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Free and Open Source Software
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jdPermissionStoreEdit - graphical permission store editor
jdPermissionStoreEdit is a graphical utility for directly inspecting and editing the desktop PermissionStore. It is aimed primarily at developers who need to see the data held by the permission service while developing or debugging applications.
Rather than presenting permissions through a simplified end-user interface, jdPermissionStoreEdit exposes the underlying store more directly. That makes it useful when investigating unexpected permission records, checking how an application interacts with portals or experimenting with software that manages permission information itself. Because changes affect stored permission data directly, it is intended for users who understand the consequences of editing those records.
This is free and open source software.
WsgiDAV - extensible Python WebDAV server
The software is built around a configurable middleware stack. Administrators can publish ordinary directories, while developers can create providers that represent databases, virtual file systems or other application data as WebDAV resources.
WsgiDAV works with standard WebDAV clients, including desktop file managers and document editors. It also provides a browser interface for navigating published resources, making it useful when a dedicated WebDAV client is unavailable.
This is free and open source software.
Tachyon - fast and privacy-focused webmail client
Tachyon is a self-hosted webmail application combining email, contacts and calendars without requiring a separate database.
It connects directly to existing mail and groupware services using standard protocols and is designed to keep communication with the user’s own infrastructure rather than relying on external services. Tachyon descends from the RainLoop and SnappyMail codebases but has continued development of its interface, security, mobile behaviour and integration features.
This is free and open source software.
NANO Emacs - clean and modular Emacs user interface
NANO Emacs is a modular set of configuration files intended to give Emacs a consistent, restrained and carefully designed visual environment while staying close to vanilla Emacs.
The project is based on design principles developed by Nicolas P. Rougier and deliberately avoids turning Emacs into a heavily layered distribution. Users can load the whole configuration for a coherent interface or copy only the modules they find useful into an existing setup. Its limited dependency footprint makes that selective approach practical.
This is free and open source software.
MySQLTuner - MySQL performance and configuration advisor
MySQLTuner is a Perl script that examines a running MySQL-compatible database server and turns its configuration and runtime statistics into practical observations and recommendations.
It is intended as an aid to database administrators rather than an automatic tuning system. The script collects server and operating-system information, evaluates a large number of indicators and highlights areas that deserve investigation. Its recommendations still require administrator judgement, particularly because changing one database setting can improve one workload while making another worse.
This is free and open source software.
M-EMACS - extensive Emacs configuration for programming and daily work
M-EMACS is Mingde Zeng’s extensive Emacs configuration, designed as both a working environment and a detailed reference for users building their own setup.
The configuration covers far more than basic text editing. It brings together programming support, project navigation, terminals, file management, version control, writing and internet tools while retaining Emacs’ highly customisable workflow. Its literate-style documentation explains individual sections and makes the configuration useful as source material even for users who do not adopt it wholesale.
This is free and open source software.
I Use Linux. I’m Tired of Making Excuses for It.
The new installation looks lovely. Then you open the spreadsheet your employer actually uses, wake the laptop after a meeting, or try to join your friends in the game they play every weekend. That is when you find out whether the switch is going to work for you.
I use Linux by choice, and it irritates me when real problems get brushed aside because somebody else has found a workaround. A fix that suits one person may be completely impractical for another.
Many of these problems are down to Microsoft, Adobe, hardware makers and game publishers. They deserve criticism for their part in them. But the person with a deadline still needs a machine that can get the job done. Here are the five weaknesses of desktop Linux I am least willing to shrug off in 2026.
Flatpak External Data Checker - monitor external manifest sources
Flatpak External Data Checker is a command-line utility for maintaining external source references stored in application manifests. It inspects those references to determine whether URLs have become invalid or newer upstream material is available.
The tool is particularly useful when manifests depend on archives, Git repositories, standalone files or third-party data that changes independently of the packaging repository. Instead of requiring maintainers to check every upstream source manually, it provides a framework of specialised checkers that can discover changes and feed them into an automated maintenance workflow.
This is free and open source software.