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Key takeaways of zdnet
- With a little effort, you can increase the desktop efficiency of Linux.
- These tips will not cost you a penny and results can be game-changing.
- You should not have a Linux specialist to use these tips.
I have currently worked with almost every operating system on the market (and some no longer with us). Of all those operating systems, one stands above others in the category of efficiency.
Don’t misunderstand me, every OS excel in something, but with Linux, you can make it excellent in everything about everything. When I think of every OS I used, I can say honestly that only one I will choose when efficiency was a top priority, Linux is Linux.
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hands down.
Some linux delivery (and/or desktop environment) is very efficient out of the box, but always has space for improvement.
But what can you do to make Linux desktop more efficient? Very. Let’s take a look at my 10 favorite changes/additions that you can do.
1. Keyboard shortcut
Saying this strictly a Linux will be wrong. Nevertheless, you listen to more Linux users working with most other OS with keyboard shortcuts. In fact, most of the Linux desktop environment allow you to easily create a custom keyboard shortcut out of the box. And with Linux, you can make some efficient keyboard shortcuts, such as for the management of Windows, Windows, Window Focus, Apps Launch, Screen Locking, Log, Log out, Taking a Screenshot, Taking Terminal Opening, A Command Playing, Special App Opening, and more. You can also create a custom shortcut for even more efficiency.
2. Tiling window manager or window snaping
An issue that is often found in the way of being as efficient as possible, it is to manage your open apps. Most desktop operating systems offer window snaping (for example, to snap an app window on the left edge of the desktop).
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Linux takes this one step forward and provides tiling window managers who automatically put windows for you. By employing a tiling window manager, you should no longer worry about where to put a window in the optimal place, because the tiling window manager does this for you. And because most tiling window managers also include keyboard shortcuts, you can create a desktop where you rarely have to touch the mouse or trackpad.
3. Use the workspaces
I have been available for Linux since I started using its use in the late 90s. The fields make it easy to organize your desktop (and an organized desktop is a efficient). For example, you may have another for another multimedia for a common web browsing, dedicated to a scope writing. With the help of an easy keyboard shortcut, you can easily switch between those desktops. What distribution you use will determine how you use the workspace.
4. Automated bash script
At some point, you will be curious about the command line, which may inspire you to write your first bash script. Once you make your first bash script, you would like to automate it. For example, you can write a bash script that handles the backup of some directions on the external drive. Why Cron is not used to automate that script, so you do not need to remember the script to run daily, weekly or monthly? Chron is a very easy-to-use device for automation on Linux.
Also: How do I automate basic functions at Linux with Bash Script – and why should you try it
5. Customize your desktop
Almost every Linux desktop environment is optimized. Some of those adaptations are aesthetic, while others focus on efficiency. For example, in XFCE, you can make a panel on top, bottom, left and right. Dedicate a panel to the app launcher, for a information, to a folder shortcut, and to interact with a main menu. You can do this with several desktop environment, but given that the XFCE is the reign of optimization, this was a clear option. You can also customize your file manager’s right-click reference menu to make it easier to do things like share folders, compressed files and more.
6. Learn command line
Those who are new to Linux will be most likely to learn command line. After all, however, you can find that using CLI is much more efficient than using GUI. For example, I can create a keyboard shortcut to launch my terminal app, and then release the command Mkdir ~/ZDNET to create a folder called ZDNET, and then exit the command to close the terminal. This is much more efficient than opening your file manager, navigating at the location that will give home to the new folder, will right-click at any place, naming the new folder, and then the file will close the manager. Work is smart work, not difficult.
Also: 7 Linux Terminal Basics should learn every beginner first – and why
7. Install the correct software
It should be very easy, but it is important to install the right software for the job. At the top of it, be sure to install software that makes the work easier. Here is a simple example: you install Abiward Word Processor, hope that it involves AI Assist, only to feel that it is not. Then you install Libreoffice and find that AI is a bit complicated. You finally find out that only the document is an AI inherent in editors, so you go with it. Instead of spending all the time of that time, do a little up-front research, so you know which apps will suit your needs.
8. Manage better files and folders
I see this all the time. Open someone’s file manager, and you will find that their directors are nothing but chaos. There is no poetry or reason why there are files where they are. Instead, be sure to arrange your folders carefully. For example, within the ~/document folder, you can make a sub-folder for school, work, home and creativity. Within those folders, you can make a folder for the year (2025). Inside the 2025 folder, make folders for each month and save the files accordingly. This type of file system layout has saved more time than I could imagine.
9. Use LAN-based file sink
Instead of going with Google Drive or Onedrive, you can think of deploying a file-link service on your LAN. You can deploy NextCloud and use it as your internal Google workpiece replacement. This can be more efficient because you can add features you want and get rid of those you don’t do. And, should you lose contact with the outer network, you will still have access to your internal cloud storage.
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10. Use a powerful keyboard launcher
Finally, use a powerful keyboard launcher, such as Albert. With these launchers, you hit a key on your keyboard to open the tool, which you are looking for (such as file or app), use your up or down arrow keys to select what you want to open, and hit the enter on your keyboard. You can’t believe it, but take your hand from the keyboard to the mouse and eat away on your efficiency on the keyboard. At its top, the keyboard launcher makes it very easy to find files you are looking for.
