5 tiny Linux tools I can't live or work without

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Over the decades of using Linux , I've found that sometimes the smallest applications can have the biggest effect. Sure, I depend on the likes of web browsers, office suites, email apps, and more, but for those moments when smaller is better, I have a collection of tools I turn to.

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These apps are used daily and have become necessities in my day-to-day activities.

Déjà Dup Backups is incredibly simple to use.

I honestly don't know what I'd do without backups. I've had situations where a file would become corrupt, and without a working backup, I'd have been out of luck. This approach is especially important with my novels. The thought of losing two months' worth of work is a sickening proposition, so I have become quite diligent about backups.

Also: Déjà Dup is as simple a backup tool as you'll find on Linux

The easiest Linux backup tool you'll find is Déjà Dup Backups. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this backup utility is the easiest I've ever used, regardless of OS. Déjà Dup Backups requires a few quick clicks to set up a backup (even an automated one to set it and forget it).

One word of warning: if you want to set up automatic backups, you'll want to install Déjà Dup Backups via your distribution's default package manager. If you install via Flatpak, you'll need to change the app permissions, and some desktop environments (such as COSMIC) won't allow the app to access the session.

COSMIC can be your simple note-taking app or a development tool (or both).

The Linux text editor debate has been a contentious one for years. If you talk to hardcore users, they'll say vi or emacs are the only viable options. If I'm using a terminal-based text editor, I'm going with Nano because it's incredibly easy.

Also: The new COSMIC Linux desktop from System76 is out of this world

However, there are times when I need a GUI text editor; for those moments, I turn to COSMIC Text Editor. This app has all the features I need and nothing more. It's a fairly typical Linux GUI text editor, but it's amazingly fast when running on the COSMIC desktop. The tool includes document statistics, Git integration, a side panel (for project management), syntax highlighting, find/replace, automatic indentation, and more.

Even though COSMIC Text Editor was created with developers in mind, it's still a great text editor for the rest of us. You can use the tool to take quick notes, keep a journal, and much more.