After our Linux system has been properly installed and configured in the previous chapters, it is now time to get to know the software that will accompany our daily work. Ubuntu and Fedora come with a fairly complete set of built-in applications for basic needs: browsing files, writing text, opening the terminal, and surfing the web. This chapter introduces these default GNOME applications, then discusses how to install additional software through the software center, Flatpak, and Snap. In the final section, we will find essential software recommendations that should be installed right after installation so that the Linux user experience becomes complete and productive.
10.1 GNOME Built-in Applications
GNOME does not only offer a desktop environment, but also includes a set of core applications designed with the same design language: simple, clean, and easy to use. These applications are known as GNOME Core Apps and are generally available in both Ubuntu and Fedora, although there are minor differences as each distribution may add or replace specific applications. Here are the most important built-in applications for us to get familiar with.
10.1.1 Files (Nautilus): File Manager
Files, technically known as Nautilus, is GNOME's default file manager. This application is equivalent to File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS, serving as our primary tool for managing files and directories graphically.
Some of Files' main capabilities include:
- Browsing directories via the left sidebar displaying key locations such as Home, Documents, Downloads, as well as storage devices and trash.
- Copying, moving, renaming, and deleting files and folders using right-click context menus or drag and drop.
- Searching for files quickly using the search bar at the top.
- Sorting and grouping files by name, size, type, or date.
- Starring files as favorites for easy access later.
- Accessing remote locations via network protocols like SFTP, SMB, and WebDAV, allowing servers or network shares to appear as regular folders.
Part IV of this series will cover Linux file management concepts in much greater depth, including directory mechanics and filesystem structures.
10.1.2 Text Editor (Gedit / GNOME Text Editor)
For taking notes, editing configuration files, or jotting down ideas, GNOME provides Text Editor. Historically, GNOME used an editor named gedit, which served as the default graphical text editor for many years. However, starting with GNOME 42, GNOME Text Editor began replacing gedit with a modern application listed simply as Text Editor in the app list. GNOME designed this new application from scratch (rather than merely updating gedit) because gedit was built on GTK3, and adapting it to the new Human Interface Guidelines and libadwaita library would have required a massive rewrite.
This modern Text Editor offers sufficient features for daily writing needs, including:
- Syntax highlighting for various programming languages and file formats.
- Dark mode support following system themes.
- Line numbering and indentation settings.
- Spell check support.
- Auto-save and support for opening multiple files in tabs.
It should be understood that Text Editor is a plain text editor, not a word processor. It is not designed to create formatted documents like reports or letters; for those needs, we will use LibreOffice, which is discussed in the software recommendations section.
10.1.3 Terminal (GNOME Terminal / Ptyxis)
Terminal is an application that provides a command line interface (CLI) inside the graphical desktop. Through the terminal, we can type commands to operate the system directly. Terminal will be one of the applications we use most frequently throughout this series, especially in subsequent sections covering the command line.
There are two terminal applications we need to know:
- GNOME Terminal is the classic terminal that has long been the default for GNOME. Although still widely used, GNOME is gradually deprecating it.
- Ptyxis is a modern GTK4-based terminal serving as its successor. Ptyxis offers richer features like container support (such as development environments using Podman, Toolbox, or Distrobox), tabs, profiles, and a visual style that seamlessly integrates with GNOME.
Starting from Ubuntu 25.10, Ubuntu replaced its default terminal with Ptyxis, and Fedora Workstation made a similar transition starting with Fedora 41. Therefore, on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora Workstation 44, the application found under the name Terminal is Ptyxis. However, all basic principles of terminal usage covered in this series apply equally to both GNOME Terminal and Ptyxis, as both run the same shell behind the scenes.
10.1.4 Web Browser (Firefox)
The browser is the main portal to the internet, and both Ubuntu and Fedora choose Mozilla Firefox as their default web browser. Firefox is an open-source browser developed by Mozilla, known for its commitment to user privacy and extensive customization capabilities.
Although the application is identical, its distribution method differs between the two systems:
- On Ubuntu, Firefox is distributed as a Snap package, running inside an isolated environment managed by the Snap system.
- On Fedora, Firefox is distributed as an RPM package from official Fedora repositories (or as a Flatpak).
This difference in distribution methods does not affect how we use Firefox. The user interface, features, and account sync remain identical. We can sync history, bookmarks, and passwords across devices using a Mozilla account.
10.1.5 Other Built-in Applications
Besides the applications above, GNOME includes several complementary applications useful for daily tasks:
| Application | Function |
|---|---|
| Image Viewer (Loupe) | Displays images and photos, replacing the older Eye of GNOME |
| Document Viewer (Papers) | Reads PDF documents and other formats; starting from GNOME 49, Papers officially replaces Evince as the default document viewer, though it still appears as "Document Viewer" in the app list |
| Calendar | Manages schedules, integrated with Online Accounts |
| Calculator | Calculator offering simple to advanced modes |
| Contacts | Manages contacts, syncing with online accounts |
| Maps | Displays maps and navigation |
| Weather | Displays weather forecasts |
| Videos (Showtime) | Plays videos; starting from GNOME 49, Showtime replaces Totem as the default video player with a modern GTK4/libadwaita interface (note: unlike Totem, Showtime does not support DVD playback) |
| Music | Plays music collections |
It is worth noting that GNOME previously had a Photos application for managing and editing photos, but GNOME dropped this app from the GNOME Core Apps lineup starting with GNOME 45 due to a lack of maintainers, leaving no official replacement. Because of this, on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora Workstation 44, we will no longer find it pre-installed; simple photo management can be done via Files and Image Viewer (Loupe), or third-party gallery apps can be installed from Flathub if advanced features are needed.
Note also that the default application list may vary slightly between Ubuntu and Fedora depending on the chosen installation type (for instance, a minimal installation will include fewer applications).
10.2 Installing Additional Software
Default applications are just a starting point. The real power of Linux lies in the ease of adding new software from trusted sources. Unlike downloading installers from websites on Windows, Linux software installation is handled through a software center or package manager connected to official repositories. This section covers the main methods for installing additional software.
10.2.1 GNOME Software / App Center
The most beginner-friendly way to install applications is through a graphical software center. Here, the software center displays applications much like an app store complete with categories, search functionality, and descriptions.
- GNOME Software is GNOME's default software center used by Fedora Workstation. It acts as a single point to install, update, and remove software from various sources, including RPM repositories and Flatpak.
- App Center is the software center used by Ubuntu. Starting from Ubuntu 23.10, App Center (built with the Flutter framework instead of GTK) replaced the old GNOME Software-based Ubuntu Software. App Center delivers Snap applications and Ubuntu repository packages in a unified interface. Starting in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Canonical expanded App Center into a single hub to manage any application, including installing
.debpackages directly by right-clicking a.debfile and selecting Open With App Center without using the terminal.
Usage is simple: open the app, search for the desired software, and click Install. Once installed, the application appears in the app menu for launching. System updates and application management can also be handled through this software center.
10.2.2 Flatpak and Flathub
Flatpak is a modern distro-agnostic package format, meaning Flatpak applications can run on almost any Linux distribution without modification. Flatpak apps run in an isolated sandbox environment for enhanced security, bundling all required dependencies independently of system library versions.
Flathub is the largest Flatpak repository, functioning as an app store for Linux software. Flathub serves as the primary source for Flatpak applications, ranging from popular open-source apps to software published directly by developers.
Handling Flatpak differs between Ubuntu and Fedora:
Enabling Flathub on Ubuntu. Ubuntu uses Snap by default instead of Flatpak, so Flatpak and Flathub must be enabled manually. This involves installing the flatpak package and adding the Flathub repository:
sudo apt install flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoAfterward, logging out and back in may be required for App Center integration. Once configured, Flatpak apps can be installed from Flathub. To confirm Flathub is added properly, run flatpak remote-list; the flathub entry should appear in the output.
Flathub is generally pre-enabled on Fedora. The Fedora Workstation installer offers a Third-Party Repositories option enabled by default; if not skipped, Flatpak and full Flathub integration are ready right after installation. On Fedora Workstation 44, Flatpak apps can typically be installed from Flathub directly via GNOME Software without extra setup. However, users occasionally skip or disable this option during initial installation. If Flathub does not show up in GNOME Software, enable it via the main menu (three lines icon) in the top-right corner of GNOME Software, select Software Repositories, and toggle on Third-Party Repositories; alternatively, run fedora-third-party enable in the terminal.
10.2.3 Snap (Ubuntu specific)
Snap is a package format developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. Conceptually, Snap is similar to Flatpak: applications run in a sandbox, carry their own dependencies, and update automatically in the background.
The primary difference is that Snap is a centralized ecosystem built around the Snap Store managed by Canonical, whereas Flatpak is an open project usable across multiple distributions. For this reason, Snap is primarily used in Ubuntu and its derivatives.
On Ubuntu, Canonical distributes several built-in apps, including Firefox, as Snaps. Snap applications can be managed via App Center or using the snap command in the terminal, such as:
sudo snap install application-name
sudo snap remove application-name
sudo snap refreshThe sudo snap refresh command updates all installed Snap applications. Before removing a snap, check the list of installed snaps with snap list. Note that sudo snap remove creates a snapshot of the application data by default and retains it for 31 days, allowing restoration with sudo snap restore if removed accidentally. To permanently remove a snap along with its data without creating a snapshot, use sudo snap remove --purge. Part VIII of this series will cover Snap and Flatpak in greater detail.
10.3 Software Recommendations for Beginners
After learning how to install software, here are essential application recommendations to complete the setup. All these applications are available on both Ubuntu and Fedora via official repositories, Flathub, or Snap.
10.3.1 Office: LibreOffice
LibreOffice is the flagship open-source office suite on Linux. Equivalent to Microsoft Office, it includes several applications in one package:
- Writer: word processor (equivalent to Microsoft Word).
- Calc: spreadsheet program (equivalent to Microsoft Excel).
- Impress: presentation software (equivalent to Microsoft PowerPoint).
- Draw, Base, and Math: vector graphics, database management, and mathematical formulas.
LibreOffice can open and save documents in Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx), facilitating smooth document exchange with Windows or macOS users. On Ubuntu, LibreOffice is typically included in full installations; if missing, it can be installed via App Center or sudo apt install libreoffice. On Fedora, LibreOffice is available from official repositories.
10.3.2 Multimedia: VLC and GIMP
VLC is a versatile media player capable of playing almost any audio and video format without installing extra codecs. VLC is an essential choice for users who regularly play various media files. VLC is available on Ubuntu, Fedora, and Flathub.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful open-source image editor frequently cited as an alternative to Photoshop. GIMP is well-suited for photo editing, graphics creation, and basic design work. Like VLC, GIMP is available on both distributions and Flathub.
10.3.3 Communication: Thunderbird and Signal
Thunderbird is an open-source email client developed by Mozilla. Thunderbird supports multiple email accounts, calendars, and contacts within a single application; it can also link with Google and Nextcloud accounts. It is an ideal choice for desktop email management.
Signal is an instant messaging application focused heavily on privacy and security, featuring end-to-end encryption by default. Signal is available for Linux desktop, allowing secure messaging from a computer without sacrificing conversational privacy.
In this chapter, we explored default GNOME applications including Files, Text Editor, Terminal, and Firefox, while gaining an understanding of installing additional software via software centers, Flatpak, and Snap. We also reviewed essential software recommendations for office tasks, multimedia, and communication.
With the necessary software installed and configured, a strong foundation is established to begin working in Linux. In the next chapter, the focus shifts to a deeper topic: understanding Linux file and directory concepts, which form the basis for overall system operation.