8 small utilities for a better Linux experience

Linux is one of the most flexible operating systems you can use today. From the interface to the internal features, you can customize almost everything on your Linux PC. Here are some simple yet powerful programs you can use to enhance your Linux experience.

1. Caffeine

Caffeine is an incredibly lightweight program that keeps your desktop from going to sleep. It works with all major desktop environments and can even prevent your screensaver from loading. This makes it an invaluable tool for people who want their desktop to always be on.

2. Redshift

You spend most of your work day staring at a computer screen. Staring at this screen continuously can lead to eye strain and migraines, especially in low-light environments.

One way to fix this is to use Redshift. This is a simple utility that adds a red tint to your desktop, making it easier on the eyes during long work sessions.

3. Unclutter

The mouse cursor is an important part of any Linux desktop. However, there are times when the mouse cursor can get in the way of your desktop sessions. In my experience, this often happens when writing drafts and doing graphics work.

Unclutter is a program that discreetly hides your mouse cursor whenever you are not using it.

4. PV

Pv is a small and unique tool that can pass data over UNIX pipes. It works by wrapping existing commands in strings and printing the throughput, speed and duration of the current task. This allows you to have a better look at your system, providing insight into where your shell commands can be improved.

5. Fzf

Fzf is a powerful filtering tool for reading and searching lists in Linux. As a filtering utility, fzf works best when you pair it with UNIX pipes. It reads data received from standard input and prints your selections to standard output. This makes it valuable for creating custom menus and basic search prompts for your shell scripts.

6. Clip menu

One of the biggest frustrations people have with Linux is moving data from different sources. This is because traditional desktops, such as X11 and Wayland, can only hold one copy buffer at a time. This leads to 'awkward clipboard management' where you create a temporary file containing your clipboard fragments for later use.

Clipmenu is a tool that provides a simple and easy to use clipboard manager for Linux. It basically uses a background daemon and a helper program to display its copy buffer. Unlike other solutions, Clipmenu is completely system-agnostic, meaning you can use it on any Linux desktop and window manager.

7. Fusuma

Fusuma is a basic utility that adds intuitive trackpad gestures to Linux. It lets you control your desktop with familiar multi-touch gestures like 'two-finger swipe' and 'pinch and zoom'. As someone who occasionally uses a laptop, this is really helpful in making your work computer easier to use.

8. Cowsay

Finally, not all Linux utilities are focused on streamlining functionality and productivity. Some are just for pure fun. Cowsay is a quirky CLI tool that takes your text input and lets an ASCII cow speak.

Learning some of the best little utilities in Linux is just the beginning of exploring the operating system. Take a deeper look at what you can do with this wonderful and diverse world by checking out some of the best terminal tools for Linux today.

Samuel Daniel

Update 25 May 2025