools, terminal emulators, text editors, system monitoring utilities, VPN clients, and window managers. It's aimed at anyone switching to Linux or trying to build out a complete Linux workstation, beginners who don't know what's available, developers setting up a new machine, or experienced users looking for alternatives to tools they already use. Each entry links directly to the project or download page. Note: As of May 2026, the original maintainer has archived this repository, citing difficulty maintaining quality as it became a target for self-promotion. The content remains available and is being maintained through community forks. For the most current version, the README points to maintained forks by contributors DimitrisPa and FabioLolix.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I'm switching to Linux for the first time. Use this awesome-linux-software list to suggest a complete starter toolkit: a text editor, terminal emulator, file manager, and one productivity app.
Prompt 2
I need a Linux graphics editor similar to Photoshop. Search the awesome-linux-software list under graphics editors and tell me the top 3 options with links.
Prompt 3
Show me all the development tools in awesome-linux-software organized by language, then recommend a full dev setup for Python and JavaScript projects.
Prompt 4
I want to customize my Linux desktop. What window managers and desktop customization tools does awesome-linux-software recommend?
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Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.