// tools & references

Resources

Everything you need to get productive on Linux — essential tools, command cheat sheets and official documentation links.

must-have software

Essential Linux Tools

🛠 System
htop / btop

Interactive process viewer. btop is a beautiful modern replacement with graphs and resource tracking.

sudo apt install btop 🛠 System
Timeshift

System snapshot and restore tool. Like Time Machine for Linux. Supports rsync and BTRFS snapshots.

sudo apt install timeshift 💻 Dev
VS Code

Microsoft's powerful open-source editor. Excellent Linux support with extensions for every language.

code.visualstudio.com/download → 💻 Dev
Git

The standard version control system. Essential for every developer on any platform.

sudo apt install git 🔐 Security
KeePassXC

Open-source offline password manager. No cloud required — your data stays on your machine.

sudo apt install keepassxc 🛠 System
Ventoy

Create a bootable USB that holds multiple ISO files. Just copy ISOs to the drive — no re-flashing needed.

ventoy.net/download → 🎨 Creative
GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program. Full-featured image editor comparable to Photoshop — completely free.

sudo apt install gimp 🎨 Creative
Inkscape

Professional vector graphics editor. SVG-native, ideal for logos, illustrations and diagrams.

sudo apt install inkscape 📦 Productivity
LibreOffice

Complete open-source office suite. Writer, Calc, Impress — compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

sudo apt install libreoffice 🛠 System
Neovim

Modern, extensible fork of Vim. Blazing fast text editor beloved by developers worldwide.

sudo apt install neovim 💻 Dev
Docker

Containerise your applications and development environments. Essential for modern software development.

docs.docker.com/install → 🛠 System
Balena Etcher

The easiest way to flash Linux ISO files to a USB drive or SD card. Simple, reliable, cross-platform.

etcher.balena.io →
reference

Linux Command Cheat Sheet

📁 File Management
ls -lahList all files with sizes
cp -r src/ dst/Copy directory recursively
mv file newnameMove or rename a file
rm -rf dir/Delete directory (careful!)
find / -name "*.log"Find files by name
du -sh *Show folder sizes
🔧 System Info
uname -aKernel & system info
df -hDisk usage
free -hRAM usage
lscpuCPU information
lsblkBlock devices / disks
uptimeSystem uptime & load
📦 Package Management (APT)
apt updateRefresh package index
apt upgradeUpgrade all packages
apt install pkgInstall a package
apt remove pkgRemove a package
apt search termSearch packages
apt autoremoveRemove unused deps
🌐 Networking
ip aShow IP addresses
ping -c 4 google.comTest connectivity
ss -tulnShow open ports
curl -I urlHTTP headers of URL
wget urlDownload a file
nmcli dev statusNetwork connections
👤 Users & Permissions
whoamiCurrent user
sudo commandRun as root
chmod 755 fileSet permissions
chown user:group fChange ownership
passwdChange password
adduser nameAdd new user
⚙ Processes & Services
ps auxList all processes
kill -9 PIDForce kill process
systemctl status svcService status
systemctl start svcStart a service
journalctl -xeSystem logs
crontab -eEdit cron jobs
official docs

Documentation & Learning

⚙️
kernel.orgOfficial Linux kernel archives
 📘
Arch WikiBest Linux wiki, any distro
 🟠
Ubuntu TutorialsOfficial Ubuntu learning guides
 📜
GNU Bash ManualComplete bash reference
 💻
LinuxCommand.orgLearn the shell from scratch
 🏛
linuxfoundation.orgTraining, certifications, news
 📋
TLDR PagesSimplified man pages with examples
 🔍
ExplainShellPaste a command to see what it does
 🔴
Debian HandbookFree comprehensive Debian guide
 🌊
DigitalOcean TutorialsHundreds of free Linux guides
 📖
Linux Man PagesOfficial manual pages online
 🔧
How-To Geek LinuxPractical guides & explainers