If you’ve never heard the phrase “Open Source Software” then you may be unaware of the incredible wealth of resources that are available to the public free of charge. Most software, such as Microsoft Office, or Adobe Photoshop are considered proprietary or closed source, meaning that you as a user cannot modify or make any types of changes to this software unless you happen to be a programmer working for the company that owns the software development rights. These programs usually come with a hefty price tag just for the privilege of even using the software on your computer. Open source is a completely different story. This type of software is free to use, free to modify, and basically free to do whatever you would like with it.
Almost all software comes with a license, and the user will usually have to accept the terms of the license before it can be installed onto any computer. Open source software also comes with a license, but the terms are much different than that of a program in which you had to pay to use. This type of license is usually referred to as GPL or general public license. There are a few different versions of this type of license, but they all typically have the same ideas behind them. The software is usually free for you to do just about anything you would like.
Now just because I said free, doesn’t mean that you won’t find a cost associated with some of these types of computer programs. The licenses themselves gives most anyone the freedom to do what they want, including selling it for a price. However, most programmers and developers of this type of software realize the value of their service and will offer their paid services for help with the software as opposed to charging for the software itself. However, just about anyone who downloads these programs can turn around and sell them for a profit. This is part of the freedom of the license. Be sure to do your research when looking for open source software, and if you agree to pay for it, make sure that it includes some sort of added value like training materials or custom added functions. That being said, I want to share with you a list of my favorite programs and where you can download them directly from the developers website free of charge. I will also describe ways to find resources on learning some of the important functions of these programs.
Gimp
To begin my list, I would like to point out that many of these programs can compete with some of the bigger name proprietary software like Adobe Photoshop. My first example is a program called GIMP.
Gimp is an image editing program, and has many of the same functions and characteristics of the extremely high priced software from Adobe. With Gimp you can edit photos just like the pros from removing backgrounds, adding text, or touching up imperfections within most types of images. It is free to download directly from the developer’s website. They also have user manuals in many languages, and tutorials on how to get the most out of your image editing. There are also thousands of videos on YouTube that will teach you all of the tips and tricks to quickly turn your editing skills into that of a seasoned professional. Use the link below to learn more.
Inkscape
My next favorite program actually in the same realm as Gimp but instead of editing raster images, it deals more with Vector image editing. Vectors are images that are used for different purposes like website and advertising graphics. Most images like the photos we take with our cameras are born a certain size, and a limited amount of pixels that can not be changed without losing some of the resolution. Vector images can be resized and will retain their resolution without losing quality. The program used to edit Vector image files is called Inkscape and can be compared to using another high priced Adobe product. If you know anything about Adobe Illustrator then you will soon find the incredible value of Inkscape.
If you have any use for illustrating Vector graphics, then you should check out Inkscape. Again, there are videos all over YouTube that can teach you how to get the most out of this program. Check out the link below.
Audacity
Audacity is an audio recording and editing program that can be extremely useful if you are a music professional, or just want to play around. You can import and record multiple tracks, add effects, and export your mix in high quality formats.
Whether you need an audio mixing program or not, this software is simply fun to play around with. Again, you can find all the instruction you need on YouTube or in forums all over the internet. Download Audacity directly from the developer’s site a the link below.
These are just a few of my favorite Open Source Software packages. There are so many more that I talk about but I think you get the idea. If you would like to find an Open Source program to use as an alternative to another paid program, simply search online for the paid software and include the words “open source” to find a suitable replacement. If you have any questions, or can’t find what your are looking for, use our contact form and let us know. We will try to help you find something that works.
– Ken S.