Docs/Drafts/EssentialSoftware

NOTE: This document is also a testbed for Wiki to DocBook export.

Documentation Summary:

Purpose: An experiment in providing a guide or summary to highlight interesting desktop applications available from Fedora Core and Extras.

Audience: Fedora desktop users that carry out a wide range of tasks.

Assumptions: The reader has a standard Desktop class installation of Fedora. The reader has a user account with the default settings. The reader is not a technical user. The reader does have access to the  password, or can ask the system administrator to run yum on their behalf.

Related Documents: This document may be bundled with the Release Notes. The GettingStartedGuide  is a general introduction to using Fedora. The DesktopUserGuide  documents how to accomplish specific tasks with the default desktop applications.

Lead Writer: StuartEllis Edited by ZacharyHamed on 2008-03-27

= Essential Software Catalog (DRAFT) =

Using This Document
This document lists a selection of the most popular software developed by the Open Source community and distributed by the Fedora Project. Every application here is well-designed, reliable, and easy to use.

All of the software here may be installed on your Fedora system with a single command.

Each listing shows the following for the software application:


 * Application Name: The full name of the software.
 * What It Does: A brief description of the software.
 * Well-known Equivalents: Popular software that is similar.
 * Package to Install: See Installing the Software.
 * Where to Find It: Where the icon appears in your desktop menus.
 * Help and Documentation: Where to find the help.
 * Sharing: How to access the data, or use the software, on other systems. You may sometimes need to temporarily use other operating systems, or share your data with other people who do not use Linux.
 * More Information: Where to go to ask questions, or find out more

Installing the Software
Fedora includes, a powerful utility that use a network of websites to automatically download and install the latest version of whatever software you choose.

To install any of the software listed here:


 * 1) Ensure that your Internet connection is active
 * 2) Choose Applications > System Tools > Terminal
 * 3) Type the following in the terminal window:

Replace package-name with the Package to Install.

Enter the root password when prompted.

If  prompts you to install a GPG key, press y to accept the key. The  utility uses this key to verify the source of the packages that it downloads.

Before every installation,  shows a list of all of the packages that it will download and install. Press y to continue, or n to cancel the operation without downloading or installing any software.

Default Applications
The following applications are automatically installed on your Fedora desktop:

Evince Document Viewer

 * Application Name: Evince
 * What It Does: Displays PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files.
 * Well-known Equivalents: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed.
 * Where to Find It: Graphics > Evince Document Viewer
 * Help and Documentation: Open Evince, and select Help > Contents.
 * Sharing: PDF reader software is available for all operating systems. To create a PDF file with Fedora, use any software in the OpenOffice.org suite.
 * More Information: http://www.gnome.org/projects/evince/

Firefox Web Browser

 * Application Name: Mozilla Firefox
 * What It Does: Browses the Web.
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Safari
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed.
 * Where to Find It: Internet > Firefox Web Browser
 * Help and Documentation: Open Firefox, and select Help > Help Contents.
 * Sharing: Standard Websites may be viewed from any Web browser on any operating system. You may install a version of Firefox on Windows or Mac by downloading it from the Website. You may copy the Bookmarks from any installation of Firefox to another, regardless of the operating system.
 * More Information: http://www.mozilla.org/

Pidgin Instant Messenger

 * Application Name: Pidgin
 * What It Does: Chat and Instant Messaging.
 * Well-known Equivalents: MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, iChat.
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed.
 * Where to Find It: Internet > Internet Messenger
 * Help and Documentation: See http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Pidgin for the latest documentation.
 * Sharing: Pidgin works with all popular instant messaging networks, including MSN, AOL, Yahoo!, and Google Talk. You must have an account with the network in order to access it with Pidgin. You may install a version of Pidgin on Windows by downloading it from the website.
 * More Information: http://pidgin.im/

AisleRiot Solitaire

 * Application Name: AisleRiot Solitaire
 * What It Does: Solitaire Game
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Solitaire
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed.
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Games > AisleRiot Solitaire
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing:
 * More Information:

OpenOffice.org Writer

 * Application Name: OpenOffice.org Writer
 * What It Does: Word Processor
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Word.
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed. (openoffice.org-writer)
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Writer
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing: http://www.openoffice.org Available for Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Windows 95 upward.
 * More Information: http://www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Calc

 * Application Name: OpenOffice.org Calc
 * What It Does: Spreadsheet tool
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Excel
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed. (openoffice.org-calc)
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Calc
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing: http://www.openoffice.org Available for Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Windows 95 upward.
 * More Information: http://www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Impress

 * Application Name: OpenOffice.org Impress
 * What It Does: Slideshow, presentation tool.
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft PowerPoint
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed. (openoffice.org-impress)
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Impress
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing: http://www.openoffice.org Available for Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Windows 95 upward.
 * More Information: http://www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Draw

 * Application Name: OpenOffice.org Draw
 * What It Does: Drawing, publishing tool
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Paint/Publisher
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed. (openoffice.org-draw)
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Draw
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing: http://www.openoffice.org Available for Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Windows 95 upward.
 * More Information: http://www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Math

 * Application Name: OpenOffice.org Math
 * What It Does: Scientific formula and Math tool
 * Well-known Equivalents:
 * Package to Install: Automatically installed. (openoffice.org-math)
 * Where to Find It: Applications > Office > OpenOffice.org Math
 * Help and Documentation: Press F1 once in the application.
 * Sharing: http://www.openoffice.org Available for Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Windows 95 upward.
 * More Information: http://www.openoffice.org

Scribus

 * Application Name: Scribus
 * What It Does: Desktop Publishing.
 * Well-known Equivalents: Microsoft Publisher.
 * Package to Install:
 * Where to Find It: Office > Scribus
 * Help and Documentation: Open Scribus, and select Help > Scribus Manual.
 * Sharing: Scribus may export documents as PDF files, PostScript files, or images.
 * More Information: http://www.scribus.org.uk/

Finding More Software
All of the software listed above is provided by the Fedora Project, either as part of the Core distribution or the Extras repository.

Software manufacturers may provide or recommend additional repositories. See Managing Software with yum for instructions on adding new software repositories to your Fedora system.