Free and Open Source Software
From School Computing
This page catalogs truly open source software as defined below. Also see: Best Free Software for a page which combines this list with free proprietary software.
From the Free Software Foundation's Free Software Definition:
"Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer.
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission."
For case study reports on implementing enterprise-wide open source solutions, see: COSN Open Technology Project.
[edit] AntiVirus Software
[edit] Clam
Open source antivirus software (Win version at http://www.clamwin.com/) More on ClamAV
[edit] Anti-Spam Filtering
[edit] ASSP
[edit] Blog Servers
[edit] Drupal
See Blogging page for information.
[edit] Computer-Based Assessment
[edit] TCExam
TCExam is a Computer Based Assessment (CBA) software system (also know as CBT - Computer Based Testing or e-exam) that enables educators and trainers to author, schedule, deliver, and report on surveys, quizzes, tests and exams.
[edit] Concept Mapping
[edit] FreeMind
Powerful free concept-mapping softwar for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Great keyboard shortcuts to make the mapping process easy. Somewhat modeled after the commercial MindManager software from Mindjet. You can see screenshots here.
[edit] CMap
Sophisticated concept mapping. Also allows users to collaborate on maps. Has a free server product as well.
[edit] Content Management Systems
[edit] opensourceCMS.com
[edit] See Also:Content Management Systems
[edit] CourseWare
See Course_Management_Systems for more information.
See Digital Video for more on this topic.
[edit] Help desk software
[edit] Image Management/Editing
[edit] Gallery
Upload, catalog, share images
[edit] TuxPaint
Drawing & painting program like KidPix
[edit] The GIMP
The GNU image manipulation program. Mac, Windows, Linux versions. Open source.
[edit] IrfanView
[edit] Internet Filtering
[edit] DansGuardian
[edit] Library Catalog Software
[edit] Koha
Also See: Library Circulation and Catalog Software
[edit] Math
[edit] GeoGebra
GeoGebra is a free and multi-platform dynamic mathematics software for schools that joins geometry, algebra and calculus.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Grass GIS
Geographic Information Systems
[edit] NASA WorldWind
Systems update server for managing Windows updates
[edit] Open Source Mac
A list of free open source software for OS X
[edit] Network Managment & Monitoring
For discussion of network optimization, see Internet & Network Bandwidth & Monitoring & QOS
[edit] Office Suites
[edit] Open Office
[edit] Neo J Office
[edit] Zoho Online
The OS X port of Open Office
[edit] Page Layout
[edit] Scribus
[edit] PDF Converters/Creators
[edit] PDF Creator
[edit] DocMorph
Online conversion
[edit] RSS Feed Compiler/Display
[edit] BlogLines
Easy way to collect content from sites offering RSS feeds. Also includes a blog. Completely web-based.
[edit] RSSBandit
Includes advanced features like flagging items for follow-up, web search, tracking comments submitted.
[edit] RSS Owl
Open souce, elegant RSS reader for Mac, Windows or Linux. Works with RSS, RDF and Atom feeds.
[edit] Vienna
Great RSS reader for Mac's. Free, open source and reads RSS/Atom feeds. Has a built in web browser for when you click links. Smart folders available (like many Mac OS X programs) which can be programmed to show only certain groups at a time. Change styles with custom css'ing.
[edit] BlogBridge
[edit] Sound Management/Editing
[edit] Audacity
Powerful audio tool including ability to record, mix, export to MP3 and other formats.
[edit] Programming and 3D Modeling
[edit] Alice
Good intro-level programming
[edit] FMSLogo
A modern implementation of the Logo programming language for kids, you can create animated GIFs with it or images like these: http://neoparaiso.com/logo/galeria-mswlogo.html
[edit] Blender
[edit] Web Authoring
[edit] NVU
Similar functionality to FrontPage or Dreamweaver.
[edit] Word Processors
[edit] AbiWord
compatible on all platforms.
[edit] OpenOffice
word processor, spreadsheet, drawing, database suite available for PCs. For Macs, use NeoOffice. For technical support for OpenOffice.org use Plan-B, specializing in non technical users.
[edit] VoodooPad
Free demo version of a notepad that works just like a wiki. Paid version as well. Use it to create multiple links within the document or to pages on your hard drive or the web. Great note-taking resource for students. Macs only.
[edit] Other Sites Which Catalog Free Software
Freshmeat (http://www.freshmeat.net) - read the fine print for the type of license - includes software for all platforms
Sourceforge (http://sourceforge.net/) - all open source
Savannah (http://savannah.gnu.org/) - repository for GNU projects
Seul/Edu Educational Application Index (http://richtech.ca/seul/) - all open source
The KDE Edutainment Project (http://edu.kde.org/)
Edubuntu (http://www.edubuntu.org/) - Linux distribution geared to K-12 - "Edubuntu includes more than 16,000 pieces of software, but the core installation fits on a single CD. Edubuntu starts with the Linux kernel version 2.6 and Gnome 2.12, and covers every standard desktop application from word processing and spreadsheet applications, educational software (such as GCompris and the KDE education suite) to internet access applications, web server software, email software, programming languages and tools and of course several games."
Skolelinux (http://www.skolelinux.org/portal/) - a customized Debian distribution for schools
Educational Freeware(http://www.educational-freeware.com/) - lists free learning software for Windows.
Play Open Source Tux Games Online: (http://www.auntlee.com/kids/games_tux.html) Tux Typing, Super Tux!
Free Business Software: (http://www.businessbookmall.com/Free%20Business%20Software%20Internet%20Library.htm)
Free Software Tutorials: (http://www.businessbookmall.com/Software%20Tutorials%20Internet%20Library.htm)
