Solutions

So you might think: yeah but what can free software really do? Well, here are a few Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) solutions. For more information, please go to the FOSS section.

Here are a few use cases. For each case, there might be more than one FOSS solution. I list my preference first, then a few alternatives in no particular order and not exhaustively. I also list their commercial/proprietary competitors. My recommendations are based on my personal opinion and I have no affiliation with any listed software projects. Please note that I am not distributing the below listed software, but simply linking to products' respective pages from the makers.


Office Applications and Document Editors

Word Processors

Goal: I want to write up a nice letter. I need to update my résumé. I'm writing my PhD thesis.
Solution: You need an Word Processor (or an Office Suite). Use LibreOffice Writer. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Word Processors

LibreOffice Writer

OpenOffice Writer

Calligra Words

Abiword

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus Word Pro, etc...

Spreadsheet Programs

Goal: I want to keep track of my expenses in a table. I need to make charts with this scientific data. I want to compare different products for which I have information.
Solution: You need an Spreadsheet Program (or an Office Suite). Use LibreOffice Calc. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Spreadsheet Programs

LibreOffice Calc

OpenOffice Calc

Calligra Sheets

Gnumeric

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, IBM Lotus 1-2-3, etc...

Presentation Programs

Goal: I need to make a presentation to our clients about our new product. I want create a slide show of my vacation pictures.
Solution: You need an Presentation Program (or an Office Suite). Use LibreOffice Impress. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Presentation Programs

LibreOffice Impress

OpenOffice Impress

Calligra Stage

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Powerpoint, Corel Presentations, IBM Lotus Freelance Graphics, etc...

Database Programs

Goal: I need a simple database to manage our employee information. I want a database to keep track of my stamp collection.
Solution: You need an Database Program (or an Office Suite). Use LibreOffice Base. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Database Programs

LibreOffice Base

OpenOffice Base

Calligra Kexi

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Access, Corel Paradox, IBM Lotus Approach, etc...

Office Suites

Goal: I need an integrated suite of office related applications.
Solution: You need an Office Suite, which is a collection of office applications made by the same creator. Use LibreOffice. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Office Suites

LibreOffice

OpenOffice

Calligra

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Office, Corel WordPerfect Office, IBM Lotus Symphony, etc...

Text Editors

Goal: I need to edit some text files. I want to write a program. I want to modify source code.
Solution: You need an Text Editor. On Linux, use gedit. More information on wikipedia. On Windows, use Notepad++. More information on wikipedia. Advanced users can use Vim or Emacs. More information on wikipedia about vim and Emacs. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Text Editors

gedit

Notepad++

Vim

Emacs

Networking and Communications

Web Browsers

Goal: I want to surf the web, use social networking sites, view videos online, etc... Related protocols: HTTP and HTTPS.
Solution: You need a Web Browser. Use Firefox. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Web Browsers

Firefox

Epiphany

Konqueror

Chromium

Lynx

Non-FOSS competitors: Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc...

Email Clients

Goal: I have several email accounts, I want to check/create email. I also want to manage mail from all of my accounts in one program. I want to keep track of my contacts, appointments and tasks. Related protocols: IMAP, POP3, SMTP
Solution: You need an Email Client. Use Thunderbird with the Lightning add-on (also FOSS). It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. Made by the same group as Firefox. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Email Clients

Thunderbird

Evolution

Kmail / Kontact

Sylpheed

Mutt

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, IBM Lotus Notes, Novell Groupwise, etc...

File Transfer Clients

Goal: I want to upload files to my website. Related protocols: FTP, SFTP, FTPS, etc...
Solution: You need a File Transfer Client. Use FileZilla Client. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS File Transfer Clients

FileZilla

Secure FTP

LFTP

cURL

WinSCP

Non-FOSS competitors: WS_FTP, Transmit

Media Playing and Viewing

Media Players and Music Collection Managers

Goal: I want to listen to music and play video files.
Solution: You need a Media Player. Use VLC. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Media Players and Music Collection Managers

VLC

Mplayer

Rhythmbox

Amarok

Totem

Audacious

Non-FOSS competitors: Windows Media Player, Apple iTunes

Note: Distribution or even usage of certain FOSS software in this category are encumbered by patent issues, licensing issues, Digital Rights Management (DRM) control, encryption (CSS/AACS) and restrictive laws (DMCA). This is another facet of the commercial and proprietary world that imposes limits and restrictions the users in their enjoyment of their media. Specifically, affected products, among others, are: DVDs and Blue Ray discs (movies), MP3 files (music), any MPEG based formats including MPEG-2 (DVDs) and MPEG-4 (H264/AVC) (Blue Ray). These restrictions vary by country and by products. The almost all the technical aspects of the restrictions are no longer a factor as they have been circumvented. These restrictions only remain legal, political and economical in nature. More information:

Photo Collection Managers

Goal: I want to view my picture files. I want to transfer pictures from my digital camera to my computer.
Solution: You need a Photo Collection Manager. On Linux use Shotwell. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Photo Collection Managers

Shotwell

digiKam

gThumb

Non-FOSS competitors: Adobe Photoshop Album, Google Picasa, Apple iPhoto

Photography Workflow Editor

Goal: I'm a photographer and I want to edit my pictures.
Solution: You need a Photography Workflow Editor. Use Darktable. It runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS and more. More information on wikipedia. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

FOSS Photo Collection Managers

Darktable

Non-FOSS competitors: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Operating Systems and Hypervisors

Free and Open Source Operating Systems

Goal: I just built myself a new computer, I need the software system to run all my applications.
Solution: You need a Operating System. Use a Linux distribution with GNU software (GNU/Linux). It runs on PCs, MacOS, Embedded platforms and much more. More information on wikipedia on Linux and GNU. Click on the logos below for the respective official sites.

Since operating systems are more complex than applications, I have created a separate section for that.


Free and Open Source Operating Systems

Linux

 +

GNU

BSD

FreeDOS

Non-FOSS competitors: Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X

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Notices