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Linux comes with a multitude of free software packages ( many of which have been proven and used extensively in many research and developmental projects), complemented by a growing range of commercial software that is being ported on to this platform. A list of these applications is given below.
Graphics Manipulation Programs :
1. GIMP
The best known image processing program available for Linux is the GIMP. It is a graphics program which compares favouraby well with commercial programs. It can be used as a simple paint program, a professional quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc.
GIMP is extremely expandable and extendable. It is designed to be augmented with plugins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything, from the simplest task to the most comples image manipulation procrdures to be easily scripted.
2. Image Magick
Image Magick is another image processing program, which may not be as versatile as GIMP, but is in itself a very simple and capable graphics application. Image Magick is used mainly in conversion of image format, but it can also be used to edit images.
3. GQ View
GQ View is a very simple and efficient image viewing program. It allows for easy selction of directorites and files and includes many features like full screen view, slide shows, etc.
B) Office Suites
A number of office packages are avilable for Linux. The more popular office pacakges are listed below.
1.StarOffice
Staroffice 5.0/5.1 is a complete office suite, freely available for Linux and can be downloaded form the Internet. The Staroffice package consists of a word processor, spreadsheet program, a presentation package, a browser, etc.
2. Applixware
The latest release of this product includes the following applications:
a) Applix Words - a real WYSIWYG word processor.
b) Applix Spreadsheets - a spreadsheet program.
c) Applix Graphics - an ideal tool to create, edit or adapt professional graphics.
d) Applix Presents - a presentation program with which one can easily create sophisticated business graphics.
e) Applix Builder - an object-oriented development environment.
The other packages are Applix Data, Applix Mail, Applix Equations, Applix HTML-Author and a Macro Editor.
3. Bluefish - A HTML Editor For Linux.
C) Development Packages :
Due to the correspondence between source code and the availability of standard user interfaces, Linux represents an ideal development platform.
1. C/C++ development :
With the GNU C/C++, Linux has one of the best compilers in the market. With a number of libraries available for all developmental requirements any C/C++ based development is easily possible in Linux. Any required librayr can be acquired at any time from the internet. XWPE, an X-Window application, provides a C/C++ development environment which is very easy to use and resembles the Turbo C++ program.
2. Visual Development Tools:
A number of programs and tools are available for visual development. Glade and KDevelop are some of the development packages available.
3. emacs
In order to keep programs as simple and convinient as possible. Linux contains the sophiticated editor GNU emacs ( as well as its X-Window counterpart xemacs). emacs offers a special mode for virtually every programming language, where the editor itself formats the programming code correctly. emacs is easily programmable and executing keyboard macros goes without saying.
D) Internet Tools
1. Internet connection tools:
Programs like wvdial provide an esy way to dial the internet and get connected to it. Wvdial is a simple script based dialer, and is useful for getting connected while working at the terminal. Other dial-up tools for X-Window system are Kppp, RP3, etc. RP3 has amny other functionalities like recording time of browsing, calculation of telephone amount spent, etc.
2. Browsers
The most popular browser Netscape is available for Linux. Netscape in Linux includes mail client, HTML editor, calendar, etc. Other browsers availble are Mozilla, KDE Browser, etc.
3. Caching softwares
Programs like Squid and WWWoffle are very efficient caching softwares and using them frequently visited web pages can be stored locally. They help in offline viewing of the webpages and also increase the browsing speed by retrieving pages stored in the cache, if the page contents have not changed.
E) Servers Applications for Linux
1. Apache web server
All Linux distributions generally include this web server in the package. The Apache web server is the right choice of platform for the WWW server. Nearly one in every two servers on the internet uses this versatile and powerful WWW server. It boasts extensive functionality and is highly configurable, allowing one to realise all the requirements.
2. Dial-in server
Linux can also be configured as a dial-in node. This allows external users to access the local network ( database, merchandise information, etc.) or the internet using a modem or ISDN. Dial-in servers can also be used to transfer files between two or more machines and acts as a small intranet.
3. Security
By means of a firewall, Linux also protects the network from unwanted visitors. The packet filter integrated into the kernel allows for flexible adaptation to local requirements. Incoming as well as outgoing IP traffic can be restricted.
F) Multimedia
The multimedia programs of Linux include music players like X11amp, xmms; video players like mtv, aktion; CD players, etc.
X11amp and xmms are very versatile programs which have skin support, playlists, multiple-band graphic equalizers and many more features. They support the latest music standards like .au, mp2, mp3, etc. Real Player G2, the easy to use frontend for real-audio-and-video is also available. Using mtv, one can play video CDs, movie clips, etc. Formats unsupported by mtv can be played using Aktion.
G) Configuration tools
For complete management of system administration tools such as Linuxconf are very useful. Using Linuxconf one can even setup general user accounts, SLIP accounts, PPP accounts and also perform all other activities as required to be done by the superuser.
The Gnome Midnight Commander (GMC) has an explorer like Interface and is a very efficient tool for managing the various files and directories on the hard disk and other removable storage media such as floppy disks, CD-ROM's etc. It also supports Cut-Copy-Paste,Drag & Drop, Double-Click to open files in their corresponding application etc.
H) Games
Being an operating system with very efficient memory management and graphics management capabilities,( Remember Titanic ) Linux acts a very good gaming platform. High graphics games like Quake III are available for Linux and are known to perform better than their counterparts in other operating systems. Other popular games for Linux include Doom, Myth, Civilization - Call Back To Power and LinCity.
I) Other applications
1. VMware
This application enables the Linux user to run another PC from within the Linux system, i.e. it acts as a virtual PC. Using VMware one can run DOS-, FreeBSD-, Windows 3.x, 9x, and NT - ( i.e both the Operating Systems and their applications ) comfortably under Linux.
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Hello Friends!
Heard a lot about Linux.Eh ?
Seen otherwise normal friends go crazy when they hear the word `Linux' ?
Read a lot about Linux ?
Well! Here is your chance to get to all this.
There are a few basic things you should know about Linux
The main thing is the way you pronounce Linux.It is pronounced as Li-nucks (Lin of Link) and not as Lie-nucks or Lie-nooks
The Creator of Linux is Mr.Linus Benedict Torvalds.
Linux stands for Linux Is Not UniX.
Linux is distributed under the GNU-General Public License where GNU stands for GNU is Not Unix.
Linux is FREE i.e. Linux can be copied or distributed but along with the source code and free of charge.You can be charged for packaging and technical support.
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