10 Cool Software to Try from COPR Repo in Fedora

If you're a Fedora user, you might be familiar with the standard software repositories available in the Fedora distribution. However, there is a lesser-known repository called COPR that offers users access to a vast collection of cool and useful software. In this article, we'll explore what COPR is, how to use it, and some of the most interesting software available in the COPR repo for Fedora.

What is COPR?

COPR stands for "Cool Other Package Repo". It's a community-driven software repository system developed by Fedora users to offer alternative software packages that may not be available in the standard Fedora repositories. COPR is not officially supported by the Fedora Project but serves as an excellent resource for users seeking additional software options. The COPR repo enables users to easily install software packages that are not available in the official Fedora repositories.

How to Use COPR

Using COPR is straightforward. First, you need to enable the COPR repository on your Fedora system. Open a terminal and run the following command

sudo dnf copr enable <username>/<repository-name>

Replace <username> with the username of the COPR user and <repository-name> with the name of the repository you want to enable. Once the repository is enabled, you can use dnf to search and install packages just like you would with the standard Fedora repositories.

10 Cool Software from COPR

1. Spotify

Spotify is a popular music streaming platform offering access to millions of songs, albums, and playlists. While there is an official Spotify client for Linux, installing it on Fedora requires additional steps. The COPR repo simplifies this process significantly.

sudo dnf copr enable gregw/spotify
sudo dnf install spotify-client

2. Google Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers available today. While Firefox is the default browser in Fedora, some users prefer Google Chrome for its speed and features. Google Chrome is not available in the standard Fedora repositories, but it's easily installable from COPR.

sudo dnf copr enable spot/google-chrome
sudo dnf install google-chrome-stable

3. Peek

Peek is a simple screen recording tool that makes it easy to create animated GIFs or short videos. It's perfect for creating tutorials, demonstrations, or documentation. Peek offers a clean interface and efficient recording capabilities.

sudo dnf copr enable konimex/peek
sudo dnf install peek

4. Flameshot

Flameshot is a powerful screenshot and annotation tool that makes capturing, editing, and sharing screenshots effortless. It offers comprehensive annotation tools including text, arrows, shapes, and highlighting capabilities.

sudo dnf copr enable atim/flameshot
sudo dnf install flameshot

5. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a popular open-source software for live streaming and recording, widely used by content creators on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. While available in standard repositories, the COPR version is often more up-to-date with the latest features.

sudo dnf copr enable jdoss/obs-studio
sudo dnf install obs-studio

6. MEGAsync

MEGAsync is a file synchronization tool that offers end-to-end encryption, making it an excellent choice for privacy-conscious users. It provides secure cloud storage synchronization with robust encryption protocols.

sudo dnf copr enable meh/ORAP
sudo dnf install megasync

7. Etcher

Etcher is a cross-platform tool for creating bootable USB drives. It simplifies the process of creating bootable media for installing operating systems or running live environments with a user-friendly interface and reliable flashing capabilities.

sudo dnf copr enable luminoso/etcher
sudo dnf install etcher

8. Krita

Krita is a professional-grade open-source digital painting application designed for artists and graphic designers. It offers advanced features like brush stabilization, layer management, and support for various file formats. The COPR version typically includes the latest updates.

sudo dnf copr enable kkofler/krita
sudo dnf install krita

9. HandBrake

HandBrake is a popular open-source video transcoder that converts video files into various formats. It supports numerous codecs and is perfect for users who need to convert videos for different devices or platforms.

sudo dnf copr enable xuhdev/handbrake
sudo dnf install handbrake

10. Discord

Discord is a popular communication platform for chatting, voice communication, and file sharing. While Discord offers a web client, the desktop version provides better performance and additional features for gamers and communities.

sudo dnf copr enable tcg/discord
sudo dnf install discord

Important Considerations

• COPR repositories are community-maintained and not officially supported by Fedora

• Always verify the reputation of COPR maintainers before enabling their repositories

• Some COPR packages may conflict with official Fedora packages

• Updates may not be as frequent or reliable as official repositories

Conclusion

COPR is an invaluable resource for Fedora users seeking additional software options beyond the standard repositories. From multimedia applications to development tools, COPR offers a diverse collection of community-maintained packages. While these packages provide expanded functionality, users should exercise caution and research maintainers before installation.