A catalog of software, utilities, games, and development tools I regularly install on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems.
This page serves as a reference for software I use, recommend, or routinely install when setting up a new machine.
System packages managed through APT and desktop applications through Flatpak.
Installs Flatpak through APT and adds Flathub for the current user.
sudo apt install -y flatpak && flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakreposudo apt install -y apktool binwalk calibre cowsay curl ent ffmpeg fortune-mod gimp git handbrake imagemagick jq libreoffice lua5.4 micro mpv nala nodejs python3 racket thunderbird vlc yt-dlp| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Apktool | apktool | Unpacks Android APKs |
| Binwalk | binwalk | Firmware analysis and extraction tool |
| calibre | calibre | E-book manager and reader |
| cowsay | cowsay | Makes an ASCII cow say things |
| curl | curl | Command-line data transfer tool |
| ent | ent | Pseudorandom number sequence test suite |
| FFmpeg | ffmpeg | Everything-to-everything command-line media converter |
| fortune | fortune-mod | Displays random quotations |
| GIMP | gimp | Photo editor |
| Git | git | Version control |
| HandBrake | handbrake | Video transcoder |
| ImageMagick | imagemagick | Command-line image wizardry |
| jq | jq | Command-line JSON processor |
| LibreOffice | libreoffice | Open-source office suite |
| Lua | lua5.4 | Lightweight scripting language |
| Micro | micro | Modern terminal text editor |
| mpv | mpv | Minimal command-line-oriented media player |
| nala | nala | Friendlier command-line front end for APT |
| Node.js | nodejs | JavaScript runtime environment |
| Python | python3 | Python programming language and runtime |
| Racket | racket | Lisp dialect and programming language environment |
| Thunderbird | thunderbird | Mail client |
| VLC | vlc | Because Media Player chokes on half of the video formats |
| yt-dlp | yt-dlp | Swiss army knife for downloading online media |
flatpak install --user -y flathub com.calibre_ebook.calibre com.vivaldi.Vivaldi com.vscodium.codium dev.geopjr.Tuba io.mpv.Mpv org.gimp.GIMP org.libreoffice.LibreOffice org.shotcut.Shotcut org.signal.Signal org.telegram.desktop org.videolan.VLC org.zotero.Zotero| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| calibre | com.calibre_ebook.calibre | E-book manager and reader |
| Vivaldi | com.vivaldi.Vivaldi | My favorite Chromium-based browser |
| VSCodium | com.vscodium.codium | IDE for everything non-Java |
| Tuba | dev.geopjr.Tuba | Mastodon client for Linux |
| mpv | io.mpv.Mpv | Minimal command-line-oriented media player |
| GIMP | org.gimp.GIMP | Photo editor |
| LibreOffice | org.libreoffice.LibreOffice | Open-source office suite |
| Shotcut | org.shotcut.Shotcut | Open-source non-linear video editor |
| Signal | org.signal.Signal | Private messaging client |
| Telegram | org.telegram.desktop | Messaging client |
| VLC | org.videolan.VLC | Because Media Player chokes on half of the video formats |
| Zotero | org.zotero.Zotero | Research and citation manager |
Command-line tools and desktop applications managed through Homebrew.
brew install apktool binwalk cowsay curl ent ffmpeg fortune git helix imagemagick jq libdvdcss lua micro mpv node openjdk@17 powershell python racket rizin udzura/lua51-mirror/lua51-mirror yt-dlp| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Apktool | apktool | Unpacks Android APKs |
| Binwalk | binwalk | Firmware analysis and extraction tool |
| cowsay | cowsay | Makes an ASCII cow say things |
| curl | curl | Command-line data transfer tool |
| ent | ent | Pseudorandom number sequence test suite |
| FFmpeg | ffmpeg | Everything-to-everything command-line media converter |
| fortune | fortune | Displays random quotations |
| Git | git | Version control |
| Helix | helix | Modal terminal text editor written in Rust |
| ImageMagick | imagemagick | Command-line image wizardry |
| jq | jq | Command-line JSON processor |
| libdvdcss | libdvdcss | Library for accessing encrypted DVDs |
| Lua | lua | Lightweight scripting language |
| Micro | micro | Modern terminal text editor |
| mpv | mpv | Minimal command-line-oriented media player |
| Node.js | node | JavaScript runtime environment |
| OpenJDK 17 | openjdk@17 | OpenJDK 17 runtime and development kit |
| PowerShell | powershell | Ideally I would learn jq or Miller, but I still process data streams this way |
| Python | python | Python programming language and runtime |
| Racket | racket | Lisp dialect and programming language environment |
| Rizin | rizin | Reverse engineer binaries |
| Lua 5.1 Mirror | udzura/lua51-mirror/lua51-mirror | Homebrew tap providing Lua 5.1 |
| yt-dlp | yt-dlp | Swiss army knife for downloading online media |
brew install --cask alt-tab android-studio bluestacks calibre crystalfetch deezer discord draw-things genymotion gimp grandperspective handbrake libreoffice macwhisper malwarebytes megasync microsoft-teams parallels parallels-toolbox shotcut signal steam telegram temurin@17 the-unarchiver thunderbird utm vivaldi vlc vscodium webex webkinz whatsapp windows-app xiv-on-mac xquartz zotero| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| AltTab | alt-tab | Windows-style window switching for macOS |
| Android Studio | android-studio | Android development environment |
| BlueStacks | bluestacks | Ad-ridden Android emulator, but it's performant. |
| calibre | calibre | E-book manager and reader |
| CrystalFetch | crystalfetch | Download Windows installer images on macOS |
| Deezer | deezer | Music streaming client |
| Discord | discord | Not a good thing according to VSauce Michael |
| Draw Things | draw-things | Local AI image generation for Apple platforms |
| Genymotion | genymotion | Android emulator for development and testing |
| GIMP | gimp | Photo editor |
| GrandPerspective | grandperspective | Disk usage visualizer for macOS |
| HandBrake | handbrake | Video transcoder |
| LibreOffice | libreoffice | Open-source office suite |
| MacWhisper | macwhisper | Local audio transcription for macOS |
| Malwarebytes | malwarebytes | Tolerable on-demand virus scanner |
| MEGAsync | megasync | MEGA cloud storage synchronization client |
| Microsoft Teams | microsoft-teams | Workplace chat and meeting client |
| Parallels Desktop | parallels | Desktop virtualization for macOS |
| Parallels Toolbox | parallels-toolbox | Collection of desktop utilities for macOS |
| Shotcut | shotcut | Open-source non-linear video editor |
| Signal | signal | Private messaging client |
| Steam | steam | DRM games, good launcher |
| Telegram | telegram | Messaging client |
| Temurin 17 | temurin@17 | Boring, reliable Java JDK. |
| The Unarchiver | the-unarchiver | Archive extraction utility for macOS |
| Thunderbird | thunderbird | Mail client |
| UTM | utm | Virtual machines for Apple platforms |
| Vivaldi | vivaldi | My favorite Chromium-based browser |
| VLC | vlc | Because Media Player chokes on half of the video formats |
| VSCodium | vscodium | IDE for everything non-Java |
| Webex | webex | Video meetings and workplace communication |
| Webkinz | webkinz | Webkinz desktop game client |
whatsapp | Messaging client | |
| Windows App | windows-app | Microsoft remote desktop and cloud PC client |
| XIV on Mac | xiv-on-mac | Final Fantasy XIV launcher for macOS |
| XQuartz | xquartz | X Window System implementation for macOS |
| Zotero | zotero | Research and citation manager |
Applications and tools managed through Chocolatey.
choco install -y 7zip androidstudio apktool bluestacks calibre curl discord everything ffmpeg foobar2000 forkgram gimp git goggalaxy handbrake helix imagemagick jq jre8 libreoffice-fresh lua malwarebytes megasync micro microsoft-teams-new-bootstrapper mpv nodejs-lts openjdk17 powershell-core powertoys python racket rizin shotcut signal steam sumatrapdf sysinternals temurin17 thunderbird vivaldi vlc vscodium webex yt-dlp zotero| Name | Package | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | 7zip | The good unzipper |
| Android Studio | androidstudio | Android development environment |
| Apktool | apktool | Unpacks Android APKs |
| BlueStacks | bluestacks | Ad-ridden Android emulator, but it's performant. |
| calibre | calibre | E-book manager and reader |
| curl | curl | Command-line data transfer tool |
| Discord | discord | Not a good thing according to VSauce Michael |
| Everything | everything | Actual half-decent search index of your hard drive |
| FFmpeg | ffmpeg | Everything-to-everything command-line media converter |
| foobar2000 | foobar2000 | Keep-it-simple music player |
| ForkGram | forkgram | Telegram client fork |
| GIMP | gimp | Photo editor |
| Git | git | Version control |
| GOG Galaxy | goggalaxy | DRM-free games, bad launcher |
| HandBrake | handbrake | Video transcoder |
| Helix | helix | Modal terminal text editor written in Rust |
| ImageMagick | imagemagick | Command-line image wizardry |
| jq | jq | Command-line JSON processor |
| Java 8 Runtime | jre8 | The Java runtime I install when something inevitably requires Java 8. |
| LibreOffice | libreoffice-fresh | Open-source office suite |
| Lua | lua | Lightweight scripting language |
| Malwarebytes | malwarebytes | Tolerable on-demand virus scanner |
| MEGAsync | megasync | MEGA cloud storage synchronization client |
| Micro | micro | Modern terminal text editor |
| Microsoft Teams | microsoft-teams-new-bootstrapper | Workplace chat and meeting client |
| mpv | mpv | Minimal command-line-oriented media player |
| Node.js | nodejs-lts | JavaScript runtime environment |
| OpenJDK 17 | openjdk17 | OpenJDK 17 runtime and development kit |
| PowerShell | powershell-core | Ideally I would learn jq or Miller, but I still process data streams this way |
| PowerToys | powertoys | There's really something for everyone in this utility. I wish they would implement more of it in the actual OS. |
| Python | python | Python programming language and runtime |
| Racket | racket | Lisp dialect and programming language environment |
| Rizin | rizin | Reverse engineer binaries |
| Shotcut | shotcut | Open-source non-linear video editor |
| Signal | signal | Private messaging client |
| Steam | steam | DRM games, good launcher |
| SumatraPDF | sumatrapdf | Doesn't open every last PDF feature, but it's light and responsive. |
| Sysinternals | sysinternals | Advanced Windows system utilities |
| Temurin 17 | temurin17 | Boring, reliable Java JDK. |
| Thunderbird | thunderbird | Mail client |
| Vivaldi | vivaldi | My favorite Chromium-based browser |
| VLC | vlc | Because Media Player chokes on half of the video formats |
| VSCodium | vscodium | IDE for everything non-Java |
| Webex | webex | Video meetings and workplace communication |
| yt-dlp | yt-dlp | Swiss army knife for downloading online media |
| Zotero | zotero | Research and citation manager |