Here are some programs I happen to like. Like most people, I value performance and customizability, but I also care about correctness whether the code follows standards and UNIX conventions instead of ad-hoc solutions that focus too heavily on mainstream OSes (like GNU/Linux). I do this because I don’t want to become dependent on GNU/Linux, and I don’t really like the way GNU people write code and try to avoid gnu specific code as much as possible.
You can get my configuration for most of these programs here.
Operating systems
- Arch Linux:
- Gentoo: Unique operating system with a proper wiki, see my post about it.
- Void: Great linux distros free from filthy systemd and glibc.
- Debian: Easy to install and use, the best distro for beginners.
- FreeBSD: Simple operating system with a clean and elegant codebase.
- Ubuntu: Debian done wrong with snaps.
- Manjaro: Same as ubuntu except even worse doesn't even work properly.
- MacOS: BSD done wrong, with apple garbage.
- Windows: Graphical trash.
Programming languages
- C: Portable assembly, basically the default programming language for unix.
- Go: Modern version of C, very convenient and safe to write programs in.
- Posix Shell: Concise and convenient for scripts and small programs.
- C++: Bloated, not safe and a mess, literally every bad piece of software I've ever used was written in C++.
Window managers
- DWM: At first a little hard to configure but at the end totally worth it.
- BSPWM: Best static window manager, easy to configure with and an extraordinary tool called bspc.
- i3wm: An average window manager, good for beginners.
Text editors
- vim and nvim: Just way too convenient to be real.
- JetBrains IDEs: Bloated, heavy, overcomplicated and costs money(?).
Browser
None.
- Qutebrowser: Has vim-keybinds making it very convenient to use.
- Firefox: Sometimes, you need a bloated browser to view bloated sites.
Terminal and terminal Utilities
- st: Terminal emulator though a little hard to configure.
- alacritty: Terminal emulator which works perfectly fine without any configuration.
- cmus: Music player.
- zsh: Interactive shell.
- dash: Shell script interpreter.
- lf: File manager.
- translate-shell: Cli translator.
Xorg utilities
- dmenu: Interactive menu to select items.
- slstatus: Status monitor.
- mpv: Media player.
- nsxiv: Image viewer.
- zathura: pdf viewer.
Other
About hardware
I always try to avoid modern hardware I don't really care about hardware because it is easily replacable and I am fine with whatever just works, as long as it not overpriced. If you use proper software any hardware should get the job done.
I am not going to shill thinkpads like everyone else, though I think they are fine, to me only 2 things set apart thinkpads from all the other laptops, firstly, the fact that they are librebootable and, secondly, they are really cheap.