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Been awhile since I saw a thread like this and they're always good for at least one or two things I've never heard of before. Bonus points if the software is open source and cross platform. Extra bonus points if you link to where we can see it/get it.

My contribution: Destiny which is an anonymous, P2P, E2EE file sharing app - its basically a GUI for a Magic Wormhole implementation. Works on Linux (tarball or appimage), Win, Mac, Android (inc f-droid) and iOS. Only downside is it's not been updated for 2 years.

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[-] madjo@feddit.nl 24 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

For Windows users, I want to recommend PowerToys: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/

The "toys" that I use a lot are: PowerToys Awake: to keep my laptop awake even if I'm away from keyboard for a while.

Fancy Zones: to create my own layout of windows, especially on the ultra-wide monitor I have at work, it's easy to have 3 smaller windows next to each other according to my layout.

Mouse Utilities, I often can't find my mouse cursor, just pressing a hotkey will literally spotlight the cursor.

Quick Accent, especially for multi-lingual people this is really handy, though it takes a bit to get used to its working.

[-] TIN@feddit.uk 5 points 2 weeks ago

I use fancy zones, and also the one that finds your mouse cursor as I'm always losing it, and the always on top mode for when I don't want a teams call to vanish while I do something else

[-] donuts@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Be like me, just make your mouse cursor neon green and huge.

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If any of you still aren't using YT Revanced... why?! So yeah, that one, cause God knows my limit for insipid and repetitive ads is extremely small.

[-] null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 2 weeks ago

pipe pipe

I've been using this for 6 months or so and it seems a lot more stable than previous iterations.

Also freetube for linux desktop

Finally pinchflat for archiving content because IDK how long these apps are going to keep working.

Oooh, thanks for the recs!

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[-] donuts@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

Greenshot is free, open-source, and the built-in image editor is perfect (for my use-case, ymmv). ShareX is also FOSS but more well-known.

[-] madjo@feddit.nl 4 points 2 weeks ago

Another vote for Greenshot, I use it nearly daily for my work.

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[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago
[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago
[-] NanoooK@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

This is so powerful, I use it all the time.

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[-] null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 2 weeks ago

Candle.

It's an android app that uses your display to make a "glow" to light a room rather than using the camera flash like a torch.

It's in F-Droid.

Obviously the camera flash is more powerful if you're outside or whatever, but using the display this way is way better inside. That tiny little dazzling pin-prick of light is just... unpleasant.

With candle you can also set whatever color you like. Red is nice to avoid waking people or ruining night vision.

I discovered this app when we had twins and waking up to nurse them overnight. Gonna sound weird if you've not been through this but basically they won't really wake up they make a gentle sooky noise, and you put a bottle or boob in their mouth and they suckle while they sleep. If you turn a light on they're gonna wake up which is sub-optimal.

[-] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 3 points 2 weeks ago

This is the first app in this thread that made me go "I need this!" and immediately downloaded it!

Thanks!

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[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

One of the first type programs I got when i got an original iPad touch. Loved it!

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[-] underline960@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 weeks ago

LocalSend is open-source and great for file transfer (or even just sending text) between my devices.

[-] chaosCruiser@futurology.today 12 points 2 weeks ago

Qalculate is a fancy calculator available for Linux, MacOS and Windows. I use it for calculations that involve unit conversions, but it can do much more.

[-] recursive_recursion@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

I acutally use Qalculate as well when I have to use my Windows laptop

Fuck Microsoft for not bothering to improve on the calculator app for decades.

[-] safesyrup@feddit.org 8 points 2 weeks ago

They have improved. You can do unit conversions, great binary/hex/oct calculation/visualization, do graphing, calculate dates. It honestly is very good.

[-] recursive_recursion@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

You can do unit conversions, great binary/hex/oct calculation

Ok you're actually right about those improvements👍 and yeah those were actually really handy.

Are you sure it can do visualization, graphing, and dates? Is this on W11? I'm not on my computer atm but I don't remember those functions/features.

[-] safesyrup@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah this is on win11. I am not 100% sure if graphing works on win10 as well, but i think so :)

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[-] HeerlijkeDrop@thebrainbin.org 9 points 2 weeks ago

URLCheck on Android. Displays a popup on opening links allowing editing the URL before opening (with such features as removing chosen parameters with one button), applying transformations like Shitter→Nitter, http→https, sharing the URL, copying and selecting the application to open the URL in. Oh, and if you decide to open in Firefox or Fennec, you have the option to open in the incognito mode. Can't imagine using Android without it now. Absolute gamechanger

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[-] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

I'm surprised how many people don't know about a Linux utility called "fuck". When you make a mistake on the command line and get an error, you just type "fuck" and it looks at what happened and suggests a fix. If this looks correct - and it almost always is - you just hit Enter and it types that in for you. Best thing ever!

[-] fossilesque@mander.xyz 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Just in case, a big thread this week for Linux users: https://feddit.org/post/14167855

[-] datavoid@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

Everything, the only thing that makes Windows usable.

[-] cloudless@piefed.social 6 points 2 weeks ago

Kiss Launcher

The smallest quickest launcher for Android

Start programs from your new home screen by typing in a few letters.

The app adapts to how you use it, making finding what you want even faster.

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[-] phonics@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

https://logseq.com/ a personal knowledge base with markdown and has a whiteboard feature. I live in this program now. From daily little notes and reminders to full on script writing. It's a little clunky but it works with my brain. Other similar programs are notion, obsidian and anytype.

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

I can second logseq but it has a bit of a steep learning curve. Not impossible but you have to learn how logseq wants you to use their software and then it becomes powerful.

[-] bigpEE@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

What's your take on how they want you to use their software? I throw down bullet points in the journal, tag them with big overarching themes, and link to old journal entries sometimes. Am I missing something important?

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

I'm used to journaling by topic but Logseq wants you to journal by date. So you start by journalling on the date saying you're working on x and then you link to x and then put details there.

It's a bit round about it you're not used to it.

[-] ipitco@lemmy.super.ynh.fr 5 points 2 weeks ago

SimpleX has file sharing too now, it's great :)

Sadly limited to 1gb afaik

[-] Flagstaff@programming.dev 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Use PeaZip (which is better than 7-ZIP because it's cross-platform) to split large files into as many smaller chunks as you'd like.

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[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago

ncdu, it's a pretty decent utility for interactively exploring your rectum whilst traversing the deep hierarchical layers of your soul

[-] Arigion@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago
[-] datavoid@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

This thing is a lifesaver

[-] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

In a similar vein, rclone

[-] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

File converter in the context menu. Handles a lot of common formats, batch converting, nondestructive, and the presets are all customizable. https://file-converter.io/

Ear Trumpet - Replace window audio button with one that gives you per app, and device control. https://github.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet

[-] virku@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

DevToys. It's an awesome cross-platform swiss army knife for developers. It's got most of the little tools that you would look up online.

Formatters, encoding/decoding, validators etc.

I really love it!

[-] oji@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago
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[-] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago
  • Converter Now: An all-in-one convert everything to everything app.
  • Light Meter: Calculate light levels and color temps for photography and videography.
  • Stellarium: Honestly don't know how "well known" it might be. But it's fun to point at stars and planets.
[-] Codilingus@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

+1 for converter now, close to my most used app on Android.

[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

OmniDiskSweeper. Forget apps that help manage disk space with some ugly graph that's difficult to understand. This just lists files and directories with the heaviest / most space used from top to bottom in a file tree. Essential. Here's what it looks like:

[-] callyral@pawb.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

Pixelorama, a good, open-source pixel art program

[-] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

BeeCount - A app to keep track of patterns while crafting. I like that I can have an overall row count, but make separate counters nested underneath for the same pattern (ex: You're on row x, but row a for a cable repeat).

Olauncher : A simple launcher for android. Less busy.

[-] joel_feila@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Apparently many don't know libre office is thing and free. Seeing people ask for goggle doc alternative amd all they need is a word processor.

[-] TomatenMark@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

https://www.sportismygame.app/ Helped me get of my fat ass and move every once in a while

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this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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