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Free and Open Source Software
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termtastic - terminal client for Meshtastic networks
The application provides an interactive interface for communicating with other nodes, managing connected radios and monitoring mesh network activity. It supports direct and channel-based messaging, with information about message delivery paths and radio signal quality.
termtastic also provides tools for examining neighbouring nodes, reviewing telemetry and configuring Meshtastic devices. It stores messages and network information locally, allowing users to revisit conversations and inspect previously received data.
This is free and open source software.
GT-STACER - Linux system optimiser and monitor
The application presents processor activity, memory consumption, disk utilisation and network traffic through an interactive dashboard. It also displays information about graphics hardware, temperatures and battery status where supported.
Beyond monitoring, GT-STACER brings together utilities for managing processes, services, startup applications and system maintenance. Additional tools cover network connections, firewall configuration, power management and data recovery.
The interface includes a collapsible sidebar, system tray integration, configurable themes and multilingual support.
This is free and open source software.
ytm - terminal-based YouTube Music player
The application combines ytmusicapi for accessing the YouTube Music catalogue, yt-dlp for resolving audio streams and mpv for playback. Its Textual interface brings together search results, playlists, the playback queue and information about the currently playing track.
Basic searching and listening do not require authentication. Signing into a YouTube Music account provides access to personal playlists, liked tracks, saved music and personalised mixes.
ytm is designed for keyboard-driven listening while retaining support for mouse interaction and individual commands that can be incorporated into terminal workflows.
This is free and open source software.
Gramps Web - collaborative genealogy and family history platform
The application is built around the Gramps genealogy system and works alongside the Gramps desktop application. Both applications can share genealogical information, making it possible to conduct detailed research on a desktop computer while providing convenient access to family records through a web browser.
Gramps Web is particularly useful for families and research groups who want to maintain a shared genealogical database. It can be self-hosted, giving administrators control over access, personal information and stored records. Its interface also works on mobile devices, allowing family members to contribute information without installing specialist desktop software.
This is free and open source software.
Elemental - native XML database with XQuery and XSLT
Developed by Evolved Binary, Elemental is based on eXist-db and incorporates improvements to performance, concurrency and resource management. It is particularly suited to applications that work extensively with structured XML content, including digital publishing, document management and XML-based web services.
Rather than requiring XML documents to be converted into relational tables, Elemental stores them in their native format. Developers can query the documents directly, perform transformations and build database-backed applications using established XML standards.
This is free and open source software.
EngPlayer - IPTV player and media center
EngPlayer uses GStreamer for media playback and FFmpeg for recording. Its GTK4 interface is designed to make browsing channels, movies, television series, and personal media collections straightforward.
The application does not supply IPTV subscriptions or television channels. Users need to provide their own playlists or access details for compatible services.
This is free and open source software.
Linux Deserves Better Than Your Oldest Computer
You’ve bought a lovely new computer. Fast processor, decent screen, plenty of memory. Naturally, that gets Windows. Linux gets the laptop in the drawer with the dead battery and a fan that sounds like a bathroom extractor.
Then you tell everyone you’ve given Linux a fair try.
Linux enthusiasts help create this ridiculous situation. Ask how to get started with Linux and “install it on an old laptop” is almost guaranteed to appear. Sensible enough for an experiment, especially if you don’t want to disrupt the computer you rely on. Rather less helpful when we’re trying to persuade people it deserves to be their main operating system.
hledger-textual - terminal interface for hledger accounting
Built with Python and Textual, the application organises financial information into separate sections for transactions, accounts, budgets, recurring entries, reports and summaries. It uses hledger for the underlying accounting operations and works directly with journal files.
Unlike applications that simply display financial information, hledger-textual also provides tools for maintaining accounting records. Users can manage transactions, investigate spending, examine account balances and generate financial reports from a single interface.
This is free and open source software.
ytdl-sub - automate media downloads and metadata generation
The software is particularly useful for maintaining collections of YouTube videos, music, podcasts and other online media. It handles both downloading and generating the metadata required by applications such as Kodi, Jellyfin, Plex and Emby.
ytdl-sub uses YAML configuration files to define subscriptions and control how downloaded content is processed. A preset system provides ready-made configurations for common media library layouts while allowing detailed customisation.
This approach makes it possible to maintain an automatically updated media collection without repeatedly organising downloaded files by hand.
This is free and open source software.