○ Software alternatives
Here's a small list of programs which I use as alternatives to classic UNIX-related tools. Lesser-known first to keep the list interesting:
- LeftWM - a window manager
- Helix - a text editor
- Zellij -
tmux
alternative, batteries included - Nu - cross-platform shell with a fresh approach to streams & redirections
- Zola - a static site generator, which powers this website
- Paru - AUR helper for all Arch folks
- Neovide -
neovim
client with eye-candy animations - Caddy - a web server with automatic HTTPs and refreshingly simple configuration
- Alacritty - a terminal emulator
- Wezterm - another terminal emulator
- Fzf - Fuzzy finder for pretty much everything
- fd - unix
find
but actually usable without having to readman
each time - duf - like
df
but easier to read - Popsicle - USB File Flasher
I encourage you to compare the listed softwares with their more classic alternatives in terms of documentation, contribution guides and CI/CD practices.
Justification/Philosophy
Most of the software that powers our devices runs on C, C++ and Java. I do not mean to criticise those languages, as they were (and still are) a great improvement for the programming community, opening new and exciting paths to better software. However, during the last 2 decades, new languages have emerged, fulfilling the need for:
- Built-in tools for easier code reuse (package/library management)
- Memory safety
- Performance & resource usage efficiency
- Improved approach to macros, code generation and other metaprogramming-related aspects
- Stronger & more expressive type systems