Robert Spahr - The Way I Work

The Way I Work

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Applications and Software Tools:

Gentoo Linux
I use Gentoo Linux which is a source based distribution.

Installation Notes — Gentoo Linux:
Install Gentoo Linux on a Thinkpad X13AMD Gen 1

Artix Linux
I also use Artix Linux, which is a systemd-free binary distribution based on Arch Linux.

Free and open-source software (FOSS) is important to me, and I use it to create my auto-generated collage I call Cruft. Some of the most important applications I use that respect user freedoms are Vim and Geany text editors. I keep most of my files as plain text, and I use these editors to write code. For email I use Claws-Mail, it's lean and doesn't get in the way. GPG for secure email communications and Cryptsetup to encrypt my hard drives for information security. Firefox is my web browser, and for added privacy I use the addons uBlockOrigins, Privacy Badger, and HTTPS Everywhere. To edit images I use the GIMP, and for automated command-line editing I use Imagemagick. My office suite is Libreoffice for when I need to use spreadsheets for grading, or presentations and word processing for lectures. Newsboat keeps my RSS feeds up-to-date.

Studio Spaces:
I code and produce software based art using standing desks at both my university studio space and my home office. Both spaces have external monitors which I connect to my Thinkpad X13AMD Gen 1 and Thinkpad X260. My home office has external hard drives for automated backups, as well as the servers that auto-generate my Cruft artwork. I keep a cast iron teapot at both spaces so that I can always brew my favorite tea called Black Dragon Pearl. My studio space is also where I produce large scale multi-media work using traditional materials such as charcoal, wax, acrylic and ink.