Surprised no one has mentioned OBS. I don't use it for streaming, but afaik it's one of the more popular options for that. So it's really cool that not only is it available for linux, but it's open source and works great. I'm sure every linux user has had audio, general hardware, or GPU acceleration issues at some point, but OBS is seamless in my experience. Pretty cool to see a piece of software live at the crossroads of all that and get it right.
this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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I believe it was the Linux counterpart of XSplit, the "other" streaming software that was very popular in the early days of streaming. Before that we had to use some very elaborate setups.
Zoom. No dark mode though.
I use zoom several times a week, and have had to revert to windows several times because development lags behind win/mac, and for some reason my org has a fixation on trying new features, useful or not.
I wish it wasn't cause then I wouldn't have to use it at work
Wine/Proton, made my switch to Linux way easier
What surprised me the most, also in part due to me not really being knowledgeable about software solutions in their respective industries, was the Unreal Engine (the editor that is) and Houdini being available on Linux. Tbf, at least in the vfx department it is apparently more common as most of the high profile software in that industry does have a native Linux version available.
What I appreciated the most though was software like Reaper and Renoise providing a (very good even) Linux-native version when I looked for a new DAW to learn, seeing most software in the audio industry not being very Linux-friendly.
Neverball.
So gaming on Linux is obviously amazing now, but back in 2006 or so when I started using it, it was less than great. I probably tried every single game in the Ubuntu repos and Neverball entertained the hell out of me.
I spent hours rolling this shiny ball around. I loved Marble Madness on NES as a kid, so it was a natural fit.
A close second was Freeciv, as I had also grown up with a copy of Civilization.
Honorable mentions to Nesticle and Snes9x.
Vuescan.
Mixx is a cool free dj software, didn't expect davinci resolve to have an official version, stremio also I didn't think would have an app for whatever reason. I like inkscape for vector art, didn't realize it was a thing til I swapped to linux. I use software and apps more in general because it's stuff I've installed and its not hidden by bloat, even if there is more windows stuff out there, its way easier to discover actual useful software using linux through linux appstores compared to windows.
I cannot recall any specific programs besides a game called Feudal Tactics, but I swear I've seen software while looking through EasyFlatpak that surprised me.
Microsoft Defender.
I convinced my work to let me use linux on their laptop. They sent me instructions for setup. One of them was to install Microsoft Defender, had a link to the Ubuntu package and everything. Blew my mind.
We've got to install Microsoft Defender, Edge, and PowerShell on Ububtu so that the device will be flagged as compliant in Intune.
TIL. Nothing will ever surprise me in life anymore. 😂
Only works on Ubuntu though last I heard (and not even downstream distros), which is somewhat unfortunate
How did you manage to convince them?
What the fuq??
If it enables the use of Linux at work I would install it, too. And use Edge for corporate ressources as well.
Yup! Here's a helpful link in case you feel like spreading the joy.
https://www.maketecheasier.com/install-use-microsoft-defender-linux/
But, why?
I don't know, but my guess is it might still be able to detect some cross-platform malware signs and detect malware intended for Windows on Linux machines (e.g. I can download a PDF or .docx that is harmless on my machine, but if I reupload and a Windows user downloads it, I've spread malware regardless). IIRC ClamAV is sometimes used to scan attachments on an email server, often looking for Windows exploits being sent through the server.
That kinda makes sense
Reminds me of a ransomware problem that a place I worked at had. After weeks of computers getting reinfected over and over. It was figured out it was one "techy guy" with Linux on his work laptop. He kept sharing infected files.
So since he kept infecting the windows PCs on the network. It got Linux and macs banned at work.
Everyone had to have windows PCs moving forward.
Lot of Linux and Mac folk don't realize how big of a vulnerability they can be even if they themselves aren't affected.
KDEConnect, probably the best (only?) to do what it does in such a magnificent way
The entire KDE Community is incredible. From KDEConnect to Kdenlive, Krita, and Plasma I am a very happy nerd.
Kicad is up there with the paid options for electronic schematic drafting / PCB design. I don't use a lot of KDE stuff since I also don't use KDE, but Kicad is absolutely essential for me.
Despite the K in its name, KiCad is nothing to do with the KDE project. It's an independent program started (iirc) at a French university. I agree it's awesome, though.
Well now... TIL!
It's so good that it absolutely killed my will to maintain a project I had that does something like this once I discovered it. They even support Windows too.
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about 10 years ago, i noticed steam was available for linux. for the longest time i had pretty much written off gaming on linux (apart from like tuxcart, nethack, emulators...). i hadn't considered actually being able to play "real" games.
that was before proton, so there really wasn't a ton of stuff i could play, but i found some good stuff like hotline miami, papers please, super win the game.
obviously now we have proton and linux can be argued as a superior gaming platform in many cases.
Bitwig and Reaper. Two of the best music DAWs on the market and they each have a Linux native version.
EDIT: I forgot to include Renoise, the music tracker DAW.
Yeah, Reaper is surprising! It's in the Arch repos and Flathub.
I would have been happy if I had to build it from source or download a random deb from their website. But, damn. It's on Linux and easily installable!
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Microsoft Edge was a recent surprise. It's surprising both that Microsoft would create it and that any Linux users would run it. Since its Chromium based, there should be no need for developers to test Edge separately.
A very unwelcome surprise, too.
Oi, I am planning on using edge when I switch to linux xD
I'm pretty neutral about the mere existence of software I'm not interested in using.
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For me it was blender. I absolutely loved using blender as a teen for making silly games and animations (I wasn't good at that). Now as an adult I re-discovered it and I use it for making DnD minifigs
LocalSend.
No more USBs ever (outside of install media). So so simple, fast, and works on all devices and FOSS.
It is really the best UX of any file sharing app I have experienced (outside of airdrop I guess, but obvious problems there)
Okular is also a favorite of mine.
I really like LocalSend as well, but it’s very inconsistent with me. I think it has to do with one device being on a VPN, but I’m not totally sure. Basically I have some “one way” connections where one device can see and send to the one connected to a VPN but not the other way around. Is there some way I can specify LocalSend connections to ignore the VPN? I’m on NixOS and installed LocalSend in my user package declarations in my Nix config.
I had the same thing on Bazzite just with the local network, not a VPN.
I believe it has to do with the firewall. You have to open the port both incoming and outgoing for 53317.
But you literally have to be on the same network, so for example if both devices are on the same local network (hence local in the name) and your phone is on a VPN but your computer is not on a VPN, then it won't work.
It should work if you VPN into your local network remotely so that both devices are on the same LAN, however, then that won't work anyway because you have to have physical access to the device to accept the transfer (you could probably use a remote desktop to do that, but then it is getting complicated)
Tux racer was neat.
There was also a weird space game that started with a Q. I never progressed and it gave me existential crisis as it felt like nothing was out there. I'd get lost in space every time.
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