Top 10 apps for a fresh Linux install in 2021

by Holly Hall on 30 June 2021

Are you struggling with too much lag? Is it time for a spring clean and a fresh Linux install? Ready to upgrade to Focal Fossa (LTS) or Hirsute Hippo? Whatever situation you are in, get started quickly with some of the most popular apps you need for a fresh Linux install. Here are all the commands you need so easily copy and paste to get started! (There is a full block of commands at the end that you can easily copy and paste if you’d like to install all the apps in one go).

1. Firefox

Whether it’s for work, online shopping, browsing reddit or watching cat videos, you’ll need a reliable browser. With great sync features, your tabs, history and bookmarks are accessible from all connected devices. Simple!

2. Thunderbird

Stay connected with an email client that works with whatever provider you use. Whether you need to manage many inboxes or just one, Thunderbird is a reliable option.

3. Libreoffice

When you want a clean office suite that is free, open source and easy to use, with a friendly interface for a huge range of applications, Libreoffice is a great solution. 

4. VLC

Tired of all that work? After browsing the internet, checking your emails and writing a few documents, it’s time to unwind. VLC is a great open source media player you can use for all your audio and video needs.

5. Visual Studio Code

Need to edit code or text files? Visual studio code is one of the most widely used code editors in the world. It comes with built-in support for JavaScript, TypeScript and Node.js and has a rich ecosystem of extensions for other languages (such as C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go). Get coding!

6. Telegram

Telegram is one of the most widely used messaging apps of 2021 and is fast, open and secure. With seamless sync, you can access your messages from several devices at once and share an unlimited number of photos, videos and files. What more do you need in a messaging application? 

7. Chromium

If Firefox is not enough, Chromium is a great option too. Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to build a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web.

8. Shotcut

Need to edit your videos? Shotcut is free, open source and cross platform for all your editing needs. Great features include support for hundreds of audio and video formats, and screen, webcam and audio capture.

9. Gimp

Need to edit images or PDFs? Supporting a wide range of formats and with a huge number of features, gimp is one of the most widely used picture editing softwares for Linux. 

10. Audacity

Need to edit audio? Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. 

Quick install

Here are the commands to get started. You’ll first need to enable snapd if you haven’t already done so. 

sudo snap install firefox
sudo snap install thunderbird
sudo snap install libreoffice
sudo snap install vlc
sudo snap install code --classic
sudo snap install telegram-desktop
sudo snap install chromium
sudo snap install shotcut --classic
sudo snap install gimp
sudo snap install audacity

Cover photo taken by me at Roque de los Muchachos

Newsletter Signup

Related posts

Managing software in complex network environments: the Snap Store Proxy

As enterprises grapple with the evolving landscape of security threats, the need to safeguard internal networks from the broader internet is increasingly important. In environments with restricted internet access, it can be difficult to manage software updates in an easy, reliable way. When managing devices in the field, change management […]

Release management for snaps made simpler

Release management is the process of planning, scheduling, testing and deploying new versions of software. To make this process simpler for snap developers, we have released a new feature called progressive releases. Continue reading to understand what they are, why they are important and how you can use them in the Snap Store. What are […]

We wish you RISC-V holidays!

There are three types of computer users: the end user, the system administrator, and the involuntary system administrator. As it happens, everyone has found themselves in the last group at some point or another; you sit down to perform a task relevant to your needs or duties, but suddenly the machine does not work as […]