Every time I re-setup my computer I realize that more and more freeware is running on it. In former times, setting up a computer meant inserting 20 CD-ROMs one after another -- MS Windows, MS Word, MS Office, Paint Shop Pro, ... --, today setting up means to me: First installing Windows, then downloading the most recent versions of all other programs.
Therefore, a cheer to freeware -- which by the way is according to certain sources in the USA a very communist construct ;) --, thanks to which I by now use hardly any proprietary software any more except for Windows.
Here's a list of great freeware programs (or in some cases shareware or demo versions) that are usually installed on my computers:
Basics:
- Acrobat Reader / Foxit Reader
- Reading .pdf files
- GhostView / GhostScript
- Reading .ps files
- PDF24 Creator
- Creating and editing of .pdf files
- pdf995
- Creating .pdf files by a printer driver
- TortoiseSVN
- Version control with SVN
- CDBurnerXP
- Burning CDs and DVDs
- 7-Zip
- File compression program for (almost) all formats
- cygwin
- Linux emulator
- DOSBox
- DOS emulator
Creating and editing of documents:
- nodepad++
- Text editor and source code editor
- LibreOffice
- Office programs: Text editing, spreadsheet processing, presentations, ...
- MikTeX
- Compilation of LaTeX documents
- WinShell
- LaTeX editor
- Asymptote
- Programming language and compiler for creation of vector graphics
- GeoGebra / Euklid DynaGeo
- Creation and editing of interactive geometry sketches
Programming:
- eclipse
- Development environment
- Java JDK
- Java (development kit and Virtual Machine)
- Visual C++ Express
- C++ (development environment and compiler)
- Python
- Python
- SWI Prolog
- Prolog (development environment and compiler)
Graphics:
- IrfanView
- Display of image files
- Gimp
- Image editing
- Paint.net
- Image editing
- Inkscape
- Editor for vector graphics
- autostitch
- Assembling large images from multiple photos (image stitching)
Music and multimedia:
- iTunes
- Music playback, download and playback of podcasts, managing of files on an iPod
- VLC Media Player
- Playback of videos and DVDs
- Winamp
- Music playback
- Amarok
- Music playback
- VirtualDub
- Video recording and editing
- NoteWorthy Composer (Demo)
- Creation of sheets of music
Internet:
- Firefox
- Browser
- Chrome
- Browser
- Thunderbird
- Email and newsgroup client
- IMAPSize
- Backup of IMAP email accounts
- PuTTY
- SSH and Telnet client
- WinSCP
- FTP and SFTP client with GUI
- pidgin / qip
- Instant messenger (for ICQ, AIM, ...)
- ChatZilla
- IRC client
- Skype
- Skype client (for internet telephony)
- Apache
- Webserver (for local testing of homepages)
- Vuze
- client for peer-to-peer filesharing
Antivirus:
- Avira AntiVir
- Anti-virus software
- Spybot
- Anti-spyware program
Datenbanken:
- MySQL
- MySQL data base system
- NaviCat Lite
- GUI for MySQL
lG Birgit
Edit (2011-02-18): Add Foxit Reader and PDF24 Creator.
Edit (2011-02-24): Update OpenOffice.org to LibreOffice.
