If you regularly use modern technology, there are undoubtedly certain apps that you find hard to live without. In the world of Linux distributions, there is no universal standard set of apps, so you'll have to find your own way. After countless Linux desktop setups, here are my software essentials.
Next Cloud
First, I install the Nextcloud desktop client. I run Nextcloud as a home cloud storage system on a Raspberry Pi. I use it to sync many important files, including my passwords (more on that later).
This is a quick way to share files between my devices with minimal effort: I put the file in a folder in the Nextcloud directory and the file becomes available to all devices I have synced that folder with. I have different folders for different purposes to avoid wasting space and bandwidth syncing to devices where I don't need those files. However, when I need one of them, I have to install a Nextcloud client.
KeePassXC
Password managers are a must-have these days if you want to avoid losing your account logins or having someone steal your login. There are many password managers to choose from, but I choose KeePassXC.
Notably, there is no built-in cloud storage for KeePassXC. This is both a benefit (because my data stays offline) but also a problem because without cloud syncing, I have to manually copy storage files to each of my devices. Even if I do that, I have to do it every time I add or edit a login if I want each device to stay up to date. This is, of course, a huge hassle.
I get around this problem by syncing my KeePassXC files through my Nextcloud server mentioned above. The server is not connected to the internet outside of my house, so my passwords remain relatively safe.
Fire Fox
The browser wars are weird these days. Many insist on throwing in rogue code features like blockchain integration, loan offers, and generative AI. Such antics have kept me switching between browsers, and currently I have several browsers that I switch between for different purposes. For personal use, however, I currently rely on Firefox. At the risk of sounding jaded, I don't really consider Firefox great, but rather the least bad.
Fortunately, Linux distributions often come with Firefox installed by default, meaning I usually don't have to install it. I just open it and log in to my Firefox Sync account.
KDE connection
I've harped on about KDE Connect before and will do so again this time. This app is a kind of Swiss Army knife for local network connectivity. Any two devices on your WiFi network with KDE Connect (or the GNOME implementation GSConnect) installed can communicate with each other in very useful ways. I can share clipboards, send hyperlinks, ping (if a device is lost) and much more. You can even use a smartphone as an input to your computer, like a mouse or computer.
For me as a tinkerer and remote worker, these features are invaluable. Crucially, KDE Connect is not limited to Linux. I can also install it on Windows and Mac devices if needed.
Steam (and steam devices)
This should go without saying for anyone who plays a lot on Linux, but I always install Valve's Steam gaming platform. Valve has played a huge role in enabling and popularizing Linux gaming thanks to its Proton compatibility layer and the Steam Deck.
Steam is an app that many distributions include its icon in their “Look at what you can install!” actions, making it easy to find. However, I often have to go a step further and install a package called “steam-devices” to get my 2010s-era Steam Controller to work. It's a bit annoying to have to do this package search, but it's worth it. Certain distributions I've found actually include it by default, which is nice.
If you want to try out a Linux distribution for yourself, check out our recommendations for gaming-focused distributions and lightweight distributions that run great on older hardware.
