LibGuides: Open Source and Post-Graduation Resources: Open Source

What is Open Source?

Open source software is free to use and just as importantly, allows any developer to improve it. Examples of open products already in your daily life include Firefox, Thunderbird, and Android.

There are high-quality options for word processing, data entry, image editing, blogging, and even ebook creation without having to pay for software subscriptions.

Sourceforge, for example, is a directory of open source software where you can search by the name of a piece of software to find open source equivalents and read reviews.

We are unable to provide technical assistance with this software, but tutorials, user manuals, and online help forums are available from the official sites of these programs.

Popular Open Source Software

Audacity
Audacity is an audio editor that can be used for a variety of purposes, including podcasts and music file conversions.
Calibre
Calibre is designed for ebook production and management, and is often used when ebook creators need to convert their works into differing file formats.
FileZilla
This FTP program allows you to transfer files between computers over the Internet.
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
GIMP can be used for image manipulation/retouching, accomplishing many of the same functions as programs like Photoshop.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a popular, easy-to-use alternative to Microsoft Office (and supports the file types used in Office so they can be opened by an Office user).
Scribus
Similar to InDesign, Scribus is a piece of desktop publishing software.
Sigil
Sigil edits documents into an EPUB file format for producing ebooks.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is an operating system that works well on older computers that do not meet the technical requirements of more recent versions of Windows. Popular open source programs like LibreOffice and Firefox are included in this download.
VLC Media Player
"VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols."- from publisher site
Wordpress
Although Wordpress is usually used for blogging, templates can also be found for creating websites (including mobile sites) and online magazines through its software.