Not all 'free' software is the same. A program's developer might have chosen to distribute it free of charge, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can edit it, or share it yourself. The term ‘open source’ refers to software whose source code is freely available to download, edit, use and share, with no copyright restrictions. There are different, which give users different degrees of freedom, but the main aim of open source is to encourage experimentation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Open source software has lots of advantages over other ‘free’ options you’ll come across – even if you’re not a developer yourself. It’s usually maintained by a community and updated frequently to patch vulnerabilities or squish bugs as soon as they’re identified; there are no restrictions on commercial use, so you can happily use it for your home business; and the ability to edit the source means there’s often a wealth of user-created plugins available to download. You'll find open source versions of pretty much every software imaginable - from office suites to media apps. ![]() With that in mind, here's our pick of the very best open source software. Office software: There's no need to pay for Office with this open source alternative is a full suite of office software, including excellent apps for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and databases. These are all fully compatible with the latest Microsoft file formats, so you’ll have no trouble sharing files work users of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Documents look just as sharp and professional as those created using paid-for software, and to download, use and edit. LibreOffice’s huge community of contributors have compiled, including a forum and even live chat if you need a hand. Review and where to download: • LibreOffice review • Download LibreOffice Photo editor: Our favorite open source photo editor, packed with powerful tools Powerful and flexible, open source image editor is as close to Adobe Photoshop as you can get without opening your wallet. It supports layers, and is packed with advanced tools for enhancing your pictures or creating new ones from scratch. You can adjust every aspect of your pictures’ appearance manually, or use the dozens of customizable filters and effects to achieve amazing results with just a few clicks. GIMP comes with a huge array of user-created plugins pre-installed, and adding more is a piece of cake. If you don’t need the power of GIMP and prefer a simpler interface, check out – another superb open source photo editor that’s a little lighter on features, but easier to master. Download java free for mac. • • Media player: An open source media player than can handle virtually any file format is one of the world’s most popular free media players, and for good reason – it can handle just about any audio file, video file, or media stream you can throw at it, without the need to mess around installing additional codecs. VLC Media Player gives you an amazing degree of control over playback, letting you optimize video and audio for your specific hardware configuration.
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