Don Watkins
Open Source Way
Franklinville, NY, United States
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Past articles by Don:
5 note-taking apps for Linux
Use these open source tools for jotting down notes. → Read More
4 open source ways to create holiday greetings
Open source tools and resources provide creative possibilities for any holiday. → Read More
3 interesting ways to use the Linux cowsay command
Most of the time, a terminal is a productivity powerhouse. But there's more to the terminal than commands and configurations. Among all the outstanding open source software out there, some of it has been written just for fun. I've written about fun commands before, but this article is about just one: the venerable cowsay command. → Read More
7 Linux commands to use just for fun
These playful Linux commands are also surprisingly useful. → Read More
Transfer files between your phone and Linux with this open source tool
The qrcp project offers a way to quickly copy files from your iPhone or Android device to your Linux computer and vice versa. → Read More
Diagnose connectivity issues with the Linux ping command
Explore how the principles behind open source--collaboration, transparency, and rapid prototyping--are proven catalysts for innovation. → Read More
Why Mark Text is my favorite markdown editor
Mark Text has tools that make it easy to write markdown while at the same time providing a simple interface that just gets out of my way. → Read More
4 Linux tools to erase your data
One of the best ways to keep your data secure is by only writing data to an encrypted hard drive. On a standard drive, it's possible to view data just by mounting the drive as if it were a thumb drive, and it's even possible to display and recover even deleted data with tools like Scalpel and Testdisk. → Read More
9 ways to use open source every day
Recently I was invited to present on free and open resources that are available on the web. This presentation was part of a local effort to keep our community working—sponsored by the Foster Center at St. Bonaventure University near my home. Some of the resources I shared were not open source and merely cost $0, but many of the tools were also open source. → Read More
My favorite LibreOffice productivity tips
Here are some LibreOffice keyboard shortcuts and formatting tips that might save you valuable time. → Read More
Use this Linux command-line tool to learn more about your NVMe drives
The nvme-cli command has lots of useful options, and it's a great way to take control of how you manage your data. → Read More
Why my public library chooses Linux and open source
My library's IT Director shares her community's Linux journey. → Read More
Access your iPhone on Linux with this open source tool
Communicate with iOS devices from Linux by using Libimobiledevice. → Read More
Explore waterways with this open source nautical navigation tool
Whether you're sailing down a local river or setting out on the open seas, keep track of your nautical location with OpenCPN. → Read More
Identify flowers and trees with this open source mobile app
Pl@ntnet combines open source technology with crowdsourced knowledge to help you become an amateur botanist. → Read More
How a college student founded a free and open source operating system
Jim Hall is best known as the computer programmer who founded the FreeDOS project. Jim began the project in 1994 as a replacement for MS-DOS while he was still a student at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. Jim created FreeDOS in response to Microsoft ending support for MS-DOS in 1994. Recently Jim agreed to an email interview. Correspondent Joshua Allen Holm joined me in posing the… → Read More
How I teach Python on the Raspberry Pi 400 at the public library
After a long year of putting plans on hold, declining COVID case numbers are bringing back community-based programming courses. → Read More
How Linux made a school pandemic-ready
More than 20 years ago, when Robert Maynord started teaching at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Monona, Wisconsin, the school had only eight functioning computers, all running Windows 95. Through his expertise in and enthusiasm for Linux and open source software, Robert has transformed the school community, its faculty, and its students, who are in kindergarten to eighth grade. → Read More
Keep multiple Linux distros on a USB with this open source tool
Giving friends and neighbors a bootable USB drive containing your favorite Linux distribution is a great way to introduce neophyte Linux users to the experience we all enjoy. There are still a large number of folks who have never heard of Linux, and putting your favorite distribution on a bootable USB drive is a great way to break the ice. → Read More
Making computers more accessible and sustainable with Linux
There are many reasons to choose Linux for your desktop operating system. In Why everyone should choose Linux, Opensource.com's Seth Kenlon highlighted many of the best reasons to select Linux and provided lots of ways for people to get started with the operating system. → Read More