This is pretty open ended, and I’m not sure “digital tool” is really what I should call it honestly. But basically, I’m putting together a big list of programs, applications, websites and the like that I find useful or helpful in some way, that I think could be beneficial to others.

So far my list consists of things like localsend, alternativeto.net, Microsoft powertoys, does the dog die, etc. Pretty varied list, some very niche some very general purpose, but just those kind of things if that makes sense?

I’m looking for some more to add, so what do you have to contribute?

      • craigers@lemmy.world
        1·
        17 hours ago

        I mean…i wouldn’t call it a digital tool either but a hobby seems a stretch. Is windows or MacOS a hobby? It’s an OS, which is a platform you can use your digital tools on, or pursue hobbies, productivity etc.

      • myszka@lemmy.ml
        2·
        19 hours ago

        Congrats! What’s your first impression? Btw, if NixOS seems too overwhelming at the beginning, you can try using nix (the packat manager) + home-manager on another distro at first - that’s what I did

        • bradboimler@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          16 hours ago

          Oh man

          I’m pretty sure I’m sticking with it for the foreseeable future. But it was touch and go for a minute. I knew Debian, it was comfortable, and I had to fight the urge to run screaming back.

          There are a lot of moving parts and I wish they were less abstract. Going in I had no idea I had to learn a foreign programming language. The other day I was surprised to realize that the bash NixOS module is different than the Home Manager one. In my inexperienced opinion I feel they should be one and the same. Some important packages are behind Debian. Debian. I’m on the unstable NixOS channel.

          It’s not all doom and gloom. I feel I’m learning a lot more about the bits that comprise a Linux distro. It feels a lot more mine. I can keep the config in my head. I’m a software engineer so the build error messages don’t scare me. I’m on the latest kernel. I wrote a package for a little software tool that I wrote and I like how it fits right into NixOS. If I change the code one command will build it, run tests, and install it in my system. That’s rad.

          Yeah, in retrospect it was unwise to try to figure out both NixOS and Home Manager at the same time. Oh well.

          Edit: I love how easy it is to jump straight to the actual source from NixOS search. And I appreciate that the infrastructure is modern. Debian’s is absolutely ancient in comparison.

          • myszka@lemmy.ml
            2·
            9 hours ago

            Oh yeah, I can relate, a lot of confusion when you’re just starting. I sweared so much during my first month of using NixOS… But I’m glad to hear you like it!