Open Source Software Free
Free Open Source Software (FOSS), sometimes also called just Open Source or Free Software, is software that is licensed to be free to use, modify, and distribute. Most FOSS licenses also include a kind of legal Golden Rule that requires any changes, such as fixes and enhancements, to be released under the same license. “Free” and “open source” are two terms commonly used interchangeably in the software industry. Yet, for many developers, the difference between the two is not always clear.
Microsoft is mostly criticized by the Linux community for their closed-source Windows operating system which single-handedly outperforms the popularity of all the Linux distros combined. The company has been an advocate of proprietary software, but in the last couple of years, Redmond has made a lot of contributions to the open source community.Sep 29, 2007 Free Open Source Software (FOSS), sometimes also called just Open Source or Free Software, is software that is licensed to be free to use, modify, and distribute. Most FOSS licenses also include a kind of legal Golden Rule that requires any changes, such as fixes and enhancements, to be released under the same license. 10 Best Free Software For Windows 10 1. OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OpenOffice was initially released on May 1, 2002. It is an open source discontinued office suite of its earlier version the StarOffice written in C and Java. 10 Best Free Software For Windows 10 1. OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OpenOffice was initially released on May 1, 2002. It is an open source discontinued office suite of its earlier version the StarOffice written in C and Java. Free and open-source software defines its freedoms through its licensing, while public domain software may adhere to some of the same virtues but does so by falling outside the licensing system. An important distinction of both free and open-source software is that works based on free or open-source source code must also be distributed with a.
Microsoft is now one of the top-tier members of the Linux Foundation and has a regular presence on GitHub. Stuffing distros such as Ubuntu, openSUSE, and Fedora into the Windows Subsystem is the sign of love Microsoft is showing towards the Linux community.
However, on the other hand, some people might want to tie this with Microsoft’s evil intentions. Earlier, it was predicted that they would digest Linux in the long run. If Windows becomes capable of running Linux applications someday, then people might fall for it.
Leaving all these things aside, one important thing to consider is that various free and open-source software available for Windows 10. If you want to take advantage of Windows 10’s fluidity and other features, you can do so with a touch of open source.
Don’t forget to check out our list of open source apps for Android.
14 Best Free Open Source Software For Windows 10
1. Firefox – Open source browser for Windows 10
Developed by Mozilla Foundation, Firefox is an open-source web browser which was first released in 2002. Firefox started to lose its user base after the arrival of Google Chrome in 2009. But last year, Mozilla gave a massive transformation to Firefox, and now it stands proudly in front of Chrome and other leading browsers.
Firefox is the default web browser on various Linux distributions, but it also has gigantic user based on the Windows platform, and not to mention Android.
2. Chromium – Open source alternative to Edge
People often criticize Google Chrome for its proprietary nature; its daddy Chromium is always ready to rescue the popular browser with its open source goodies. In fact, Chrome borrows its base code from Chromium after which Google makes some changes.
One of the advantages of having Chrome or Chromium is that you can stream content from your desktop to TV screen using a Chromecast receiver.
Chromium has posed itself as a serious contender for the default web browser on Linux systems. When it comes to Windows 10, many people are stuck to Chrome, but Chromium can be a great alternative if you want to fill your proprietary machine with some open source software.
3. VLC – Open source alternative to Windows Media Player
It’s hard to imagine a Windows 10 machine without the VLC. That’s the reason it has bagged the top position on our list of best media players for Windows 10. The open-source media player developed and maintained by VideoLAN.
Other than playing different audio/video formats, VLC can also be used to stream online content and download YouTube videos.
4. DC++ – Open source file-sharing client
You might have heard about the direct connect (DC) protocol used for sharing files over the internet. The open source DC++ is the most popular peer-to-peer file-sharing client based on the direct connect protocol.
You can use DC++ as an alternative to BitTorrent. Other than Windows, various DC clients are available for macOS and Linux. Read this post to know more about the pros and cons of DC++.
5. qBittorent – Open source torrent client
qBittorrent is an open source client for Windows 10 which is used to download torrent files. The letter q in the name qBittorrent is because it is designed using Qt. qBittorrent is also available for other operating systems including macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, etc.
6. GIMP – Open source alternative to Photoshop
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) can be assumed as the open source answer to Adobe Photoshop unless you’re planning to spend ten years and master MS Paint, like, this guy did.
Created by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis, GIMP has existed for more than two decades since its first release in 1995. The open source graphics editor can be used to create and make changes to photos and clipart in raster image formats including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc. GIMP is available for Windows 10, Linux, and macOS.
7. Libre Office – Open source alternative to Microsoft Office
Another name in the list of free and open source software for Windows 10 is Libre Office. In 2011, the office application suite sprung out of another open source project known as OpenOffice.
Libre Office currently offers a variety of apps like Writer (similar to MS Word), Calc (MS Excel), Impress (Powerpoint), Math (used to create and edit maths formulae), Draw (vector graphics editor), and Base (a database management program).
There are two versions of Libre Office which are in continuous development. ‘Fresh’ release comes with all the latest features created for Libre Office, on the other hand, ‘Still’ release is a little behind in terms of features but focuses more on stability.
8. 7zip – Open source Zip extractor
You can’t question the capabilities of the 17-year-old open source tool 7zip when compressing and extracting files. The fact that 7zip is open source adds to the comfort of the haters of proprietary software.
7zip is primarily created for machines running Windows operating system. However, command line based versions for Linux distros are available. Other support for popular compression formats, 7zip also offers its own compression format called 7z.
9. VirtualBox – Open source hypervisor software
Probably, the only hypervisor software known to common users like us is VirtualBox. It allows people to run some other operating system, be it Windows or Linux, inside their primary operating system.
The original development of this open source software was carried out by Innotek GMbh before it was taken over by Sun Microsystems followed by Oracle.
Other than being an open source software available for Windows 10, VirtualBox is also available for other platforms including Linux, Solaris, macOS, etc.
10. Tor Browser – Open source anonymity suite
Tor Browser is the perfect solution for users who don’t want to blow their anonymity cover on the internet. The open-source web browser for Windows 10, macOS, and Linux leverages Tor network to conceal user’s identity and IP address.
It’s a modified version of the Firefox ESR browser which includes some add-ons such as HTTPSEverywhere, NoScript, etc. Tor browser reroutes the traffic through various nodes on the Tor network. It automatically deletes cookies and web history when the user closes the browser window, thus, reducing the chances of a user getting tracked.
11. FileZilla – Open source FTP solution
The file-sharing software FileZilla is also a great open source software for Windows 10. It’s available for Linux and macOS as well. The FTP client was born as a class project of a student trio in 2001.
FileZilla offers protected file sharing which requires a username and password to access the shared data. Overall, the software has received a positive response, but it has been accused of storing passwords insecurely. Users have criticized FileZilla for bundling adware as a part of SourceForge’s revenue program.
12. Mozilla Thunderbird – Open source alternative to Outlook
Thunderbird is an email client developed by Mozilla. Launched in 2004, it was able to serve the rising demand for a dedicated email client. In the last few years, Mozilla has reduced their focus on Thunderbird because they don’t believe it can make the same the industry-wide impact as Firefox does.
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The open source email client is available for Windows 10, Linux, and MacOS. Other than an email client, Thunderbird includes a Calendar, Chat client, and can receive RSS feeds amongst various other features. However, the emails are listed in a congested manner and might ruin your user experience.
13. Media Player Classic – Home Cinema (MPC-HC)
MPC-HC is also an open source media player for Windows 10. In terms of video and audio format support, it can easily go shoulder to shoulder with VLC. One thing I like about MPC-HC is that it can play 4K videos if you’re running capable hardware.
The biggest drawback of MPC-HC is that it’s only available for Windows platforms, that’s where VLC takes over by providing a cross-platform media player.
14. KeePass – an open source password manager
In our list of the best password managers, you can find the open source Windows software called KeePass. Standing confidently among other proprietary password managers, KeePass provides an effective way to save and organize tons of usernames and passwords you have for your web accounts and various services.
All the account credentials added to KeePass are stored on the user’s system in an encrypted file to protect the information from attackers. It supports input and export of data from other password managers and also comes with built-in password generator which can suggest random passwords. Read more about creating a strong password.
So, these were some of the free and open source software for Windows 10 you can use in your daily life. I’ll try to extend this list in the future.
Did you find this helpful? Drop your thoughts and feedback.
Also Read: 10 Best Free And Open Source Android Apps Every User Should Try
Your search for free GIS software is now over
You don’t have to pay a king’s ransom to map the world.
This is because you can do it all with free GIS software.
The best part is:
These free GIS software give you the firepower to get the job done as if you’re working with commercial GIS software.
We’ve mapped out the GIS software landscape , but these 13 (out of 30) reign supreme for free mapping software.
1 QGIS – Formerly Quantum GIS
After the epic GIS software battle in GIS history between ArcGIS vs QGIS, we illustrated with 27 differences why QGIS is undoubtedly the #1 free GIS software package.
QGIS is jam-packed with hidden gems at your fingertips. For example, you can automate map production, process geospatial data, and generate drool-worthy cartographic figures.
There’s no other free mapping software on this list that lets you map like a rock star than QGIS.
QGIS Plugins boost this mapping software into a state of epicness. If the tool doesn’t exist, search for a plugin developed by the QGIS community.
Volunteer effort is key to its success. The QGIS Stack Exchange support is impressively great.
If you’re still searching for free GIS software, you’d be insane not to download the free GIS software QGIS. Here’s your beginner’s guide to QGIS to get your feet wet.
In February 2018, QGIS 3 brings a whole new set of cartography, 3D and analysis tools. We’ve got you covered on how to find all of its newest features and plugins:
READ MORE:The Hidden Powers of QGIS 3: 33 Truly Underappreciated Features and Plugins
2 gVSIG
In 2004, the gvSIG project emerged as a free, open source GIS software option in Spain.
We illustrate in this gvSIG guide and review why we like it SO much:
gvSIG really outperforms QGIS 2 for 3D. It really is the best 3D visualization available in open source GIS.
The NavTable is agile in that it allows you to see records one-by-one vertically.
The CAD tools are impressive on gvSIG. Thanks to the OpenCAD Tools, you can trace geometries, edit vertices, snap and split lines and polygons.
If you need GIS on your mobile phone, gvSIG Mobile is perfect for field work because of its interface and GPS tools.
3 Whitebox GAT
Yes, Whitebox GAT (Geospatial Analysis Toolbox) is #3 on the list of open source, free GIS software.
Unbelievably, Whitebox GAT has only been around since 2009 because it feels so fine-tuned when you see it in action.
There’s a hydrology theme around Whitebox GAT. It actually replaced Terrain Analysis System (TAS) – a tool for hydro-geomorphic applications.
Whitebox GAT is really a full-blown open-access GIS and remote sensing software package.
Where it shines is LIDAR!
With no barriers, Whitebox GAT is the swiss-army knife of LiDAR data.
The LiDAR toolbox is a life-saver. For example, LAS to shapefile is an insanely useful tool. But you may need a Java update to go in full throttle though.
The cartographic mapping software tools are primitive compared to QGIS.
But overall Whitebox GAT is solid with over 410 tools to clip, convert, analyze, manage, buffer and extract geospatial information.
I find it amazing this free GIS software almost goes unheard of in the GIS industry.
Get more useful knowledge from the Whitebox GAT Open Source Blog.
4 SAGA GIS
SAGA GIS (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses) is one of the classics in the world of free GIS software.
It started out primarily for terrain analysis such as hillshading, watershed extraction and visibility analysis.
Now, SAGA GIS is a powerhouse because it delivers a fast growing set of geoscientific methods to the geoscientific community.
Enable multiple windows to lay out all your analysis (map, histograms, scatter plots, attributes, etc). It provides both a user-friendly GUI and API.
It’s not particularly useful in cartography but it’s a lifesaver in terrain analysis.
Closing gaps in raster data sets is easy. The morphometry tools are unique including the SAGA topographic wetness index and topographic position classification. If you have a DEM, and don’t know what to do with it – you NEED to look at SAGA GIS.
Overall, it’s quick, reliable and accurate. Consider SAGA GIS a prime choice for environmental modeling and other applications.
READ MORE:SAGA GIS (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses) Review and Guide
5 GRASS GIS
GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) was developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a tool for land management and environmental planning.
It has evolved into a free GIS software option for different areas of study.
Academia, environment consultants and government agencies (NASA, NOAA, USDA and USGS) use GRASS GIS because of its intuitive GUI and its reliability.
It has over 350 rock-solid vector and raster manipulation tools.
Not awfully useful in cartographic design, GRASS GIS excels primarily as a free GIS software option for analysis, image processing, digital terrain manipulation and statistics.
6 MapWindow
In 2000, MapWindow was proprietary GIS software. However, it has been made open through a contract with the US EPA called “Basins”. At this point, The source code was released to the public.
Open Source Software Free
Now that MapWindow 5 has been released, it surprisingly has some serious punch. For example, MapWindow does about 90% of what GIS users need – map viewer, identify features, processing tools and print layout.
It has some higher level tools such as TauDEM for automatic watershed delineation. While HydroDesktop for data discovery, download, visualization and editing, DotSpatial for GIS programmers. In addition, it has an extensible plugin architecture for customization.
7 ILWIS
Free GIS software users rejoice. Once commercial GIS software, now turned into open source GIS. ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information Management) is an oldie but a goodie.
The extinction-proof ILWIS is free GIS software for planners, biologists, water managers and geospatial users. ILWIS is good at the basics – digitizing, editing, displaying geographic data. Further to this, it’s also used for remote sensing with tools for image classification, enhancements and spectral band manipulation.
Over time, it has improved support for time series, 3 analysis and animation. Overall, I found it difficult to do some of the basics like adding layers. However, the documentation is thorough with a pretty decent following for usage.
READ MORE:Integrated Land and Water Information Management (ILWIS)
8 GeoDa
GeoDa is a free GIS software program primarily used to introduce new users into spatial data analysis. It’s main functionality is data exploration in statistics.
One of the nicest things about it is how it comes with sample data for you to give a test-drive. From simple box-plots all the way to regression statistics, GeoDa has complete arsenal of statistics to do nearly anything spatially.
It’s user base is strong. For example, Harvard, MIT and Cornell universities have embraced this free GIS software to serve as a gentle introduction to spatial analysis for non-GIS users. From economic development to health and real estate, it’s been used as an exciting analytical in labs as well.
READ MORE:GeoDa Software – Data Exploration at its Finest
9 uDig
uDIG is an acronym to help get a better understanding what this Free GIS software is all about.
- u stands for user-friendly interface
- D stands for desktop (Windows, Mac or Linux). You can run uDIG on a Mac.
- I stand for internet oriented consuming standard (WMS, WFS or WPS)
- G stands for GIS-ready for complex analytical capabilities.
When you start digging into uDig, it’s a nice open source GIS software option for basic mapping. uDig’s Mapnik lets you import basemaps with the same tune as ArcGIS
Specifically, it’s easy-to-use, the catalog, symbology and Mac OS functionality are some of the strong points. But it has limited tools and the bugs bog it down to really utilize it as a truly complete free GIS software package.
10 OpenJump
Formerly JUMP GIS, OpenJump GIS (JAVA Unified Mapping Platform) started as a first class conflation project. It succeeded. But eventually grew into something much bigger. Because of how its large community effort grew, OpenJUMP into a more complete free GIS software package.
One of its strengths is how it handles large data sets well. Rendering is above-grade with a whole slew of mapping options. For example, you can generate pie charts, plotting and choropleth maps.
OpenJUMP GIS Plugins enhance its capabilities. There are plugins for editing, raster, printing, web-processing, spatial analysis, GPS and databases. Conflating data is another option with a whole lot more from its plugins.
11 Diva GIS
Biologists using GIS unite! This one specializes in mapping biological richness and diversity distribution including DNA data.
Diva GIS is another free GIS software package for mapping and analyzing data. Diva GIS also delivers useful, every day free GIS data for your mapping needs.
It’s possible to extract climate data for all locations on the land. From here, there are statistical analysis and modeling techniques to work with.
For the biologist in you, it’s worth a long look for biologists around the world. Otherwise, you should be looking at one of the top options above.
12 FalconView
The initial purpose of FalconView is to be a free and open source GIS software.
Georgia Tech built this open software for displaying various types of maps and geographically referenced overlays.
Now, most of FalconView’s users are from the US Department of Defense and other National Geospatial Intelligence Agencies. This is because it can be used for combat flight planning.
In SkyView mode, you can fly-through even using MXD files. It supports various types of display like elevation, satellite, LiDAR, KMZ and MrSID.
13 OrbisGIS
OrbisGIS is a work-in-progress. Its goal is to be a cross-platform open source GIS software package designed by and for research.
It provides some GIS techniques to manage and share spatial data. OrbisGIS is able to process vector and raster data models.
It can execute processes like noise maps or hydrology process without any add-ons. Orbis GIS Plug-ins are available but are very limited for the time-being.
100 Best Open Source Programs
The developers are still working on the documentation. You may want to look elsewhere until this project gets sturdy up on its feet.
Free GIS Software List
As we have shown, there’s a bucket load of free GIS software that can:
- Perform hundreds of advanced GIS processing tasks.
- Generate stunning cartography and mapping products.
- Manage your company’s geospatial assets efficiently.
Now that you have a better vision of free GIS software available to you, did we miss anything?
Let us know with a comment below.