Software

This is just a list, with brief descriptions, of software I regularly use. Some pointers go to source code or linux executables housed on my Web space, but that is only for programs I am either involved with in some way, or those that are nearly impossible to find. Most are links to the developer's Web pages, or ftp sites.

LyX I have a Web page about this program. It is a word-processor for X windows which uses LaTeX as its backend, producing the unsurpassed output of technical and non-technical documents without the hassle of learning LaTeX. I have been involved in its development to an extent, mostly with documentation, the AMS-math layouts, a few bug fixes, and promotion. Here is a link to the main LyX page: LyX home page, US
Nedit is a Motif-based editor. This is a very good editor. It now has syntax highlighting, configurable word-wrap, multiple windows, command pipes, essentially everything you would need. This link is to the main site, which has several precompiled binaries, plus source (which requires Motif. I don't know whether Lesstif works for it yet). Nedit home page.
Plan is a Motif calendar/planner. I believe there is a current version on Sunsite , but the main site is Plan ftp site in Germany , and Plan ftp site in the US. Plan is supposed to compile with Lesstif , if you do not have Motif. The author, Thomas Bitrot, has a Web site as well, Plan/Grok home page.
Xmbase-Grok, a very nice and easy-to-use database program. I think there is a static version on Sunsite , but maybe not. I have both the source and a Miotif-static binary on my ISP's anonymous ftp server, My FTP site If you are going to be using a lot of these programs, you really should get Motif.
X-mine, a minesweeper game, that looks very familiar. I managed to dredge up two versions of this, one using Motif, the other using Athena widgets. I have them on my ISP's server My FTP site , I have no memory where else they might be found.
nls.tar.gz This just provides the ``locale'' files, or natural-language files, that you would need to run an X11R5 program (even from a remote machine) under X11R6. It unpacks from / into /usr/lib/X11/nls. Without these files many R5 programs crash when run on an R6 system, even if the correct libraries are there. It's on: My FTP site .
Solitaire No computer these days can be without a solitaire game. Xwindows has two that, in my opinion, are better than the one on that "other" windowing system. The first is Sverre's Solitaire, which also contains an interesting photo and other stuff he wrote. You need to get a bunch of his special libraries to build the thing, though. The other is xpat2-1.04-src.tar.gz, which allows you to play a number of different solitaire games. There is also a precompiled version at the same site.
Rxvt This is a replacement for xterm, one of the most-maligned, and deservedly so, programs in X windows. rxvt does not have the Tektronics window graphcs, but I never saw anyone use that, anyway. It is smaller and less of a resource hog than xterm, and also has a simple menuing system and pretty pixmap backgrounds. All in all, a far better alternative to xterm. Rxvt Web site, or Rxvt ftp site.
TeX A DOS/Windows (3.1 or 95) TeX package, based on emTeX with a graphical interface, called EMTEXGI which I found. Has TeX, AMS-TeX, and LaTeX2e, for Windows. This link is a pointer to the guy who wrote the GUI and put the distribution together from CTAN archives, Allin Cottrell (cottrell@wfu.edu). Also has a nice installation script, so that you don't have to worry about configuring the various components to work together. I used to have a separate copy available locally, but his has continued to improve (it now has babel and AMS-LaTeX), so I simply refer you to him.

Some New programs I have recently found two new programs that show considerable promise to fill out the remaining holes in the free software tools many people need. They are not ready for prime time, but bear watching:

Xacc A simple account management program, sort of like Quicken (or so I have been told. I never have seen Quicken in action). This provides a window that looks like your bank statement (or check register) for you to keep records of your checking, savings, credit card, or other account. Easily manages current balance, current cleared balance, etc. Sorts automatically by date. Needs Motif/Lesstif and Xbae (Widget set) to install. Actually being developed with Lesstif. Bleeding-edge beta versions, or -- nuts, I forgot the other site. This will do for now.
Abs This is a new spreadsheet for X/linux. At the moment (Dec. 1, 1997) the author has not released sources, only a linux binary (and an AIX binary). Keep this on your list, though, since a good spreadsheet with more modern capabilities than xspread is something sorely needed. I hope that the author will release the sources under the GPL or similar license. The concept of this spreadsheet looks very good -- but this is a very alpha version, and is not really usable. Main site for Abs.