Try installing some programs using the Nix package manager. It lets you declare a list of packages in a flake.nix file and then it'll download and update them for you automatically. And if you use git to keep track of the changes to flake.nix, you can easily undo changes if you screw something up.

Home Manager does the same thing but for your app's config files (so you can easily back up and synchronize them)

Both of these make getting set up after a fresh reinstallation much faster! (There's also "NixOS" which is an entire operating system that uses Nix for configuring the whole operating system but I wouldn't recommend that until you've tried "Nix" first)

Since I’m relatively new to the Linux game I’ve made a few mistakes along the way. Installed things wrong with Wine, installed multiple versions of the same thing, etc. I figure I can just back up my personal files and then start with a clean install.

Is there a reason you think you need to reinstall from scratch? Short of a destroyed root disk, or wanting to change filesystems, there are really no reasons to need to do a full reinstall.

Interesting choice, but OK.

Looks like it's included in kubuntu-settings-desktop. I think it got uninstalled when I removed the how-to videos, since that seems to be the same package.

I'd expect them to come in an appropriately named package. apt search kubuntu-themes and the likes should serve you well.

Windows is hella insecure

SQLite and any of a plethora of front ends.

Another alternative to a database that will let you practice SQL is duckdb.

I use it frequently at work with python and parquet files which are type safe, compact, and very performant. I use Python with Positron as my IDE (I'm a data scientist) and it has a built in parquet viewer that makes the data exploration a little less abstract.

I would say there is no such thing as a "simple" database system. Databases are extremely complicated.

Thanks, looking into Kexi now

Thanks for that

Thanks for the tips

There’s nothing wrong with using a spreadsheet for that purpose.

Sure, use a database if you think it’s going to grow very big, need complicated queries or will be the backend of a service. Or, you just want to learn about databases.

Libre Office will work with native flat files or other db backend. SQLite with a gui app is good for learning SQL.

Linux Mint doesn't install libreoffice-base but you can add it through Synaptic (the graphical package manager) or with apt.
apt install libreoffice-base

Disclaimer: I haven't used any of these apps but they all offer different gui database systems so one might suit you.

Symphytum
nocodb
kexi

Dbeaver

I don't know, but that's kind of cool. It looks like with a driver, it will connect to MS Access. I still have to touch a legacy access database from time to time. Somewhere along the line, Access quit working over a RDP connection for me. I just wrote my own simple front end for it using .net, but the one thing I would like to do is kind of a pain for me to write. I could do it, I just don't want to. lol.

On the other hand, I don't mind getting a license for a good product just to support them, and it looks like the only options they have are subscription based. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I miss the good ol' days.

Anyway, thanks. Just installed the Linux ce version. It connected to MySQL and seems to do all the things I use Workbench for. So far, it's only asked me for my password when I connect to the database the first time!

Ok. That seems important then. Having to type the WiFi password would be even more annoying. :) The other part seems important, too.

Now it makes me wonder how non technical people who have auto login enabled deal with it. I mean, I'd expect it to work like on Windows.

If you're looking for something that feels a little like Windows Task Manager you might enjoy gnome-system-monitor.

I think KDE stores Wi-Fi passwords in the wallet. Plus various third-party software may store its secrets in there.

Yeah, that's most likely the reason.

What if I set autologin in my Desktop Environment (GNOME or KDE), but left LUKS locked down with a passphrase? Wouldn’t that be safe?

Probably safe enough

This is precisely what I do.

Yeah MySql Workbench is kinda ass on Linux. I don't have anything specific for your problem but I would recommend Dbeaver for Windows and Linux. Free and open source!

I don't have an answer, but I do know that even the Windows version of MySQL Workbench is pretty ass. Probably doesn't hurt to look into something nicer to use.

Sorry for not having an answer for you though.