While the Pi may be best known as a programming and project computer, it is also a fully functioning device, even capable of replacing a desktop computer. As such, a wide range of applications and utilities are available, some of which can enhance the capabilities of your Pi.
Although tools such as the open source office suite pre-installed in Raspbian Stretch, some other user programs are not included. If you want to make the most of your Pi as a desktop device, here are five great apps you should consider.
Most of these you will find using the Add/Remove Software tool, although other ways to install software on the Pi available. We have also included command line instructions.
1. Vivaldi Browser
You don’t have to convincingly switch to Vivaldi. to switch to Vivaldi It was developed by Opera co-founder Jon von Tetzchner, and like the old version of Opera, Vivaldi is trying to redefine the web browser.
To install on Raspberry Pi, you need to use wget to download it to the right folder.
cd ~/Downloads/ wget "https://downloads.vivaldi.com/stable/vivaldi-stable_1.13.1008.34-1_armhf.deb"
After that, extract the DEB file to install.
sudo dpkg -i /path/to/deb/file
Finally install with
sudo apt-get install -f
After installation you will find Vivaldi in Menu > Internet . Unfortunately, you cannot currently install Vivaldi using the Add/Remove Software tool. But it’s worth using the command line as it’s a feature rich tool that adds some great new features to your browser. These include advanced tab management, a screenshot tool, and a built-in note-taking tool.
If you want to learn more about the Vivaldi browser, we looked at how much it can change in Raspbian
2. GIMP
Arguably the funniest application ever developed, GIMP is for creating or retouching images. Often cited as a replacement for Adobe Photoshop (it resembles an earlier version), GIMP is compatible with the Raspberry Pi.
You will find GIMP in the Add/Remove Programs tool. For command line users:
sudo apt install gimp
Once installed, you will be able to use it for a range of image editing tasks. GIMP is perfect for retouching photos or creating graphics from scratch. While it may not be Photoshop, it’s almost as powerful. Even if you can’t find the right tool, there might be an extension that will add this feature.
Admittedly, the Raspberry Pi is not ideal hardware for efficient image processing, but the end results should be good. Even if they take a little longer to reach!
Why not check out our detailed photo editing guide with GIMP in GIMP Photo Editing. ?
3. IceDove
If you’ve taken our advice and plan to use the Pi as a desktop computer you will need an email client. While Claws Mail is already installed, IceDove offers the best customization. Based on the Mozilla Thunderbird email client IceDove manages your email, gives you access to Usenet newsgroups, RSS feeds, and even supports live chat. If you use Google Hangouts, IceDove is perfect. There is also support for Filelink, a large file upload service (which actually links to the cloud copy).
Once installed from the Add/Remove Software tool, you can customize IceDove to your own requirements.
sudo apt install icedove
To launch IceDove, look in the «Other» folder on the desktop menu. You will find it labeled IceDove -> Thunderbird . No email client is complete without a calendar, so why not add the iceowl extension to start organizing your time? Meanwhile, Enigmail allows email encryption.
You can also animate the default interface. Several themes are available. Just open Tools > Add Addons and see what suits you.
4. Pidgin
You’ve probably heard of the cross-platform messaging app Pidgin. Conveniently, it can combine chat accounts such as Google Hangouts, Yahoo Messenger, and more into a single interface. What’s more, plugins are available that also include Skype and WhatsApp in the app.
While you probably aren’t using a chat app on your Raspberry Pi yet, Pidgin gets the job done nonetheless. This is ideal if you plan on using your Pi for desktop purposes (or just chatting while programming).
Install Pidgin using the Add/Remove Programs tool. To install from the command line in the Terminal:
sudo apt install pidgin
You will find many useful plugins for Pidgin in its dedicated library. They are quite varied and in many cases useless. However, you may find something useful. For example, the OTR (Off the Record) plugin will encrypt your conversations. PaintBoard will allow you to share the board with your interlocutor. Facebook Chat allows you to replace the built-in (but not recommended) Facebook XMPP plugin.
A pidgin can also be themed. Thousands of themes are available from the Theming Pidgin library. Installing one of them will provide a new collection of icons, emoticons, fonts and backgrounds.
5. Caliber
Want to read e-books on your Raspberry Pi? If this is your first time using a programming device, this might be helpful. If you have books on coding in the traditional eBook format or have them in your Kindle library, you can use Caliber to read them. On the command line, install Caliber with:
sudo apt install calibre
In addition, you will find it under «Add/Remove Software». After installation, you will find Caliber in the list Applications > Office > Caliber .
