Some mostly open source tools and free services that I like to use for doing my daily stuff. As I use Mac and Linux, you'll only find Mac and Linux tools.
File Sync
- Nextcloud
- syncs files between Mac, Windows, Linux; requires a modestly complex web server installation
- apps for smart phones can access files via WebDAV
- powerful web interface
- plugins add many interesting functions like CardDAV/CalDAV server
- https://nextcloud.com
- Syncthing
- syncs files between Mac, Windows, Linux; easy to configure
- starts a server on machine, UI is served via a web browser
- https://syncthing.net
Backup
- Borg
- encrypted, incremental, compressed backups for Mac and Linux
- command line tool; can be scripted; Mac, Linux
- can use external hard drives, WebDAV mounts, or other machines via ssh
- https://borgbackup.readthedocs.io/en/stable/
- Vorta
- an UI for Borg,
- Mac, Linux
- https://github.com/borgbase/vorta/
Notes
- Joplin
- a note taking and to-do application with synchronization capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
- requires some kind of file sync solution like Nextcloud
- mobile apps interface via WebDAV
- uses Markdown syntax, which is awesome
- https://joplin.cozic.net
Presentations/Documentation
- Pandoc + Markdown
- Pandoc converts simple Markdown documents to presentation slides, documents, letters, etc.
- target file formats include pdf, docx, …
- might require the installation of Latex and other supplementary tools
- Mac, Linux
- http://pandoc.org
- Draw IO
- actually an online tool, also available for the desktop
- http://draw.io
Blogging
- Hugo
- converts .md files to a static website
- command line tool; Mac, Linux
- site can also be deployed with Gitlab and Netlify (also see this post)
- https://gohugo.io
- Gitlab
- Github-like service, but better
- https://gitlab.com
- Netlify
- online service that pulls a Hugo website project automatically from Gitlab, converts the project to a static website, and serves this site
- https://netlify.com
Security
- Bitwarden
- a (hosted or) self-hosted password manager with apps for Desktop and mobile; also acts as a TOTP provider
- You can host this on a Pi: https://github.com/dani-garcia/bitwarden_rs
- You can host this on a more powerful devices: https://help.bitwarden.com/article/install-on-premise/
Privacy
- Pi-hole
- acts as a local DNS server that does not answer requrests for blacklisted ad/tracker Domains
- blocks ads/trackers in apps running on a phone/tablet!
- very useful in combination with WireGuard
- Blog post about PiHole
- https://pi-hole.net
- WireGuard
- split or full tunnels to your server or VPS
- Blog post about WireGuard
- https://www.wireguard.com/
- Lulu
- Blocks outgoing connections of applications installed on a Mac
- https://objective-see.com/products/lulu.html
Other Tools and Helpers
- Amphetamine
- Prevents that your Mac goes to sleep
- Good for long downloads or when you're holding a lecture…
- search for Amphetamine in the AppStore
- Rectangle
- Know Spectacle? Rectangle is Spectacle's successor
- Snappy windows for the Mac; also allows to move around windows with the keyboard
- https://rectangleapp.com/