NATTD: Not Another “Things to Do”! 100 Stars Update and the Future of Fedora Workstation Setup

At revWhiteShadow, we are thrilled to announce a significant milestone achievement for our innovative project, NATTD – Not Another “Things To Do.” We have officially surpassed 100 stars on GitHub, a testament to the growing interest and enthusiastic support from the Fedora community and beyond. This momentum fuels our commitment to refining and expanding NATTD, a Streamlit-based web application designed to revolutionize the way you set up a fresh Fedora Workstation. Our mission is to transform what can often be a tedious and time-consuming process into a streamlined, intuitive, and highly personalized experience. We believe that getting your Fedora system up and running should be as efficient and enjoyable as using it, and NATTD is our answer to that challenge.

Understanding NATTD: Your Personalized Fedora Installation Script Generator

For those who may not yet be familiar with NATTD, let us reiterate its core purpose. NATTD is a sophisticated yet user-friendly web application built with Streamlit, a Python library that empowers us to create interactive data applications with ease. At its heart, NATTD acts as an intelligent script generator. It allows you to customise a shell script tailored specifically for your Fedora Workstation installation. Instead of manually executing dozens of commands, navigating complex configuration files, or remembering every essential package, you can now define your ideal system environment through an intuitive graphical interface.

NATTD empowers you to select from a wide array of options, encompassing everything from fundamental system configurations to the applications you use daily, and even subtle customization options that make your workstation truly your own. Whether you’re a developer needing specific tools, a creative professional requiring specialized software, or simply someone who wants a highly optimized and personalized Fedora experience from the outset, NATTD is built to cater to your needs. You can try NATTD directly in your browser at https://nattdf.streamlit.app, or for those who prefer hands-on control and deeper customization, you can clone the repository and run the application locally.

Major Updates: Enhancing Your Fedora Setup Experience

The recent surge in GitHub stars is not just a number; it’s a reflection of the continuous development and dedication we’ve poured into NATTD. Our latest release introduces a host of exciting additions and significant improvements, meticulously crafted to further enhance your Fedora setup experience. We’ve focused on integrating cutting-edge tools and refining existing functionalities to provide a truly comprehensive solution.

Introducing Advanced Terminal and Communication Tools

We are particularly proud to introduce several new categories of tools that elevate NATTD beyond a simple package installer. These additions represent a commitment to providing a modern and secure computing environment from the very first boot.

Wave Terminal: The Next-Generation Command Line Experience

One of the most significant new additions is Wave Terminal. This is not just another terminal emulator; it’s an open-source terminal with superpowers. Wave Terminal is designed to fundamentally change how you interact with your command line. It boasts an impressive array of features that boost productivity and streamline workflows. Key among these are:

  • Integrated File Previews: Effortlessly preview the content of various file types directly within your terminal without needing to open them in separate applications. This saves considerable time and context switching.
  • In-Terminal File Editing: Make quick edits to configuration files or scripts directly within Wave Terminal, eliminating the need to switch to a different editor for minor changes.
  • AI Integration: Harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist with your command-line tasks. Whether it’s generating complex commands, understanding error messages, or automating repetitive actions, Wave Terminal’s AI capabilities are a game-changer.
  • Web Browsing: Access web content and perform online searches directly from your terminal. This allows for seamless information retrieval without leaving your command-line environment.
  • Workspace Organization: Manage your projects and tasks more effectively with advanced workspace organization features. Keep your sessions tidy and your focus sharp.

SimpleX: Secure and Private Messaging at Your Fingertips

In today’s interconnected world, privacy and security are paramount. That’s why we’ve integrated SimpleX, a secure, private messaging app that prioritizes your communications. SimpleX offers end-to-end encryption by default, ensuring that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages. Its innovative design focuses on minimizing metadata collection, offering a truly private communication channel.

Warp: Effortless and Secure File Sharing

Sharing files securely and efficiently is a common requirement. Warp addresses this need by providing a simple yet powerful method to securely send files via the internet or local network. The beauty of Warp lies in its simplicity: you exchange a memorable, word-based code to initiate a secure transfer. This eliminates the need for complex IP addresses, port forwarding, or cumbersome account setups, making file sharing as easy as a conversation.

Onion Share: Anonymous File Sharing for Enhanced Privacy

For situations demanding the highest level of anonymity, we’ve included Onion Share. This anonymous file sharing tool leverages the Tor network to securely transfer files. By routing your traffic through multiple relays, Onion Share masks your IP address and location, providing a robust layer of privacy for sensitive file transfers. This is an invaluable tool for journalists, activists, or anyone who needs to share information discreetly.

Refined Installation Flows and Stability Improvements

Beyond these exciting new tools, our latest release also incorporates critical updates to the core functionality of NATTD:

  • Updated Version-Specific Installation Flows: We have meticulously updated the installation scripts to ensure better compatibility with the latest Fedora versions. This means a smoother and more reliable installation process tailored to the specific nuances of each Fedora release.
  • Bug Fixes for Enhanced Stability: Our team has diligently worked to identify and fix several minor bugs that could have impacted the user experience. These fixes contribute to a smoother and more robust operation of NATTD, ensuring a hassle-free setup.

These new integrations and refinements join our already comprehensive collection of tools and configurations designed to equip your Fedora workstation with everything you need from the moment of installation.

The Comprehensive NATTD Ecosystem: Tools and Configurations

NATTD’s strength lies in its breadth and depth, offering a holistic approach to workstation setup. We have carefully curated a selection of essential system configurations, indispensable command-line utilities, and a wide array of popular applications across various categories.

Core System Configuration for Optimal Performance

Getting the foundational elements of your system right is crucial for performance and security. NATTD includes robust options for:

  • Hostname Configuration: Easily set your system’s hostname to match your network environment or personal preference.
  • DNF Optimization: Fine-tune the DNF package manager for faster downloads and more efficient package management. This includes enabling parallel downloads and utilizing faster mirror selection.
  • Automatic Updates: Configure your system to automatically install security updates and package upgrades, ensuring your Fedora workstation remains protected against the latest threats.
  • SSH Server Setup: Securely enable and configure the SSH server for remote access to your workstation. This includes options for key-based authentication and disabling password authentication for enhanced security.
  • Firmware Updates: Ensure your system’s firmware is up-to-date to benefit from performance improvements, bug fixes, and enhanced hardware compatibility.
  • RPM Fusion Integration: Seamlessly enable the RPM Fusion repositories, which provide a wealth of additional software, including multimedia codecs and proprietary drivers, often not available in the default Fedora repositories.

Essential Command-Line Applications for Power Users

For those who live and breathe the command line, NATTD ensures you have the most vital tools readily available:

  • btop and htop: Advanced, interactive process viewers that provide real-time system resource monitoring with rich visualisations.
  • rsync: A powerful file synchronization tool for efficient copying and synchronizing files and directories, even over a network.
  • git: The ubiquitous distributed version control system, essential for software development and project management.
  • wget and curl: Indispensable tools for downloading files from the internet and making HTTP requests, crucial for scripting and automation.

A Rich Catalog of Applications Across Diverse Categories

NATTD understands that a workstation is more than just a command line. We offer extensive options for installing a wide variety of applications to suit every need:

  • Internet & Communication: Essential tools for staying connected, including web browsers, email clients, and communication platforms.
  • Office Productivity: Applications to boost your efficiency, such as document editors, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
  • Development Tools: A comprehensive suite of tools for programmers, including IDEs, compilers, debuggers, and containerization technologies like Docker and Podman.
  • Media & Graphics: Software for content creation and consumption, including image editors, audio players, and video players.
  • Gaming & Emulation: Tools for entertainment, including Steam, Lutris, and emulators for classic gaming consoles.
  • And Many More: Our curated list is constantly expanding, reflecting the diverse needs of the Fedora community.

Personalization Options: Crafting Your Unique Workspace

Beyond functionality, NATTD allows you to imbue your Fedora workstation with your personal style through a range of customization options:

  • Fonts: Select and install your preferred system fonts for a more comfortable reading and working experience.
  • Themes: Customize the visual appearance of your desktop environment with various GTK themes and icon sets.
  • Power Settings: Optimize your system’s power management for laptops and desktops to balance performance and battery life.

A Milestone Achieved: The Significance of 100+ GitHub Stars

Reaching over 100 stars on GitHub is a significant milestone for NATTD. This achievement is not merely a vanity metric; it represents the growing validation and enthusiastic adoption of our project by the community. We are immensely grateful for the fantastic support from the Fedora community. Your feedback, suggestions, bug reports, and contributions have been invaluable in shaping NATTD into the powerful tool it is today. Each star, each fork, and each discussion on GitHub fuels our passion and reinforces our belief in the project’s utility. This milestone underscores the demand for a more efficient and personalized approach to Fedora workstation setup, and we are committed to building upon this success.

Expanding Horizons: The Debian Fork

In the spirit of inclusivity and recognizing the broad appeal of streamlined operating system setup, we are excited to announce a significant development: there is now a Debian fork available. If you have been impressed with the capabilities and ease of use of the Fedora version of NATTD, you can now enjoy a similar streamlined setup experience on Debian-based systems. We believe that the principles behind NATTD – simplifying and personalizing the initial system configuration – are valuable to users across different Linux distributions. We encourage our users to explore the Debian Things To Do project to get started with your Debian workstation setup. This expansion signifies our commitment to making efficient system configuration accessible to a wider audience.

Deeper Dives: Advanced Configurations and Insights

For those who wish to delve deeper into the intricacies of Fedora customization and explore advanced configurations beyond the readily available options within NATTD, we have started a new initiative. We are actively writing about these topics on our Medium publication. This platform serves as a resource for users seeking more in-depth knowledge, detailed tutorials, and expert insights into optimizing their Fedora experience. We aim to provide comprehensive guides on topics ranging from kernel tuning and advanced networking setups to custom scripting and system monitoring techniques. We invite you to visit our Medium publication to expand your understanding and unlock the full potential of your Fedora workstation.

Try NATTD Today and Shape Its Future

We strongly encourage everyone to give NATTD a try. Experience firsthand the ease and efficiency of generating a customized Fedora installation script. Your feedback is crucial to our continued development. We are always open to suggestions for improvements or new features to add. Whether it’s a specific application you’d like to see included, a configuration option you think is missing, or an idea to enhance the user interface, your input is highly valued. You can access NATTD at https://nattdf.streamlit.app.

We extend our heartfelt thanks again to this wonderful community for all your support. The journey of NATTD is a collaborative one, and we are excited about what the future holds. With your continued engagement, we are confident that NATTD will become the definitive tool for setting up and personalizing your Fedora workstation. We are driven by your enthusiasm and are committed to making NATTD even more powerful, intuitive, and indispensable for Fedora users worldwide.