Computer Links
Some of links on this page may be out-dated. Last updated: April 20, 2011
General Computer Links
- SlashDot – For
computer and Linux related news this is the place to be! There is a
discussion board for each news article.
Open Source Software
- SourceForge.net
– The best place to find open source software.
- Blender
3D – A very powerful 3D design program. This was
a commercial program that was recently released under GPL.
- Freevo
Turns your Linux machine into a super-cool affordable home theatre
system.
- Gaim – A great
instant messaging tool for Linux and Windows that can use many
protocols including Yahoo!, MSN, Jabber, IRC, etc.
simultaneously.
- The GIMP
– The GIMP is a powerful
image editing program like Photoshop for both Linux and Windows.
Reviews say for some applications like web graphics it's even
better than Photoshop. I am a Photoshop user but recently I've
found the GIMP to be just as powerful if not better in many
ways.
- GNUCash – A money
management program for Linux like Quicken. I like it better than
Quicken because it forced me to organize my accounts
correctly.
- GPSDrive – A
great GPS software for Linux. Loads maps from files or from the
Internet. Very powerful.
- Inkscape A powerful
vector graphics editor for Linux.
- KDE – The K Desktop
Environment for Linux. This is a great place to find screenshots,
help, news and information.
- Mozilla.org – The
open source browser. In case you don't know this is what Netscape
is based on, except it has less bugs and less ads! I particularly
like Firefox
a nice and fast browser that will replace the browser component of
Mozilla very soon.
- OpenOffice.org – A
very powerful open source office program for Linux, Mac and Windows
platforms with great features. It is actually the free version of
the famous StarOffice and except for the database program and
technical support it doesn't lack any features comparing the paid
version!
- Dia – The best program I've used to draw all sorts of diagrams and flowcharts. It's also a very good companion to OpenOffice.org .
- QCad – The CAD program
for Linux.
- Wine – An
implementation of Windows for Linux. Lets you run Windows programs
in Linux. Still under development but it runs many programs
including Photoshop smoothly. Since Wine is not an emulator it is
pretty fast.
- WiredX A
multi-platform X Window client. Available for online use and to
download.
Open Source Games
- The Linux Game Tome
(HappyPenguin.org) – A great place for information on the
latest Linux games.
- Gentoo Games –
Free bootable game CDs to download.
- BZFlag – Probably
the most popular multiplayer open source game! A 3D on-line tank
game. Extremely cool and addictive!
- Cube – A 3D
first person shooter like HalfLife with wonderfull graphics, a few
levels and network/on-line play option.
- FlightGear – A
very nice open source flight simulator for most platforms!
- FooBillard –
A 3D pool game with excellent graphics.
- GLTron – A nice 3D
game based on the movie Tron. Up to 4 players can play on a single
computer.
- GLTron
- Globulation2
– A 3D simulation game. Nice game. Allow multiplayer (on or
off line) gaming, but the AI is not very smart if you want to play
the one-player game. Includes a training too.
- SearchAndRescue
– An open source helicopter simulator. Not nearly as good as
FlightGear but it's still under development and it'll get better
soon.
- TORCS – A
very nice open source racing game like NASCAR. It has just about
any camera view that you can imaging. Graphics are pretty cool but
if cool graphics is all you want then check out Racer.
- Racer – Another open
source car simulator with cool graphics.
- ClanBomber
– A very nice multiplayer game. Lots of fun if you play it
with a bunch of people! You need to surround people with bombs and
whoever stays alive in the end is the winner. You can play in teams
or alone.
- FreeCraft – An
open source W*r Cr*ft clone. Very nice. (Note: The creators of the
original game shutdown the site because the name was too similar.
But it's open-source and you should find the program and the code
elsewhere).
- Jump n' Bump
– A simple but cute and fun to play game for up to 4 players.
You will play a cute bunny and must jump on the other bunnies to
kill them.
- MicroRacers
– UNDER DEVELOPMENT – A cute racing game with little
cars.Very much like the famous "Micro Machines". Can't wait for the
first playable version. (Actually I think you can play but no
multiplayer game yet.
Linux distributions
- Mainstream Distributions
- Ubuntu This is the first
Linux distro that "just works". Instead of trying to
make Linux look like Windows, the creators of Ubuntu have made Linux usable for
newbies and pros a like. After a easy and smooth installation, you'll get an
easy to use system. Then if you're a pro you can tweak it in any way you want.
- KNOPPIX A free live CD
distro that can be installed on your hard drive. Knoppix is a lot
more than just a distro (see "Portable Distributions" below for
more on Knoppix).
- Debian GNU/Linux –
Probably the best distribution as far as stability and power, however Debian
itself is for professionals and very hard to intall, but I had to introduce it
because the best distros out there are based on Debian:
- Libranet is a very easy
to install distro that is more like the original Debian. It comes
with original programs and desktop environments rather than
modified versions. The "previous" version is always free. And by
the way it's a Canadian distro!
- Xandros is a commercial
distro but you can now get their Open
Circulation Edition for free.
- Lycoris and Linspire (formerly: Lindows) are
also non-free distros based on Debian that are meant to be easy to
use, specially for Windows users. Lycoris can be downloaded for
free and costs less than Linspire, but Linspire is more popular.
Unfortunately Lycoris always uses (much) older versions of
KDE.
- Mandrakelinux
– My other favorite. Easy to use, install and configure,
great support for most languages, many support web sites and thanks
to contributors a great selection of packages are available.
- SuSE Linux – Easy to
install, easy to configure and use, powerful. Perfect for
beginners. Unfortunately you can't download ISO images but you can
use FTP install or (legally) copy the CDs. Also the selection of
packages is not that great. Nevertheless one of the best commercial
distros out there. Great for businesses.
- Ark Linux –
Originally based on RedHat but with great package management of
Debian, ease of setup and use and only a selection of the best
programs in just one CD, Ark is still in Alpha stages but soon will
be the distro I'll absolutely recommend to home users. So keep and
eye for it!
- Fedora (RedHat) –
RedHat (probably the most known Linux company stopped supporting
RedHat Linux, instead they started this free project. Fedora is
under development but it's supposed to be an easy to use
distribution like Mandrake and SuSE.
- Gentoo Linux – It
will compile on your system so it can take advantage of all the
features on your system. Distro of choice for geeks!
- Yoper – Supports
packages from other famous distributions. Ideal if you don't know
how to compile the source codes. This is a single CD distribution.
Great for people transferring from Windows.
- Peanut Linux
– A small distribution with lots of great software! I haven't
tried it, but I've heard it's a little harder to setup than
Mandrake.
- Ark Linux – Based
on Red Hat, but they claim it's easier to install.
- Portable Distributions
- KNOPPIX – A complete
Debian-based Linux distro that runs from one CD. Great for demo,
checking if certain hardware is Linux compatible, recovering your
Linux or Windows system, resizing and imaging partitions or as
portable distro (you can store your personal files on a flash
memory, floppy drive or a Windows hard drive) and last but not
least install it on your hard drive for a very easy to install
Debian system! See Knoppix install
to hard disk HOW-TO for more details.
- Linuxcare
– Linux that runs from Business Card CDs
- Nuclinux –
A small distribution that contains lots of net tools on one
floppy.
- Coyote Linux (Router)
– Create a complete Linux system on one floppy using a nice
wizard in Windows or Linux and turn your old PC into an internet
gateway and firewall. It is very powerful and fast, includes remote
access and lets you customize or add additional services.
- Distributions that run with Windows
(For Windows users who want to try Linux.)
- Phat Linux – A
ready to use Linux that runs on Windows without making any changes
at all to your system. Based on Mandrake. What I started off
with!
- WinLinux – Just
like Phat, except it uses Windows to get your hardware information.
I found it somehow troublesome so I recommend Phat or Knoppix (see
below).
- Other Distributions (Made for a special
purpose)
- XBox
Linux – The name says it all. Turns your X-Box system
into a PC.
- BlackRhino
– Turns your Sony Play-station 2 into a PC.
- ClarkConnect –
This is a full featured gateway that turns any computer into a
powerful Internet gateway. If you are just looking for a normal
residential or even business gateway/firewall I recommend Coyote Linux, see "Portable
distributions" above for details.
- Tiny Linux – Runs
on older systems to put them in some use!
- Core Linux
Distribution – This is Linux without the extras. You will
add whatever you need.
Linux Links
- Linux.org – Contains
links to all distributions and the kernel source. They also have
excellent on-line tutorials for Linux.
- KDE Apps – This is the
place to look for KDE themes, icons, background pictures, screen
savers, mouse pointers, etc.
- KDE Apps – This is a
good place to look for KDE programs.
- The
Linux FAQ – A nice collection of Linux frequently asked
questions!
- PCLinuxOnline
– One of my favorite Linux sites. News and other information.
Plus they create great RPMs for Mandrake.
- DesktopLinux.com
– Every year they rate all desktop Linux distributions. They
also have forums, news, reviews and list of Linux PDAs.
- LinuxQuestions.org
– Nice forums. I found solutions to most of my problems on
this site.
- Linux International – I
don't visit this site much but they host The Linux Counter that shows the
number of Linux users who have registered on the counter.
- TryLinuxSD.com –
Great Mandrake Linux and KDE tips.
- Linux.ca – The
Canadian Linux User Exchange. Mostly I check out their site for the
next Linux expo in Toronto! They also host TLUG: the Toronto Linux Users
Group.
- LinuxIran.org –
Linux and open source in Iran.
Programmer's Links