Topic: Freely available and legal software Master List

[Nemesis]

Link to beginning of original thread
Link to end of original thread

All discussions and proposed additions should be made in the original thread.

We also now have a website with the list on it.

Link to the whole list.  This copy only lists names, categories and links, no descriptions.

Links to sublists:

The sublist will include a quote about each program from the authors where possible and may in individual cases include commentary from myself or others.

Audio, Video and Graphics Software
Educational Software
File transfer programs
Games
Miscellaneous
Networking
Office Software
Operating Systems:  Divided into 3 posts.
 - BSD Unix Variants
 - Linux Variants
 - Other Operating Systems
Programming tools and source code
Security Software
Utilities A - M
Utilities N - Z
Web Tools
Websites with collections of software

My thanks to all the contributors.

Age, Anthony Scott, Bonk, Czar Mohab, Death Merchant, Dracho, GermzSlap, Iconoclast::toasty0, Jack Morris, Javora, KBF-Kurok, Lepton, manitoba1073, Midnight Tech, MrCue, Musashi NCC-BR549, NJAntman, NuclearWessels aka "Evil Dave", Pestalence_XC, The Postman, psytce, Redshift the Kook, Rondo_GE The OutLaw, Sarek, Stephen NCC -73070, Mr_Tricorder

One contributor does single himself out for the sheer bulk of his contributions - Bonk.  So a very special thankyou to Bonk for his efforts.

Before including a link here I verify it as accurate as of this time.  Any link whose software is not freely available (at the time of update) I remove, limited time free trials are not included on this list.  Free for home or academic use programs I do include.  Any whose link was invalid and an update not easily found I also do not include.  Some exceptions may be made, this is a guidline only.

If there are any errors, ommisions or corrections not covered by my comments above feel free to either post a correction/update in the original thread (Links Below) or PM it to me and I will edit it in at my earliest convience.  This thread is kept locked to allow people to find the updated list easily without having to search a multipage thread to find the list (as suggested by Javora).  Any post relavent to this list should be posted to the original thread (Links below)

If you need/want a program type that is not listed here post a request for it in the original thread (Links Below) and I (or others) will endeavor to find it.  A number of the links above came from such requests already.

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Link to end of original thread

[Nemesis]

This list is periodically updated to reflect postings.

Audio, Video and Graphics Software:  Link to sublist

64 Studio - digital content creation on x86_64
A9CAD - 2D CAD program
A9Converter - convert to and from AutoCAD format
Art of Illusion - 3d modelling
Audacity - Sound Editor
Autostitch™
Blender - 3d modeling
BRL-CAD - CAD program (U.S. Military origin)
CadStd Lite - CAD program exports to AutoCAD format
Cornice - a cross-platform image viewer
Daz Studio - 3D figure design and 3D animation tool
DESI-III - CAD program
Draft IT - 2D CAD program
DVD43 - DVD43 is a free DVD decrypter.
DVDFab Decrypter - cache DVD on HD
DVDShrink - Movie DVD Copying.  Legal? - check locally.
ExpressSCH & ExpressPCB - electronics CAD programs
Fracplanet
FreeMusicSoftware . org - Collection of music software
Fresh View - free multimedia manager
Frinika - complete music workstation software
The Gimp - Image editor
Google SketchUp - create, modify and share 3D models.
ImageMagick - create, edit, and compose bitmap images
irfanview - image viewer
Jahshaka - a video and film compositing, editing and special fx system
JATC - Just Another Tour Creator
JMCAD - modeling of dynamic systems - modeling and simulation of dynamic systems
Kicad - creation of electronic schematic diagrams
MeshLab
Mixxx is an open source DJ tool designed for both professional and amateur DJs alike.
MO3
Picassa - find, edit and share pictures
POV-Ray - Persistence of Vision Raytracer 3D Graphis creation
PURE Player for Java
QCad - 2D CAD system
REAPER - Sound Editor
SeaSolution v1 - CAD for ships
Switch - Audio File Converter
t@b ZS4 Video Editor - video editing and compositing software
trueSpace - 3d modelling tool
Videohelp - Help site about making videos
Videolan - media player
VirtualDub - is a video capture/processing utility for Windows
VOCALOID - a vocal-synthesizing software that enables song writers to generate authentic-sounding singing
Wax - video compositing and special effects software
Wings 3D - modelling program
XMPlay

Educational Software:  Link to sublist

AMDIS - Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System
Avogadro - an advanced molecular editor
BKChem - a free chemical drawing program
Celestia - The free space simulation
Chemical Structures - a complete set of 3D molecular structures in CML format
Computers & Internet - E-Books
Edubuntu -  is a version of the Ubuntu (Linux) operating system suitable for classroom use.
ElectronicLab Spin - high-end hardware design and simulation platform
GCompris - is an educational software suite (multi language)
GNU Octave - is mostly compatible with MATLAB
The GNU Scientific Library (GSL) - libraries for developing scientific software
The KDE Education Project -
Moodle - is a course management system
NIST scientific and technical databases -
OpenEducationDisc - windows educational software collection
R - free software environment for statistical computing and graphics
SAGE - Open Source Mathematics Software
SOFA - Statistics Open For All - statistics,
analysis, and reporting package
Sugar on a Stick - an educational software platform
World Wind - from NASA
Wubi - Ubuntu installer for Windows users

File transfer programs:  Link to sublist

Bit Torrent - Peer to Peer downloading
Filezilla - FTP download program.  Allows stops and restarts
Fresh Download - free download manager
Getright - FTP download program.  Allows stops and restarts
Star Downloader - Download accellerator

Games:  Link to sublist

Allegiance - Game open sourced by Microsoft (license?)
The Battle for Wesnoth - A turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme.
BZFlag - Battlezone clone
C-evo - Civilization style game
Cube 2: - Games based on the Cube and Cube 2 game engine
Cube 2: Sauerbraten - FPS based on the Cube Engine
Doomsday Engine
THE ELDER SCROLLS: ARENA™
THE ELDER SCROLLS II: DAGGERFALL
Eternal Lands is a FREE MMORPG Windows, Mac, and Linux
Flash based games -
FlightGear - is an open-source flight simulator.
Freeciv - Civilization clone (network playable)
FreeCol - Clone of Colonization
Freedroid - Paradroid clone
FreeOrion - Master of Orion style game
Frozen Bubble bubble bobble (?) clone
Globulation 2 - real time strategy game
GLtron TRON lightcycle style game
LBreakout2 - Advanced Breakout clone
NetHack - (ASCII graphics) a single player dungeon exploration game
NetRacer - a simple racing game
Neverball - miniature golf game
Nexuiz a 3d deathmatch game Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pingus - a free Lemmings clone
Planeshift - MMORPG
ScummVM - run LucasArts and other games based on the Scumm engine
Sokoban YASC - Yet Another Sokoban Clone Game
Space Invaders OpenGL - based on the arcade game
Starport: Galactic Empires massively multiplayer action strategy game
Stella - Atari 2600 Emulator
Super Star Trek - Classic DOS Trek game
The TA Spring Project- Total Annihalation clone
Thunder&Lightning - a futuristic 3D action flight simulator and realtime strategy game
TrueCombat:Elite - Derived from Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
UFO: ALIEN INVASION - strategy game
VegaStrike - game
Vega Strike Mod - Privateer - Wing Commander Privateer clone
WinUAE - Amiga Emulator
Xultris - tetris for firefox
101 Free Games - Collection site

Miscellaneous:  Link to sublist

Asterisk® - the Open Source PBX!
CCS64 - A Commodore 64 Emulator
Celestia - The free space simulation
Free Clipart
Free-Clipart.Com
FreePBX Configuration tool for Asterisk (see above)
Plone - a content management framework
Virtual Dimension - a virtual desktop
World Wind - from NASA

Networking:  Link to sublist

Samba - Networking software
Virtual Server 2005 - R2 Enterprise Edition for Free
WinTC - Traffic Controller is an NT service program that controls outbound network bandwidth.


Office Software:  Link to sublist
 
AbiWord - Word Processor
Antiword - MS Word reader
GnuCash = personal and small-business financial-accounting software
Gnumeric - spreadsheet
Lotus Symphony - Office suite
MySQL - database
The OpenCD - windows software collection
OpenDisc - windows software collection
Openoffice. org - Office Suite
Oracle - Database 10g Express Edition
PDFCreator - Sets up as a printer and allows any program that can print create a PDF.
PDFSam - PDF splitter and joiner.
Scribus - Desktop Publishing
Tesseract - OCR
WordPress -  is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform

Operating Systems: 

Note: Due to the sheer number of BSD and Linux versions all links for them are on their sublist.
BSD Unix Variants  BSD Unix links
Linux Variants Linux links
Other Operating Systems Link to Sublist for other systems
Distrowatch - links to many Linux versions
FreeDOS - MS-DOS compatible OS
GNU - OS and tools.
Haiku - Open Source version of BeOS
MenuetOS -  64bit OS
ReactOS Windows XP clone in Alpha
QNX - Realtime OS - membership required for download
Syllable - Posix (mostly) compatible OS similar to BeOS

Programming tools and source code:  Link to sublist

AntiCutAndPaste
ClanLib - cross platform C++ framework
Crystal Space - portable 3D Game Development Kit written in C++
Doxygen - Source code documentation generator tool
FlashDevelop - code editor
FMSLogo - A Logo programming environment
FreeBASIC - MS-QuickBASIC compatible for DOS Linux and Windows
Free Pascal - programming language
GIT - distributed version control system
GLBasic - portable flexible BASIC
The GNU Scientific Library (GSL) - libraries for developing scientific software
The Irrlicht Engine - high performance realtime 3D engine written and usable in C++
MASM32 - Assembler
Microsoft .NET Framework SDK
OGRE - open source real time 3D rendering engine.
PLIB - libraries for realtime interactive and portable applications
Quake 1-3 Source Code - open sourced by ID Software
Scintilla - a free source code editing component
SCons
Sharp Develop
Visual Studio 2005 - Prerelease Software
VPatch - a free patch generator
WinMerge - text file differencing and merging tool
XBasic - Programming Language

Security Software:  Link to sublist

AbsoluteShield File Shredder
a-squared Free- antispyware
AVG Anti-Virus - Anti-Virus
Avira AntiVir - Anti-Virus
CCleaner - a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool
ClamAV -  Antivirus Native Win32 Port
Clamwin -  Free Antivirus program for Windows
Comodo Firewall - free firewall
GnuPG - encryption software
iSafer Winsock Firewall - free firewall
Lavasoft Ad-Aware- antispyware
Mailwasher - anti-spam
Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta 2)  time limited.
PC Decrapifier - clean junk off a new PC
RootkitRevealer - anti rootkit software
Security Toolkit 0.6.37 Beta
SoftPerfect Personal Firewall - free firewall
Spybot- Search & Destroy - antispyware
Trinity Rescue Kit - recovery and repair operations on Windows and Linux machines
TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption Software
Zonealarm firewall Note: This software did have a "call home feature".

Utilities:  Link to sublist A-M
Link to sublist N-Z

BartPE - bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD
Boot Disks- and utilities and tweaks
Cdrtools: - CD burning tools
Circle Virtual CD - creates a virtual CD-ROM drive on your Windows PC
Clonezilla - ghost-like imaging solution/rescue suite.
Context - Text editor
ConvertAll - another unit converter
CPU-Z - gathers information on your system.
DAEMON Tools - a virtual cd/dvd-rom emulator
Dead-Disk-Doctor - Recover files from "dead" disks
Deepburner - CD/DVD Burner software
DOSBox - Use DOS programs.
Emerge - a replacement windows "shell"
Ext2 Installable File System For Windows - Ext2 and Ext3 read/write on windows
FOG - is a free open-source ghost-like imaging solution/rescue suite.
Folder2Iso - creates an iso  from folders
Fresh Diagnose - free diagnostic tool
Fresh UI - free tweaking tool
G4L - a hard disk and partition imaging and cloning tool.
g4u - Harddisk Image Cloning for PCs
GCPUID - provided CPU info.
GeoShell - a replacement windows "shell"
GhostScript - Postscript interpreter
GNU Emacs - Text editor
Gnome Partition Editor (aka GParted)
GpsDrive - GpsDrive is a car (bike, ship, plane) navigation system.
Hard Disk Tools - Partition,  Imaging and Backup Software
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool - Make USB Flash Drives bootable.
InfraRecorder - a free CD/DVD burning solution for Microsoft Windows
Input Director - control multiple Windows systems using the keyboard/mouse attached to one computer
ISO Recorder - tool to burn CD and DVD ISOs and copy disks.
JCalculator
JExplorer
JMount - mount folders as virtual drives
JOCR
KpyM Telnet/SSH Server
Litestep - a replacement windows "shell"
MagicISO - creates a virtual CD-ROM drive on your Windows PC
Memtest86 - A Stand-alone Memory Diagnostic
Notepad++ - ource code editor and Notepad replacement
Notepad 2 - Notepad replacement
NoteTab - Tabbed note pad with extensive abilities
Nullsoft - Scriptable Install System
pdftk - pdf manipulator
PuTTY
QEMU
QEMU Manager
Screen Hunter - Screen Capture utility
SciTE - a SCIntilla based Text Editor.
7-Zip - Winzip replacement
SISoft - benchmarking utility
TeamSpeak - Voice over IP (VoIP) group communications software.
The Ultimate Boot CD - CD of recovery and repair tools
TightVNC - a free remote control software package
The Ultimate Windows Boot CD - You need an installed XP to make this one.
Unlocker - A handy tool to release unwanted file or folder locks, use with care.
UTF-8 TeraTerm Pro with TTSSH2 - terminal emulator
UPX - Executable packer
VIM 7 - Text editor
VMWare - Virtual machine
VMware Server
Ventrilo - Voice over IP (VoIP) group communications software.
Windows XP Powertoys
XEmacs - Text editor
Xena - Software for Digital Preservation

Web Tools:  Link to sublist

Abyss - web server
Accessify.com - Tools, wizards, articles and tutorials on Web Accessibility
AltME -
AOLServer - web server
Apache - web server
Coppermine - Photo Gallery
CreaText - XHTML Text Editor
CSS Validation Service
Democracy Broadcast Machine
Democracy PlayerWatch Internet TV with Democracy Player
eAccelerator - PHP accelerator
Firebug is a Firefox plug in for Web page develping.
Firefox - web browser
Firefox extensions - extended functions for Firefox browser.
Geeklog - application for managing dynamic web content
Gnash - is the GNU Flash movie player
ieSpell - A Spell Checker for Internet Explorer
InspIRCd - a modular C++ IRCd (IRC daemon)
Iron - brpwer derived from chrome
JAlbum - gallery software makes web albums of your digital images
Link Checker - online utility that checks links in a web page.
Lynx - text based web browser.
Markup Validation Service - a free service that checks Web documents in formats like HTML and XHTML for conformance to W3C Recommendations and other standards.
Maxthon - Tabbed Browser IE Extension
MoinMoin - Wiki Engine
NVU Web - authoring
Onlinetools.org - This is a collection of scripts, tools and software add-on
Opera - Web Browser
PHP - web scripting language
Roxen - Webserver
Safari - Web Browser
Sambar Serve - an all-in-one web operating system
Seamonkey - web browser suite Formerly Mozilla.
Simple Machines - Forum software
Thunderbird - E-Mail program
Thunderbird - Extended functions for Thunderbird E-Mail program
TinEye - reverse image search engine
wikiCalc
Wiki on a Stick
XAMPP - easy to install Apache distribution
xitami - webserver
Zend Optimizer - PHP accelerator

Websites with collections of  software:  Link to sublist

The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities
CleanSoftware - source of further software
Download.com
thefreecountry - Free Programmers', Webmasters' and Security Resources
Free Software Directory - a project of the Free Software Foundation
Freesticky
Gizmo Reviews - freeware review site
Newfreeware
Nonags
OSDir - lists of stable free software
Pricelessware - source of further software
Snapfiles - collection
Software driver collection - is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform
Tucows
Tutorialized.com - Free tutorials in 515 categories
ZDNet

[Nemesis]

Link to top of thread
Link to master list

Security Software

AbsoluteShield File Shredder

Why do you need a File Shredder?

Windows does not physically remove deleted files from your hard disk. Emptying your Recycle Bin does NOT protect you at all. Your sensitive files can be recovered, even after you format your hard disk! When you delete a file from Windows, the OS just marks the file as deleted in the file allocation table, but the data of the file is still on your hard disk. There are many tools available which can let others easily recover your sensitive files even after you format your hard disk.

OS: Windows?

a-squared Free- antispyware

Security must not be a privilege. Under this motto, Emsi Software provides the Malware scanner a-squared Free completely free of charge for private use. But it is not a very limited version, it is a full tool to clean your computer from Malware. Not only Spywares, as detected by classic Anti-Spyware programs, but also especially Trojans, Backdoors, Worms, Dialers, Keyloggers and a lot of other destructive pests, which makes it dangerous to surf the web.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

AVG Anti-Virus

AVG Anti-Virus Free and ewido anti-spyware Free is for private, non-commercial, single home computer use only.

OS: Windows (versions?), Linux

Avira AntiVir

Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic reliably protects your private computer against dangerous viruses, worms, Trojans and costly dialers.

More than 15 million users worldwide trust in the reliable protection of Avira AntiVir. And this is no coincidence at all: Avira has gained several awards. The product combines first-class detection rates and ease of use with a top performance that protects your computer safely and hardly burdens older PC

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris

CCleaner - a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!

OS: Win98 - WinVista.  Win64 XP-Vista

ClamAV -  Antivirus Native Win32 Port

Unofficial native port of the well known ClamAV Antivirus, this port is used in ClamWin Antivirus

OS: Windows
Open Source

Clamwin -  Free Antivirus program for Windows

ClamWin is a Free Antivirus program for Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 and Vista.
ClamWin Free Antivirus comes with an easy installer and open source code. You may download and use it absolutely free of charge.

OS: Win98 - WinVista
Open Source

Comodo Firewall - free firewall

Unfortunately, most firewalls leak. But Comodo's Firewall is unique in that it passes all known leak tests to ensure the integrity of data entering and exiting your system. Comodo has put our firewall through all kinds of sophisticated tests to ensure our firewall is powerful enough to ward off these attacks with default settings. No other firewall has had to work this hard. Take this test yourself.

OS: Win2000 - Win XP

GnuPG - encryption software

The GNU Privacy Guard

GnuPG is the GNU project's complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard as defined by RFC2440 . GnuPG allows to encrypt and sign your data and communication, features a versatile key managment system as well as access modules for all kind of public key directories. GnuPG, also known as GPG, is a command line tool with features for easy integration with other applications. A wealth of frontend applications and libraries are available.

GnuPG is Free Software . It can be freely used, modified and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License .

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD,
Open Source

iSafer Winsock Firewall - free firewall

iSafer firewall is used to protected your PC against spywares, spamwares. It is also a good example for software developers to understand the basic knowledge about firewall. NOTE: Visit http://winsockfirewall.sourceforge.net to see more...

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

Lavasoft Ad-Aware- antispyware

Lavasoft is the industry leader and most respected provider of anti-spyware solutions. Lavasoft develops and delivers the highest quality antispyware solutions to keep your computer or network free of compromising and intrusive threats to your privacy

OS: Win98 - Win XP

Mailwasher - anti-spam

MailWasher Free is a spam detection and mail preview tool that allows you to check the mail on the server and delete any spam before you download it to your local computer. It can notify you when new mail arrives and automatically mark suspicious messages, so you can preview and delete them. There are 3 levels of spam detection, and you can specify your own filters. MailWasher also offers the option to exclude your friends from spam checking and check mail against public blacklists. The program requires you to create your own spam filters, without them, the spam detection is poor. If you want to create your own mail filters, give MailWasher a try. However, if you are looking for effective out-of-the-box spam filtering, you should look elsewhere. The free version is limited to one POP3 email account, and has several features disabled.

OS: Windows (all?)

Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta 2)  time limited.

Windows Defender (Beta 2) is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected, and a new streamlined interface that minimizes interruptions and helps you stay

OS: Win2000 (SP 4) - Win XP

PC Decrapifier - clean junk off a new PC

The PC Decrapifier is a program designed to remove or uninstall
a specific list of unwanted software in an unattended fashion.
It can be used to clean off most of the annoying software that is typically shipped with new PCs.

OS: WinXP - WinVista

RootkitRevealer - anti rootkit software

RootkitRevealer is an advanced rootkit detection utility. It runs on Windows NT 4 and higher and its output lists Registry and file system API discrepancies that may indicate the presence of a user-mode or kernel-mode rootkit. RootkitRevealer successfully detects many persistent rootkits including AFX, Vanquish and HackerDefender (note: RootkitRevealer is not intended to detect rootkits like Fu that don't attempt to hide their files or registry keys). If you use it to identify the presence of a rootkit please let us know!

OS: Windows?

Security Toolkit 0.6.37 Beta

The Security Toolkit allows you to create encrypted virtual drives, encrypt your hard drives, USB (flash) drives and CD/DVD’s. Also included is a secure file shredder, Internet & Application History shredder, encrypted password manager, random password creator, spyware remover and more. You can even create your own deletion algorithms and spyware removal routines with the fully scriptable deletion engine. Freeware for non-profit use.

SoftPerfect Personal Firewall - free firewall

The SoftPerfect Personal Firewall is a free network firewall designed to protect your PC against attacks from the Internet or via a local area network. SoftPerfect Personal Firewall offers customizable security using user-defined rules for packet filtering. It works at a low level and also allows you to create rules based on non-IP protocols such as ARP.

OS: Win95 - Win XP

Spybot- Search & Destroy - antispyware

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies.

OS: Windows (versions?)

Trinity Rescue Kit - recovery and repair operations on Windows and Linux machines

Trinity Rescue Kit or TRK is a free live Linux distribution that aims specifically at recovery and repair operations on Windows machines, but is equally usable for Linux recovery issues.

OS: Linux
Open Source

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption Software

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux
Main Features:

    * Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
    * Encrypts an entire hard disk partition or a device, such as USB flash drive.
    * Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
    * Provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:
      1) Hidden volume (steganography – more information may be found here).
      2) No TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).
    * Encryption algorithms: AES-256, Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish.
      Mode of operation: LRW  (CBC supported as legacy).

OS: Win2000 - Win XP, Linux
Open Source.

Zone Alarm Firewall
Note: This software did have a "call home feature".

Firewall Protection

Easy-to-use firewall blocks hackers and other unknown threats.

    * Systematically identifies hackers and blocks access attempts
    * Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet

OS: Win2000 - Win XP

[Nemesis]

Link to top of thread
Link to master list

Audio, Video and Graphics Software

64 Studio - digital content creation on x86_64

64 Studio develops a distribution of native free software for digital content creation on x86_64 hardware. It's based on the pure 64 port of Debian GNU/Linux, but with a specialised package selection and lots of other tweaks.

OS: Linux
Open Source

A9CAD - 2D CAD program

A9CAD is a general purpose two-dimensional CAD program. It supports industry standard DWG & DXF drawing formats.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

A9Converter - convert to and from AutoCAD format

A9Converter is a bi-directional DWG/DXF conversion program. It supports up to Autocad 2006.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

Art of Illusion - 3d modelling

Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modelling and rendering studio. It is written entirely in Java, and should be usable on any Java Virtual Machine which is compatible with J2SE 1.4 or later.

OS: Java Virtual Machine
Open Source

Audacity - Sound Editor

The Free, Cross-Platform Sound Editor
Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Autostitch™

Autostitch™ is the world's first fully automatic 2D image stitcher. Capable of stitching full view panoramas without any user input whatsoever, Autostitch is a breakthrough technology for panoramic photography, VR and visualisation applications. This is the first solution to stitch any panorama completely automatically, whether 1D (horizontal) or 2D (horizontal and vertical).

OS: Windows (works on Wine)
Demo

Blender - 3d modeling

Blender is a cross plaform 3D creation suite, allowing fully integrated modeling, animation, rendering, post production and interactive 3D creation and playback.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, Mac OS X (intel and PPC), Irix, Solaris, BSD

BRL-CAD - CAD program (U.S. Military origin)

The BRL-CAD package is a powerful Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) solid modeling system with over 20 years development and production use by the U.S. military. BRL-CAD includes an interactive geometry editor, parallel ray-tracing support for rendering and geometric analysis, path-tracing for realistic image synthesis, network distributed framebuffer support, image-processing and signal-processing tools. The entire package is distributed in source code form.

Since it it distributed in source code you must have the compiling tools and knowledge to make an executable program out of it.
OS: ?
Open Source

CadStd Lite - CAD program exports to AutoCAD format

CadStd is a general purpose, easy to learn CAD/drafting program for creating professional quality mechanical designs, house plans, blueprints, schematics and charts utilizing ANSI drawing standards. The Lite version is free and can read any drawing created by the Pro version. CadStd Lite can export files as DXF so you can share your drawings to your friends with other CAD programs like Autocad.

OS: Windows

Cornice - a cross-platform image viewer

Here is a list of the main features of Cornice:

    * Fully cross-platform: it should run wherever wxPython does;
    * Detail and thumbnail view for images;
    * Image preview;
    * Automatic recognition of images, with a variety of formats supported;
    * Bookmarks;
    * Full-screen view;
    * Zooming and rotation;
    * Slideshow;
    * Good keyboard navigation (still not perfect, but this is true for all the features ;-);
    * Image loading from zip archives;
    * i18n support (with Italian and French translations available);
    * EXIF data support;

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X

Daz Studio - 3D figure design and 3D animation tool

DAZ Studio is a free, feature rich 3D figure design and 3D animation tool that enables anyone to create stunning digital imagery. This is the perfect tool to design unique digital art and animation using virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, accessories, environments and more. Simply select your subject and/or setting, arrange accessories, setup lighting, and begin creating beautiful artwork.

OS: WinXP - Win Vista (32 or 64bit) and Mac OS X

DESI-III - CAD program

DESI-III uses a real database for the organisation of the drawings and drawing entities: which allows to use any stored drawing as a symbol in any other drawing. Symbols (drawings) can be composed of entities and symbols, which are composed of entities and symbols, which...: DESI-III uses a level structure in a drawing.

OS: Win95 (via DOS), Linux (Via DOSemu), OS/2

Draft IT - 2D CAD program

Draft IT is a powerful and easy-to-use 2D CAD software for suitable for all users, in the office or at home. You can create, print and save your own drawings and designs.

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

DVD43 - DVD43 is a free DVD decrypter.

DVD43 is a free decrypter. This site will help you find DVD43 so you don't have to pay money for a decrypter.  At the bottom of this page you will find links to several sites which host DVD43, a list of software that works well with DVD43 and a list of DVD copy review sites in case you are looking for a DVD copy program.  DVD43.com does not host DVD43 and is not affiliated with the authors of DVD43.

OS: Win2000 - Win Vista (32)


DVDFab Decrypter - cache DVD on HD

DVDFab Decrypter is a simple version of DVDFab Platinum. It copies entire DVD movie to hard disk, and removes all the protections (CSS, RC, RCE, APS, UOPs and Sony ARccOS) while copying.

OS: Win2000 - Win7(32-bit/64-bit)

DVDShrink - Movie DVD Copying.  Legal? - check locally.

DVD Shrink enables you to copy a DVD very easily. Copying a DVD doesn't get much simpler than this. Put DVD into DVD-ROM or DVD burner. Choose either either a Full Disk (1:1) copy or a main movie only. It'll analyze DVD, encode video files , and finally burn a copy of the dvd to DVD±R media. Thus you have a excellent quality dvd copy of your original DVD.

OS: Windows (versions?)

ExpressSCH & ExpressPCB - electronics CAD programs

Both programs are completely free, fully functional and easily installed with a single InstallShield setup program. They run with Windows 98 through XP.

Learning to use our software is fast because of its standardized Windows user interface. After spending the few minutes to learn one, the other takes almost no time because it works the same way.

Note: ExpressPCB offers a service manufacturing PCBs designed with this software.
OS: Windows?

Fracplanet

Fracplanet is an interactive tool for creating random fractal planets and terrain areas with oceans, rivers, lakes and icecaps. The results can be exported as models to POV-Ray  and to Blender, or as texture maps for more general usage. The code is licensed under the GPL. It uses Qt and OpenGL.

OS: Linux and Mac OS X (Java)
Open Source

FreeMusicSoftware . org - Collection of music software

Here you will find a collection of various software tools for Audio & Music creation, editing, and performance

OS: Various

Fresh View - free multimedia manager

Fresh View
free multimedia manager
v 7.80: September 27, 2009

Fresh View is a multimedia browser that makes organizing image, audio and video files much easier. Use it to watch movies, listen to music, view graphics in a slide show, print, create an HTML album, and more. This software is 100% free, no ads, no spyware.

OS: Windows? - free for personal use - must register

Frinika - complete music workstation software

Frinika is an open source (GPL),  for Linux, Windows, Mac OSX Tiger and other operating systems running Java 1.5 (J2SE5.0). It features sequencer, soft-synths, realtime effects and audio recording.

Frinika is compact, self-contained and simple - yet powerful enough to boost your musical creativity.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Java, Open Source

The Gimp - Image editor

GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. The terms of usage and rules about copying are clearly listed in the GNU General Public License.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X (with X11), Linux, BSD, Solaris
Open Source

Google SketchUp - create, modify and share 3D models.

Create 3D models and share them with the world

Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like.

OS: WinXP - WinVista, and Mac OS X

ImageMagick - create, edit, and compose bitmap images

mageMagick® is a software suite to create, edit, and compose bitmap images. It can read, convert and write images in a variety of formats (over 100) including DPX, EXR, GIF, JPEG, JPEG-2000, PDF, PhotoCD, PNG, Postscript, SVG, and TIFF. Use ImageMagick to translate, flip, mirror, rotate, scale, shear and transform images, adjust image colors, apply various special effects, or draw text, lines, polygons, ellipses and Bézier curves.

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

irfanview - image viewer

IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows

OS: Win9x - Win XP

Jahshaka - a video and film compositing, editing and special fx system

Imagine if you could...

    * Edit with flexibility and speed
    * Create Effects in real time
    * Animate with unlimited features
    * Paint and design on moving video
    * Create music with all the tools the pros use
    * Work in any format at any resolution

...all while sharing files, projects and clips with users on your network or around the world, and all using a single, open source application where the code is yours… that runs on practically any workstation…

OS: ?

JATC - Just Another Tour Creator

JATC is a free tool to help you creating virtual tours from your panoramas.

OS: Windows .NET 2

JMCAD - modeling of dynamic systems - modeling and simulation of dynamic systems

JMCAD is an program for the modeling and simulation of dynamic systems. This includes the ability to construct and simulate block diagrams. The visual block diagram interface offers a simple method for constructing, modifying complex system models.

OS: Windows?
Open Source?

Kicad - creation of electronic schematic diagrams

Kicad is an open source (GPL) software for the creation of electronic schematic diagrams and printed circuit board artwork.

OS: Win2000 - Win XP, Linux
Open Source

MeshLab

MeshLab is an open source, portable, and extensible system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes.
The system is aimed to help the processing of the typical not-so-small unstructured models arising in 3D scanning, providing a set of tools for editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering and converting this kind of meshes.
The system is heavily based on the VCG library developed at the Visual Computing Lab of ISTI - CNR, for all the core mesh processing tasks and it is available for Windows, Linux (src) and MacOSX (intel only).

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Mixxx is an open source DJ tool designed for both professional and amateur DJs alike.

Mixxx allows DJs to mix music live with a clean, simple interface. Futhermore, Mixxx has a number of key features to help DJs in the mix: Beat estimation, parallel visual displays, and support for various DJ hardware controllers.

OS: WinXP - WinVista, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

MO3

MO3 is a file format, encapsulating the features of several "MOD" formats (IT, XM, S3M, MTM, MOD), but with one big difference - MP3 and OGG compressed samples. A lossless codec is also incorporated for any samples that don't like lossy encoding, and the whole file structure is compressed too.

OS: Window?
Open Source

Picassa - find, edit and share pictures

Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized.

OS: Win200 - Win XP

POV-Ray - Persistence of Vision Raytracer 3D Graphis creation

The Persistence of Vision Raytracer is a high-quality, totally free tool for creating stunning three-dimensional graphics. The source code is available for those wanting to do their own ports.

OS: Win9x - Win XP (IE 2 or later), Mac OS (9.2+), Mac OS X (10.2.8+), Linux (x86)

PURE Player for Java

PURE Player for Java viewer lets you load panoramic images onto a Website without having to install a plug-in. Display can be full-screen, regardless of resolution, and even for very large panorama image sizes. The display quality and the fluidity of control are perfectly maintained.

OS: Java applet

QCad - 2D CAD system

QCad is a free open-source 2D CAD system for Linux, various Unices and Windows. The developers' main goals are to build a stable, fast and easy to use CAD for everyone. One doesn't need any knowledge of a CAD program to start working with QCad.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

REAPER - Sound Editor

Windows application designed for the recording, arrangement, editing, mixing and rendering of audio. REAPER provides a flexible but easy to use interface that is equally suited to amateurs and professionals alike.

OS: Windows (all?)

SeaSolution v1 - CAD for ships
SeaSolution v1 - download link

Sea Solution is a CAD system for shipbuilding.

Sea Solution is a comfortable tool for geometrical simulation and design, especially for fairing lines and shell plates development.

Note:  Current version is 6.x they allow give away V1.x as a free intro

Switch - Audio File Converter

Switch sound file conversion software is an audio file format converter for windows. It can convert audio files from many different file formats into mp3 or wav files, including wav to mp3, au to mp3, aiff to mp3 and much more.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux (under Wine)

t@b ZS4 Video Editor - video editing and compositing software

ZS4 Video Editor is video editing and compositing software which aims to provide media experts with a facility to combine a variety of media types (currently photos, videos and audio files) into one (or more) output file(s).

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X

trueSpace - 3d modelling tool

Caligari's trueSpace7.6 is a complete modeling, texturing, animating, rendering, and 3D collaboration tool, used by everyone from 3D enthusiasts to illustrators, researchers to teachers, architects to design engineers, and more. The immersive real-time interface allows users to intuitively and directly manipulate objects in a fully-rendered 3D space, enhancing and accelerating the design process.

OS: Windows?

Videohelp - Help site about making videos

What is this site about?
This site will help you to make your own DVD, Blu-ray, DivX, XviD, HD etc that can be played on your standalone DVD Player, Blu-ray Player or Media Center from video sources like DVD, Video, TV, DV, Cam or downloaded movie clips like AVI, DivX, XviD, WMV, Flash, etc.

Videolan - media player

VLC media player 0.8.5
    * It is a free cross-platform media player
    * It supports a large number of multimedia formats, without the need for additional codecs
    * It can also be used as a streaming server, with extended features (video on demand, on the fly transcoding, ...)

OS: (Win9x and ME - maybe), Win 2000 - Win XP, Linux, Mac OS X, BeOS
Open Source

VirtualDub - is a video capture/processing utility for Windows

VirtualDub is a video capture/processing utility for 32-bit Windows platforms (95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP), licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).  It lacks the editing power of a general-purpose editor such as Adobe Premiere, but is streamlined for fast linear operations over video.  It has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files and can be extended with third-party video filters.  VirtualDub is mainly geared toward processing AVI files, although it can read (not write) MPEG-1 and also handle sets of BMP images.

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

VOCALOID - a vocal-synthesizing software that enables song writers to generate authentic-sounding singing

VOCALOID is a vocal-synthesizing software that enables song writers to generate authentic-sounding singing on their PCs by simply typing in the lyrics and music notes of their compositions.

OS: Windows?

Wax - video compositing and special effects software

Wax is a high performance and flexible video compositing and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video compositing and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease everytime.

OS: Win95 - Win XP

Wings 3D - modelling program

Wings 3D is a subdivision modeler inspired by Nendo and Mirai from Izware.

OS: Windows (OGL), Mac, Linux, Unix
Open Source

XMPlay

XMPlay is an audio player, supporting the OGG / MP3 / MP2 / MP1 / WMA / WAV / CDA / MO3 / IT / XM / S3M / MTM / MOD / UMX audio formats, and PLS / M3U / ASX / WAX playlists. A load more formats are also supported via plugins. When XMPlay was first released in 1998, only the XM format was supported, hence the name "XMPlay".

OS: Windows?
Open Source

[Nemesis]

Link to top of thread
Link to master list

File transfer programs

Bit Torrent - Peer to Peer downloading

BitTorrent is the global standard for delivering high-quality files over the Internet. With an installed base of over 160 million clients worldwide, BitTorrent technology has turned conventional distribution economics on its head. The more popular a large video, audio or software file, the faster and cheaper it can be transferred with BitTorrent. The result is a better digital entertainment experience for everyone.

BitTorrent is a protocol (a set of rules and description of how to do things) allowing you to download files quickly by allowing people downloading the file to upload (distribute) parts of it at the same time. BitTorrent is often used for distribution of very large files, very popular files and files available for free, as it is a lot cheaper, faster and more efficient to distribute files using BitTorrent than a regular download.

BitTorrent 6 is a client. A 'client' in this case is a computer program that follows the rules of a protocol. For example, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used to download web pages and other content - like this page - and your HTTP client (or browser) is the program you use to get those web pages. Some popular browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera. To an extent, they all work the same way because they follow the same set of rules. The BitTorrent 6 client will give you access to the world of content on the protocol in a lightweight, fast and reliable package

OS: Windows, Linux and Mac

Filezilla - FTP download program.  Allows stops and restarts

FileZilla is a fast FTP and SFTP client for Windows with a lot of features. FileZilla Server is a reliable FTP server.

OS: WinNT - Win XP
Open Source

Fresh Download - free download manager

Fresh Download
free download manager

Fresh Download is an easy-to-use and very fast download manager that turbo charges downloading files from the Internet, such as your favorite mp3 files, software, picture collections, video, etc. Unlike other similar utilities, this software is 100% free, no banners, no spyware.

OS: Windows? - free for personal use - must register

Getright - FTP download program.  Allows stops and restarts

GetRight® Download Manager
The award winning Download Manager and Download Accelerator software for Windows. GetRight simply improves and optimizes your downloads. Never have an incomplete or lost download again.

    * Accelerate speeds - download a file from several servers at once.
    * Manage downloads better - no more lost files, easily see what is in progress and find your finished downloads.
    * Recover downloads that are interrupted for any reason - lost connections, crashes, etc.

OS: Win95 - Win XP

Star Downloader - Download accelerator

Star Downloader is a download manager that accelerates your downloads by splitting the files into several parts and downloading them simultaneously. Download speeds are increased further by choosing the fastest mirror sites. Version 1.45 has Firefox 1.5 support and Internet Explorer Toolbar for fast searching.

OS: Win95 - Win XP

[Nemesis]

Link to top of thread
Link to master list

Games

Allegiance - Game open sourced by Microsoft (license?)
- Allegiance forums

Allegiance is a MMOG providing a mix of real-time strategy and player piloted space combat. Initially developed by Microsoft Research, the game was later open-sourced and now is maintained/developed by volunteers. Gameplay relies heavily on good teamwork and forward thinking. Players can fly a variety of craft, striving to destroy enemy team installations and protecting their own. Resource collection figures significantly in the game, since new technology can be expensive and money is usually scarce.

OS: Windows (Versions?)
Open Source (Microsoft License)

The Battle for Wesnoth -  is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme.

The Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme.

Build up a great army, gradually turning raw recruits into hardened veterans. In later games, recall your toughest warriors and form a deadly host against whom none can stand! Choose units from a large pool of specialists, and hand-pick a force with the right strengths to fight well on different terrains against all manner of opposition.

Wesnoth has many different sagas waiting to be played out. Fight to regain the throne of Wesnoth, of which you are the legitimate heir... step into the boots of a young officer sent to guard a not-so-sleepy frontier outpost... vanquish a horde of undead warriors unleashed by a foul necromancer, who also happens to have taken your brother hostage... guide a band of elvish survivors in an epic quest to find a new home.

200+ unit types. 16 races. 6 major factions. Hundreds of years of history. The world of Wesnoth is absolutely huge and limited only by your creativity - make your own custom units, compose your own maps, and write your own scenarios or even full-blown campaigns. You can also challenge up to 8 friends - or strangers - and fight in epic multi-player fantasy battles.

OS: Windows, Linux, MacOSX, BeOS, Solaris, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, AmigaOS4, OS/2
Open Source

BZFlag - Battlezone clone

BZFlag is a free online multiplayer cross-platform open source 3D tank battle game. The name originates from "Battle Zone capture the Flag". It runs on Irix, Linux, *BSD, Windows, Mac OS X, and many other platforms. It's one of the most popular games ever on Silicon Graphics machines and continues to be developed and improved to this day. It's one of the most popular open source games ever. For more information, check out some of the reviews.

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

C-evo - Civilization style game

C-evo is a freeware empire building game for Windows.
With a time scope of several thousand years, it covers aspects of exploration and expansion, industry and agriculture, warfare and diplomacy, science and administration. C-evo follows the spirit of popular turn-based strategy games from the mid 90s, but with more emphasis on powerful AI and careful design of the rules, resulting in a true challenge.

OS: Win95 or later
Open Source

Cube 2: - Games based on the Cube and Cube 2 game engine

Free single and multi player 1st person shooter game with some satisfying fast oldskool gameplay. A large variety of gameplay modes from classic SP to fast 1 on 1 MP and objective based teamplay, with a great variety of original maps to play on.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD
Open Source

Cube 2: Sauerbraten - FPS based on the Cube Engine

Cube 2: Sauerbraten is a free multiplayer/singleplayer first person shooter, built as a major redesign of the Cube FPS.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Doomsday Engine

Windows/Unix/Mac OS X source port of Doom, Heretic and Hexen. Lets you enjoy the original games using modern technology. Supports e.g. OpenGL, Direct3D, DirectSound3D, 3D models, unlimited framerate, high-resolution graphics, simulated radiosity.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Linux, BSD, POSIX and Mac OS X
Open Source

THE ELDER SCROLLS: ARENA™

THE ELDER SCROLLS: ARENA™ (9 MB)
You can view the installation instructions here, or check the Docs folder after you run the EXE.

Minimum system requirements:
386/25 MHZ, DOS 5.0, 4MB RAM, 25MB HD Space, VGA graphics card, Mouse, Soundcard (Ensoniq, Aria, Roland, SoundBlaster, Ultrasound).

OS: DOS (FreeDOS?)

THE ELDER SCROLLS II: DAGGERFALL

THE ELDER SCROLLS II: DAGGERFALL (148 MB)
You can view the installation instructions here.

Minimum system requirements:
486DX2/66 MHZ, DOS 6.0, 8MB RAM, 50MB HD Space, 256-color VGA graphics card, Mouse, Soundcard (Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, AWE 32, Pro Audio Spectrum, Ensoniq Soundscape, Gravis Ultrasound).

OS: DOS (FreeDOS?)

Eternal Lands is a FREE MMORPG Windows, Mac, and Linux

Eternal Lands is a FREE MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) currently under development. The game is now in Beta stage, but that doesn't mean it's incomplete. It's currently fully playable and we are constantly working on adding more things to do, more items to make, monsters to fight, and also improving the current systems.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Flash based games - miscellaneous

FlightGear - is an open-source flight simulator.

The FlightGear flight simulator project is an open-source, multi-platform, cooperative flight simulator development project. Source code for the entire project is available and licensed under the GNU General Public License.

The goal of the FlightGear project is to create a sophisticated flight simulator framework for use in research or academic environments, for the development and pursuit of other interesting flight simulation ideas, and as an end-user application. We are developing a sophisticated, open simulation framework that can be expanded and improved upon by anyone interested in contributing.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Freeciv - Civilization clone (network playable)

Freeciv is a free turn-based multiplayer strategy game, in which each player becomes the leader of a civilization, fighting to obtain the ultimate goal: To become the greatest civilization.

Players of the Civilization® series by Microprose® should feel at home, since one aim of Freeciv is to have optional modes (called rulesets) with compatible rules.

Freeciv is maintained by an international team of coders and enthusiasts, and is easily one of the most fun and addictive network games out there!

That also means it has very extensive multilanguage support, something rare in games.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

FreeCol - Clone of Colonization

The FreeCol team aims to create an Open Source version of Colonization (released under the GPL). At first we'll try to make an exact clone of Colonization. The visuals will be brought up to date with more recent standards but will remain clean, simple and functional. Certain new 'features' will be implemented but the gameplay and the rules will be exactly the same as the original game. Examples of modern features are: an isometric map and multiplayer support.
This clone will be developed incrementally and result in FreeCol 1.0.0 which will be an almost exact Colonization clone. Incremental development basically means that we'll add features one at a time. This allows us to have a running program at all times and also to release an unfinished but working game once in a while.

OS: Java
Open Source

Freedroid - Paradroid clone

THE CLASSICAL FREEDROID: Freedroid is a clone of the classic game "Paradroid" on Commodore 64 with some improvements and extensions to the classic version.

In this game, you control a robot, depicted by a small white ball with a few numbers within an interstellar spaceship consisting of several decks connected by elevators.

The aim of the game is to destroy all enemy robots, depicted by small black balls with a few numbers, by either shooting them or seizing control over them by creating connections in a short subgame of electric circuits.

Development of this game is now complete.  The final version came out in august 2003 and runs on Linux, Mac OSX, Sharp Zaurus and even that strange Windows wannabe of an operating system.  Thanks to all who helped.  Minor fixes and maintainance will of course still continue though...

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Zaurus.
Open Source

FreeOrion - Master of Orion style game
2nd Link

Players take the helm of a newly-spaceborne Empire to explore and colonize the stars. Sometimes thought of as "Civilization in space," FreeOrion's design also provides for a tactical combat engine along the lines of Homeworld and the Total War series.

OS: Win XP, Linux
Open Source

Frozen Bubble bubble bobble (?) clone

Full-featured, colorful animated penguin eyecandy, 100 levels of 1p game, hours and hours of 2p game, a level-editor, 3 professional quality 20-channels music tracks, 15 stereo sound effects, 7 unique graphical transition effects.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD
Open Source

Globulation 2 - real time strategy game

Globulation 2 is an innovative Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game which reduces micro-management by automatically assigning tasks to units. Take a look at the screenshots or just download and try it right now. Globulation 2 is Free Software, licensed and distributed under the GNU General Public License.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

SuperTuxKart - a 3D kart racing game

Super Tux Kart is a 3D kart racing game based on TuxKart with funny characters.

GLtronTRON lightcycle style game

Well, as the name suggests, it's inspired by the movie TRON. Or more exactly, by all the games that where inspired by the movie TRON.

You steer a futuristic bike, called lightcycle. Combat takes place in a rectangular arena. Your bike leaves a trail behind, which is like a wall. The goal is to force the other players to drive into a wall. The winner is the last player alive.

OS: Windows, Mac OS9 - OS X, Linux
Open Source

LBreakout2

The successor to LBreakout offers you a new challenge in more than 50 levels with loads of new bonuses (goldshower, joker, explosive balls, bonus magnet ...), maluses (chaos, darkness, weak balls, malus magnet ...) and special bricks (growing bricks, explosive bricks, regenerative bricks ...). If you are still hungry for more after that you can create your own levelsets with the integrated level editor.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BeOS, Amiga OS 4, Macromedia flash (?)
Open Source

NetHack - (ASCII graphics) a single player dungeon exploration game

NetHack is a single player dungeon exploration game that runs on a wide variety of computer systems. But that's a very dry description. See the Guidebook for much more information, including the game commands.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux?
Open Source

NetRacer - a simple racing game

Overview:

NetRacer is a simple racing game written to demonstrate the potential of multiplayer games over the Internet with the Commodore 64.  It builds on our earlier two-player effort Artillery Duel with realtime gameplay and the addition of a server.

The game was unveiled at the Cincinnati Commodore Computer Club Expo 2008.  Check out the Powerpoint presentation about the project and pictures of the event and setup.

OS: Commodore 64

Neverball - miniature golf game

Tilt the floor to roll a ball through an obstacle course before time runs out. Neverball is part puzzle game, part action game, and entirely a test of skill.Also found here is Neverputt, a hot-seat multiplayer miniature golf game using the physics and graphics of Neverball. Neverball and Neverputt are known to run under Linux, Win2K/XP, FreeBSD, and OSX. Hardware accelerated OpenGL is required. A 500MHz processor is recommended.

OS: Win2000 - Win XP, Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Nexuiz a 3d deathmatch game Windows, Mac, and Linux

   Nexuiz is a 3d deathmatch game project, created online by a team of developers called Alientrap. It is available for download for Windows, Mac, and Linux (all the same archive).The first version was released May 31st 2005, released entirely GPL and free over the net, a first for a project of its kind. Since the release the game is still being updated and developed, currently at version 2.1 and new releases being developed.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

Pingus - a free Lemmings clone

Pingus is a free Lemmings clone for GNU/Linux and Windows covered under the GNU GPL. Pingus uses ClanLib  and libxml and might also be usable on some other OSs like FreeBSD, but hasn't been tested there. Pingus is mainly developed under GNU/Linux, that's why the Windows port is sometimes a bit behind.

Open Source

Planeshift - MMORPG

PlaneShift is a Role Playing Game immersed into a 3D virtual fantasy world which is FULLY FREE to play. Fully free means you will have no surprises of premium content which will limit your gameplay or unbalance the game. There are no limitations in skills, ranks, abilities, items you can gain with your free account. There are no time limits or additional constraints. Other similar games just advertize the "free" concept to sell you premium accounts. We don't. Servers and bandwidth will be donated by sponsors.

OS: Win2000 - WinVista, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

ScummVM - run LucasArts and other games based on the Scumm engine

ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games, provided you already have their data files. The clever part about this: ScummVM just replaces the executables shipped with the games, allowing you to play them on systems for which they were never designed!

Some of the adventures ScummVM supports include Adventure Soft's Simon the Sorcerer 1 and 2; Revolution's Beneath A Steel Sky, Broken Sword 1 and Broken Sword 2; Flight of the Amazon Queen; Wyrmkeep's Inherit the Earth; Coktel Vision's Gobliiins; Westwood Studios' The Legend of Kyrandia and games based on LucasArts' SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion) system such as Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max and more. You can find a thorough list with details on which games are supported and how well on the compatibility page. ScummVM is continually improving, so check back often.

Among the systems on which you can play those games are Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Dreamcast, PocketPC, PalmOS, AmigaOS, BeOS, OS/2, PSP, PS2, SymbianOS and many more...

OS: Windos, Linux, Mac OS X and too many others to list.
Open Source

Sokoban YASC - Yet Another Sokoban Clone Game

Sokoban YASC - Yet Another Sokoban Clone - for Windows. Abundant game features, such as unlimited undo, path finding, reverse mode, and a replay mode. Good import functions, level editor, highly configurable, e.g., skinning.

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

Space Invaders OpenGL - based on the arcade game

Space Invaders OpenGL is a 2D/3D game based on the old arcade classic in which you must destroy enemy ships by shooting them up.

It is developed in OpenGL under Visual C++, and is still in development (alpha version).
It should run under Windows 98/ME/2000/XP with a 3D accelerator card and OpenGL drivers.

Open Source

Starport: Galactic Empires massively multiplayer action strategy game

The hit game Starport is now available and still 100% free to play. Be the captain of a space-ship in this fully graphical action game. Carve out a name for yourself in a multi-player world full of intrigue and strategy. Team up with other real people, or blast them out of the sky. Explore distant star systems, establish colonies on alien worlds, hunt for treasures, and try to become the most famous captain in all the galaxy!

OS: Windows

Stella - Atari 2600 Emulator

Stella is a multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Stella was originally developed for Linux by Bradford W. Mott, however, since its original release several people have joined the development team to port Stella to other operating systems such as AcornOS, AmigaOS, DOS, FreeBSD, IRIX, Linux, OS/2, MacOS, Unix, and Windows. The development team is working hard to perfect the emulator and we hope you enjoy our effort.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, WinCE, Mac OS X, Linux

Super Star Trek

Super Star Trek is quite possibly the best of the "Star Trek" games from the 1970's. Of course, it does not make use of graphics, or even assume a video display, but it still an interesting game to play, particularly for those of us who don't have the reflexes we used to and prefer a more cerebral computer game.

Of course, Star Trek and it's characters are trademarks of Paramount Studios, Inc. And just like the original game, written by Star Trek fans who were also the, back then, rare breed of computer geek, isn't used with permission but with admiration of the show.

OS: Windows (console), Mac OS X, Linux
Note:  The page works but the download links don't.  I have copies and will be setting them up for download soon.
Open Source

SuperTuxKart - a 3D kart racing game

Super Tux Kart is a 3D kart racing game based on TuxKart with funny characters.

The TA Spring Project- Total Annihalation clone

Spring is a project to create the best RTS ever (no joke). There are three principle goals which we hope to achieve.

   1. Reach a stage where TA Spring can flawlessly execute most of Total Annihilation's original gameplay, with its original units in their original format.
   2. Add new features as we see fit, fix bugs, and release new versions when we feel it is appropriate to do so.
   3. Support the mod community as we see fit.
   4. Improving the already fine original TA Interface in a way that the Players will have more tatctical Options, more Control, more Comfort and still don`t get lost, as long as they are willing to learn.

OS: Windows, Linux (Requires Total Annihalation still)
Open Source

Thunder&Lightning - a futuristic 3D action flight simulator and realtime strategy game

Thunder&Lightning is a futuristic action flight simulator and realtime strategy game that takes place in a large 3D environment. Jump into the pilot seat of your Lightning aircraft and fight against Thunder tanks in a fierce battle for control of the island!

Apart from flight simulators, Thunder&Lightning takes inspiration from (but is not a clone or remake of) the 80's classic Carrier Command. This means that you will find yourself in control of a futuristic carrier with aircraft and amphibious tanks at your disposal. In the long run, there will be multiple Islands to conquer, each with its own defense strategy.

Although Thunder&Lightning already supports missions, it aims to be an open-ended game with a dynamically developing world with scripted events on some occasions.

Thunder&Lightning is released under the GNU General Public License.

OS: Win2000 - WinVista, Linux
Open Source

TrueCombat:Elite

"TC:E is a modern world total conversion modification of the free, popular, stand-alone third-person shooter Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. That is, TC:E is an entirely free game, made by gamers, for gamers.

TrueCombat:Elite (TC:E) is a realistic first person shooter set against the backdrop of modern urban warfare. The player can expect thrilling shootouts, an emphasis on tactical team play, engaging close quarter fighting and some of the best weapons of modern warfare.

Note: This game requires the earlier Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory to install.
OS: Windows

UFO: ALIEN INVASION - strategy game

UFO: ALIEN INVASION is a strategy game featuring tactical combat against hostile alien forces which are about to infiltrate earth at this very moment. You are in command of a small special unit which has been founded to face the alien strike force. To be successful on the long run, you will also have to have a research team study the aliens and their technologies in order to learn as much as possible about their technology, their goals and the aliens themselves.

OS: Windows, Linux
Note: Based on Quake 2 engine (modified)
Open Source?

VegaStrike - game
Vega Strike Mod - Privateer - Wing Commander Privateer clone

A 3D Space Simulator that allows you to trade and bounty hunt in a vast universe.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

WinUAE - Amiga Emulator

Windows port of the UAE Amiga Emulator

OS: Windows (DirectX 8+)


Xultris - tetris for firefox

Xultris is a Firefox extension developed by mackers that brings Tetris addiction to your favorite browser. Once installed you start it via the Tools (?) menu with options to start a single or two player game, display a background image and a grid to help guide the tetraminoes as they fall.

Like in the original Tetris you can set a starting level and add some junk to the base for additional difficulty.

OS: Firefox

101 Free Games
OS: Win95 - Win XP   

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Miscellaneous

Asterisk® - the Open Source PBX!

Asterisk

Asterisk is a complete PBX in software. It runs on Linux, BSD and MacOSX and provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX and more. Asterisk does voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware.
Features

Asterisk provides Voicemail services with Directory, Call Conferencing, Interactive Voice Response and Call Queuing. It has support for three-way calling, caller ID services, ADSI, SIP and H.323 (as both client and gateway). Check the Features section for a more complete list.

OS: Mac OS X, Linux, BSD Unix variants
Open Source

CCS64 - A Commodore 64 Emulator

CCS64 is a Commodore 64 Emulator for PC and also in the future other platforms. It was developed by me, Per Hĺkan Sundell, as my Master Thesis at my university in 1995 and have been expanded a lot since then. My personal  interest in the C64 has been very intensive since 1983 when I was spending nearly all my time with it, and I was deeply involved in the so called "Scene". When I later in 1987 bought my Amiga 500, I missed the old good times I had with my C64 and since then I have tried my very best to make all the old programs to work on my new machines. One of my first attempts was to resurrect the old C64 music, the famous SID chip. In 1990 I and Ron Birk released a demo called "100 most remembered C64 tunes" which was very popular, and in 1991 we released the very first tool for Amiga called "PlaySID" which later inspired a lot of similar programs on other platforms.

OS: Win98 - WinVista

Free Clipart

To use our free clip art, please save and upload them to your server space and
give us credit due for our work by linking back to "Free Gifs & Animations". Thank You.

Free-Clipart.Com

Welcome to Free-Clipart.Com!  Use these sources to enhance any Web site, presentation or printed material. Project a professional image with icons, lines, clip art, banners, borders, buttons, animations, bars and backgrounds. Browse, download and enjoy! Just be sure to use the images as the artists intended.

FreePBX Configuration tool for Asterisk (see above)

FreePBX is a standardized implementation of Asterisk is based around a web-based configuration interface and other tools.

Note: 2.1.2 has had some significant security vulnerabilities removed. All users of AMP or FreePBX are advised to update to 2.1.2 as soon as possible.

Open Source

OpenPBX.org

About the project:
OpenPBX.org is an open Source Private Branch Exchange System (PBX) in software for the Linux Operating system.  OpenPBX.org is licenesd under the GNU General Public License or GPL.

Goals:
The goal of the project is to produce a free Software PBX that will be highly robust and stable, featureful, and easy to use and deploy.  We will build a positive and forward-thinking community around OpenPBX.org to support it and carry it forward.

OS: Linux
Open Source

Plone - a content management framework

Plone is a content management framework that works hand-in-hand and sits on top of Zope, a widely-used Open Source web application server and development system. To use Plone, you don't need to learn anything about Zope; to develop new Plone content types, a small amount of Zope knowledge is helpful, and it is covered in the documentation.

Available in over 35 languages, Plone was designed from the ground up for multilingual content management. It handles Chinese, Japanese, and even right-to-left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew with ease.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, Solaris
Open Source

PortableApps.com  Useful programs usable from thumbdrive

Convenient

Now you can carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you. Use them on any Windows computer. All without leaving any personal data behind.
Open

PortableApps.com provides a truly open platform that works with any hardware you like (USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive, etc). It's open source built around an open format that any hardware vendor or software developer can use.
Free

The Portable Apps Suite™ is free. It contains no spyware. There are no advertisements. It isn't a limited or trial version. There is no additional hardware or software to buy. You don't even have to give out your email address. It's 100% free to use, free to copy and free to share.

OS: Win2000 - WinVista, Wine
Open Source

Virtual Dimension - a virtual desktop

So, first of all, what is a virtual desktop? Simply said, a "desktop" is what you see when you run windows: the actual windows desktop, with the icons on it; some open windows; some minimized windows. The main goal of the project is thus to allow working with only some of the applications visible at a time. Later, some other windows may be visible. The program thus allows to have a few set of applications/windows, where you can simply choose which group is visible, and switch between one group or the other.

Now, one may ask what is the interest of such a thing ? Well, this is quite simple. If you only have a few windows open at any time, I guess there isn't much interest. However, if you are working with lots of applications, you desktop can easily become overcrowded: you lose time finding your windows, taskbar buttons are too small for you to read the text and find the right window, using drag and drop becomes a nightmare... The solution is Virtual Dimension.

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

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Networking

Samba - Networking software

Samba is software that can be run on a platform other than Microsoft Windows, for example, UNIX, Linux, IBM System 390, OpenVMS, and other operating systems. Samba uses the TCP/IP protocol that is installed on the host server. When correctly configured, it allows that host to interact with a Microsoft Windows client or server as if it is a Windows file and print server.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, OS/2
Open Source

Virtual Server 2005 - R2 Enterprise Edition for Free
OS: Windows XP

WinTC - Traffic Controller is an NT service program that controls outbound network bandwidth.
OS: Win NT

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Office Software

AbiWord - Word Processor

AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word. It is suitable for a wide variety of word processing tasks.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Antiword - MS Word reader

Antiword is a free MS Word reader for Linux and RISC OS. There are ports to FreeBSD, BeOS, OS/2, Mac OS X, Amiga, VMS, NetWare, Plan9, EPOC, Zaurus PDA, MorphOS, Tru64/OSF, Minix, Solaris and DOS. Antiword converts the binary files from Word 2, 6, 7, 97, 2000, 2002 and 2003 to plain text and to PostScript TM.

OS: Linux, RisCOS, BSD and Mac OS X
Open Source

GnuCash - personal and small-business financial-accounting software

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.

Designed to be easy to use, yet powerful and flexible, GnuCash allows you to track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses. As quick and intuitive to use as a checkbook register, it is based on professional accounting principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reports.

OS: Windows, Linux, BSD, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Gnumeric - spreadsheet

The goal of Gnumeric is to be the best possible spreadsheet. We are not attempting to clone existing applications. However, Gnumeric can read files saved with other spreadsheets and we offer a customizable feel that attempts to minimize the costs of transition.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Lotus Symphony - Office suite

IBM® Lotus® Symphony™ is a richly-featured set of productivity tools that are intuitive and easy to use and provided at no charge. There are three applications that make up Lotus Symphony: Lotus Symphony Documents, Lotus Symphony Spreadsheets, Lotus Symphony Presentations.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Must register

MySQL - database

MySQL Community Edition is a freely downloadable version of the world's most popular open source database that is supported by an active community of open source developers and enthusiasts.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, BSD

The OpenCD - windows software collection

TheOpenCD is a collection of high quality Free and Open Source Software. The programs run in Windows and cover the most common tasks such as word processing, presentations, e-mail, web browsing, web design, and image manipulation. We include only the highest quality programs, which have been carefully tested for stability and which we consider appropriate for a wide audience. Read more about TheOpenCD.

OS: Windows
Open Source

OpenDisc - windows software collection

Collection of free software on CD. Similar to The OpenCD.

OS: Windows
Open Source

Openoffice. org - Office Suite

OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris
Open Source

Oracle - Database 10g Express Edition

Oracle Database 10g Express Edition (Oracle Database XE) is an entry-level, small-footprint database based on the Oracle Database 10g Release 2 code base that's free to develop, deploy, and distribute; fast to download; and simple to administer. Oracle Database XE is a great starter database for:

    * Developers working on PHP, Java, .NET, XML, and Open Source applications
    * DBAs who need a free, starter database for training and deployment
    * Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and hardware vendors who want a starter database to distribute free of charge
    * Educational institutions and students who need a free database for their curriculum

With Oracle Database XE, you can now develop and deploy applications with a powerful, proven, industry-leading infrastructure, and then upgrade when necessary without costly and complex migrations. Read what users say about Oracle Database XE.

Oracle Database XE can be installed on any size host machine with any number of CPUs (one database per machine), but XE will store up to 4GB of user data, use up to 1GB of memory, and use one CPU on the host machine.

OS: Windows, Linux

PDFCreator - Sets up as a printer and allows any program that can print create a PDF.

PDFCreator is a free tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application.

Key Features:
    * Create PDFs from any program that is able to print
    * Security: Encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened, printed etc.
    * Send generated files via eMail
    * Create more than just PDFs: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, EPS
    * AutoSave files to folders and filenames based on Tags like Username, Computername, Date, Time etc.
    * Merge multiple files into one PDF
    * Easy Install: Just say what you want and everything is installed
    * Terminal Server: PDFCreator also runs on Terminal Servers without problems
    * And the best: PDFCreator is free, even for commercial use! It is Open Source and released under the Terms of the GNU General Public License.

OS: Windows
Open Source

PDFSam - PDF splitter and joiner.

Windows/Mac/Linux (All platforms): Join PDFs together, split them apart and pull out individual pages with pdfsam, an open-source, Java-based cross-platform tool that's a free download. The program, just released in a 1.0 alpha, does basic PDF manipulation pretty quickly, and job processes can be saved for common tasks. As with the OS X-native Combine PDFs, it's a handy tool to tuck away for when you need it, like pulling relevant chapters out of a manual or textbook. Pdfsam is a free download and works wherever Java can, but a Windows installation tool is available.

OS: Java

Scribus - Desktop Publishing

Scribus is an open-source program that brings award-winning professional page layout to Linux/Unix, MacOS X and Windows desktops with a combination of "press-ready" output and new approaches to page layout.

Underneath the modern and user friendly interface, Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK color, separations, ICC color management and versatile PDF creation.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Tesseract - OCR

A commercial quality OCR engine originally developed at HP between 1985 and 1995. In 1995, this engine was among the top 3 evaluated by UNLV. It was open-sourced by HP and UNLV in 2005.

Note: This product was "dead" for a number of years and has not been reanimated for very long so it is behind the times.
OS: ?
Open Source

WordPress - is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform

WordPress is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. What a mouthful. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

More simply, WordPress is what you use when you want to work with your blogging software, not fight it.

OS: None.  Needs PHP, MySQL and Apache

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Programming tools and source code

AntiCutAndPaste

About:
AntiCutAndPaste is designed to search for text fragments that have been copied and pasted in programming language source code or plain text. It has been tested on sources from large C++, Pascal, Java, and C# (Mono) projects. The algorithms used are very fast and can handle up to three million C++ code lines in one minute. Minor modifications of code are ignored during the search. Reports are sorted conveniently by the total size of all similar fragments and there are many report customization options.

OS: Windows, Linux, BSD

ClanLib - cross platform C++ framework

ClanLib is a cross platform C++ framework. Essentially the library offers a series of different functionality under a streamlined API. Its primary focus is on games, although its not limited for that usage only.
Rough Overview of ClanLib Functionality

    * Supports Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X
    * Basic cross platform runtime (threading, file I/O, etc.)
    * Template based C++ signal library (type-safe callbacks / delegates)
    * Integrated resource management
    * Sound mixer supporting wav, mikmod formats (mod/s3m/xm/..), ogg vorbis
    * XML/DOM support
    * High-level 2D graphics API supporting OpenGL and SDL as render targets
    * Batch rendering engine giving maximum performance when rendering 2D with OpenGL
    * 2D collision detection
    * 2D sprite animation support
    * Highly customizable GUI framework
    * Network library with low-level to high-level interfaces
    * Cross platform OpenGL 2.0 wrapper (target Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X at the same time)
    * Full reference manual and many overviews which goes in detail on various topics in clanlib

OS:  Windows (OGL), Mac, Linux
Open Source

Crystal Space - portable 3D Game Development Kit written in C++

Crystal Space is a free (LGPL) and portable 3D Game Development Kit written in C++. It supports: true six degrees of freedom, colored lighting, lightmapped and stencil based lighting, shader support (CG, vertex programs, fragment programs, ...), mipmapping, portals, mirrors, alpha transparency, reflective surfaces, 3D sprites (frame based or with skeletal animation using cal3d animation library), procedural textures, particle systems, halos, volumetric fog, scripting (using Python, Perl, Java, or potentially other languages), 16-bit and 32-bit display support, OpenGL, and software renderer, font support (also with freetype), hierarchical transformations, physics plugin based on ODE, ... See the extensive list of features for more details.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix,
Open Source

Doxygen - Source code documentation generator tool

   
Source code documentation generator tool

Doxygen is a documentation system for C++, C, Java, Objective-C, Python, IDL (Corba and Microsoft flavors), Fortran, VHDL, PHP, C#, and to some extend D.

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

FlashDevelop - code editor

  FlashDevelop is a free and open source code editor.  Microsoft Windows .NET 2.0 application

OS: Windows .NET 2.0
Open Source

FMSLogo

A Logo programming environment for MS-Windows operating systems. FMSLogo (contrasted with other Logo dialects) has an easy-to-use GUI that encourages learning, especially for young children. FMSLogo was once called MSWLogo.

OS: Windows
Open Source

FreeBASIC - MS-QuickBASIC compatible for DOS Linux and Windows

FreeBASIC - as the name suggests - is a completely free, open-source, 32-bit BASIC compiler, with the syntax the most compatible possible with MS-QuickBASIC, that adds new features such as pointers, unsigned data types, inline-assembly and many others.

OS: DOS, Windows, Linux
Open Source

Free Pascal - programming language

Free Pascal (aka FPK Pascal) is a 32 and 64 bit professional Pascal compiler. It is available for different processors: Intel x86, Amd64/x86 64, PowerPC, Sparc. The discontinued 1.0 version also supports the Motorola 680x0.

OS: Windows,Mac OS classic, Mac OS X/Darwin, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2, Netware and MorphOS
Open Source

GIT - distributed version control system

Git is a free & open source, distributed version control system  designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency.

Every Git clone is a full-fledged repository with complete history and full revision tracking capabilities, not dependent on network access or a central server. Branching and merging are fast and easy to do.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

GLBasic - portable flexible BASIC

If you are searching for an easy to learn, fast to write, and flexible language for programming games, then GLBasic is what you need.
GLBasic is so good because we actively develop it every day. Thus, we fix bugs quickly, implement new features on a daily basis. We are also enthusiastic game developers, so we know what you need!

    * All you need to write high performance games
    * with the easiest, most intuitive, BASIC-like language available.
    * All the commands have been chosen carefully and feature consistent, logical high level syntax, which is also very easy to learn.
    * Write a game once, then compile for Windows, PocketPC and Linux without changing the source code at all.
    * Don't waste time that you don't have, concentrate on the essentials.
    * We've written a PONG game within 30 minutes.
    * A space shooter in 2 hours.
    * A Boulderdash clone in 60 minutes. (Including drawing all the game graphics!)

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

The GNU Scientific Library (GSL) - libraries for developing scientific software

The subroutines in the GNU Scientific Library are “free software”; this means that everyone is free to use them, and to redistribute them in other free programs. The library is not in the public domain; it is copyrighted and there are conditions on its distribution. These conditions are designed to permit everything that a good cooperating citizen would want to do. What is not allowed is to try to prevent others from further sharing any version of the software that they might get from you.

Open Source

The Irrlicht Engine - high performance realtime 3D engine written and usable in C++

The Irrlicht Engine is an open source high performance realtime 3D engine written and usable in C++ and also available for .NET languages. It is completely cross-platform, using D3D, OpenGL and its own software renderer, and has all of the state-of-the-art features which can be found in commercial 3d engines.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

MASM32 - Assembler

The MASM32 SDK version 10 is a working development environment for programmers who are interested in either learning or writing 32 bit Microsoft assembler (MASM). The installation is an automated process that installs the correct directory tree structure on the local drive of your choice. Note that MASM32 will not install on a network drive. MASM32 comes with its own runtime library written fully in assembler and an extensive range of macros for improved high level emulation and faster development. It builds its own IMPORT libraries for the Windows API functions and supplies its own include files for a very large number of API functions.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Microsoft .NET Framework SDK

The Microsoft® .NET Framework Software Development Kit (SDK) version 1.1 includes everything developers need to write, build, test, and deploy .NET Framework applications—documentation, samples, and command-line tools and compilers. You must install the .NET Framework Redistributable Package version 1.1 prior to installing the .NET Framework SDK.

OS: Win2000 - Win XP

OGRE - open source real time 3D rendering engine.

OGRE v1.2 [Dagon] represents the culmination of 5 years of continuous development, resulting in what is now regarded by many as the leading open source real time 3D rendering engine. OGRE is packed with features  to make your development life easier, whether you're making games, architectural visualisation, simulations, or anything else which requires a top-notch 3D rendering solution.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

PLIB - libraries for realtime interactive and portable applications

I (and an ever increasing band of helpers) have been spending time to build a set of OpenSource (LGPL) libraries that will permit programmers to write games and other realtime interactive applications that are 100% portable across a wide range of hardware and operating systems.

PLIB includes sound effects, music, a complete 3D engine, font rendering, a simple Windowing library, a game scripting language, a GUI, networking, 3D math library and a collection of handy utility functions. All are 100% portable across nearly all modern computing platforms. What's more, it's all available on line - and completely free. Each library component is fairly independent of the others - so if you want to use SDL, GTK, GLUT, or FLTK instead of PLIB's 'PW' windowing library, you can.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix
Open Source

Quake 1-3 Source Code - open sourced by ID Software

*Note: The files accessible from this page are available with varying levels of support. Demos and point releases are generally supported by the particular game's distributor. Source code, tools, and documentation are occasionally updated, but are not officially supported by id Software or the game's distributor.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

Scintilla - a free source code editing component

Scintilla is a free source code editing component. It comes with complete source code and a license that permits use in any free project or commercial product.

As well as features found in standard text editing components, Scintilla includes features especially useful when editing and debugging source code. These include support for syntax styling, error indicators, code completion and call tips. The selection margin can contain markers like those used in debuggers to indicate breakpoints and the current line. Styling choices are more open than with many editors, allowing the use of proportional fonts, bold and italics, multiple foreground and background colours and multiple fonts.

OS: WinXP, Linux
Open Source

SCons

SCons is a software construction tool--that is, a superior alternative to the classic "Make" build tool that we all know and love.

SCons is implemented as a Python script and set of modules, and SCons "configuration files" are actually executed as Python scripts. This gives SCons many powerful capabilities not found in other software build tools.

OS: Windows and Linux
Open Source

Sharp Develop

#develop (short for SharpDevelop) is a free IDE for C#, VB.NET and Boo projects on Microsoft's .NET platform. It is open-source, and you can download both sourcecode and executables from this site. In addition, you can find the latest information and changes on #develop, as well as get in touch with the team in the forum.   

OS: Win2000 - Win XP

Visual Studio 2005 - Prerelease Software

Visual Studio 2005 provides a range of tools that offer many benefits for individual developers and software development teams

OS: Win2000 - Win XP

VPatch - a free patch generator

VPatch is a free patch generator which can generate small patch files which can update old versions to new versions. This means that if the old version is installed on the user system, you can patch it to the new version, and you don't have to distribute the full new version, only the much smaller patch.

OS: Windows
Open Source

WinMerge - text file differencing and merging tool

WinMerge is an Open Source visual text file differencing and merging tool for Win32 platforms. It is highly useful for determing what has changed between project versions, and then merging changes between versions.

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

XBasic - Programming Language

XBasic is an integrated software development environment including an advanced compiler, edit/run/debug environment, and interactive GuiDesigner.

OS: Win95 - Win XP, Linux
Open Source

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Utilities A - M

BartPE - bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD

What is BartPE and PE Builder?

Bart's PE Builder helps you build a "BartPE" (Bart Preinstalled Environment) bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD from the original Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 installation/setup CD, very suitable for PC maintenance tasks.

It will give you a complete Win32 environment with network support, a graphical user interface (800x600) and FAT/NTFS/CDFS filesystem support. Very handy for burn-in testing systems with no OS, rescuing files to a network share, virus scan and so on.
This will replace any Dos bootdisk in no time!

OS: WinXP - Win 2003
Useful as a rescue CD.

Boot Disks - and utilities and tweaks

The majority of tips, tweaks, files, bootdisks, instructions, utilities, links, patches, updates, and all other information contained on this site are posted for experienced DOS and Windows users.

I favor non-invasive applications. Keep in mind tho that some of the best non-invasive programs can also be some of the most powerful.

OS: DOS, Windows

Cdrtools: - CD burning tools

Cdrtools: Win32 Binaries

OS: Win32

Circle Virtual CD - creates a virtual CD-ROM drive on your Windows PC

Circle Virtual CD creates a virtual CD-ROM drive on your Windows PC. This allows you to make images of your favorite CD-ROMs and use them without inserting a CD into a CD-ROM drive. Circle Virtual CD: 1) improves the speed at which you access data, 2) stops you from having to switch disks in and out of your CD-ROM drive. Use Circle Virtual CD to easily access your favorite games, favorite music or favorite software programs. Since Circle Virtual CD uses CircleScan(tm), nearly *any* CD can be imaged.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

Clonezilla - ghost-like imaging solution/rescue suite.

You're probably familiar with the popular proprietary commercial package Norton Ghost®, and its OpenSource counterpart, Partition Image. The problem with these software packages is that it takes a lot of time to massively clone systems to many computers. You've probably also heard of Symantec's solution to this problem, Symantec Ghost Corporate Edition® with multicasting. Well, now there is an OpenSource clone system (OCS) solution called Clonezilla with unicasting and multicasting!

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Context - Text editor

ConTEXT is a small, fast and powerful freeware text editor, developed to serve as a secondary tool for software developers.

OS: Windows?
Open Source

ConvertAll - another unit converter

With ConvertAll, you can combine the units any way you want. If you want to convert from inches per decade, that's fine. Or from meter-pounds. Or from cubic nautical miles. The units don't have to make sense to anyone else.

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

CPU-Z - gathers information on your system.

       CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.
CPU
    * Name and number.
    * Core stepping and process.
    * Package.
    * Core voltage.
    * Internal and external clocks, clock multiplier.
    * Supported instructions sets.
    * Cache information.

Mainboard
    * Vendor, model and revision.
    * BIOS model and date.
    * Chipset (northbridge and southbridge) and sensor.
    * Graphic interface.

Memory
    * Frequency and timings.
    * Module(s) specification using SPD (Serial Presence Detect) : vendor, serial number, timings table.

System
    * Windows and DirectX version.

OS: Windows

DAEMON Tools - a virtual cd/dvd-rom emulator

DAEMON Tools is an advanced application for multiprotection emulation. It is further development of Generic Safedisc emulator and incorporates all its features. This program allows running Backup Copies of SafeDisc (C-Dilla), Securom, Laserlock, CDCOPS, StarForce and Protect CD (and many others) protected games. Also included is a Virtual DVDROM drive (Generic DVD-ROM) enabling you to use your CD images as if they were already burned to CD! DAEMON Tools works under Windows9x/ME/NT/2000/XP with all types of CD/DVDROM drives (IDE/SCSI) and supports nearly any CD protection.

    * DAEMON Tools needs a 1:1 Copy to run!!
    * DAEMON Tools is used to RUN GAMES, NOT TO BURN THEM!!! Means emulation must be active while you want to play a game, not while burning the copy (except for you want to use DAEMON Tools' "fastdump" feature on a safedisc protected CD).
    * If you want to run a copy protected application from an image mounted to a Generic DVD-ROM enabling the copy protection emulation(s) is NOT necessary!!
    * Generic DVD-ROM is able to run nearly every protected or unprotected CD image (Safedisc®, Securom®, Laserlock®, Lockblocks® etc.) like it was the original CD! Just do an image file using one of the supported burning programs and mount it with Daemon Manager!

DAEMON Tools supports the following image files:

    * cue/bin
    * iso
    * ccd (CloneCD)
    * bwt (Blindwrite)
    * mds (Media Descriptor File)
    * cdi (Discjuggler)
    * nrg (Nero)
    * pdi (Instant CD/DVD)
    * b5t (BlindWrite 5)

OS: Win98 - Win XP


Dead-Disk-Doctor - Recover files from "dead" disks

Dead Disk Doctor - Designed to easy copy files from damaged, scratched or partly unreadable disks or other media.

Dead Disk Doctor is a software that allows you to copy disk files.

The idea based on two types of errors (input/output error and path/file access error). Routine reads file by 10kb blocks and when hardware involves errors, the size of block decrease tenfold and so on until the moment when block of data will be read without any errors, or it reach minimum size of block, then program skips one byte and starts to read second one. After successfully reading data, block size increase tenfold again and again to reach maximum size - 10kb.

OS: Windows
Limited trial
Note: I'm making an exception for this time limited program as a program like this is usually needed only for a short time and then you REALLY need it.  If you find your using it repeatedly you should of course buy it, at $19.95 it is affordable.

Deepburner - CD/DVD Burner software

DeepBurner is an advanced and extremely powerful CD and DVD burning package. It removes the hassle of making CDs, DVDs, and autoruns. It even makes it easy for you to create and print your own labels and booklets. DeepBurner supports a very wide range of internal and external (USB 2.0 and FireWire) CD and DVD writers. Burn any data, copy any disc, make backups, create astonishing photo CD albums, make ISO CDs and Video DVDs with this very easy to handle software!

OS: Windows
Note: Portable version that runs from USB Drives is available as well.

DOSBox - Use DOS programs.

DOSBox emulates an Intel x86 PC, complete with sound, graphics, mouse, modem, etc., necessary for running many old DOS games that simply cannot be run on modern PCs and operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Linux and FreeBSD. However, it is not restricted to running only games. In theory, any DOS application should run in DOSBox, but the emphasis has been on getting DOS games to run smoothly, which means that communication, networking and printer support are still in early developement.

DOSBox also comes with its own DOS-like command prompt. It is still quite rudimentary and lacks many of the features found in MS-DOS, but it is sufficient for installing and running most DOS games.

DOSBox has a lively, user-supported community hosted at VOGONS (Very Old Games On New Systems).

OS: Win2000 - Win XP, Linux, FreeBSD
Open Source

Emerge - a replacement windows "shell"

Emerge Desktop is a replacement windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above. In order to replace Windows Explorer as a shell, it provides a system tray (the area that collects the icons collected at the lower right corner in Explorer), called emergeTray. It will also provide access to the users programs (normally accessed with the windows "start" button) via a right-click on the desktop, via emergeCore.

OS: Win2000 and higher
Open Source

Ext2 Installable File System For Windows - Ext2 and Ext3 read/write on windows

Features

Detailed list of features:

    * Supports Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista and Windows 2008.
    * Supports both the 32 bit x86 and the 64 bit x64 platform.
    * Includes drivers with a digital signature for Windows Vista x64.
    * All operations you would expect: Reading and writing files, listing directories, creating, renaming, moving and deleting files or directories, querying and modifying the volume's label.
    * UTF-8 encoding.
    * Files larger than 2 GBytes. (Please read the FAQ section, too.)
    * Supports hash indexed (htree) directories (utilizes the so-called dir_index feature of Ext3).
    * Full plug-n-play functionality. When a drive is removed, the corresponding drive letter is deleted.
    * Supports use of the Windows mountvol utility to create or delete drive letters for Ext2 volumes (except on Windows NT 4.0). This is useful for scripts. (Please read the FAQ section, too.)
    * A global read-only option is provided.
    * File names that start with a dot "." character are treated as hidden.
    * Supports GPT disks if the Windows version used also does.
    * Paging files are supported. (A paging file is a file "pagefile.sys", which Windows swaps virtual memory to.) Users may create paging files at NT's control panel at Ext2 volumes.
    * Specific functions of the I/O subsystem of NT: Byte range locks, notification of changes of directories, oplocks (which are required by the NT LAN manager for sharing files via SMB).

The file system driver Ext2fs.sys caches file data and the file system's meta data such as directories and all the on-disk structures of the Ext2 file system. (It uses the file cache of the Windows NT operating system.) Therefore it is performant. The level of sophistication of the Ext2 file system driver's implementation is indeed comparable to Windows NT's native file system drivers.

OS: WinNT4 - WinVista


FOG - is a free open-source ghost-like imaging solution/rescue suite.

FOG is a free open-source cloning/imaging solution/rescue suite. A alt. solution used to image Windows XP, Vista PCs using PXE, PartImage, and a Web GUI to tie it together. Includes featues like memory and disk test, disk wipe, av scan & task scheduling.

Open Source

Folder2Iso - creates an iso  from folders

About : Folder2Iso just creates an iso from any kind of folder (with the subfolders).
Its a GUI of mkisofs.
No need of installation , really small exe.
Some of you can say : "What is the point of this tool? Seems useless."
Well dvddecrypter/imgburn can burn cd/dvd for free so if you make an iso easily you can burn your movies on cds/dvd for free. It is also usefull for the dvd2avi guide ...

Fresh Diagnose - free diagnostic tool

Fresh Diagnose
free diagnostic tool
v 8.21: September 22, 2009

Fresh Diagnose is a utility designed to analyze and benchmark your computer system. It detects many kinds of hardware, such as CPU or hard drive performance, video or motherboard information and much more. This software is 100% free, no ads, no spyware.

OS: Windows? - free for personal use - must register

Fresh UI - free tweaking tool

Fresh UI
free tweaking tool
v 8.40: September 12, 2009

Fresh UI is a fresh solution for configuring and optimizing Windows. Loaded with hundreds of useful settings for Windows Vista/XP/2000/ NT4/98/95/Me, it covers the customizing techniques that you'll be glad to know. This software is 100% free, no banner, no spyware.

OS: Win95 - Win Vista - free for personal use - must register

G4L - a hard disk and partition imaging and cloning tool.

G4L is a hard disk and partition imaging and cloning tool. The created images are optionally compressed and transferred to an FTP server or cloned locally. Version 0.30 adds cifs (Windows) on local menu, and mbr and ebr backup.

Open Source

g4u - Harddisk Image Cloning for PCs

g4u ("ghosting for unix") is a NetBSD-based bootfloppy/CD-ROM that allows easy cloning of PC harddisks to deploy a common setup on a number of PCs using FTP. The floppy/CD offers two functions. The first is to upload the compressed image of a local harddisk to a FTP server, the other is to restore that image via FTP, uncompress it and write it back to disk. Network configuration is fetched via DHCP. As the harddisk is processed as an image, any filesystem and operating system can be deployed using g4u. Easy cloning of local disks as well as partitions is also supported.

Open Source

GCPUID - provided CPU info.

Some things GCPUID will show you are:
- Processor and Cache information
- Vendor info
- CPUID
- CPU and Bus speeds
- Instructions sets.
- FID and VID Controls
- And more.

OS: Windows

GeoShell - a replacement windows "shell"

GeoShell is a replacement shell for Windows™ to replace the standard desktop interface. In other words, you trade your start menu, taskbar, system tray and desktop in, and you get our versions, featuring slick, skinnable geoBars which can be placed anywhere and alpha blended into your background. GeoShell has plugins that add additional functionality like rss readers, weather forecasts, mail checkers, web search bars, virtual desktops and more.  In it's default installation geoShell also uses less resources than Windows Explorer, and is particularly effective when combined with third-party web browsers and file managers to completely upgrade your basic Windows interface.

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

GhostScript - Postscript interpreter

Ghostscript, an interpreter for the PostScript language and for PDF, and related software and documentation.

OS: Windows, Linux
Open Source

GNU Emacs - Text editor

Emacs is a text editor and more. At its core is an interpreter for Emacs Lisp (``elisp'', for short), a dialect of the Lisp programming language with extensions to support text editing. Some of the features of GNU Emacs include:
    * Content sensitive major modes for a wide variety of file types, from plain text to source code to HTML files.
    * Complete online documentation, including a tutorial for new users.
    * Highly extensible through the Emacs Lisp language.
    * Support for many languages and their scripts, including all the European ``Latin'' scripts, Russian, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, Ethiopian, and some Indian scripts. (Sorry, Mayan hieroglyphs are not supported.)
    * A large number of extensions which add other functionality. The GNU Emacs distribution includes many extensions; many others are available separately--even a web browser

OS: DOS, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, Solaris, SunOS, AIX, Ultrix
Open Source

Gnome Partition Editor (aka GParted)

Gnome Partition Editor

The GParted application is the GNOME partition editor for creating, reorganizing, and deleting disk partitions.

A disk device can be subdivided into one or more partitions. The GParted application enables you to change the partition organization on a disk device while preserving the contents of the partitions.

With GParted you can accomplish the following tasks:

    * Create a partition table on a disk device.
    * Enable and disable partition flags such as boot and hidden.
    * Perform actions with partitions such as:
          o create or delete
          o resize or move
          o check
          o label
          o copy and paste

GParted uses GNU libparted to detect and manipulate devices and partition tables. Several optional file system tools provide support for file systems not included in libparted.

GParted is developed on GNU/Linux. It can be used on other operating systems, such as Windows, by booting from media containing GParted Live.

GParted is free and open source software available under the terms of the GNU General Public License

OS: Bootable Linux utility CD
Open Source

GpsDrive - GpsDrive is a car (bike, ship, plane) navigation system.

GpsDrive is a car (bike, ship, plane) navigation system. GpsDrive displays your position provided from your NMEA capable GPS receiver on a zoomable map, the map file is autoselected depending of the position and prefered scale. Speech output is supported if the "festival" software is running. The maps are autoselected for best resolution depending of your position and can be downloaded from Internet. All Garmin GPS reveiver with a serial output should be usable, also other GPS receiver which supports NMEA protocol.
GpsDrive is written in C with use of the GTK+ graphic toolkit and runs with Linux and FreeBSD.

OS: Linux
Open Source

Hard Disk Tools - Partition,  Imaging and Backup Software

The hard disk and partition imaging software take a snapshot of your hard disk so that you can restore your system at a later time to the exact same state the system was when you imaged the disk or partition. This is useful for system recovery in case of a hard disk disaster. The term "image" is used because such software often copy the state of the hard disk sector by sector to your image. Hence if your hard disk was (say) defragmented with certain software occupying certain sectors when you backed up, it will be returned to that same state when you restore your backup. The image utilities often do not allow fine control what you backup - you can specify the partitions or hard disks to back up, but you usually will not be able to specify which folders to exclude or include. They are useful for backing up your system drive or partition, that is, the drive that you placed your operating system on. Hard disk imaging software are sometimes also used to clone a hard disk to another (useful for the times you change or upgrade your hard disk).

Note: Actually a collection site of similar programs.  Which OS is supported may vary by program so that is not listed.

HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool - Make USB Drives bootable.

The cool thing is, the HP utility is reported to work with many other flash drives - I have a no-name USB 2.0 thumb drive, made it bootable with the HP utility on a 1.1 USB bus, and then used it to boot a Via EPIA-M2 computer by setting the BIOS to “boot from USB hard drive”.

Although I’m quite comfortable with the command line and a 2 page FAQ, running a GUI and clicking “make bootable” sure speeds things up.

OS: Windows?

InfraRecorder - a free CD/DVD burning solution for Microsoft Windows

InfraRecorder is a free CD/DVD burning solution for Microsoft Windows. It offers a wide range of powerful features; all through an easy to use application interface and Windows Explorer integration.

InfraRecorder is released under GPL version 3.

OS: WinXP - WinVista
Open Source

Input Director - control multiple Windows systems using the keyboard/mouse attached to one computer

About Input Director

Input Director is a Windows application that lets you control multiple Windows systems using the keyboard/mouse attached to one computer. It is designed for folks who have two (or more) computers set up at home and find themselves regularly sliding from one system to the other (and wearing out the carpet in the process!). With Input Director, you can share a single keyboard/mouse across a set of systems. You switch which system receives the input either by hotkey or by moving the cursor so that it transitions from one screen to the other (in a very similar fashion to a multi-monitor setup). The idea being that you can position the monitors from two or more systems in a row and use a shared keyboard/mouse to control all of them.

OS: Win2000 - Win7

ISO Recorder - tool to burn CD and DVD ISOs and copy disks.

Welcome to the ISO Recorder download page. ISO Recorder is a tool (power toy) for Windows XP, 2003 and now Windows Vista, that allows (depending on the Windows version) to burn CD and DVD images (DVD support is only available on Windows Vista), copy disks, make images of the existing data CDs and DVDs and create ISO images from a content of a disk folder.

OS: WinXP - WinVista
Open Source

JCalculator

JCalculator is a freeware. You can evaluate some mathematical expressions by entering an expression to be evaluated and pressing the CALCULATE button.  Copy and paste the results to the other application. The results could be revived since the calculation history is stored in the combo box.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

JExplorer

JExplorer is a dual-panel type file manager and web-browser as well. It is similar to widely used Windows Commander. JExplorer provides many advanced features such as file manager, web browser, file compress/decompress, folder comparator, FTP clent, POP3 email check, image capture, character recognition on the image, virtual drive mount. JExplorer is a freeware and it runs under Windows 95/98/ME and Windows NT4/2K/XP. Power toys JOCR, JMounter, and JCalculator are included in the JExplorer 1.8.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

JMount - mount folders as virtual drives

JMount  is a freeware. JMount allows you to create virtual drives by mapping your favorite folder to a drive letter. The virtual drive behaves as a real hard drive. It makes you save time to browse for a folder with a long file path, and then provides you prompt access to the folder. For example, the folder "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\" could be simply mapped to drive "Z:\".

OS: Win98 - Win XP

JOCR

JOCR is a freeware. JOCR enables you to capture the image on the screen and convert the captured image to text. It is useful to revive the protected files whose text can not be copied.  JOCR enables you to copy text from any files and images on the screen such as protected Web pages, PDF files, error messages.  The program offers several capture modes.

JOCR requires Microsoft Office 2003 or higher version[/color]. If JCOR does not work, please manually install "Micorosoft Office Document Imaging" (MODI) that is included in the setup file of Microsoft Office. You can find MODI under "Office Tools" of the setup file.

OS: Win98 - Win XP

KpyM Telnet/SSH Server

KpyM Telnet/SSH Server ( KTS ) is a free, open source telnet/ssh server for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP/Vista. It provides access to the host computer via the telnet or ssh protocol. Supports command line applications (dir, ftp, etc.) and full color console graphic applications (edit.com, tetris.exe, etc.). KTS accepts connection from any telnet/ssh client running on any OS.

OS: Windows
Open Source

Litestep - a replacement windows "shell"

For those of you picking up LiteStep for the first time you have yet to experience the power and flexibility that you can find in LiteStep. LiteStep was originally written years ago by lonerunnr as a AfterStep interface port for windows. It has since grown into the most powerfull shell still in active development.

OS: Windows?
Open Source?

MagicISO - creates a virtual CD-ROM drive on your Windows PC

MagicDisc is freeware. It is very helpful utility designed for creating and managing virtual CD drives and CD/DVD discs. For anyone who deals with CD-based programs – it is a MUST. MagicDisc allows you to use almost all CD/DVD image without burning them onto CD or DVD in order to easily access your favorite games, music, or software programs ---- It works like a real CD/DVD-ROM: You can run programs, play games, or listen to music from your virtual CD-ROM. Allowing you to run your game images at over 200x faster than from a conventional CD/DVD-ROM

OS: Win98 - Win 7 (includes 64 bit versions)

Memtest86 - A Stand-alone Memory Diagnostic

Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are a quick, cursory check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86.

Memtest86 is released under the terms of the Gnu Public License (GPL). Other than the provisions of the GNU public licence (GPL) there are no restrictions for use, private or commercial. Explicit permission for inclusion of Memtest86 in software compilations and publications is hereby granted.

Since Memtest86 is a standalone program it does not require any operating system support for execution. It can be used with any PC regardless of what operating system, if any, is installed. The test image may be loaded from a floppy disk or may be loaded via LILO on Linux systems. Any Unix, Windows or DOS system may be used to create a boot floppy or bootable CDROM.

[Nemesis]

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Utilities N - Z

Notepad++ - source code editor and Notepad replacement

Notepad++ is a free (as in "free speech" and also as in "free beer") source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License.

Based on a powerful editing component Scintilla, Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness,

OS: Windows
Open Source

Notepad 2 - Notepad replacement

The original Notepad shipped with Windows is probably the handiest program of all times, small, fast, without frills! Notepad2 tries to follow this principle, it's a small, fast and free text editor with syntax highlighting for HTML and other common languages.

OS: Windows
Open Source

NoteTab light - Tabbed note pad with extensive abilities

NoteTab is a leading-edge text and HTML editor. Winner of software industry awards since 1998, this application does it all: it easily handles a stack of huge files; lets you format text to your heart's content; does system-wide searches, and multi-line global replacements. It even corrects your spelling mistakes.

Note: Only the light version is free.  I'm using it to work on this list
OS: Win98 - Win XP

Nullsoft - Scriptable Install System

NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows installers. It is designed to be as small and flexible as possible and is therefore very suitable for internet distribution.

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

pdftk - pdf manipulator

If PDF is electronic paper, then pdftk is an electronic staple-remover, hole-punch, binder, secret-decoder-ring, and X-Ray-glasses. Pdftk is a simple tool for doing everyday things with PDF documents.

OS: Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac OS X
Open Source

PuTTY

PuTTY is a free implementation of Telnet and SSH for Win32 and Unix platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator.

OS: Win95 - WinVista, Unix
Open Source

QEMU

QEMU is a generic and open source machine emulator and virtualizer.

When used as a machine emulator, QEMU can run OSes and programs made for one machine (e.g. an ARM board) on a different machine (e.g. your own PC). By using dynamic translation, it achieves very good performances.

When used as a virtualizer, QEMU achieves near native performances by executing the guest code directly on the host CPU. A host driver called the QEMU accelerator (also known as KQEMU) is needed in this case. The virtualizer mode requires that both the host and guest machine use x86 compatible processors.

QEMU Manager

The QEMU manager provides quick control of the brilliant QEMU Emulator for win32.  It provides media management, virtual machine management, easy storage of your media to iso or floppy disk image files for quick boot with QEMU, and provides basic process management should your QEMU session become unstable.

OS: Windows

Screen Hunter - Screen Capture utility

ScreenHunter 4.0 Free is a completely free screen capture software for you to easily take screenshots.

OS: Win95 - Win XP

SciTE - a SCIntilla based Text Editor.

SciTE is a SCIntilla based Text Editor. Originally built to demonstrate Scintilla, it has grown to be a generally useful editor with facilities for building and running programs. It is best used for jobs with simple configurations - I use it for building test and demonstration programs as well as SciTE and Scintilla, themselves.

OS: Windows, Linux
Open Source

7-Zip - Winzip replacement

The main features of 7-Zip:

    * High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression
    * Supported formats:
          o Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
          o Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS
    * For ZIP and GZIP formats 7-Zip provides compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
    * Self-extracting capability for 7z format
    * Integration with Windows Shell
    * Powerful File Manager
    * Powerful command line version
    * Plugin for FAR Manager
    * Localizations for 63 languages

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux
Open Source

SISoft - benchmarking utility

Tools     Analyse, monitor, rate or test your computer and its individual components.
Benchmarks    Rate the performance of your computer and its individual components.
Hardware (Information)    Get detailed information about all the components of your computer.
Software (Information)    Explore installed applications, processes, modules, services and other software components.
Testing Test your computer's components.

OS: Windows (includeing CE), Mac OS X (Intel), Linux

TeamSpeak - Voice over IP (VoIP) group communications software.

TeamSpeak is a quality, scalable application which enables people to speak with one another over the Internet. TeamSpeak consists of both client and server software. The server acts as a host to multiple client connections, capable of handling literally thousands of simultaneous users. This results in an Internet based teleconferencing solution that works in a variety of applications such as team mates speaking with one another while playing their favorite online game, small businesses cutting costs on long distance charges, or for personal communication with friends and family.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux

The Ultimate Boot CD - CD of recovery and repair tools

You need the Ultimate Boot CD if you want to:

    * Run floppy-based diagnostic tools from CDROM drives. More and more PCs are shipped without floppy drives these days, and it is such a royal pain when you need to run diagnostic tools on them.

    * Free yourself from the slow loading speed of the floppy drive. Even if you do have a floppy drive, it is still much much faster to run your diagnostic tools from the CDROM drive, rather than wait for the tool to load from the floppy drive.

    * Consolidate as many diagnostic tools as possible into one bootable CD. Wouldn't you like to avoid digging into the dusty box to look for the right floppy disk, but simply run them all from a single CD? Then the Ultimate Boot CD is for you!

When you boot up from the CD, a text-based menu will be displayed, and you will be able to select the tool you want to run. The selected tool actually boots off a virtual floppy disk created in memory.

Note: This BootCD contains numerous tools for repair and HD testing and management.

The Ultimate Windows Boot CD - You need an installed XP to make this one.

UBCD4Win is a bootable CD which contains software that allows you to repair/restore/diagnostic almost any computer problem. All software included in UBCD4Win are freeware utilities for Windows®. UBCD4Win is based on Bart's PE©. Bart's PE© builds a Windows® "pre-install" environment CD, basically Windows® booted from CD. With network support, the ability to modify NTFS volumes, recover deleted files, create new NTFS volumes, scan hard drives for viruses, etc. this project includes almost everything you need to repair your system problems. There are many types of utilities included that allow you to recover and/or repair a damaged system. Please visit the "List of Tools" page for a complete list of what is included in the latest version of the project.

OS: Win XP

TightVNC - a free remote control software package

TightVNC is a free remote control software package. With TightVNC, you can see the desktop of a remote machine and control it with your local mouse and keyboard, just like you would do it sitting in the front of that computer. TightVNC is:

    * free, GPL-licensed, with full source code available;
    * useful in remote administration, remote customer support, education, and for many other purposes;
    * cross-platform, available for Windows and Unix, compatible with other VNC software.

OS: Windows, Linux
Open Source

Unlocker - A handy tool to release unwanted file or folder locks, use with care.

Unlock files or folders in Windows that cannot be opened or deleted.

OS: Win2000 - WinVista

UPX - Executable packer

    UPX is a versatile executable packer with the following features:
        * excellent compression ratio: typically compresses better than WinZip/zip/gzip, use UPX to decrease the size of your distribution !
        * very fast decompression: ~10 MB/sec on an ancient Pentium 133, ~200 MB/sec on an Athlon XP 2000+.
        * no memory overhead for your compressed executables because of in-place decompression.
        * safe: you can list, test and unpack your executables. Also, a checksum of both the compressed and uncompressed file is maintained internally.
        * universal: UPX can pack a number of executable formats.
        * portable: UPX is written in portable endian-neutral C++
        * extendable: because of the class layout it's very easy to add new executable formats or new compression algorithms
        * free: UPX is distributed with full source code under the GNU General Public License, and may be used freely even with commercial programs.

    You probably understand now why we call UPX the "Ultimate Packer for eXecutables".

OS: DOS, Windows, Linux, Atari
Open Source

UTF-8 TeraTerm Pro with TTSSH2 - terminal emulator

UTF-8 TeraTerm Pro with TTSSH2 is TeraTerm 2.3 succession version and is being officially recognized by the original author. TeraTerm is open source free software terminal emulator supporting SSH2 and UTF-8 protocol.

OS: Win95 - Win XP
Open Source

VIM 7 - Text editor

Vim is a highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing. It is an improved version of the vi editor distributed with most UNIX systems.

Vim is often called a "programmer's editor," and so useful for programming that many consider it an entire IDE. It's not just for programmers, though. Vim is perfect for all kinds of text editing, from composing email to editing configuration files.

Vim isn't an editor designed to hold its users' hands. It is a tool, the use of which must be learned.

Vim isn't a word processor. Although it can display text with various forms of highlighting and formatting, it isn't there to provide WYSIWYG editing of typeset documents.

OS: DOS Windows, Unix, OS/2, Amiga
Open Source
Note: Other Operating Systems have ports by 3rd parties (Mac and QNX to name 2)

VMWare - Virtual machine

A virtual machine is a computer defined in software. It's like running a PC on your PC. VMware Player runs any virtual machine created by VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server. VMware Player also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats.

A: VMware Player is free software that enables PC users to easily run any virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Player runs virtual machines created by VMware Workstation, VMware GSX Server, or VMware ESX Server and also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats.

VMware Server

VMware Server is a free virtualization product for Windows and Linux servers with enterprise-class support and VirtualCenter management. It enables companies to partition a physical server into multiple virtual machines and to start experiencing the benefits of virtualization. With VirtualCenter add-on, users can efficiently provision, monitor and manage their IT infrastructure

Ventrilo - Voice over IP (VoIP) group communications software.

Ventrilo 2.3.0 is the next evolutionary step of Voice over IP (VoIP) group communications software. Ventrilo is also the industry standard by which all others measure themselves as they attempt to imitate its features.

By offering surround sound positioning and special sound effects on a per user, per channel, per server or global configuration level the program provides each user the option to fully customize exactly how they wish to hear sounds from other users or events.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux

Windows XP Powertoys

SyncToy

RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer

ClearType Tuner

HTML Slide Show Wizard

Open Command Window Here

Alt-Tab Replacement

Tweak UI

Power Calculator

Image Resizer

CD Slide Show Generator

Virtual Desktop Manager

Taskbar Magnifier

Webcam Timershot

OS: Win XP

XEmacs - Text editor

XEmacs is a highly customizable open source text editor and application development system. It is protected under the GNU Public License and related to other versions of Emacs, in particular GNU Emacs.

OS: Window, Linux, and Unix
Open Source

Xena - Software for Digital Preservation

Xena
Software for Digital Preservation

Xena is free and open source software developed by the National Archives of Australia to aid in the long term preservation of digital records. Xena is an acronym meaning 'Xml Electronic Normalising for Archives'.

Xena is written in Java and is therefore cross-platform, running on Linux, Windows and OS X.

Xena software aids digital preservation by performing two important tasks:

    * Detecting the file formats of digital objects
    * Converting digital objects into open formats for preservation

OS: Java
Open Source

[Nemesis]

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Web Tools

Abyss - web server

Abyss Web Server X1 is a free and fully functional software: no nag screens, no time limitations, no spyware, and no advertisements. It is the ideal web server software for personal users, web developers, students, small businesses and home offices. Download your copy today and join the tens of thousands of people who have been using it daily since 2002.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD

Accessify.com

Tools, wizards, articles and tutorials on Web Accessibility for the conscientious web developer

AltME -

What is an AltME safeworld?
A safeworld is secure place where you can communicate with friends or associates.

It's your own a private network. You decide on a name for your safeworld, start it running, then invite other users to join you. The rest is automatic. In fact, worlds are so easy to create, you can create disposable safeworlds that serve a temporary need then delete them when you are done. Safeworlds are inherently secure. All network transfers are encrypted, so only those in your group have access to the information. No one, not even us, knows what you are sending.

OS: Windows?, Linux

AOLServer - web server
Alternate link

AOLserver is America Online's Open-Source web server. AOLserver is the backbone of the largest and busiest production environments in the world. AOLserver is a multithreaded, Tcl-enabled web server used for large scale, dynamic web sites.

OS: POSIX compliant OS, Linux, BSDs
Open Source

Apache - web server

The Apache HTTP Server Project is an effort to develop and maintain an open-source HTTP server for modern operating systems including UNIX and Windows NT. The goal of this project is to provide a secure, efficient and extensible server that provides HTTP services in sync with the current HTTP standards.

Apache has been the most popular web server on the Internet since April 1996. The November 2005 Netcraft Web Server Survey found that more than 70% of the web sites on the Internet are using Apache, thus making it more widely used than all other web servers combined.

OS: Windows, Linux/Unix
Open Source

Coppermine - Photo Gallery

Coppermine is an easily set-up, fast, feature-rich photo gallery script with mySQL database, user management, private galleries, automatic thumbnail creation, ecard feature and a template system for easy customization to match the rest of a site.

Open Source

CreaText - XHTML Text Editor

CreaText is an HTML text editor with some basic and advanced features.

CreaText has got many functions which make creating websites easier, e.g. Tag Coloring, easy access to the Mac browsers, the change of special characters into HTML entities in realtime, an Insert menu with rapid access to all usual HTML commands, an HTML color chooser, drag & drop, and the possibility to setup HTML parameters when creating a new document.

OS: Mac OS X
Open Source

CSS Validation Service

Welcome to the W3C CSS Validation Service; a free service that checks Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in (X)HTML documents or standalone for conformance to W3C recommendations.

Note: Not a program but an online utility.

Democracy Broadcast Machine

Broadcast Machine is software you install on your website to easily publish video files and create internet TV channels (video blogs, video podcasts, video RSS feeds). Broadcast Machine gives you the option of using torrent technology to reduce or eliminate bandwidth costs, even when you are posting high quality video to thousands of people. It's free, open source software, and is designed for easy installation.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

Democracy PlayerWatch Internet TV with Democracy Player

You've probably watched hundreds of tiny videos on websites. It's tedious. Democracy Player makes video on the internet way less frustrating and way more enjoyable. You can subscribe to channels of internet video, download videos, and watch them fullscreen, one after the other, all in one application. Internet video becomes internet TV. It's free and open for everyone to watch and to broadcast.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

eAccelerator - PHP accelerator

eAccelerator is a free open-source PHP accelerator, optimizer, encoder and dynamic content cache. It increases the performance of PHP scripts by caching them in their compiled state, so that the overhead of compiling is almost completely eliminated. It also optimizes scripts to speed up their execution. eAccelerator typically reduces server load and increases the speed of your PHP code by 1-10 times.

OS: ?
Open Source

Firebug is a Firefox plug in for Web page develping.

Firebug integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of web development tools at your fingertips while you browse. You can edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page.

Just the way you like it

Firebug is always just a keystroke away, but it never gets in your way. You can open Firebug in a separate window, or as a bar at the bottom of your browser. Firebug also gives you fine-grained control over which websites you want to enable it for.

Inspect and edit HTML

Firebug makes it simple to find HTML elements buried deep in the page. Once you've found what you're looking for, Firebug gives you a wealth of information, and lets you edit the HTML live.

Tweak CSS to perfection

Firebug's CSS tabs tell you everything you need to know about the styles in your web pages, and if you don't like what it's telling you, you can make changes and see them take effect instantly.

Visualize CSS metrics

When your CSS boxes aren't lining up correctly it can be difficult to understand why. Let Firebug be your eyes and it will measure and illustrate all the offsets, margins, borders, padding, and sizes for you.

OS: Firefox

Firefox - web browser

Firefox 1.5 has an intuitive interface and blocks viruses, spyware, and popup ads. It delivers Web pages faster than ever. And it’s easy to install and import your favorites. Packed with useful features like tabbed browsing, Live Bookmarks, and an integrated Search bar, Firefox will change the way you experience the Web, for the better.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Firefox extensions - extended functions for Firefox browser.
Notes:  Extensions add functions that YOU wish to the basic browser without adding bloat for those who don't want or need that function.  Currently the site has 2198 extensions and rising.
OS: Firefox.

Geeklog

What is Geeklog?

Geeklog is a PHP/MySQL based application for managing dynamic web content.

"Out of the box", it is a blog engine, or a CMS with support for comments, trackbacks, multiple syndication formats, spam protection, and all the other vital features of such a system.

Gnash - is the GNU Flash movie player

Gnash is a GPLv3'd SWF movie player and browser plugin for Firefox, Mozilla, and Konqueror. Gnash supports many SWF v7 features and ActionScript 2 & 3 classes. with growing support for SWF versions 8-10.

OS: Linux (Windows builds available)
Open Source

ieSpell - A Spell Checker for Internet Explorer

ieSpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that spell checks text input boxes on a webpage. It should come in particularly handy for users who do a lot of web-based text entry (e.g. web mails, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your web application already includes spell checking functionality, you might still want to install this utility because it is definitely much faster than a server-side solution. Plus you get to store and use your personal word list across all your applications, instead of maintaining separate ones on each application

OS: Internet Explorer V5+ Add On
free for personal use only

InspIRCd - a modular C++ IRCd (IRC daemon)

InspIRCd is a modular C++ IRCd (IRC daemon) for Linux, BSD, Windows and Apple OS X systems created to provide a stable, modern, and lightweight IRCd written from scratch.

OS: Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac OS X
Open Source

Iron - browser derived from chrome

SRWare Iron: The browser of the future - based on the free Sourcecode "Chromium" - without any problems at privacy and security

Google's Web browser Chrome thrilled with an extremely fast site rendering, a sleek design and innovative features.  But it also gets critic from data protection specialists , for reasons such as creating a unique user ID or the submission of entries to Google to generate suggestions. SRWare Iron is a real alternative. The browser is based on the Chromium-source and offers the same features as Chrome - but without the critical points that the privacy concern.

OS: ?
Open Source?

JAlbum

This gallery software makes web albums of your digital images. JAlbum aims to be the easiest to use and most powerful tool in this category - and free!

With JAlbum, no extra software is needed to view the albums, -just your web browser. Unlike "server side" album scripts, JAlbum albums can be served from a plain web server without scripting support and thanks to JAlbum's built in web server, you can even share your albums straight from JAlbum. You can also share your albums on CD-ROM.

OS: Win98 - Win XP
Open Source

Link Checker
Note: Not a program but an online utility that checks links in a web page.

Lynx - text based web browser.

Lynx is a World Wide Web browser, just like Internet Explorer and Netscape. What makes it different is that it is a text-only browser - it does not display the graphics on web pages.

OS: Windows, Unix
Open Source

Markup Validation Service

This is the W3C Markup Validation Service, a free service that checks Web documents in formats like HTML and XHTML for conformance to W3C Recommendations and other standards.

Note: Not a program but an online utility.

Maxthon - Tabbed Browser IE Extension

Maxthon Internet Browser software is a powerful tabbed browser with a highly customizable interface. It is based on the Internet Explorer browser engine (your most likely current web browser) which means that what works in the IE browser will work the same in Maxthon tabbed browser but with many additional efficient features like...
    * Tabbed Browsing Interface
    * Mouse Gestures
    * Super Drag&Drop
    * Privacy Protection
    * AD Hunter
    * RSS Reader
    * IE Extensions Support
    * External Utility Bar
    * Skinning
    * And Much More to Explore...

OS: Internet Explorer (Versions?)

MoinMoin - Wiki Engine

MoinMoin is an advanced, easy to use and extensible WikiEngine with a large community of users. Said in a few words, it is about collaboration on easily editable web pages. MoinMoin is Free Software licensed under the GNU GPL1.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

NVU Web - authoring

Finally! A complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Nvu (which stands for "new view") makes managing a web site a snap. Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source

Onlinetools.org

This is a collection of scripts, tools and software add-ons written by Christian Heilmann for you to use, enjoy and learn from.

All of the things here are free to use for personal web sites and free resources, however, if you want to use anything for commercial purposes, please contact me so that we can haggle (bring a beard).

You are not allowed to change or resell anything you find here without my written consent. This is not me being picky, I just don't want other people to harvest what I planted or even mess up and me getting the blame. Sorry, it has happened a lot in the past.

Opera - Web Browser
Note:  Alternative web browser with a good reputation
OS: Win98 - Win XP

PHP - web scripting language

PHP  is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML. If you are new to PHP and want to get some idea of how it works, try the introductory tutorial. After that, check out the online manual, and the example archive sites and some of the other resources available in the links section.

OS: Windows, Linux
Open Source

Roxen - Webserver

Roxen WebServer is a full-featured open-source web server distributed under the GPL license.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris
Open Source

Safari - Web Browser

What is Safari?

It’s a browser. It’s a platform. It’s an open invitation to innovate. Whether on a Mac, PC, iPhone, or iPod touch, Safari continuously redefines the browser, providing the most enjoyable way to experience the Internet.

OS: WinXP - Win Vista and Mac OS X

Sambar Serve - an all-in-one web operating system

Sambar Technologies is a leading provider of website, email and document management tools for organizations and individuals. The Sambar Server is used by thousands of businesses, schools, service providers and individuals around the world to enhance communication and collaboration. From web and email, to document management and application sharing, the Sambar Server supports it all from one proven, reliable platform.

OS: Windows, Linux

Seamonkey - web browser suite Formerly Mozilla.

The SeaMonkey project is a community effort to deliver production-quality releases of code derived from the application formerly known as "Mozilla Application Suite". Whereas the main focus of the Mozilla Foundation is on Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird, our group of dedicated volunteers works to ensure that you can have "everything but the kitchen sink" — and have it stable enough for corporate use.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Simple Machines - Forum software

Simple Machines Forum - SMF in short - is a free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes. Its powerful custom made template engine puts you in full control of the lay-out of your message board and with our unique SSI - or Server Side Includes - function you can let your forum and your website interact with each other. SMF is written in the popular language PHP and uses a MySQL database. It is designed to provide you with all the features you need from a bulletin board while having an absolute minimal impact on the resources of the server. SMF is the next generation of forum software, and best of all it is and will always remain completely free!

OS: Linux, Unix  (Requires PHP and MySQL)

Thunderbird - E-Mail program

Simple to use, powerful, and customizable, Thunderbird is a full-featured email application. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols, as well as HTML mail formatting. Easily import your existing email accounts and messages. Built-in RSS capabilities, powerful quick search, spell check as you type, global inbox, deleting attachments and advanced message filtering round out Thunderbird's modern feature set.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Thunderbird - Extended functions for Thunderbird E-Mail program
Notes:  Extensions add functions that YOU wish to your E-Mail program without adding bloat for those who don't want or need that function.
OS: Thunderbird

TinEye - reverse image search engine

What is TinEye?
TinEye is a reverse image search engine. You can submit an image to TinEye to find out where it came from, how it is being used, if modified versions of the image exist, or to find higher resolution versions. TinEye is the first image search engine on the web to use image identification technology rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks. For some real TinEye search examples, check out our Cool Searches page.

OS: any

wikiCalc

An Open Source Wiki-Spreadsheet
The wikiCalc program lets you make web pages with more than just paragraphs of prose. It combines the ease of authoring and multi-person editing of a wiki with the familiar visual formatting and calculating metaphor of a spreadsheet. Written in Perl and released under the GPL 2.0 license, it can easily be setup to run on almost any server as a web application or on a personal computer to publish by FTP.

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Wiki on a Stick

"Wiki on a Stick" is a personal wiki that lives in one self-modifying XHTML file containing the software (javascript), the interface and the data. Very useful for mantaining notes and todo-lists.

OS: Browser
Open Source

XAMPP - easy to install Apache distribution

Many people know from their own experience that it's not easy to install an Apache web server and it gets harder if you want to add MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use - just download, extract and start.

At the moment there are four XAMPP versions:

    * a version for Linux systems (tested for Ubuntu, SuSE, RedHat, Mandrake and Debian),
    * a version for Windows 98, NT, 2000, 2003, XP and Vista,
    * a beta version for Solaris SPARC (developed and tested under Solaris ,
    * and a beta version for Mac OS X.

This Mac OS X and Solaris versions of XAMPP are still in the first steps of development. Use at you own risk!

OS: Win98 - Win Vista, Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X
Open Source

xitami - webserver

The web site dedicated to the small, fast, and powerful multiplatform Open Source web server - Xitami! News, support, addons... it's all here at xitami.com. Xitami.com is run by iMatix Corporation, the company that brought you Xitami.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Linux and POSIX compliant OS
Open Source

Zend Optimizer - PHP accelerator

Run encoded files & enhance the performance of your PHP scripts - FREE

The Zend Optimizer is a free application that runs the files encoded by the Zend Guard, while enhancing the performance of PHP applications.

OS: Win98 - Win XP, Mac OS X, Linux, AIX, Solaris

[Nemesis]

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Websites with collections of software

   
The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities

There are a lot of great freeware products out there. Many are as good or even better than their commercial alternatives. This list features my personal pick of the "best of the best."

All the utilities in this list have featured in past issues of my free monthly newsletter "Support Alert"  More freebies are published in each new issue. If you are interested in great utilities and freeware you really should consider subscribing. It's free.

OS:

CleanSoftware - source of further software

CleanSoftware.org is a resource to help Windows users find the best free daily-use software, free from nasties: adware, spyware, harmful/intrusive components, and threats to privacy. You might want to bookmark our What's New page, updated during changes.

Download.com

thefreecountry - Free Programmers', Webmasters' and Security Resources

Free Software Directory - a project of the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Directory is a project of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). We catalog useful free software that runs under free operating systems — particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants.

Licenses are verified for each and every program listed in this directory.

Freesticky

We are primarily a source of FREE and low cost content that anyone can use to increase the appeal, usefulness, traffic and eventually the stickiness of their website.

Gizmo Reviews - freeware review site

Newfreeware

Nonags

OSDir.com - lists of stable free software

OSDir only lists sufficiently developed and stable open source applications that are ready for deployment:

Pricelessware - source of further software

The Pricelessware list is a compilation of software collected through a yearly vote by the participants of the "alt.comp.freeware" newsgroup.  It is a list of what people have voted as "the best of the best in Freeware".
 
     The software listed here is commonly referred to as "Pricelessware", a term given with great respect and thanks to the authors of these programs for giving us such wonderful quality freeware programs.

Snapfiles - collection

Software driver collection - is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform
Note: An extensive collection of drivers for a variety of types of hardware.

Tucows

Tutorialized.com

There are currently 10,113 Free Tutorials in 515 categories!

ZDNet

[Nemesis]

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Operating Systems

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BSD Unix Variants

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Note:  There are several variants on BSD Unix, those listed here are the ones I think are major.  A version of BSD Unix is used as the OS under the Mac Operating Environment.

DesktopBSD - From its name you can see it targets the desktop user.

DesktopBSD's main goal is to provide a desktop operating system that's easy to use, but still has all the functionality and power of BSD. In the long term, DesktopBSD wants to build an operating system that meets most requirements desktop users have, like easy installation of software, configuring power management on mobile devices or sharing an internet connection. To be better able to fulfill this goal, we strongly rely on users who send in feature requests, ideas for improvements or participate in development.

Open Source

DragonFly BSD - Targets scalability and robustness.

DragonFly is an operating system and environment originally based on FreeBSD. DragonFly branched from FreeBSD in 2003 in order to develop a radically different approach to concurrency, SMP, and most other kernel subsystems.

Open Source

FreeBSD - Popular Unix variant

FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible (including Pentium® and Athlon™), amd64 compatible (including Opteron™, Athlon™64, and EM64T), ARM, IA-64, PC-98 and UltraSPARC® architectures. It is derived from BSD, the version of UNIX® developed at the University of California, Berkeley.

Open Source

NetBSD - Targets security.

Probably the primary goal of the NetBSD project is emphasizing correct design and well written code. One example is the implementation of a machine independent bus infrastructure, which enables a single driver for a device (such as an Ethernet or SCSI interface) to be shared across different busses (such as PCI, EISA, Turbochannel), and across different platforms (alpha, pmax, i386, etc), rather than the traditional approach of writing and maintaining many different versions of the driver, each with their own tweaks. In NetBSD, the `tweaks' are in small 'glue' functions that allow improvements to the core driver to benefit all ports.

Open Source

OpenBSD - Standardization is the goal of OpenBSD.

The OpenBSD project produces a FREE, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Our efforts emphasize portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography. OpenBSD supports binary emulation of most programs from SVR4 (Solaris), FreeBSD, Linux, BSD/OS, SunOS and HP-UX.

Open Source

PC BSD - Again targets the desktop user.

PC-BSD has been designed with the "casual" computer user in mind. Installing the system is simply a matter of a few clicks and a few minutes for the installation process to finish. Hardware such as video, sound, network and other devices will be auto-detected and available at the first system startup. Home users will immediately feel comfortable with PC-BSD's desktop interface, with KDE 3.5 running under the hood. Software installation has also been designed to be as painless as possible, simply double-click and software will be installed.

Open Source

[Nemesis]

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Operating Systems

   

Linux Variants

   
Note:  There are many variants of Linux.  Those I list here are among the most popular in North America and Europe.  Others listed are specialist variants that may be especially useful to some readers as utilities.

Note:  LiveCDs and LiveDVDs allow you to boot the Operating system direct from the CD/DVD but most if not all will also allow you to install. Some may require you to download an install version separate from the Live Version.

CentOS - an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution

CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise Linux vendor.  CentOS conforms fully with the upstream vendors redistribution policy and aims to be 100% binary compatible. (CentOS mainly changes packages to remove upstream vendor branding and artwork.)  CentOS is free.

Note:  Derived from RedHat Enterprise Linux.
Open Source

Damn Small Linux - Linux version that is optimized for minimum install size while being full featured

    * Boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD)
    * Boot from a USB pen drive
    * Boot from within a host operating system (that's right, it can run *inside* Windows)
    * Run very nicely from an IDE Compact Flash drive via a method we call "frugal install"
    * Transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install
    * Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram
    * Run fully in RAM with as little as 128MB (you will be amazed at how fast your computer can be!)
    * Modularly grow -- DSL is highly extendable without the need to customize

Open Source

Debian - Community developed Linux that operates on multiple CPU architectures and is known for being stable.

Debian is a free operating system (OS) for your computer. An operating system is the set of basic programs and utilities that make your computer run. Debian uses the Linux kernel (the core of an operating system), but most of the basic OS tools come from the GNU project; hence the name GNU/Linux.

Debian GNU/Linux provides more than a pure OS: it comes with over 15490 packages, precompiled software bundled up in a nice format for easy installation on your machine.

Note:  Debian form the basis of numerous other distributions (including Ubuntu and its derivitives).  Not the fastest advancing distribution as it prizes stability above all else but it runs on an amazing variety of different CPUS.
Open Source

Fedora Core - Free desktop version derived from RHEL (see Redhat below)

Fedora Core is an operating system and platform, based on Linux, that is always free for anyone to use, modify and distribute, now and forever. It is developed by a large community of people who strive to provide and maintain the very best in free, open source software and standards. Fedora Core is part of the Fedora Project, sponsored by Red Hat, Inc.

Now available for x86, x86_64 and PPC systems!

Open Source

GenToo - Linux version intended to be compiled to match your system precisely - not for novices.

Every user has work they need to do. The goal of Gentoo is to design tools and systems that allow a user to do that work as pleasantly and efficiently as possible, as they see fit. Our tools should be a joy to use, and should help the user to appreciate the richness of the Linux and free software community, and the flexibility of free software. This is only possible when the tool is designed to reflect and transmit the will of the user, and leave the possibilities open as to the final form of the raw materials (the source code.) If the tool forces the user to do things a particular way, then the tool is working against, rather than for, the user. We have all experienced situations where tools seem to be imposing their respective wills on us. This is backwards, and contrary to the Gentoo philosophy.

Note:  Gentoo is setup to allow you to compile EVERYTHING in the distributionto match your precise needs, system and tastes.
Open Source

Knoppix - Version of Linux that runs off the CD/DVD

KNOPPIX is a bootable Live system on CD or DVD, consisting of a representative collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a productive Linux system for the desktop, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it (over 8GB on the DVD "Maxi" edition).

Note:  Site is available in multiple languages click on hybrid English/U.S. flag for English version, default is German.  One of the earliest of the LiveCDs and among the most popular, often used as a repair CD (for repairing Windows mostly ).
Open Source

Linspire - Linspire strives to be a Windows work alike Linux. 

Linspire will lead you just about anywhere in the digital world. And you'll be safe from the high costs and viruses that plague Microsoft Windows-based computers.

Note:  Originally called Lindows and emphasized compatibility with MS Windows.  Microsoft sued over alleged trademark violations.  During the case Lindows made some good arguments that the Windows trademark was invalid.  Rather than risk a ruling that would remove the Windows trademark (and imperil the Word trademark as well) Microsoft paid Lindows to change their name to Linspire.
Open Source

Linux Mint - User friendly Linux distribution

Excerpt From DistroWatch.com:

Linux Mint is one of the surprise packages of the past year. Originally launched as a variant of Ubuntu with integrated media codecs, it has now developed into one of the most user-friendly distributions on the market - complete with a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, a web-based package installation interface, and a number of different editions. Perhaps most importantly, this is one project where the developers and users are in constant interaction, resulting in dramatic, user-driven improvements with every new release. DistroWatch has spoken to the founder and lead developer of Linux Mint, Clement Lefebvre, about the history of the distribution.

OS: Linux
Open Source

Mandriva - Formerly Mandrake originally derived from Redhat

Mandriva Linux (formerly known as Mandrake Linux) was created in 1998 with the goal of making Linux easier to use for everyone. At that time, Linux was already well-known as a powerful and stable operating system.

Note:  Mandrake was a profitable successful distribution when in exchange for venture captial allowed "professional managers" to take over the business.  The so called Pros squandered the capital then bailed leaving Mandrake on the verge of bankruptcy.  The founders returned and took control, paid the debts, became profitable once more and has been expanding.  With the merger of Mandrake (Europe based) and Connectiva (South American based) they changed their name to Mandriva.
Open Source

Novell SuSE - Novel has two Linux variants.  SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED)

Linux is about more than software—it's about getting the performance, reliability and world-class support you deserve. That's why you need SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 from Novell. It's a platform for the entire open enterprise, delivering new solutions that help you outperform competitors, cut costs, neutralize security threats and satisfy the most demanding customers. From desktops to data centers, the best Linux just got better.

You need a cost-effective, easy-to-use, secure desktop— and you need choice. SUSE® Linux Enterprise Desktop is the first enterprise Linux desktop that meets these needs and works with your existing systems. When you choose SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, you get a solution that is easy to use, ready for office workers, interoperable with your existing systems, secure, low-cost and flexible to deploy and manage.

Combined with world-class Novell® support and the new Novell Customer Center, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop meets your business-computing needs.

Note:  OpenSuSE is the free desktop and server version of SLE/SLED.  SuSE was originally a well respected German distribution that Novell bought.
Open Source

OpenSuSE - Free version sponsored by Novell.

The openSUSE project is a worldwide community program sponsored by Novell that promotes the use of Linux everywhere. The program provides anyone with free and easy access to the world's most usable Linux distribution, SUSE Linux.

Here at openSUSE.org, you'll find a community of developers, end users, and other open source enthusiasts who all have the same goal in mind. We work together to create and distribute the world's most usable Linux. There are many ways you can participate in the openSUSE project. First you should get a copy of SUSE Linux and install it on your machine

Note:  SuSE was originally a well respected German distribution that Novell bought.
Open Source

Puppy Linux - Targets very small size.

Mission Statement   

    * Puppy will easily install to USB, Zip or hard drive media.
    * Booting from CD, Puppy will load totally into RAM so that the CD drive is then free for other purposes.
    * Booting from CD, Puppy can save everything back to the CD, no need for a hard drive.
    * Booting from USB, Puppy will greatly minimise writes, to extend the life of Flash devices indefinitely.
    * Puppy will be extremely friendly for Linux newbies.
    * Puppy will boot up and run extraordinarily fast.
    * Puppy will have all the applications needed for daily use.
    * Puppy will just work, no hassles.
    * Puppy will breathe new life into old PCs

Open Source

RedHat - Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the leading platform for open source computing. It is sold by subscription, delivers continuous value and is certified by top enterprise hardware and software vendors. From the desktop to the datacenter, Enterprise Linux couples the innovation of open source technology and the stability of a true enterprise-class platform.

Note:  Used to have a desktop version of Redhat, since spun out into the free Fedore Core distribution which also acts as a prototype system for RHEL.
Open Source

Scientific Linux

Welcome to Scientific Linux (SL)

SL is a Linux release put together by Fermilab, CERN, and various other labs and universities around the world. Its primary purpose is to reduce duplicated effort of the labs, and to have a common install base for the various experimenters.

OS: Linux
Open Source

Slackware - One of the earliest distributions still surviving.
Note:  Not for novices.  Slackware seems to be pretty much a one man operation but is well respected.
Open Source

Slax - portable, small and fast Linux

Slax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system with a modular approach and outstanding design. Despite its small size, Slax provides a wide collection of pre-installed software for daily use, including a well organized graphical user interface and useful recovery tools for system administrators

OS: Linux
Open Source

Vector Linux - KDE based Linux distribution

VectorLinux SOHO Edition:

The SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Edition maintains the VectorLinux philosophy of speed and stability, but is designed for modern computers and is based around the KDE desktop environment. Applications include OpenOffice, Java, the Gimp, Xsane, CUPS, Xara XTreme, financial applications, and many others. Everything is preinstalled and tweaked for maximum performance and ease of use. It is available as a mail order CD from our CD Store or as a freely downloadable ISO.

OS: Linux
Open Source

Xandros -  Commercial Linux.

Xandros Desktop - Home Edition and Home Edition - Premium are easy to use Linux desktop operating systems. Discover how easily you will enjoy the benefits of Linux and bring security and stability you can count on to your PC with Xandros Desktop

Note:  Originally Corel Linux then sold off (immediately after a major investment by Microsoft) and renamed Xandros.  Xandros then took some time before actually releasing a version but it does get good reviews overall.
Open Source


Note:  Ubuntu and its variants are listed out of order so they can be collected together.

Ubuntu Linux and its Variants

Ubuntu - Version of Linux that runs off the CD/DVD but can be installed.

Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support. It is developed by a large community and we invite you to participate too!

The Ubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Ubuntu Philosophy: that software should be available free of charge, that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities, and that people should have the freedom to customise and alter their software in whatever way they see fit.

Open Source
Note:  Ubuntu isused at the base for several other Linux variants and is listed here with those variants.  Ubuntu itself is derived from Debian which is used as the base for a number of other distributions as well.

Ubuntu Christian Edition -  Ubuntu Christian Edition is a free, open source operating system geared towards Christians. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support.

Along with the standard Ubuntu applications, Ubuntu Christian Edition includes the best available Christian software. The latest release contains GnomeSword, a top of the line Bible study program for Linux based on the Sword Project. There are several modules installed with GnomeSword including Bibles, Commentaries, and Dictionaries

Ubuntu Christian Edition also includes fully integrated web content parental controls powered by Dansguardian. A graphical tool to adjust the parental control settings has also been developed specifically for Ubuntu Christian Edition. These features are truly what sets Ubuntu Christian Edition apart.

Open Source

Edubuntu -  is a version of the Ubuntu (Linux) operating system suitable for classroom use.

Edubuntu is a free/libre/ open source GNU/Linux operating system. And if that didn't make any sense to you, we hope that it soon will. In simpler terms, Edubuntu is a free software system designed for school environments, and should be equally suitable for kids to use at home.

Open Source

Kubuntu - Kubuntu is Ubuntu using the KDE desktop environment rather than the Gnome enviromnent.
Open Source

SimplyMEPIS -  Live CD and DVD

Why SimplyMEPIS Linux?
    * SimplyMEPIS allows you to test and try the software before you install to your harddrive
    * SimplyMEPIS includes the very best business and multimedia programs
    * SimplyMEPIS features unique hardware detection and configuration superior to any others
    * SimplyMEPIS is pre-configured for simplicity and ease of use, you're productive in a matter of minutes, not hours.

Open Source

[Nemesis]

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Other Operating Systems

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Distrowatch - links to many Operating Systems

The DistroWatch web site was first published on 31 May 2001. The concept started as a very simple table comprising of 5 major distributions and the chart only compared a few features (price, version, release date) and a few package versions (Kernel, KDE, Gnome, XFree86, Apache). Trying to make it slightly more comprehensive and useful (and failing to find anything similar and up-to-date on the Internet), I have kept adding more distributions, features and packages until the table reached fairly reasonable state in terms of information provided. At that stage, I decided to share the table with the Linux community worldwide and moved it from a spreadsheet into an HTML document.

Note:  Listed out of order because of all the links it provides to the many version of BSD, Linux and other operating systems.

Other Operating Systems.

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FreeDOS - MS-DOS Clone

FreeDOS is a free DOS-compatible operating system for IBM-PC compatible systems. FreeDOS is made of up many different, separate programs that act as "packages" to the overall FreeDOS Project.

These days, there are three main uses of FreeDOS:

   1. To run old DOS games (like DOOM, etc.)
   2. To run old business software that only supports DOS
   3. To support an embedded DOS system, such as a computerized cash register or till

You can run FreeDOS on pretty much anything. While can run FreeDOS on a dedicated PC, now it's most often run inside a PC emulator. You can find PC emulators for all computer platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac.) If you are new to DOS, we recommend you use an emulator to install and boot FreeDOS.

FreeDOS is open source software; you can view and edit our source code. Most FreeDOS programs are distributed under the GNU General Public License ("GNU GPL") which means they are not only open source software, but they are Free software. Because of this, FreeDOS would not exist were it not for all the people who contribute to it. Even if you didn't write code, you helped out the FreeDOS Project by submitting comments and bug reports.

Note:  I have used this on an old P120 laptop and it was fully functional.
Open Source


GNU - OS and tools.

What is the GNU project?

The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete UNIX-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system. Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel called Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as “Linux”, they are more accurately called GNU/Linux systems.

GNU is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not UNIX”; it is pronounced guh-noo, like canoe.

Note:  Argurably the ORIGINAL Open Source project, the one for which the GPL was written.
Open Source

Haiku - Open Source version of BeOS
Open Source

MenuetOS -  64bit OS

MenuetOS is a hobby Operating System for the PC written entirely in 64bit assembly language, and released under License. It supports 64 and 32 bit x86 assembly programming for smaller, faster and less resource hungry applications.

Menuet has no roots within unix or the posix standards, nor is it based on any particular operating system. The design goal has been to remove the extra layers between different parts of an OS, which normally complicates programming and create bugs.

Open Source

QNX - Realtime OS - membership required for download

Build exceptional reliability and scalability into your embedded device. A true microkernel operating system, the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS offers advanced memory protection, distributed processing, symmetric multiprocessing, POSIX APIs, a dynamically upgradable architecture, and industry-leading realtime performance.

ReactOS Windows XP clone in Alpha

The ReactOS®  project is dedicated to making Free Software available to everyone by providing a ground-up implementation of a Microsoft Windows® XP compatible operating system. ReactOS aims to achieve complete binary compatibility with both applications and device drivers meant for NT and XP operating systems, by using a similar architecture and providing a complete and equivalent public interface.

Open Source

Syllable - Posix (mostly) compatible OS similar to BeOS

Syllable is still being developed, but it is already stable and relatively mature, including the following features:

    * Booting usually takes less than ten seconds
    * A full GUI is built into the OS
    * Support for a wide range of common hardware devices, including video, network, and sound cards from manufacturers such as Intel, AMD, 3Com, nVidia, and Creative (see Syllable Hardware for a complete list)
    * Internet access through an Ethernet network (though PPP and PPPoE are not yet supported)
    * A graphical web browser (ABrowse) and e-mail client (Whisper), and hundreds of other native applications (see Kamidake for a complete list)
    * A journalled file system, modelled on the BeOS file system
    * An application launcher (like the Windows Start button)
    * 99% POSIX compliance
    * GUI-based preferences tools for networking, display preferences, user administration, etc.
    * The entire source is available via the GPL
    * An object-oriented programming API

Open Source

[Nemesis]

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Educational Software

Some software on this list may also be included on other sublists.

AMDIS - Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System

The Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System (AMDIS) is a computer program that extracts spectra for individual components in a GC/MS data file and identifies target compounds by matching these spectra against a reference library. It was developed at NIST with support from the United States Department of Defense and is freely available.

OS: Win95 - Win2000, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Avogadro - an advanced molecular editor

Avogadro is an advanced molecular editor designed for cross-platform use in computational chemistry, molecular modeling, bioinformatics, materials science, and related areas. It offers flexible rendering and a powerful plugin architecture.

    * Cross-Platform: Molecular builder/editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
    * Free, Open Source: Easy to install and all source code is available under the GNU GPL.
    * International: Translations into French and German, with more languages to come.
    * Intuitive: Built to work easily for students and advanced researchers both.
    * Fast: Supports multi-threaded rendering and computation.
    * Extensible: Plugin architecture for developers, including rendering, interactive tools, commands, and Python scripts.
    * Flexible: Features include Open Babel import of files, input generation for multiple computational chemistry packages, crystallography, and biomolecules.

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

BKChem - a free chemical drawing program

BKChem is a free (as in free software ) chemical drawing program. It was conceived and written by Beda Kosata.

BKChem is written in Python, an interpreted and very nice programming language. This implies some of the program features:

    * platform independence - BKChem should run on any platform that Python does.*
    * performance - as Python is interpreted language you should not expect the performance of a native code compiled application (in present days a very cheap tradeoff for platform independence). However BKChem should be pretty usable on all modern systems.

* BKChem is developed on GNU/Linux. It was however successfully used under WinXP and MacOS X.

OS: WinXP, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Celestia - The free space simulation

The free space simulation that lets you explore our universe in three dimensions. Celestia runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia doesn't confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Open Source

Chemical Structures - a complete set of 3D molecular structures in CML format

The Chemical Structures Project aims to provide a complete set of 3D molecular structures in CML format.  As CML format permits to include more than a simple structure, each file contains also additional informations, like molecular weight, boiling point, melting point or InChI code.

OS: ?
Open Source

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Edubuntu -  is a version of the Ubuntu (Linux) operating system suitable for classroom use.

Edubuntu is a free/libre/ open source GNU/Linux operating system. And if that didn't make any sense to you, we hope that it soon will. In simpler terms, Edubuntu is a free software system designed for school environments, and should be equally suitable for kids to use at home.

Open Source

ElectronicLab Spin - high-end hardware design and simulation platform

Fedora Electronic Lab
Summary

Fedora Electronic Lab is Fedora's high-end hardware design and simulation platform. This platform provides different hardware design flows based on the semiconductor industry's current trend. FEL maps in three methodologies {design, simulation and verification} with opensource EDA software.

OS: Linux
Open Source

GCompris - is an educational software suite (multi language)

GCompris is an educational software suite comprising of numerous activities for children aged 2 to 10. Some of the activities are game orientated, but nonetheless still educational. Below you can find a list of categories with some of the activities available in that category.

-  computer discovery: keyboard, mouse, different mouse gesture, ...
-  algebra: table memory, enumeration, double entry table, mirror image, ...
-  science: the canal lock, the water cycle, the submarine, electric simulation ...
-  geography: place the country on the map
-  games: chess, memory, connect 4, oware, sudoku ...
-  reading: reading practice
-  other: learn to tell time, puzzle of famous paintings, vector drawing, cartoon making, ...

Currently GCompris offers in excess of 100 activities and more are being developed. GCompris is free software, that means that you can adapt it to your own needs, improve it and, most importantly, share it with children everywhere.

OS: Windows, Linux, Linux Live CD
Open Source

GNU Octave - is mostly compatible with MATLAB

GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily intended for numerical computations. It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and nonlinear problems numerically, and for performing other numerical experiments using a language that is mostly compatible with Matlab. It may also be used as a batch-oriented language.

Octave has extensive tools for solving common numerical linear algebra problems, finding the roots of nonlinear equations, integrating ordinary functions, manipulating polynomials, and integrating ordinary differential and differential-algebraic equations. It is easily extensible and customizable via user-defined functions written in Octave's own language, or using dynamically loaded modules written in C++, C, Fortran, or other languages.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, OS/2
Open Source

The GNU Scientific Library (GSL) - libraries for developing scientific software

The subroutines in the GNU Scientific Library are “free software”; this means that everyone is free to use them, and to redistribute them in other free programs. The library is not in the public domain; it is copyrighted and there are conditions on its distribution. These conditions are designed to permit everything that a good cooperating citizen would want to do. What is not allowed is to try to prevent others from further sharing any version of the software that they might get from you.

Open Source

The KDE Education Project -

Free Educational Software based on the KDE technologies: students, parents, children, teachers, adults, you can freely use our software, copy it, modify it to your needs and enjoy learning!

Please have a look at the Tour webpage to get a quick preview of our programs which are translated in more than 65 languages.

Our primary focus is on schoolchildren aged 3 to 18, and the specialized user interface needs of young users. However, we also have programs to aid teachers in planning lessons, and others that are of interest to university students and anyone else with a desire to learn!

While until now only available on Unix, BSD and Linux, still in beta but already usable, the KDE 4 series bring our applications on Windows. Read more on the KDE-Edu on Windows page!

OS: Unix, BSD, Linux and Window
Open Source

Moodle - is a course management system

Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. You can download and use it on any computer you have handy (including webhosts), yet it can scale from a single-teacher site to a 50,000-student University. This site itself is created using Moodle, so check out the Moodle Demonstration Courses or read the latest Moodle Buzz.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X
Open Source

NIST scientific and technical databases -

Has links to a number of Scientific programs.

OpenEducationDisc - windows educational software collection

The OpenEducationDisc focuses solely on meeting educational needs of students of all ages.  Software has been chosen to address specific IT needs across a wide range of subject areas.  The contents of the disc therefore differ from the OpenDisc and are listed below.

OS: Windows
Open Source

R - free software environment for statistical computing and graphics

R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is a GNU project which is similar to the S language and environment which was developed at Bell Laboratories (formerly AT&T, now Lucent Technologies) by John Chambers and colleagues. R can be considered as a different implementation of S. There are some important differences, but much code written for S runs unaltered under R.

R provides a wide variety of statistical (linear and nonlinear modelling, classical statistical tests, time-series analysis, classification, clustering, ...) and graphical techniques, and is highly extensible. The S language is often the vehicle of choice for research in statistical methodology, and R provides an Open Source route to participation in that activity.

OS: Windows, Unix, and Mac OS X
Open Source

SAGE - Open Source Mathematics Software

General and Advanced Pure and Applied Mathematics
Use SAGE for studying a huge range of mathematics, including algebra, calculus, elementary to very advanced number theory, cryptography, numerical computation, commutative algebra, group theory, combinatorics, graph theory, and exact linear algebra.

OS: Windows, OS/X, Linux
Open Source

SOFA - Statistics Open For All - statistics,
analysis, and reporting package

The user-friendly, open-source statistics,
analysis, and reporting package

OS: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
Open Source

Sugar on a Stick - an educational software platform

  What is Sugar?

Sugar is an educational software platform built with the Python programming language and based on the principles of cognitive and social constructivism.

OS:  Linux
Open Source

World Wind - from NASA

World Wind lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth. Leveraging Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, World Wind lets you experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if you were really there.

Virtually visit any place in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps, or along the African Sahara.

OS: Win2000 - Win XP (.net required)
Open Source

Wubi - Ubuntu installer for Windows users

Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application, in a simple and safe way. Are you curious about Linux and Ubuntu? Trying them out has never been easier!

OS: Windows
Open Source

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