I originally planned on sharing a boat load of Linux applications that were designed to make you more productive. However, there are so many, and they are all tailored to specific purposes that I thought it better to spread them out into multiple posts. I have used every application in this post – and in subsequent posts – in one way or another. Hopefully you will use them too. If you don’t use Linux, find an old computer and hop on the bandwagon. It’s free, so there really isn’t an excuse not to.
Freemind
Before embarking on a big project, it needs to be brainstormed. Freemind is a mind-mapping application that helps to bring all of the ideas that are trapped in the far corners of you mind up to the surface. It’s a little clunky and hard to use at first, but once you get the hang of it you will see why it is so helpful.
Installation: sudo apt-get install freemind
Gnome Do
Mac users aren’t the only ones that get to enjoy the advantages of a dock. With Gnome Do you get a dock, and the ability to call applications using your keyboard. It has several plugins that allow you to do anything from enter an event in your Google Calendar, or make a Skype call. This application is definitely a must have for anyone that likes to get things done quickly, without having to click all over the screen.
Installation instructions can be found here.
Tasque
Tasque is a Linux application that does what the name implies, it keeps track of tasks. The good thing about Tasque is that it can be used as a standalone application, or it can sync up with Remember the Milk, an online task management system. The application is still in its infancy, but so far it looks promising.
How to install: sudo apt-get install tasque
Other posts that you may enjoy:
There's a research project at UCI for a realtime fork of freemind. The idea was that an entire class or group of people would project a mindmap and be able to collaborate freely. So people who maybe who were quieter or otherwise unable to comment would be able to extend the map with whatever thoughts they had.
It was pretty slick. Although I've never been able to get into mind mapping myself. :/
Oooh… that's sweet. Will they release it to the public? That's be good for business creativity and collaboration! I use Evernote and Google Docs with a business partner right now and it can be a bear…
It took me a while to get into mind mapping, since it seemed to me like I was doing things twice (i.e. writing out my ideas and then writing a paper, rather than just writing the paper), but I find that I produce much more substantive and creative products when I do. Or maybe I am just trying to justify doing things twice.