Free Open Source Software Packages





Introduction
Quoting from the Wikipedia:


 * Software that fits the Free Software Definition may be more appropriately called free software; the GNU [free operating system] project in particular objects to their works being referred to as "open source". For more information about the philosophical background for open source software, see free software movement and Open Source Initiative. However, nearly all software meeting the Open Source Definition also meets The Free Software Definition and vice versa.

Quoting from the Free Software Foundation (FSF):


 * Free software developers guarantee everyone equal rights to their programs; any user can study the source code, modify it, and share the program. By contrast, most software carries fine print that denies users these basic rights, leaving them susceptible to the whims of its owners and vulnerable to surveillance.


 * * The FSF provides critical infrastructure and funding for the GNU ("GNU's Not Unix!" project, the foundation of the popular GNU/Linux family of free operating systems and the keystone of the Internet.


 * * Our Campaigns Team creates educational materials about free software, convenes the yearly LibrePlanet conference and goes toe to toe against powerful interests that threaten computer user rights.


 * * Our Licensing & Compliance Lab defends freely licensed software from proprietary hoarding, advises on licensing issues, and certifies devices that Respect Your Freedom.

A 2008 legal case clarified and supported the free software movement. Quoting from Ruling Is a Victory for Supporters of Free Software:


 * In a ruling Wednesday, the federal appeals court in Washington said that just because a software programmer gave his work away did not mean it could not be protected.


 * The decision legitimizes the use of commercial contracts for the distribution of computer software and digital artistic works for the public good. The court ruling also bolsters the open-source movement by easing the concerns of large organizations about relying on free software from hobbyists and hackers who have freely contributed time and energy without pay.

Breadth of Available Free Software
There are many free and and/or open source software packages. The Wikipedia has an extensive list of free software packages divided into a number of categories:


 * Assistive technology.
 * Data storage and management.
 * Networking and Internet [such as advertising, E-mail, and Web browsers].
 * Educational [such as educational suites, learning support, languages, and typing].
 * File managers.
 * Games.
 * Genealogy.
 * Graphical user interface.
 * Groupware [such as content management systems and Wiki software].
 * Healthcare software.
 * Hobby software [such as home brewing].
 * Media [such as 2D and 3D animation, flash animation, graphics, and video editing].
 * Operating systems.
 * Password management.
 * Personal information managers.
 * Programming language support [such as bug trackers and debuggers].
 * Screensavers.
 * Security [such as anti-virus, data recovery, and firewall].
 * Theology [such as Bible study tools].
 * Typesetting.

The list given above shows the breadth of the software tools field. Imagine that you are a "professional" computer programmer and you are being asked to develop software in one of the areas listed above. While you might want to start from scratch, probably a much better approach is to find out what free software already exists in the problem area you are addressing.

For example, this IAE website uses free software called MediaWiki. The software represents tens of thousands of hours of programming effort by a large number of programmers. To give you a flavor of such programming efforts, here is some information about MediaWiki from the Wikipedia:


 * The first version of the software was deployed to serve the needs of the Wikipedia encyclopedia in 2002. Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects continue to define a large part of the requirement set for MediaWiki. The software is optimized to efficiently handle large projects, which can have terabytes of content and hundreds of thousands of hits per second. Because Wikipedia is one of the world's largest websites, achieving scalability through multiple layers of caching and database replication has been a major concern for developers.


 * The software has more than 800 configuration settings and more than 2,000 extensions available for enabling various features to be added or changed. On Wikipedia alone, more than 1000 automated and semi-automated bots and other tools have been developed to assist in editing.

Some Sources
FOSS (Free Open Source Software) provides links to a huge amount of free software. Quoting from the website:


 * Free Open Source Software (FOSS), also called just Open Source or Free Software, is licensed to be free to use, modify, and distribute. Most FOSS licenses also include a kind of legal Golden Rule, requiring any changes - such as fixes and enhancements - be released under the same license. This creates the trust in developers and users that generates large, sustainable communities that grow the software over time.


 * Getting steadily better for more than a quarter century, FOSS provides more capability, security, and sustainability at much less cost, and is increasingly the first software option for individuals and organizations alike.

 Free Software Foundation (FSF) publishes The Free Software Directory. Quoting from the website:


 * [The directory] is a catalog of useful free software that runs under free operating systems. FSF staff and volunteers work together to collect detailed information about free software programs and organize it in a clear and accessible format.

As of 8/15/2016 there were 15,899 approved packages published in the Free Software Directory.

Open Science Project''' provides links to over 650 free science programs.

Free Compilers and Interpreters is a source for many free programming languages.

Some Software Packages
The remainder of this document provides information about a small number of widely used software packages. A person who becomes highly skilled in the use of one of these packages may well find full-time employment just working with that specific set of tools.

Currently there are three widely used operating systems for mainframe, desktop, and laptop computers. Some free software has been developed to run under all three of these operating systems, and other software is more restricted. In this document we indicate the operating systems a software package runs under using the following graphics:

General Use Software

 * Apache Open Office.
 * This Office Suite powerhouse can hold its own against Microsoft Office.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * AbiWord.
 * Similar to Microsoft Word, it has all of the essential word processing features most people need.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Scribus.
 * Scribus is a page layout and creation tool that supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK color, separations, ICC color management and versatile PDF creation.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

Internet

 * Firefox
 * Arguably, the best overall cross-platform browser with unparalleled customization and extensibility options.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * KompoZer
 * KompoZer is a complete Web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use           WYSIWYG web page editing.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * 
 * FileZilla Client is a fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client with lots of useful features and an intuitive interface.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

Audio

 * Audacity
 * An easy-to-use audio editor for recording and editing sounds.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * 
 * Ardour is a digital audio workstation. You can use it to record, edit and mix multi-track audio.  You can produce your own CDs, mix video  soundtracks, or just experiment with new ideas about music and sound.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]]

Video

 * Kino
 * Kino is a non-linear DV editor for GNU/Linux. It features excellent integration with IEEE-1394 for capture, VTR control, and recording back to the camera.
 * [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Cinepaint
 * CinePaint is a deep paint image retouching tool that supports  higher color fidelity than ordinary painting tools. It is ideal for film, and is widely used in Hollywood.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * VLC Media Player
 * VLC media player is a highly portable  multimedia player for various audio and video   formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well   as DVDs, VCDs, and various   streaming protocols.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * REPLAY (from ETH Zurich)
 * REPLAY is an open source solution developed in Java to manage the workflow of audiovisual lecture recordings from production in the classroom to distribution on various channels in an automated manner. In this, it also provides comprehensive functionalities for existing audiovisual archives, repositories or collections. REPLAY consists of three components: The recording device in the lecture room, the backend, handling all the indexing, archiving, encoding and publishing of the recorded materials, and the user interface, providing intelligent access to the audiovisual contents.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * OpenCast
 * OpenCast is a community project to build and deliver an Open Source enterprise-level, integrated and interoperable framework to produce, process, distribute, and preserve audiovisual objects in research, teaching and learning. In addition, OpenCast supports and develops audio and video tools expanding the functionalities of the core framework.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

2D Graphics

 * Gimp
 * A powerful bitmap image editing and creation tool, comparable to Adobe Photoshop.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Inkscape
 * A vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

3D Graphics

 * Blender
 * Blender is a 3D content creation suite for 3D modeling, animation, and video compositing.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Open Wonderland
 * Open Wonderland is a 100% Java open source toolkit for creating collaborative 3D virtual worlds. Within those worlds, users can communicate with high-fidelity, immersive audio, share live desktop applications, and collaborate in an education, business, or government context. Wonderland is completely extensible; developers and graphic artists can extend its functionality to create entirely new worlds and add new features to existing worlds.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Wings 3D
 * Wings 3D is a      subdivision modeler        inspired by Nendo and Mirai from Izware.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

Mathematics</Center>

 * Octave


 * 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.


 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * SAGE
 * SAGE is a viable open source alternative to Magma, Maple, Mathematica, and MATLAB. SAGE includes many high-quality open source math packages.


 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * WolframAlpha


 * WolframAlpha is a knowledge engine based on Mathematica. It is a Web-based system that can solve a very wide range of quantitative problems.


 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

Miscellaneous Other</Center>

 * Celtx
 * Celtx is an all-in-one media pre-production system designed to help writers and designers plan and produce a variety of media, including: film, video, documentary, theatre, machinima, comics, advertising, video games, music video, radio, podcasts, videocasts, or virtually any type of conceivable script.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]


 * Shape Collage
 * Shape Collage is a free multi-platform automatic photo collage maker.
 * [[Image:Mac-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Linux-icon-sm.gif]] [[Image:Win-icon-sm.gif]]

List of Free Online Resources </Center>
Moursund, D. (2016). Fair use. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 7/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Fair_Use.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free educational videos. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Educational_Videos.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free IAE math education materials. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_IAE_Math_Education_Materials.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free math education videos. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 7/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Math_Education_Videos.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free math software. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Math_Software.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free open content libraries. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 6/27/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Open_Content_Libraries.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free open source and open content educational materials. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Open_Source_and_Open_Content_Educational_Materials.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free open source online databases. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Open_Source_Online_Databases.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free open source software packages. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Open_Source_Software_Packages.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free science education software. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Science_Education_Software.

Moursund, D. (2016). Free science education videos. IAE-pedia. Retrieved 8/17/2016 from http://iae-pedia.org/Free_Science_Education_Videos.

Popular Free Online IAE Books </Center>

 * Moursund, D. (February, 2016). Math Methods for Preservice Teachers. Eugene, OR: Information Age Education. PDF file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/283-math-methods-for-preservice-elementary-teacher-1/file.html. Microsoft Word file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/282-math-methods-for-preservice-elementary-teacher/file.html. HTML file: http://iae-pedia.org/Math_Methods_for_Preservice_Elementary_Teachers.


 * Moursund, D. (August, 2015). Brain Science for Educators and Parents. PDF file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/271-brain-science-for-educators-and-parents-1/file.html. Microsoft Word file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/270-brain-science-for-educators-and-parents/file.html. HTML file: http://iae-pedia.org/Brain_Science.


 * Moursund, D. (2/28/2015). Technology and Problem Solving in PreK-12 Education for Adult Life, Careers, and Further Education. PDF file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/267-technology-and-problem-solving-in-prek-12-education-1.html. Microsoft Word file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/free-ebooks-by-dave-moursund/266-technology-and-problem-solving-in-prek-12-education.html. HTML file: http://iae-pedia.org/Technology_and_Problem_Solving.


 * Sylwester, R., and Moursund, D., eds. (2012). Creating an Appropriate 21st Century Education. Eugene, OR: Information Age Education. PDF file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/doc_download/243-creating-an-appropriate-21st-century-education.html. Microsoft Word file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/doc_download/242-creating-an-appropriate-21st-century-education.html.


 * Moursund, D., and Albrecht, R. (2011). Using Math Games and Word Problems to Increase Math Maturity. Eugene, OR: Information Age Education. PDF file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/doc_download/211-using-math-games-and-word-problems-to-increase-the-math-maturity-of-k-8-students.html. Microsoft Word file: http://i-a-e.org/downloads/doc_download/210-using-math-games-and-word-problems-to-increase-the-math-maturity-of-k-8-students.html.

All Free Online IAE Books </Center>

 * Free Books by Dave Moursund.
 * Free Books by Bob Albrecht.
 * Free Books Co-authored by Bob Sylwester & Dave Moursund.

Moursund's Collections of Quotations </Center>

 * Math Education Quotations.


 * Quotations Collected by David Moursund.

Digital Filing Cabinets </Center>

 * Digital Filing Cabinet: Overview.


 * Digital Filing Cabinet: Math Education.

Author
The original version of this page was created by David Moursund and edited by Ann Lathrop.