Free and Open Source Software, howtos and Installations

posted by Rianne Schestowitz on Oct 08, 2026

• 6 Useful Free and Open Source Code Formatters for Go

  A code formatter is an automated tool designed to adjust source code according to a predefined set of formatting rules, covering areas such as indentation, spacing, and line breaks. This improves readability and consistency while ensuring the code’s functionality remains unchanged. It saves developers valuable time and helps minimize disagreements over style preferences.

  Using this type of software means coders cede control over the minutiae of hand-formatting. In return, the software offers speed, determinism, and freedom from style-checker nagging about formatting. Save time and mental energy for more important matters.

  This roundup selects some useful code formatters for Go developers.

  Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion.

• Machine Learning in Linux: Local AI Studio – local AI toolkit

  Running machine learning models locally has some obvious attractions. Your prompts and data remain on your own machine, there are no API charges, and you’re not dependent on a remote service remaining available. The downside is that setting up separate tools for image generation, large language models, speech recognition and text-to-speech can involve a fair amount of work.

  Local AI Studio takes a different approach. It brings several types of local AI together in a single browser-based interface, with the aim of keeping configuration to a minimum.

  The project is currently branded Portable AI Studio in its documentation, although the web interface still identifies itself as Local AI Studio. The project was previously known as Uncensored Local Studio.

  The software offers image generation using Stable Diffusion, text chat using GGUF large language models, speech-to-text using Whisper, and text-to-speech using Kokoro. Processing takes place locally, with no external API keys or accounts required.

  This is free and open source software.

• wpaperd - modern wallpaper daemon for Wayland

  Different wallpapers can be configured for individual displays. Displays may also be grouped so that several outputs share the same wallpaper when random selection is enabled. Regular-expression based output matching makes more complex multi-monitor configurations possible.

  wpaperd is controlled through a TOML configuration file and the accompanying wpaperctl command-line utility. Configuration changes can be reloaded while the daemon is running. wpaperctl can move to the next or previous wallpaper, pause and resume automatic cycling, or immediately set a particular image.

  The daemon uses OpenGL ES to render images and transitions. Transition timing can be configured, and several image placement modes are available including fit, centre, stretch and tile.

  This is free and open source software.

• Timekpr-nExT - control computer usage

  Limits can be set for individual days, permitted time periods, and weekly or monthly allowances. PlayTime extends this control to individual applications and games, while supervisors can choose actions such as locking, suspending or terminating a session when limits expire.

  The client displays remaining time and configurable warnings before restrictions take effect. Time accounting excludes inactive and locked sessions as well as periods when the system is sleeping.

  This is free and open source software.

• edb - graphical debugger inspired by OllyDbg

  The debugger uses Capstone for disassembly and Qt for its graphical interface. Its architecture also supports plugins, allowing additional debugging and analysis functionality to be added without putting everything into the core application. Optional Graphviz integration is available for functionality which benefits from graph visualisation.

  Users can build edb with either GCC or Clang. Current development supports modern Qt 5 and Qt 6 releases, and recent work has included compatibility improvements for newer versions of Qt and Capstone.

  edb has been under development for many years and has a substantial user base. It remains one of the more established free graphical low-level debuggers available for Linux.

  This is free and open source software.