These are full-featured cross-platform softwares, free as in beer and speech. Vivek Gite picks his best open source software of 2009.
#1: Inkscape ( Vector Graphics Editor )
Fig.01: Inkscape is used by artist/illustrator/designer as vector graphics editor
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor. It is similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Xara X. This is perfect for object manipulation and styling objects. From the project home page:
Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. We also aim to maintain a thriving user and developer community by using open, community-oriented development.
#2: 7-Zip ( Archiver )
Fig.02: 7-Zip is used as archiver
7-Zip is a file archiver and open source software. No need to use winzip or anything else. It does everything for you without paying a single penny:
- Supports many formats:
- Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
- Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, DEB, DMG, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NSIS, RAR, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR and Z.
- Fast.
- Free and open source.
- High compression ratio.
- Works best with Windows operating systems.
Note: For Linux / UNIX desktop I prefer to use native tools such as zip/unzip, tar etc.
#3: VLC ( Media Player )
Fig.03: VLC is similar to QuickTime / Windows Media Player
Great media player which supports almost all formats (audio, video formats DVDs / VCDs, and various streaming protocols) and is stripped down to its most fundamental features (i.e. portable media player). A must have software for all anim and movie fans.
#4: VirtualBox ( Virtualization )
Fig.04: VirtualBox is used for virtualization
Run Linux / MS-Windows or any other supported os directly without removing Windows, Linux, OpenSolaris or Macintosh (OS X) host operating systems. A professional class software that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). I recommend this software to all users to try out Linux or learn Perl / Shell scripting using UNIX development environment. VirtualBox is similar to VMware workstation.
#5: Miro ( Internet TV )
Fig.05: Miro is used for Internet TV and as video player
Miro is a free, open source, video player and podcast client. The official site described it as:
Torrents made easy, RSS made beautiful, with tons of gorgeous HD video.
I love Miro and I use it for Internet TV and video player which comes with a library of more than 6,000 Internet streams and podcasts.
#6: TrueCrypt ( Disk Encryption )
Fig:06: TrueCrypt is used for disk encryption (image credit official website)
Free open-source disk encryption (real-time on-the-fly encryption) software for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux (for Linux I prefer native disk encryption). From the wikipedia:
It can create a virtual encrypted disk within a file or a device-hosted encrypted volume on either an individual partition or an entire storage device. It supports Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (using FUSE) and encrypted volumes can be made portable. The version for Windows Vista or XP can encrypt the boot partition or entire boot drive and has the ability to create and run a hidden encrypted operating system whose existence is deniable.
#7: Calibre ( eBook Converter and Reader )
Fig.07: Calibre is used for: ebook converter / reader
calibre is a free and open source e-book library management application. It supports the following features:
- It manages your e-book collection for you. It can sort the books in your library by: Title, Author, Date added, Date published, Size, Rating, Series, etc.
- Tags - a flexible system for categorizing your collection however you like
- Comments - a long form entry that you can use for book description, notes, reviews, etc.
- Search local ebooks or over the Internet using title/author or ISBN.
- E-book conversion
- Syncing to e-book reader devices
- Downloading news from the web and converting it into e-book form (e.g., NYT, TOI, ESPN etc).
Without this software Sony or Amazon ebook reader is virtually useless for non-ebook format pdf reading.
#8: GnuCash ( Financial Management )
Fig.08: GnuCash is used for financial management / accounting
GnuCash is personal and small-business financial-accounting software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL and available for GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. Personally I like it because of its rich functionality and easy of use. GnuCash is similar to Microsoft Money and it is used by accountant, small business/home user etc. Features:
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Scheduled Transactions
- Mortgage and Loan Repayment Druid
- Small Business Accounting Features
- Transaction-Import Matching Support
- Multi-Currency Transaction Handling
- Stock/Mutual Fund Portfolios
- Online Stock and Mutual Fund Quotes
#9: GIMP ( Graphics / Simple Photo Editing )
Fig.09: GIMP quality photo retouching program
I'm not a professional artist/illustrator/designer/web designer (read as Photoshop expert), but gimp is used for simple photo editing of my personal work such as photo retouching, image composition, simple effects, image authoring, and much more.
#10: Audacity ( Sound Editor / Recorder )
Fig.10: Audacity is used for audio / sound recorder & sound editor
Audacity is a free all in one audio editor and recorder like GoldWave software. You can use Audacity to record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs, and edit sound files or just create personal ringtons for mobile phones.
Rest...
- Firefox 3.x - nuff said!
- Thunderbird 2.x - Another amazing software from the Mozilla with tons of plug-ins for email client.
- OpenOffice - Great Microsoft Office replacement.
- Pidgin - IM all your friends in one place.
- MPlayer - Now supports most of the Bluray and HD-DVD codecs.
- Nmap - The ultimate network exploration and security auditing tool.
My Favorite Software Of 2009:
VirtualBox - It is a life saver for sys admin and perfect free software loaded with tons of features. It offers great performance and stability, and supports a wide-variety of guest operating systems.
This is my personal FOSS desktop software list and it is not absolutely definitive, so if you've got your own software, share in the comments below.
[ For those who celebrate, Merry Christmas! For everyone else, enjoy the weekend. ]
Featured Articles:
- 20 Linux System Monitoring Tools Every SysAdmin Should Know
- 20 Linux Server Hardening Security Tips
- 10 Greatest Open Source Software Of 2009
- My 10 UNIX Command Line Mistakes
- Top 5 Email Client For Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Users
- Top 20 OpenSSH Server Best Security Practices
- Top 10 Open Source Web-Based Project Management Software
- Top 5 Linux Video Editor Software
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- Last Updated: Dec/28/2009
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
My opinion for best 10 final user open software is:
1 – Ubuntu – Best linux distribution
2 – OpenOffice – Office suite best than MS
3 – Firefox – Chrome is the best but is not GPL like
4 – Netbeans – Great development tool
5 – Gimp – Best design tool for raster pictures
6 – VirtualBox – Virtualization is every day more easily
7 – Thunderbid – Best email client
8 – Eclipse – Other greate development tool
9 – VLC – Great multimidia player
10 – MPlayer – Another great multimidia player
I’d add Google Chrome (Chromium).
Cheers!
Merry Xmas Vivek!! :)
One of my favourite is AIMP – Multimedia Player. It is really winamp killer
I wish to thank those who put Nixcraft together and publish the many answers to various questions. I have learned, in my opinion, from these emails enough about (?)nix OS’s to not feel so dumb when I make a mistake. I wish everyone involved a most Merry Christmas time and a prosperous New Year.
Azureus here, for my downloading needs.
IPblock for….blocking specific IPs. :-) (I was using peerguardian at windows).
Cdcat for archiving and keeping track of my backup dvds.
Meds ( http://xmm.sourceforge.net/ ) for a nice movie database.
Webilder for using webshots fotos. (I was using UWC ( http://uwc.apinc.org/ ) at windows).
OK! Nothing very important. Just my 2 cents.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone!!! :-)
Technically, TrueCrypt is not Open Source software, although it says so on their homepage. TrueCrypt’s licensing terms contain a non-commercial clause.
Nevertheless, it is still a very easy and useful piece of software that I use daily.
This is a great post. It lets me know a few software applications I had never used before. Thanks a lot, Vivek.
Chromium desrves to be on the list. Inkscape FTW!!
To MrPant: just to be sure, what does “FTW” mean to you ?
I used it here for, “For The Win”. :)
To Philippe:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ftw
To Vivek:
Why website field is removed from the comment form?
@Linux Blogger,
It will back in new year ;) I’ve some problem with my current theme and spam filters. Once fixed, I will turn it on.
Hey, I’m using 7 of those, that must meen something. Good list!
HomeBank is better than GNUCash, IMO
Looks great, thanks for sharing. I haven’t tried Incscape yet, but I agree with 7zip, TrueCrypt, VLC and Audacity. Couldn’t live without them!
I would also argue that WordPress is definitely a valuable open source product for many of us.
GIMP is a very powerful image editing application that can do most of the things Photoshop does. Professional and serious amateur photographers who support free software use GIMP instead of Photoshop. So “Simple photo editing” is not at all an accurate description.
@ art,
I mean.. “*I use* GIMP for simple photo editing”..
Great list. I suggest you also check out Kaltura – we’ve developed an open source online video platform, that is fully flexible and extendable. We also have pre-packaged video extensions for many web platforms, including WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, BuddyPress, Elgg, MindTouch, Moodle, MediaWiki, TikiWiki and more.
You can learn more and try out the platform at http://www.kaltura.org.
I would add R to the list: http://www.r-project.org
I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. 9 times out of 10 when someone writes a list like this, almost all of the items listed are applications that the most people have never even heard of, let alone use frequently. I doubt anyone will argue that making a top 10 list for best FOSS is absolutely impossible. Especially if you try to do it in order. But this is pretty good.
It is good software I can not installed I seen in some were. Send the software to install in my computer instead of Microsoft XP.Thankyou!!
It is good.
http://www.blender.org
@Wii -> Right on, Blender rocks big time.
blender 3d is missing as number one
good softwares
Nice one !
Here are mine -
Arch Linux – The OS for the geeky and Linux enthusiasts
Pidgin – The best IM Client I found
JDownloader – Download files from sites like rapidshare, etc. automatically
FFMpeg – Very good AV encoder/decoder
Mplayer – Easy to use Player for audio & video like VLC
iTech7.com | Explore Technology
Thanks for not including OO.org software in top 10. It sucks big time. It looks aged and outdated compared to MS Office. It takes a while to load and who designed ugly looking software? Look I’m all set for open and free stuff but it should work as advertised.
I do use VLC and 7zip. It rocks!!!
I can agree with the above. To Nobody – do you know a better alternative than OOo for the office needs? Anyhow compare it to MS Office as a design. I think MS messed up with their new uglyness called as a design. And finish this flamewar up here – there are a galaxy divided on this i think. But please suggest! to deerawan: would be fine at least point out. I know only aimp2, but that seems to be freeware and not open source.
My addition beside 7z is peazip. looks nice to me, knows great new compression formats too. Also would mention srware iron – that is an un-google-ised chromium. Nice portable versions for win I use often.
Nice List..
I use 80 % of em :D
Hmm.
Ubuntu? I hate Ubuntu! It’s just dumbed down Linux for people who don’t know what they’re doing and won’t let people who know what they’re doing do it. (My suggestion: Mandriva)
Firefox? How can you love Firefox with its awful UI? (My suggestion: SeaMonkey)
MPlayer? Yay, a program that consistently crashes halfway through your ten-minute MP3 clips. (My suggestion: XINE)
OpenOffice? Start it up, go out shopping, and it might be ready for you to use when you get back. (My suggestion: GNOME Office)
Others suggestions:
* VIM – best text editor ever!
* PHP – how can we make blogs, forums, or any server-side application without PHP?
* Midnight Commander – Small, fast, configurable, and does everything I want.
* Privoxy – how do people browse without this?
Thanks nixCraft! Your a great teacher.
I don’t know if these would make the top ten because they’re kinda specialized but the Jack Audio Connection Kit, jackcontrol and jack timemachine are very cool. I use them to grab sound bites from movies to use as sound themes for the desktop. I like my Bladerunner sound theme but it drives my son crazy!
Keith, upgrade your 386 and you’ll see a difference!
Ubuntu is the best open source
Heard about 7-zip and peazip.What do you think about IZArc?Please do reply vivek and everyone here coz I using it and kinda feel it can be part of list replacing 7-zip!
using IZArc in windowsxP.
@Keith: Explain your statement about Ubuntu. What won’t it allow you to do?
@Vivek: Great site! Good list. I use about %60 of them.
@Nilesh: If you like FFmpeg, then you should get WinFF. For converting vids for my Samsung LED, I just set it and forget it. It uses the FFmpeg engine and converts mostly everything to everything.
@Matt E.: I don’t like WinFF that much. With the command line & some Google research, I could convert 2*700 M video files (AVI) into a single file of 575 M (H. 264, MKV).
Happy new year everybody:)
re: RudyD 12.30.09 at 4:07 pm
“I can agree with the above. To Nobody – do you know a better alternative than OOo for the office needs?”
For “basic” word processing, I personally use zoho . I like having access to my docs no matter where I am. Guess google docs should do the trick nearly as good.
re:Alexandre Haguiar 12.25.09 at 11:59 am
” My opinion for best 10 final user open software is:
4 – Netbeans – Great development tool”
+1 ! been using Eclipse since I began programming Java (spanning 4 years of J2EE, though not full time, been on and off a lot), and have tried Netbeans recently. No offense meant to anyone, but after trying Netbeans, I feel Eclipse is awkward. I feel more comfortable using Netbeans (namely because most important features are shipped with the install).
Hi (¯`·. ♥-HaPpY nEw YeAr -♥ . ·´¯)
this software is good XMedia Recode
and its free…. So try it
may be it won’t get place in top 10 but its worth waiting for replys
Keith (et al):
“Ubuntu?” … Yes, sorry, but Ubuntu is useless. Been using Linux for many years (and generally Unix for many more) and Ubuntu is just a braindead version of a ridiculously neutered distro (Deb). Not wishing to start a flame-war but, that’s my opinion. For one example: overuse of Sudo == Windows Vista.
“Firefox? How can you love Firefox with its awful UI?” … Yup, it has (sadly) grown beyond it’s station and is now bloated, and runs away with my processor at every opportunity (Chromium, sad to say, seems much better nowadays)
“MPlayer?” … I love Mplayer and don’t get the regular crashes you mentioned. Maybe you should try a fresh compile from source for your box?
“OpenOffice?” … I’m still unconvinced on this one. I love OpenOffice and use it wherever I can. *However* I’m still forced to maintain an M$ box and use Word for work. OpenOffice started out so good (thanks to it’s StarOffice background I suppose) but lately it seems to have dropped a peg or two behind the commercial stuff :(
“Others suggestions:
* VIM – best text editor ever!” – It’s true.
“* PHP – how can we make blogs, forums, or any server-side application without PHP?” – http://tryruby.org/
“* Midnight Commander ” – All good
“* Privoxy” – Stay away from the pr0n? ;)
re: NutMotion 01.04.10 at 2:04 am
re:Alexandre Haguiar 12.25.09 at 11:59 am
” My opinion for best 10 final user open software is:
4 – Netbeans – Great development tool”
+1 ! been using Eclipse since I began programming Java (spanning 4 years of J2EE, though not full time, been on and off a lot), and have tried Netbeans recently. No offense meant to anyone, but after trying Netbeans, I feel Eclipse is awkward. I feel more comfortable using Netbeans (namely because most important features are shipped with the install).
Personally I’ve always been an Eclipse man, mainly because it easily supports not just Java but C/C++, Ruby, D, and the various other languages I work with on a day-to-day basis.
Don’t get me wrong, I also use NetBeans (mostly when I’m stuck on Windows because Eclipse does suck on win) but my main work is all Eclipse…
I use a few of these, suggested by Vivek. Thanks a ton.
Thanks buddy for the list
note that the format 7zip(.7z) will not contain user permissions and other info ( please check with their manual)
Looks like a lot of good stuff, and I’d agree on most except for #9. GIMP just blows. Gimpshop makes it marginally more usable but basic GIMP is more annoying and unintuitive than anything.
I use Linux since 1998 (I was 14 years old then), In 2003-2004 I knew nearly everything about Linux, GNU software, distros (e.g. I was hacking LFS disro), I’m Linux admin since 2002, know how to write any software in this operating system and I’m glad that someone took all of this randomly written stuff and packaged it into Ubuntu giving me distro which is working exactly like it should and do not waste my time. Without Ubuntu my productivity would be seriously cut down. On production servers I use Debian and wish to switch to Ubuntu when it will be secure enough, because of commercial support.
You picked great software, but none of them was created in 2009, so subject of this article is somewhat misleading in my opinion.
My personal list (overall, not 2009):
0. Linux (kernel)
1. GNU software (compilers, editors etc etc) – without them there would be no free software at all
2. Kubuntu
3. Komodo Edit – AWESOME
4. PostgreSQL – free Oracle
5. Python – makes programmer life much easier, don’t give me a crap with PHP or Java…
6. Firefox – who cares about look? It is the best development platform available and it is fastest browser available, and yes – it is faster than Chrome and Opera
7. OpenVZ/ProxMox/all virtualization products – making the world greener
8. Amarok
9. Nginx – where Apache needs 2GB RAM, Nginx needs 2MB RAM:)
10. KDE4 – looks great
Adrian
http://www.optimizeyourcode.com/
Truecrypt is *not* open source. Its licence is not OSI approved and it never will be since it does not abide by the Open Source Definition.
It is dangerous in the long term to lock away your data with software that is not open source. You are handing control of your information over to someone else. You may have convenience now, but that cannot be guaranteed in the long run.
Truecrypt IS open source (at least according to Sourceforge).
Truecrypt page on SF.NET is there: https://sourceforge.net/projects/truecrypt/ .
Αcording to open source purists, even Debian isn’t open source. Personally I disagree.
OK! Just my opinion. :-)
@Giorgos
Saying it does not magically make it so.
See http://michael-prokop.at/blog/2008/12/12/truecrypt-open-source-or-not/
There is no room for personal opinion here. A licence is a legal document.
Sourceforge does not police licensing. It just lists the info it is given.
In contrast, Debian is open source. Free software, in fact.
Hi Sridhar! :-)
OK! I’m not a lawyer, but sourceforge is checking the distributing software, not just accepting the word of the publisher. Projects has banned from sourceforge at past, for violating the open eulas.
Eg. look at the recent case of mediacoder. Mediacoder recent versions banned from sf.net for eula violation, even the program itself was OK.
> There is no room for personal opinion here.
Oh yes! There is plenty of room for disagreement here! :-)
GNU doesn’t accepting Debian as open source.
I’m using Debian and I have only open source programs AND flash and nvidia.
That’s it! Since I’m using nvidia drivers and flash player at firefox, according GNU, I don’t have an open source system. (and debian comes with flash preinstalled at firefox).
On the other hand, Debian is not accepting Mozilla license as open source and redistributing firefox as Ice Weasel, because according to Debian…..Firefox is not open source!!!
Look, I don’t want to disagree with you, I’m a personal admirer of Richard Stallman and for my personal documentation projects, I’m using the official latest gfdl lic, but I can understand that there are many many types of open source licenses. (and many disagreements too, for the purity of them). :-)
Specifically for truecrypt, it has to bypass also, the obstacles of us law that prohibits the sharing of this kind of programs outside US.
Anyway! Any suggestion of similar programs? The more we have, the better for us and the scene.
Hi Giorgos,
I can’t speak for SourceForge, but the simple legal fact is that the TrueCrypt licence does not meet the Open Source Definition. We have a definition for a good reason – to avoid misuse of the term ‘open source’.
There are other better ways to encrypt your data. I personally use the cryptsetup/LUKS/dm-crypt encryption that comes with Fedora. It’s a simple option that you can activate at installation. More information at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Releases/FeatureEncryptedFilesystems
Ubuntu has encryption available as well: http://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7568/1.html
Both of these methods are Free Software, meaning that they meet both the Free Software and Open Source definitions. It is important to use Free/Open ways to encrypt your data to guarantee that you can access it forever.
I haven’t used Debian in a while so I can’t comment directly, but I’m sure there are ways to get this stuff going with it.
Cheers,
Sridhar
Hi Sridhar! :-)
Anyway! It’s still an excellent software (even with somewhat wierd license) and I can use it for encrypting and transferring volumes to a windows machine.
Unfortunately, I can’t go on and encrypt a usb stick from debian with the methods you suggested and giving it to a friend of mine, because he probably won’t be able to decrypt it, on his windows machine.
With truecrypt, the only thing I’m doing, is installing it with windows compatibility.
I know some commercial freewares with (very limited) similar features for windows only, but none for unixes.
I think, although truecrypt has a bit obscure license, it remains the best option available.
For the legal meaning of term, Wikipedia seems to agree with Sourceforge.
Clicking on the “source available” link (just under its screenshot), redirects you at “open source” term.
Greets!!! :-)
Giorgos.
Giorgos,
Wikipedia is not a lawyer – it is written by random people online. The TrueCrypt licence has been widely inspected by knowledgeable people, and the consensus is that it is not properly open source.
You should also notice that the Wikipedia article on TrueCrypt mentions the same issues with licensing that I have raised.
It is important that open source has a clear definition, or else it loses its meaning and is open to abuse. That is why the Open Source Initiative exists. Otherwise, we’d have rubbish like Microsoft’s ‘Shared Source’ being touted as open source. Please don’t encourage this, as it only hurts open source.
There is far more to open source than just source code being visible.
I’ll also reiterate that it is dangerous to trust your valuable data to something that is not properly open. You have no guarantee that you will be able to access that data in the future.
Cheers,
Sridhar
Correct! ;-)
OK! I agree!
I wasn’t aware of these issues. :-(
I hope, that a really open replacement will be written.
THANKS for getting our attention to it! ;-)
Giorgos.
BIG BIG thanx to VIVEK and everybody. I know you all can help me..:-)
Anyway, I am an Electronics and Communications Engr. and i’ve been working in the telecommunications industry(technical side). Now, i’m very very much interested in pursuing to learn linux as SysAd/NetAD, an opportunity opened and i’ve only limited time to learn.
With This, Do you have something very very good tutorial made for a newbie for desktop and server….I’ve search a lot on the net and got somehelpfull tips too.
Thanx again
Francis
@Francis
First of all, Welcome Francis, here and into Linux community.
You need to know that this is not a Forum,
and that a nice place you could find help
and information you need is nixCraft Forum http://nixcraft.com/
Bye.
Very nice information………………………..Keep it up……….
Ardour also
I disagree with the person who put the Linux kernel above the GNU utilities. Without the Linux kernel, we’d still have FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD, but we wouldn’t have those BSD’s if it weren’t for the GNU C compiler.
Of the BSD’s, OpenBSD is among my top 10 FOSS. I don’t actually use OpenBSD the operating system, but it’s thanks to that project that we have utilities like openssh, openssl, and a host of other security utilities that I need on a daily basis.
Good FOSS missing from everybody’s list so far:
FileZilla – connect to FTP, S/FTP, FTP/S, and FTP/ES with equal ease.
Samba – Without it, we couldn’t connect Linux to Windows file & print shares.
Rsync – The utility that mirror servers use to synchronize.
Darwin BSD – The open source operating system that Apple Mac OSX is based on.
Notepad++ – The best text editor for Windows.
Xorg – There’s no other GUI engine for Linux or BSD that I’m aware of.
VNC – Everybody’s favorite Open Source & cross-platform remote control utility.
Great list. My personal list:
1 – Fedora
2 – Lamp suite (Linux OS,Apache web server, MySQL database and PHP)
3 – VLC media player – simple, effective, searches for codecs if non existant locally
4 – Firefox browser – greates browser ever
5 – trueCrypt (altough hard to install in fedora, easy on windows)
6 – VirtualBox – no comments. easy, fast, effective
7 – netBeans – great development suite for Java/C++/PHP/…
8 – SSH server
9 -OpenBSD OS