AFAIK ghostscript will be automatically installed as a pdf utility whenever a pdf-using app is installed. Much like imagemagik.
So on Linux, if you use Yum or Apt, you should get it. Not so, if you build from source.

just curious, whats your list?

I pretty much stick with LibreOffice, Gimp, Inkscape but I am always looking for a good suggestion.

On 06/12/2013 08:30 AM, john Culleton wrote:

I already have a fairly complete stock of publishing-related programs.
So is there a list somewhere of the got-to haves for full Inkscape
use? For example is Ghostscript necessary to create pdf files etc.? 

I am writing a book and I don't want to give bad advice.

-- 
John Fisher
Znyx Networks