15 Best Examples Of Open Source Software That Can Make Your Life Easier
Open-source software is software that anyone can access, use and change. Many people think of open source as the opposite of closed source, but there is more to it than that.
Open source is a way of sharing information about software development. It is a community-driven process where people participate in the design, development, and maintenance of software.
The goal of open source is to create a better product for everyone by encouraging participation from the community. This means that if you’re working on a project, you have the chance to make your project better based on feedback from others within your community.
Examples Of Open Source Software
1. Apache
The Apache Software Foundation is a non-profit organization that maintains the widely used HTTP server software, the Apache HTTP Server. It is also an open-source software project which aims to provide high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use server software in the form of binaries or source code that can be freely distributed under a license approved by the foundation and its members.
2. Eclipse
Eclipse is an open-source development environment consisting of a cross-platform runtime product and tools, with a plugin-based extensibility mechanism that supports both existing applications and new applications built on those tools.
It includes plug-ins for many programming languages such as Java, C++, and JavaScript (and others), so developers don’t have to rewrite their code from scratch if they want to extend Eclipse with new capabilities.
3. OpenOffice
OpenOffice is an open-source office suite comprising a word processor, spreadsheet application (Calc), presentation program (Impress), database program (Base), and drawing program (Impress). It is released under the GNU GPL license. OpenOffice has been ported to various operating systems including Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
4. LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that features powerful tools for creating, modifying, and publishing documents. The software has been developed by The Document Foundation since 2005.
LibreOffice is available for Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows platforms. It is also available as an open-source application that can be used on most major mobile operating systems.
The LibreOffice suite consists of several applications that work together to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The programs are designed to be easy to use, while still providing advanced features needed by professionals in their day-to-day work.
5. Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that is based on the Unix operating system. It has been developed by Linus Torvalds and was first released in 1991 as a free software program.
Linux can be used as a desktop operating system or server operating system. It can also be used to develop software and is widely viewed as being more secure than other operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Android.
6. VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player (VLC) is a free and open-source, cross-platform media player and multimedia player. It plays most video, audio, and DVD files as well as streaming media technologies in the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (MPEG-4 ASP), H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, and (.mov) file formats.
It is available for Windows through Windows 10’s default app store and can be downloaded directly from the official website. The player is also available on Linux OS.
7. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation. The software is available on Windows computers, macOS, Linux Pcs, Android phones, and iOS phones.
8. GIMP
GIMP is a free and open-source image editor. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. GIMP is released under the GNU General Public License v2, but some components are licensed under other licenses.
9. jQuery
jQuery is a free and open-source JavaScript library that makes it easy for developers to create cross-platform HTML, CSS, and JavaScript applications.
10. Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software used for the creation of animated films, visual effects, art, web design, video games, and architectural visualization. Blender’s features include 3D modeling, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking.
11. Python
Python is an open-source programming language that lets you work quickly and integrate systems more effectively. Python can be used for writing scripts and programs, but also as a powerful tool for analyzing data and developing web applications. Python is fully portable, which means it runs on virtually every operating system.
12. PHP
PHP is an open-source programming language that is used in developing web applications.
PHP can create dynamic web pages and maintain a database. The community-based development model allows for rapid development of new features and bug fixes.
13. Shotcut
Shotcut is an open-source, cross-platform video editor. It runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, and other Unix-like operating systems.
Shotcut has a simple but powerful interface that allows you to quickly make high-quality video editing with minimal effort.
14. WordPress
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) and publishing platform. It is used to create, edit and publish web pages, blogs, and web applications.
15. Drupal
Drupal is an open-source content management platform for creating, publishing and managing websites. It provides an administrative interface for creating and managing websites, which can include blogs, forums, news sites, photo galleries, and much more.
Open Source Software Licenses
Open-source software licenses are designed to allow users to modify the code and redistribute it, while retaining copyright on the underlying source code.
Advantages Of Open Source Software
- It is free
You can download, modify and redistribute free versions of all kinds of software without shelling out money or giving anyone special rights over your work. You have access to all the information you need to know about how to use it and what it does.
- Collaboration
Open-source software lets developers collaborate on projects like operating systems and web browsers — so programmers can share their code base and make better products faster than ever before.
- Cost Savings
The cost savings come from being able to use free or inexpensive versions of software instead of expensive proprietary packages like Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop.
You also save money by not paying for support when using an open-source application as your company doesn’t have to pay for maintenance contracts or upgrades as they normally would when using proprietary applications.
Disadvantages Of Open Source Software
- It may have bugs
As mentioned above, open-source software is not tested as frequently as commercial software. This means there might be some bugs that might cause problems for users. If you don’t know how to use the program properly, then it could lead to problems for you and your computer.
- It can take time to learn
Since open-source programs are not well-managed by any organization, there are chances that it could take time for you to learn about them and start using them effectively. You will have to learn about them by yourself and start using them for your work or personal needs.
Final Word
The open-source software movement is a powerful force that continues to grow, also an integral part of the ongoing digital revolution. Countless other companies have developed innovative new software applications that are freely available to everyone.
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