Open Source Software.

[grab]

ive taken a bit of a liking to open source software recently. I like the idea that anyone with the appropriate knowledge can improve and customise their own software to suit their needs and those of the wider community.
I also like the idea that you can be sure that their is nothing hidden going on "under the bonnet" of open source applications.

and the fact that its free is also a bonus ;-)

Ive managed to replace a few of my apps with open source efforts, here are the best ones so far:

openoffice.org
an office suite which performs the same tasks as word/powerpoint/excel etc.

the gimp
an image editing tool which performs the role of photoshop/paint shop pro.

various browsers
mozilla, firebird, k-meleon etc are all based off mozilla technology and are all good open source browsers. Personally i like firebird.

p2p applications
eMule, bittorrent, DC++ are the main ones.

Im always on the look out for more open source stuff, so i was wondering if you guys knew any good open source applications that you might recommend. I couldnt find an email client for example, or a newsreader, or an ftp client. But im looking to compile a good list of open source software generally.

If you can help me add to my collection of open source software that would be cool.

[phalkon30]

http://sourceforge.net/ should be all you need. If you can't find what you need there.......................yeah

[fernandez]

Which window manager are you using?
Personally, for an e-mail client, I like Ximian Evolution best
http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/features.html

I think most distros include an ftp client, but you could try
gFTP http://gftp.seul.org/

Take a look at the equivalents list too http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/

[isus]

i agree with phalkon30.

sourceforge is the best, easiest way to get open source projects going. and teh best way to find them... you can filter by os, level of development, programming language. it's a great site.

[wonderboy2005]

for once, i agree with isus (how the hell did that happen?)

SF.net is the greatest. i use openoffice, xchat, mozilla firebird, dc++, a game or two, some music apps (ripping, etc), some Open source p2p apps, etc. etc. on windows, and i dual boot linux too. in linux, the only thing i have that isnt opensource is enemy territory. hell.... that might even be open source too.

[isamoor]

The greatest mp3 ripper on windows is CDEX, and linux is Grip. Those are both open source.


VNC is just the coolest stuff. It's open source and is very easy to work on windows. This is really one amazing program.

7-zip is a great compression program that will do rar's and anything else.

FireBird is far better than Internet Explorer.

AbiWord makes a great stand in for work if you don't want the complete OpenOffice.

HTTrack is the best website copier period.

A great site to look up the the OpenCD. You can go and check it out here:

http://www.theopencd.org/

All this stuff works on Windows and Linux. If you really find yourself liking open source stuff on windows though, I'd consider making the switch. Maybe start trying out linux with Knoppix?

Later,

Isamoor


P.S. Limewire is actually open source too, as are a majority of the Gnutella clients. Bearshare and Shareaza are the main exceptions.

[isus]

Originally posted by wonderboy2005
for once, i agree with isus (how the hell did that happen?)

lol... we might not like the same os, but we both know that open source = good.