If you manage Linux servers — or even just run Linux on your desktop — you’ve probably needed to figure out what’s eating your CPU, saturating your disk, or hogging your network at some point. The good news is that Linux has an incredible ecosystem of monitoring tools, most of them free and open source. […]

If you’re looking for free video editing software, you’ve probably come across the same three names: Kdenlive, Shotcut, and DaVinci Resolve. All three are free to download and use, but they serve very different purposes. I’ve spent time with all three across different projects — from quick YouTube edits to more involved multi-track productions. Here’s […]

Why Privacy Matters Today Every website you visit, every search you make, every message you send — someone is probably watching. Advertisers track your browsing habits, social media platforms profile your interests, and data brokers compile detailed dossiers on your online activity. It’s not paranoia; it’s the business model of the modern internet. The good […]

Two Recording Tools, Two Philosophies If you’re on Linux and need to record your screen — whether for a tutorial, a gameplay video, or a software demo — you’ve probably heard of OBS Studio. It’s the heavyweight champion of live streaming and recording, packed with features that rival commercial software. But there’s another contender that’s […]

If you care about private messaging, you have probably heard of Signal and Element. Both are free, open source, and encrypted. Both promise to keep your conversations away from big tech surveillance. But they approach the problem from completely different angles, and choosing between them depends heavily on how you communicate. I have been using […]

If you are looking to take control of your files and move away from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, you have probably come across two names: Nextcloud and ownCloud. They look similar, they share a common history, and both let you host your own cloud storage. But they have grown into very different products over […]

I have been using Google services for years. Gmail for email, Drive for files, Photos for pictures — it’s convenient, I’ll give them that. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised how much I was giving away. My data on their servers, their algorithms scanning my content, and the constant worry […]

Let’s face it — the cost of software adds up fast. A Creative Cloud subscription here, a Microsoft 365 licence there, and before you know it you’re spending hundreds a year just to get work done. The good news is that in 2026, open source software isn’t just a viable alternative — for many tasks, […]

More Than a Browser Let’s be honest: most of us use our browser more than any other application on our computer. It’s where we work, shop, read, bank, and connect. So picking the right one matters — and Firefox makes a compelling case. Mozilla Firefox has been around since 2004, born from the ashes of […]

We’ve all been there. The subscription renewal email hits your inbox, and you realise you’re paying another £100+ a year for software you barely use half the features of. Here’s the thing: most of us don’t actually need paid software. We think we do because that’s what came pre-installed, or that’s what everyone else uses. […]