The FOSS Software Thread

The FOSS Software Thread
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

HELP! There's so many to choose from, which is best for me?
There are countless variations of applications for every task, which can be overwhelming in finding the right version for you. In this light, the best option is to post a question on a type of application you’re looking for and people can respond with their impressions on which worked for them and which didn't. This can help to prune the list by, for example, removing items that have become outdated.

Guidelines For Making It To The List

1. We take no responsibility for any damage caused by installing any applications listed here, so proceed at your own risk
2. The entire list is in this post; you do not need to search the entire thread. Links to where you can download the software are provided for every item
3. It is recommended that you ask here for FOSS software recommendations
4. This list contains software with open source licenses
5. The link for an application must point to a page with an English translation
6. The provided link should point to an information page about the application. Please do not supply a link that automatically downloads the application, as people would first want to read up on what the application does before deciding to download it

A Note on What [NOT TESTED] Means
Most of the applications on this list have been tested but in the event that the software has not been tested to make sure it works as described a [NOT TESTED] tag will be next to the link.

A Note on What FOSS Means
The Free Software Definition and What is free software and why is it so important for society? explanations from The Free Software Foundation should be read.

Quick Links
Internet
Media
Safety
System Tools
Productivity

Internet
Web Browsers:
Firefox
Google Chrome

Bittorent Clients:
Deluge
Vuze
Halite

Communication:
Pidgin
aMSN
X-Chat
Miranda IM

Email Clients:
ThunderBird

RSS Feeds:
RSSOwl

Media
Music Players:
Songbird
Kantaris

Media Managers:
Media Portal
Moovida

Video Players:
VLC Media Player
Media Player Classic
SMPlayer

Media Codec Packs:
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack

Safety
ClamWin

Password Management:
KeePass

Encryption:
TrueCrypt

System Tools

Screen Capture/Recording:
CamStudio

Application Launchers:
Launchy
Startup Manager

Application Docks:
Circle Dock

Virtual Desktop Managers:
Virtual Dimension
VirtuaWin

File Compression/Copying:
7-Zip

Disk/Image Ripping/Burning:
InfraRecorder

Productivity
Office:
Open Office
AbiWord
Scribus

PDF Tools:
Sumatra PDF

Blog Management:
w.bloggar

FTP Clients:

Image/Video Editors & Viewers:
GIMP
Inkscape

Audio/Video Encoding/Converting:
HandBrake
Audacity
MEncoder
AVIDemux

Virtualization:
VirtualBox
andLinux
Cygwin
Wubi Installer

Virtual Network Computing:
Tight VNC
UltraVNC

Text/Code Editors:
Vim
Emacs
Console

Calendars:
Sunbird

 

Wanted to make a mainly FOSS list with a definitive license. Hope you guys like it.

 

GREAT list. Already downloaded 3 things from it ^^
Hope that people will pitch in and you can add it to the list.

dont forgett itunes you dont need an ipod for it. It's just the
simplicity and friendly user interface that makes it nice. Plus it's free.

I say sticky ^^

 

There is already a free software sticky: The Ever-Growing Free Windows Software List

This list is similar, but it includes only the software approved by the Free Software Foundation.

 

Hard to imagine anyone saying that iTunes is great...but okay. Good for you on making this list. Though honestly, if free software, that isn't sponsered by the free software foundation, works just fine for my needs; I see zero incentives for me to go find FOSS software instead.

 

FOSS means Free Open Source Software. Apple is the definition of what it means to NOT be open source. Anyways, iTunes belongs in the Other software list.

 

Wrong. The FSF doesn't approve software. This is a list of free and open sorce software.

 

Then what's this clause about?

I'm assuming software with licenses approved by the FSF is a subset of FOSS?

 

Thanks for the catch, it's now less confusing.

 

I believe Moovida (previously named Elisa) is also an open-source media center.

 

Ah ok, that makes more sense.

 

Thanks, added.