Here you'll find a list of free software that I use. More often than not, if there's some task you'd like to accomplish on your computer, there's a free package out there that will help you do it. Sure, most of the free stuff isn't that great, but there are some gems out there. The purpose of this page is to list software packages that are not only free, but powerful, mature, and stable as well. Who knows, maybe you can save a buck or 200 by using this stuff! (Umm... Linux and OpenOffice spring to mind immediately. That's at least $250 you really don't need to spend on Windows and MS Office.)

If you think of a free software package that should be listed here, or if you find a dead link, please feel free to contact me.

Basics

• Linux - A great operating system, with an even better price. $0. Personally, I'm a fan of Ubuntu and Damn Small Linux, but DistroWatch has links to even the smallest, most obscure distributions. If you don't use your computer for high-end gaming, there's really not a good reason to pay for your OS.
• OpenOffice.org - Microsoft Office replacement. Reads and writes native MSOffice format documents, as well as the OASIS OpenDocument format.
• AVG Antivirus - Free antivirus client, with automatic updates and scheduled scanning.
• Notepad++ - Great Notepad replacement. Syntax-highlighting, regular expression-powered search-and-replace, tabbed interface, much better performance with large files... Good stuff.
• 7-Zip - Open-source multiformat de/compression utility.

Internet/Networking

• Mozilla Firefox - You shouldn't be viewing this site with any other browser. Well, at least don't use Internet Explorer.
• OpenVPN - Your very own VPN server and client!
• µTorrent - TINY bittorrent client. Small, simple, full-featured, easy, and free.
• FileZilla - Open-source FTP server and client.
• Pidgin - Open-source multi-protocol IM client.
• NetStumbler - Snoop for wireless networks in your vicinity. Test signal strength. Don't use it for unauthorized access.
• XAMPP - Small, self-contained webserver. Includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl, among others (hence the ...AMPP part of the name).

Media

• blender - Open-source 3D modelling, rendering, and animation suite.
• Audacity - Open-source multitrack audio editor and recorder.
• MediaMonkey - Freeware audio conversion, cataloging, and smart playlisting.
• The GIMP - Open-source image editor, aspiring to be as powerful as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.
• VLC Media Player - A more than decent Windows Media Player replacement. Includes DVD support. Plays nearly any media file. Can also transcode (convert) files from one format to another, or stream them over a network.

Miscellany

• KeePass - Annoying thing about using the internet: having to remember all those friggin' usernames and passwords. Use this and stop having to do that.
• TrueCrypt - Open-source, realtime, on-the-fly encryption. Encrypt just a few files or an entire drive. Also supports system partition encryption with pre-boot authentication.
• AutoHotKey - Automate anything. Remap the keyboard. Define complex macros. Open-source, of course.
• NetHack - Best computer game ever. Sure, it ain't a pretty game, but it's one of the oldest chronologically and arguably the deepest gameplay-wise of all time.
• Scorched 3D - Cool 3D tank game, born from a cool 2D tank game from ages ago.
• frHed - Nice, full-featured hex editor.
• Google Earth - Gotta admit it's damned cool to be able to see your house from here.
• DrScheme - Programming environment for Scheme and Lisp, two languages only appreciated by true geeks.
• Sunbird - Open source calendar tool. Still a fairly immature project, but passably useful.