Open source software is any kind of program where the developers behind it chooses to release the source code free. Whenever a software has a open source license, It means anyone in the world can download, modify and distribute it.
It’s important to remember that free doesn’t mean that the software is open source.
Lot of companies release their software for free but maintain a full copyright ownership of their code.
Successful open source software are built on the hard work of potentially thousands of collaborators who have voluntarily given up their time to create these software.
01. LibreOffice
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Key features: Full set of office apps, Lots of templates, Supports Microsoft files
LibreOffice is a great alternative for Microsoft Office because of its support for documents, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, diagrams and mathematical formulas
There is actually more features in LibreOffice than Microsoft Office because the developer community is always adding new tools.
02. VLC Media Player
- Platform: Windows,Mac,Linux,Android,ios
- Key features: Supports for playing huge number of file types, optimizes playback
VLC (VideoLAN Client) is a lightweight media player developed by an opensource development group known as the VideoLAN project. Because it supports a variety of video/audio file formats you don’t have to download extra applications.
VLC also works for streaming media such as podcasts and online radio stations.
The best part of VLC is that you can change almost everything about how your media is displayed.
03. Blender
- Platform: Windows,Mac,Linux,
- Key features: VR rendering support, 3D painting with textured brushes, python scripting for add-ons, auto and manual tracking, animating & rigging
Blender is a open source 3D creation suite. It supports modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking.
And because Blender supports scripting the possibilities are endless.
03. GIMP
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Key features: Fully customizable interface, Advaced editing tools
GIMP is a great alternative for Adobe Photoshop.
GIMP has built in support for Layers,filters and automatic photo enchantments.
Just like photoshop GIMP has a fairly steep learning curve but if you put a bit of time you can easily learn GIMP.
05. Audacity
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Key features: recording audio from multiple sources, post-processing
Audacity is a free open source audio editor and recording application. You can record and edit audio files on more tracks than you can imagine.
06. OBS
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Key features: real time audio/video capturing, easy to use configuration, easy to use configurations, customizable modular dock
OBS Studio is a free open source screen recorder and streaming software that you can easily setup streaming or recording within minutes.
OBS supports Plugins and there are variety of plugins available to extend its functionality.
