Open Source

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An old Medialink router on a table.
Don't toss your old router: 5 practical ways to reuse it

You'll regret throwing out that old router!

visual-studio-code-chatbot-interface-open
I built a fully local AI coding assistant in Windows with Ollama and VS Code

The only operating cost is electricity.

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A laptop screen featuring Linux apps listed on the Linux Mint software browser.
Leaving Windows? Swap your favorite apps with these 5 Linux alternatives

You don't need to force Windows-only apps to work on Linux.

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A laptop with the Python download webpage open on Chrome.
These 5 Python libraries turned me into a better data analyst than Excel ever could

The power of Python trumps Excel workbooks.

A close-up of the interactive systemd terminal that shows a menu to control system services.
3 unheard-of Linux tools that fix everyday command-line annoyances

If you've used Linux, you've undoubtedly experienced these problems, so why not take a look?

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A Pi 0W running a WireGuard server
I ditched Google's DNS for a $20 Raspberry Pi, and I stopped handing my web history to third parties

You don't need Google's 8.8.8.8: how to build a private DNS server for $20

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Symfonium open on the head unit of a 2018 Kia Forte.
I built a self-hosted Navidrome server to replace Spotify, and it works better than I expected

$20 in parts and an hour can get you your own Spotify alternative.

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Disk storage analysis.
I ran out of storage on my Linux machine and these 2 tools fixed it fast

Reclaim gigabytes of storage in under 5 minutes!

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Laptop screen showing a column chart in Excel with totals above the columns and percentages at the base.
I ditched Excel charts for Python, and my presentations went from boring to brilliant

Use Python to make your data visualizations stand out.

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Three FOSS apps open on a Windows ultrawide monior tiled side by side with an iPad showing the open source logo.
3 free, open-source apps to cancel your subscriptions this weekend (Jun 5–7)

Three of your most common recurring charges have free, open-source replacements.

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Drive trays fanned out from the Ugreen iDX6011 Pro NAS showing the tool-free tray design and an installed hard drive.
I stopped using Dropbox to share files between my devices and built something better

Stop using cloud storage to move files across the room (do this instead)

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My i3 setup with two windows open.
I switched to a tiling window manager on Linux and can't believe I wasted years dragging windows around

There's a better, faster way to use your computer.

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An image of a computer monitor running Zorin OS. The desktop has three apps on it, Kdenlive, Darktable, and Blender.
These free, open source Linux apps made expensive creative software harder to justify

These creative apps made photo editing, video work, design, music, and 3D feel far more practical than I expected.

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A terminal with the Plex and Jellyfin logos and a popcorn bucket next to it.
Stop dreading the Plex-to-Jellyfin switch, this plugin does the heavy lifting

Sync years of tweaks and customizations to Jellyfin instantly.

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Ubuntu running with a terminal open with sudo apt install written.
7 Linux commands and shortcuts I wish I learned on day one

Every Linux user should know these command-line essentials.

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Laptop with Ubuntu and a Linux terminal open.
Linux promised freedom, but the command line demands something harder in return

Don't fear the command line if you want to unlock Linux's true potential.

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Laptop with Ubuntu and a Linux terminal open.
This is how I'd learn Linux if I had to start all over again

And four things I wish I knew sooner.

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PDF24, BentoPDF, and Sumatra PDF open on a Windows 11 laptop.
Stop paying $240 a year for Acrobat—these 3 free tools do everything you actually need
PDF

I'm always looking for a way to cut a subscription.

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Android mascot peeking into a circular window filled with icons of open-source Android apps, set against a blue background patterned with open-source symbols
3 more open-source Android apps I'd (happily) pay for even if they weren't free

An unexpected keyboard, a desktop-style firewall app, and a utility that every Android device needs.

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An ESP32 development board next to a Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.
Why ESP32 boards are replacing Raspberry Pi for wireless projects

ESP32 boards are tiny, but don't let that deceive you—they're incredible.

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