Linux Tools for Writers

Aaron Peters of The Writer’s Technology Companion posted “Moving to Linux: Tools for Writers” last year, covering the basic text editors, word processors, and desktop publishing options in an article for beginning Linux users.

As an avid free and open source software (FOSS) advocate, I’ve spent some time over the last few years writing on the Linux platform. I’ve come to discover that it’s still an immature platform for certain folks, such as hardcore gamers or multimedia professionals. But for those who have their fun (or make their living) by putting words on (e-)paper, Linux offers a perfectly usable platform for doing everything a writer needs to do.

This was the first in a series of “Moving to Linux” articles, all applicable to writers:

1. Moving to Linux: Tools for Writers
2. Moving to Linux: Working with Text (Part 1)
3. Moving to Linux: Working with Text (Part 2)
4. Moving to Linux: The New OpenOffice
5. Moving to Linux: Scribus for Writers
6. Moving to Linux: The Netbook is Your New Best Friend
7. Moving to Linux: Working with the Netbook

If you’re still using a Mac, most of the tools Linux users enjoy are available, either as separate binaries, compile-it-yourself source, or via package managers like MacPorts.