Hammy
Feb 6, 2022
‘We need to stop treating Linux distros […] like football teams. […] the point of a piece of software is to fulfil a function for a user; there is no winning and no prize in FOSS as a base concept."
Hammy Havoc, @hammyhavoc, next week on @imakefoss.
https://t.co/FY0Q5AwgFj https://t.co/dtoUVG9z87
Feb 7, 2022
Please welcome Hammy Havoc, @hammyhavoc
@SplitAnAtom & @PreviousMag CEO, film and games composer and musician @TheOCorrelation.
Feb 7th to 14th on @imakefoss
Interview: https://t.co/FY0Q5AwgFj
@imakefoss is a Twitter rotation curation account. https://t.co/be43FMmVPI
Feb 7, 2022
Hi everybody!
Let’s start with something universal, regardless of your OS—data.
You need to be able to trust the security and privacy of your data. @Nextclouders and a @Raspberry_Pi is a good way to start ASAP. It has file storage, sharing, collab, and apps.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
How do we back up our PCs? The OOBE backup experience in Windows has been bad for many years now, and this comes up for Linux a lot.
Check out @UrBackupOSS. Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS. A UrBackup server will let you manage all your backups from one place.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
Don’t want the hassle of running a server just to maintain your privacy with your data?
Check out @syncthing, the FOSS answer to Resilio Sync, syncing your files P2P.
Available for Linux, Windows, macOS, @freebsd, @illumosorg, @netbsd, @dragonflybsd and more.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
Keeping on the theme of OS-agnostic FOSS—communications.
Try @matrixdotorg with a client like @element_hq for E2EE on messaging, voice and video chat.
With your own server, you can bridge third-party services into it. Unified messenger on all devices, anyone?
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
Doesn’t need an introduction, but the devs deserve some love—if you haven’t used @OBSProject, you’ve undoubtedly at least heard of it or seen the output of it in some capacity.
Streaming and AV capture software that just works.
Works on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
Are you a dev who uses git?
@giteaio has been serving me well for several years now. Amazingly lightweight in terms of resource consumption. UX is easy on the eye and reminiscent of GitHub. Has the usual bells and whistles, including wikis and issues. Love this.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 7, 2022
Need a FOSS alternative to Microsoft To Do, or Todoist? Try @vikunjaio. Can even import your data!
One of the few sensible task apps that can do task relations, e.g. preceding, blocking.
Looking forward to making it my daily driver once phone apps are available.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
Today’s theme is switching from Windows to Linux.
‘But I need x" you cry!
@usebottles provides an easy way to manage WINE prefixes. Very user-friendly UI, and very friendly devs. Features include versioning, a dependency manager, and of course sandboxing.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
How about a different approach to running Windows applications than WINE?
@geoffrey_mcrae’s Looking Glass (https://t.co/TwcZMm7KEq) provides a kernel-based virtual machine with 60Hz refresh rate and 16ms of latency. Yes, it’ll run that suite of office software.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
But let’s take a look at what Office-like FOSS is available in 2022.
@CollaboraOffice CODE on @Nextclouders' might be all you need. But what if you need more?
@libreoffice has come on in leaps and bounds these past few years. Available on Linux, Windows and macOS
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
Have you switched from Windows to Linux?
Which distro are you on?
What are the biggest challenges you’re still facing today using Linux as your daily driver?
I’m currently using @fedora Workstation. There’s a @kdecommunity spin if you want a Windows-like OOBE.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
Some might call this sacrilege, but I call it having your cake and eating it!
If your nearly thirty years of muscle memory won’t allow you to leave the Windows Start menu concept behind, ArcMenu for @gnome can make you feel right at home: https://t.co/8pN9Sc9GMZ
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 8, 2022
We all know that you can now play a lot more games on Linux via Valve’s Proton. How about FOSS games though?
Here’s a few of my favourites: @supertuxkart, @play0ad, @wesnoth, @xonotic, @clintbellanger’s Flare RPG, and @bar_rts.
What are your favourite FOSS games?
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
Let’s get down and dirty with audio today.
I had wanted to use Linux as my daily driver for many years. It’s only because of @PipewireP that I’ve been able to do that. Amazingly low latency, and reliable!
I would like to say a special thank you to @wtaymans.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
@PipewireP @wtaymans @hammyhavoc @PipewireP, @wtaymans, is there anybody else on Twitter you’d like to shine the spotlight on for their PipeWire contributions?
PipeWire is one the most important projects right now for anybody that works with audio, be it professionally, or as a hobby. Thank you.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
@PipewireP @wtaymans @hammyhavoc Here’s an example of some work @PipewireP has enabled me to do.
I did the audio post-production (cleanup, re-recording mixing etc) and additional music for the Eco Travellers (2021) documentary. Full film is available here beneath the trailer: https://t.co/ueyh4B0sBF
100% Linux
Feb 9, 2022
@PipewireP @wtaymans @hammyhavoc This idea that Linux still somehow isn’t ‘there" yet for audio isn’t applicable in 2022. If you can’t do great work with it, the problem isn’t in the tools. PEBKAC! :- )
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
@PipewireP @wtaymans @hammyhavoc Here’s some more work that I’ve done on Linux, which was enabled thanks to @PipewireP.
Adaptive original score for upcoming sci-fi combat flight-sim video game Manta from @psychoclast: https://t.co/Hl8cJIDN5T
The means to create are here today, and rock solid.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
I’ve been DJing with @mixxxdj for quite a few years. You can even stream from it.
Supports timecode vinyl too, so you can swap from that major software every DJ knows, which has crashed on me whilst performing, but Mixxx has always been rock solid. 💿🎛️💿🎧
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
Do you make music or work with audio? FOSS DAW o’clock.
I’m hoping to be able to switch to @ardourdaw at some point in 2022. This DAW is coming on in leaps and bounds. Some great UX ideas—some superior to the proprietary Linux DAWs. 👀 The routing is top notch.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
Interested in trying to make music with your computer, know nothing about audio, and don’t want to spend any money? FOSS has the answer!
@lmmsio provides an intuitive turn-key DAW, complete with samples and soft synths. Works on Linux, Windows and macOS. Have fun!
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
As you know from my interview, I love MiSTer and preservation.
Big shout out to @d0pefish for creating mt32-pi, a Roland MT-32 emulator, and SoundFont synth: https://t.co/CxNV0Aiwee
Looking forward to trying the new version based off of a @Raspberry_Pi Zero 2.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 9, 2022
Can we take a minute to talk about @ossia_io’s Score? That this is free open source software is mindblowing.
This one’s for all my AV geeks doing interactive art for physical spaces et al. Here’s hoping the pandemic is under control soon so we can do more of this.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
The theme of today is FOSS visuals!
You’ve undoubtedly heard of @blender at this point even if you’ve not used it before.
Whether you want to model or sculpt in 3D, create VFX or even animate, you’re able to use the same tools that plenty of pros also use.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
Got dreams of doing a short film or an ambitious feature-length production? Take a look at @BlenderStudio_’s Watchtower to track your production: https://t.co/OwJ1e0XCsz
Incredibly polished and intuitive UX. Professional-grade FOSS is well and truly here.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
On the subject of @blender and video—alongside YouTube, they also distribute their videos via @joinpeertube.
PeerTube is a FOSS decentralized, federated video hosting platform. Join an existing instance, or host your own. P2P live streaming holds a lot of promise.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
But what if you want to do technical design within the realm of CAD? I’m a CNC milling and 3D printing geek myself.
@FreeCADNews is a FOSS parametric modeler. Customize it to suit your workflow requirements via workbenches. It’s come a long way over the years!
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
Show me what you make with FOSS in terms of visuals and share what FOSS you use for it!
Whether you’re using @blender or @FreeCADNews, or you’re a photographer on @darktable_org, or using @Krita_Painting, @inkscape, or something completley different, share away!
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 10, 2022
If you ever design or build electronics, you’re likely familiar with @kicad_pcb. But if you’re interested and have never used a computer to aid with your PCB designs, wow, FOSS delivers once again.
I want to say thank you to the devs for empowering so many folks.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 11, 2022
I wanted to start today off with a big thank you to @letsencrypt, a non-profit free automated certificate authority, providing SSL certificates for countless folks successfully hosting their own little FOSS nook on the web. 🙏 Thank you for all that you do. Stars.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 11, 2022
I mentioned @godotengine in the interview I did with I Make FOSS.
Godot is a FOSS video game engine for both 3D and 2D. AAA devs, including Sega, are already using it. Wonderfully intuitive. IMO, this is going to be next breakthrough project like Blender has been.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 11, 2022
Want to take your search engine privacy into your own hands? As always, FOSS delivers.
@Searx_engine is a meta search engine, aggregating results from 70+ providers, yes, including Google.
@yacy_search is a decentralized search engine that can operate P2P.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 11, 2022
I struggled to find the contributors to tag for this one.
Cactus Comments is a comment system for your website powered by @matrixdotorg protocol, meaning people can have real-time ongoing conversations off-page. I can see this taking off. https://t.co/tHMuNx84YT
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 11, 2022
Smart home without the proprietary surveillance technology?
Take a look at @home_assistant. A lot of what I used IFTTT for is also possible via this, including using proprietary hardware via APIs. Awesome management dashboard. Can start with a @Raspberry_Pi!
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 12, 2022
I haven’t used a Mac as a daily driver since 2013, but I appreciate that there’s a lot of Mac users out there looking to make the jump to Linux and have decades of muscle memory for keyboard shortcuts.
Enter @gbit86’s https://t.co/TLtysYBl0w for Linux and Windows!
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 12, 2022
I’m really excited about @Raspberry_Pi allowing for network installation of an OS via the web on their latest bootloader, ala a Mac. Now people who have no facility to image an SD card can treat the Pi as a near turn-key solution for Linux.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 12, 2022
Are you a @gnome user?
GNOME Sushi is a macOS Finder Quick Look-like alternative for Nautilus. This is one I’m forever missing whenever I use KDE. A huge improve to any workflow that involves files.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 12, 2022
Are you a @kdecommunity user wanting phone notifications on your desktop? Take a look at KDE Connect. Also does files, commands, use a phone as a trackpad and keyboard, and much more!
Works with Android, iOS, Plasma Mobile, and @jollahq.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 12, 2022
If you’re running @gnome, one of my most used extensions has to be @kurtfleisch’s Recent Items. This thing saves me so much faffing around. High five, mate. 👏
You can check it out here: https://t.co/aaJiWc1ZwM
These little extensions add a lot to UX.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
Here’s the macOS equivalent to WINE—it’s called Darling: https://t.co/H5dMhTLAE2
Darwin galore. Early GUI app support is available. iOS app support may one day be possible. Can also run on WSL 2.
Big shout out to some of the contributors: @facekapow, @ahyattdev
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
I wholly believe @risc_v is the next big thing for FOSS—FOSSi. Free and open source silicon.
@Raspberry_Pi, please put RISC-V SBCs into the hands of passionate devs, enthusiasts and students globally, and let’s get the masses excited about what RISC-V can do. 🖖
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
RT @mangopi_sbc: @hammyhavoc @kehoste @imakefoss @risc_v Temporary domain: https://t.co/3S6glvwsCW
Feb 13, 2022
Ever wanted to try your hand at writing interactive fiction? FOSS has the answer! Try @twinethreads. Twine outputs HTML, so you can publish your work pretty much anywhere, including your own website.
I have always loved playing text adventure games.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
Another project that needs no introduction but whose devs are deserving of some love is @fdroidorg. F-Droid is the FOSS equivalent of Android’s Google Play, with every app on there being FOSS. Quietly brilliant. Thank you for your hard work.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
It’s difficult to escape all proprietary software, especially on phones.
Keep your necessary proprietary software within a sandbox via Android’s Work profile functionality with Insular, a FLOSS fork of Island.
Available via @fdroidorg: https://t.co/lknxlrx1Jk
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
Big shout out to the @linuxfoundation, who sponsor the work of many extremely talented folks, including Linus Torvalds and @gregkh.
Remember to tip your FOSS devs if you can afford to support the work they do, and thus work they help you to do in turn.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
Your whole workflow doesn’t need to be 100% FOSS to support FOSS. Your use case is still valid.
If you can’t yet use something, but believe it has potential, tells the devs why you can’t. We all appreciate feedback, that’s what makes things better long-term.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
Not many people write FOSS expecting that it will provide them with any means to support themselves. Quite often, we’re writing the tools that we need ourselves.
As I always say: lend someone your screwdriver, they may be building something you need.
Stay FOSS.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 13, 2022
I’m blown away every day with the amount of talent on display within the FOSS community. Not just what people make and do using the tools available, but the people behind the tools too. Spending time this week with you all has been amazing.
One love. Thank you.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 14, 2022
I would like to say a big thank you to @josp0001 and @killyourfm for the interview with me (https://t.co/FY0Q5AwgFj) and the opportunity to curate the IMakeFOSS Twitter account this past week. It’s been a pleasure. Hope we can do it again soon.
- @hammyhavoc
Feb 14, 2022
One last one from me—it’s Valentine’s Day! Give your favourite developers some love!
What are your favourite FOSS projects? What little gem can’t you live without? Any unsung heroes? Let’s read about them. Be sure to tag whenever you can.
Let’s keep in touch: @hammyhavoc