Top 10 Must Have Apps for Debian

Debian is always known for stability you can not only use the system based on stability, you need apps that help to increase your productivity and enhance your experience while using it. This list is purely based on our experience and true scenarios of Debian usage.

In the Linux world, finding the most appropriate app is still a difficult task for the majority and this is why our recommended apps for Debian will be helpful for each user and can be applicable for newbies to advanced users.

Table of Contents

Must-Have Apps for Debian

The reason why we used Debian as the base is that majority of Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop_OS, and many others are based on Debian so it can apply to all of them if we mention apps for Debian as considering a base system.

So let’s start with our first app:

1. Thunderbird

By default, you would get Evolution as an Email client in Debian but in our opinion, you should drop Evolution and start using Thunderbird. Thunderbird shares the same vision as Debian and that is to focus on stability than new features.

Thunderbird is an open-source project by Mozilla and that makes it more trustworthy than any other option available in the market. There are also various customization options and plug-ins to extend its features and functionalities.

The key feature of Thunderbird is Phishing protection. Nowadays, Phishing attacks are increasing and Thunderbird will protect you from any fishy stuff that arrives at your inbox without invading your privacy as you always have the upper hand in privacy while using Mozilla open-source products.

2. Telegram

Having a secure privacy-oriented messaging app is not only essential for Debian users but for each user who is required to send text messages. Telegram has official support for Debian so that you will get security patches and updates without any issues.

It is only a privacy-centric messaging app but has a large user base by which you will be able to find your friends and family without any issues. It also includes standard features that you would expect from any modern messaging app such as Video calls, Emojis, Private chats, and more.

3. Flameshot

By default, Debian does not have any screenshot utility, and having a good screenshot tool that lets you edit your screenshots while capturing them is essential for modern usage. Flameshot got you covered with all your essential needs.

Flameshot not only takes screenshots but also allows users to adjust the size of the image while capturing the image and includes highlighting features such as making with arrows, assigning numbers, and other geometry shapes.

It is easy to use and can come with key bindings to perform any operation. So if you are someone who has a keyboard-centric workflow, you will get in sync with it in no time.

4. Steam

Everyone loves to game on their system, we are not talking about hardcore gamers but those who like casual gaming. Steam which is a well-known app for gaming on the Windows platform is now available on Linux too.

It shares the same visual experience and features with the Windows version so you can use the same id and password and games which you purchased previously on a different platform. Things get even more interesting by enabling Proton, check our guide to enhance your experience on Steam.

Steam avails you of the majority of titles in playable condition so you don’t require another partition just for the gaming.

5. VLC

VLC (Video Lane Client) is the most popular video player for Windows and Linux. The reason why VLC still ranks on top is that it is an open-source project and provides a robust experience out of the box. You won’t find any glitches or bugs in major cases and get your job done easily.

It allows you to convert the formatting of any video, works as a graphic equalizer, allows you to stream Radio and Podcasts, and many other intuitive features. And still, it’s free and can be customized with their plug-ins.

There are various new options available but we found no reason to switch to them as VLC has everything that a normal and advanced user requires from the video player.

6. Timeshift

Debian is the most stable Linux distribution you can find but you can break it if you don’t have proper knowledge about the operations you are performing. In those cases, Timeshift can be helpful as you can roll back to the previous state of the system.

Timeshift is often recommended by advanced users and it comes with a simple UI that makes it easy for new users to create snapshots of the system. Timeshift is so powerful that it can recover completely broken systems so it is a must-have in every Linux distribution.

7. Gufw

Gufw is the frontend for a command-based Firewall called ufw (uncomplicated firewall). Gufw is one of the easiest Firewalls you can ever get on Linux which is easy to install and maintain. You can check out our guide on ufw for detailed installation.

Gufw is so easy that it requires enabling a single toggle for the normal user and will protect you from most network vulnerabilities. If you are an advanced user, it also avails you options to configure the Firewall for more specific ports and allows you to restrict certain behavior over the network.

By default, Debian does not have any Firewall installed so it should be your top priority to install and enable Gufw to protect your important data over the internet.

8. Simplenote

Having a note-taking app is essential especially when you have to follow a certain schedule or want to access your notes from any platform. Sadly, Debian and many other Linux distributions do not include any note-taking app.

Simplenote is one of the best note-taking apps that you can get for Debian or any other Linux distribution. Simplenote is a cross-platform app that lets you sync your notes on iPhones, MacBooks, Windows, and Android.

Simplenote is easy to use and provides a clutter-free experience which makes it easy to create, manage, and find notes.

9. Authy

We all are familiar with two-way authentication to secure our online accounts that use OTP for confirmation. To authenticate our online accounts, we require our phones around us but now, there are certain third-party solutions available for authentication and Authy is one of them.

Authy generates authentication tokens that can be used by users to prove their authenticity of themselves while logging in. As Authy is still in the early stage of development and can only be installed through Snap packs.

In Debian, we can easily enable Snap support and Authy. It works great out of the box and is the perfect replacement for other authentication apps required to use Android phones such as Google’s Authenticator app.

10. ActivityWatch

In our Android or IOS device, we can easily track our on-screen time and reduce it to increase our productivity but what we do have on Linux? We have ActivityWatch. It is a privacy-centric activity tracker and the perfect replacement for RescueTime.

It is fairly a new project still appraised for getting the job done without any issues. We use it daily to keep track of our activity and reduce the on-screen time for better sleep and mental health.

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Which one is your Favourite from the above list?

This was our take on must-have apps for Debian and other Linux distributions. Our main intention behind this Article was to improve your user experience while using Debian 11.

Top 10 Must Have Apps for Debian

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