Writer? Blogger? Novelist? Need distraction free writing system for Linux? You’ve already find it. Pyroom is easy to use full screen writing tool, that strips away toolbars, menus and other distraction elements, introducing you in old school, blank typewriter page with default black background and green color fonts (the colors and fonts can be changed). It is native Linux app and it emulates the computers from 80′s, when nothing was distracting (e-mail, web, IM) you between your idea and your input machine. This writer tool is very easy to use and it has Word counter – so we can always know how many words we write (press Ctrl+I for word count option), autosave option, page/font/color customization, copy/paste/undo/redo options, easy mouse navigation and text selection and the most important – distraction free – so you can stay focused on your writing for hours!

Here is list of all Pyroom controls:

Control-H: Show help in a new buffer
Control-I: Show buffer information – you can get info for number of characters, word, lines
Control-P: Shows Preferences dialog – here you can change: Fonts, colors (define yours or choose from custom themes) and paragraph options
Control-N: Create a new buffer
Control-O: Open a file in a new buffer
Control-Q: Quit
Control-S: Save current buffer
Control-Shift-S: Save current buffer as
Control-W: Close buffer and exit if it was the last buffer
Control-Y: Redo last typing
Control-Z: Undo last typing
Control-Page Up: Switch to previous buffer
Control-Page Down: Switch to next buffer

For download and install instructions for various Linux Distros click here.

For Ubuntu the easiest way to install Pyroom is with adding repository sources. Follow this easy three steps installation instructions:

1. To add repositories, open System/Administration/Software Sources, then choose third party software tab, and add line by line following repositories depending of your Ubuntu version:

For Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope use next lines (line by line):
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

For Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex use next lines (line by line):
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

For Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron use next lines (line by line):
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/pyroom-dev/ubuntu hardy main

2. After that you must add PPA Key – very easy:

1. Click here to get Key file
2. After that select all text with pressing Ctrl+A or right click-> select all
3. Copy selected text and make new file (right click on desktop and choose Create Document/Empty file and paste selected text into the file and save it)
4. On System Sources window choose Authentication tab then Import Key File and and choose newly created file from desktop.
5. Click ok than close and you are almost ready.

3. Open terminal and enter next line:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install pyroom

After installation, you can found PyRoom in Applications/Office/PyRoom.

What we want to see in next Pyroom version?

• Spelling and grammar function – there are already build for OpenOffice or other open source apps and it will be nice to see Spelling and grammar function implemented in next Pyroom version
• Ability to go from full screen in windowed mode with Esc or F11
• Easy one click installation for most famous Linux distros

But enough with our wishes, Pyroom is excellent, productive and very easy to use distraction free writing tool, and this post and many others DetectorPRO posts are written only with Pyroom.

Click here to read about other distraction free applications for Linux, Windows and Mac.

Tags | Installation, Linux, Open Source, Software, Ubuntu