this post was submitted on 29 May 2025

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Which program is the one that surprised you most that it is available on Linux? (feddit.org)

submitted 1 week ago by HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml

103 comments fedilink hide all child comments

For me, it was perhaps simple-scan, a very simple and efficient GUI to scan documents. I used it with my Brother printer / scanner and it works like a charm. Especially since I do not scan stuff often, so a program with more complex UI would have the effect that I forget how to use it until the next time.

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[–] sunred@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What surprised me the most, also in part due to me not really being knowledgeable about software solutions in their respective industries, was the Unreal Engine (the editor that is) and Houdini being available on Linux. Tbf, at least in the vfx department it is apparently more common as most of the high profile software in that industry does have a native Linux version available.

What I appreciated the most though was software like Reaper and Renoise providing a (very good even) Linux-native version when I looked for a new DAW to learn, seeing most software in the audio industry not being very Linux-friendly.

[–] neox_@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Ardour is also a very good fully free (as in freedom) alternative to Reaper, if you want to experiment 😊

[–] krakenfury@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Neverball.

So gaming on Linux is obviously amazing now, but back in 2006 or so when I started using it, it was less than great. I probably tried every single game in the Ubuntu repos and Neverball entertained the hell out of me.

I spent hours rolling this shiny ball around. I loved Marble Madness on NES as a kid, so it was a natural fit.

A close second was Freeciv, as I had also grown up with a copy of Civilization.

Honorable mentions to Nesticle and Snes9x.

[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

Used to be Skype but MS just killed that so....

[–] Mwa@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago

Probably REAPER

[–] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

MagicQ

[–] limelight79@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

Vuescan.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago

I cannot recall any specific programs besides a game called Feudal Tactics, but I swear I've seen software while looking through EasyFlatpak that surprised me.

[–] djehuti@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Bitwig. I'm moving to libre tools like Pd and Ardour, so I didn't renew my license. But it works just like it does on Mac.

Except that it supports touch screens on Wayland, and you can't do that on a Mac.

[–] Uebercomplicated@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've tried Ardour, but compared to Reaper, I unfortunately just can't use it. Pd is fantastic though!! It's what got me interested in music stuffs in college, man those are memories... making a drum kit in Pd was my first assignment, I remember suffering over the cymbal for hours and hours. Now I'm getting all nostalgic lol

[–] djehuti@programming.dev 1 points 1 week ago

Reaper is nifty, but it's not FOSS, which would be the only reason why I'd give up Bitwig. (I know that's not what the thread asked, but that's my reason for not using Reaper.)

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