Recommended tools

This page Article description::lists system administration-related tools recommended for use in a [[shell environment (terminal/console).]] Command-line users should find reliable and easy to install software here for common Gentoo Linux needs.

Most software here is in the stable branch, but some useful and otherwise high quality software can still be in the testing branch. In that case packages may be made available for installation, however packages from the testing branch should only be used after taking notice of any risks.

These applications should be widely useful and of sufficient quality to merit inclusion. To reference a new piece of software here, please read the adding to this page section.

This is a "best of kind" list, much more software is available on Gentoo. Use eix or browse packages.gentoo.org to find all applications available on Gentoo.

Hardware information
See also hardware detection.

Pagers
Also consider emerging with.

Shell environment
See also the shell article for available command-line interpreters.

Terminal multiplexers
Terminal multiplexers manage several applications simultaneously on the command line. Often they manage sessions in the background and allow reattaching if a terminal is closed or a connection lost. Some also permit some form of session saving, even across reboots.

Adding to this page
This page is a work in progress. If you regularly use a command-line software package from the Gentoo repository and can confirm it is of excellent quality, stable and of broad appeal for common tasks, please add it to the list ! The software should at least be maintained (i.e. relatively recent commits to the source; have periodic releases; not have too many reported bugs; most bugs should be getting fixed rather than accumulating, etc.), and preferably be well documented and from the stable branch. Please don't use this page just to promote a package because you like it, are an author or have other interest etc.