The weekend has arrived, and it’s the perfect opportunity to utilize your Linux workstations for their intended purpose: fun and problem-solving. I’ve discovered several native Linux applications that vary from highly practical to somewhat specialized in their use cases.
These applications all share a focus on media consumption and management. This trend was unintentional on my part, but it coincides with my recent efforts to curate a movie watchlist. I hope you find at least one of these Linux tools beneficial for your needs.
Constrict: Manage Those Large Video Files
We’ve all experienced the frustration of trying to upload a video—whether it’s for an email attachment or chat—and failing because the file size is simply too large. Opening a video editor to adjust settings can be overwhelming, especially when faced with complicated options in converters like VLC. This is where Constrict comes in. It’s a lightweight and user-friendly video compression tool that doesn’t require you to memorize complex commands.
To use Constrict, simply select your video file (including GIFs), and specify your desired file size. For instance, if your email limits attachments to 20MB, set Constrict to target that size or less. It comes with sensible defaults, but you can fine-tune the output if necessary.
A feature I find particularly useful is the “Extra Quality” toggle. While compression usually takes time, if you’re not in a rush, you can instruct Constrict to enhance the video quality while still hitting your target file size.
You can install Constrict from Flathub using the terminal with the following command:
flatpak install flathub io.github.wartybix.Constrict
Cranny: Loop Music in the Terminal
I was thrilled to discover cranny, a terminal-based app specifically for playing music that loops individual tracks on the hour. While this might seem niche, I often enjoy ambient music, and my listening choices change with my mood, making this app feel tailor-made for me.
Cranny is a continuation of a previous project by the same developer called Nook, which was a browser extension for playing hourly themes from the game Animal Crossing. It transitioned into a Linux desktop app before the developer stepped away, but they’ve returned with this new terminal version.
Sadly, cranny isn’t available in popular repositories. To install it, you’ll need to download the source code from GitHub and build it yourself, ensuring that you meet the necessary dependencies. Be prepared to create symlinks to point cranny to your music collection, but rest assured, the installation documentation provides clear guidance.
Ticket Booth: Your Personal Movie and TV Watchlist
If you’re like me and enjoy watching films and series but have trouble keeping track of what you want to see and what you’ve recently viewed, Ticket Booth is the perfect solution. This user-friendly application helps you maintain a watchlist of your favorite movies and shows.
You can easily add films and series you intend to watch and mark them off as you go. The app allows for tracking by seasons and episodes for TV shows, and thanks to its integration with TMDB, it can notify you when new episodes are available. There’s even a notes section for each item, where you can jot down thoughts while watching.
What I appreciate about Ticket Booth is its offline capability. It gathers content metadata like posters and descriptions from TMDB without requiring an account, enabling you to work entirely offline if desired. You can also export your data for backup or transfer when needed.
Though I typically use Letterboxd for tracking films, Ticket Booth offers a more private alternative. Plus, it presents this functionality in a clean, modern interface.
To install Ticket Booth, access Flathub via your graphical software manager or utilize this command:
flatpak install flathub me.iepure.Ticketbooth
If you haven’t seen last week’s selection of Linux software, I highly recommend checking it out, as there were some outstanding finds you won’t want to miss.
