The other day I wrote about working from home, since I recently upgraded both my desktop and laptop to Windows 10 64-bit, I thought I should review/list the open source software I use to get the job done.
You don’t need to go broke setting up your PC/laptop with software. Here is a list of open source (or free) software that I use:
– Eclipse (for Java and C development) is, in my opinion, the best IDE for programmers.
– Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2015
– AdoptOpenJDK
– Open Object REXX
– Apache HTTP Server
– Inno Setup is an installer for Windows programs.
– LibreOffice (alternative to Microsoft Office)
– Thunderbird is an email client (alternative to Outlook)
– Firefox is a web browser
– Adobe Reader is a PDF viewer
– WinAmp is a great music player
– Irfanview is a graphic viewer
– Kee Pass 2 a tool for managing your passwords
– PuTTY for logging into Unix / Linux servers
– TN5250J for logging into IBM i (OS/400) servers
– x3270 for logging into z/OS (mainframe) servers
– TightVNC for controlling other servers (Windows, Linux or Unix)
– FAR is a great file manager
– Visual Diff is a really good program that compares the contents of 2 files
– 7-Zip is a file archiver
– Virtual CloneDrive allows you to mount ISO, BIN & CCD files
– Cobian and RoboCopy are great programs to backup / synchronize your files (BACKUP YOUR FILES!!!)
Even though I have Microsoft Visual Studio Community IDE installed, I don’t use it. I use Eclipse and makefiles for my C development. I rarely do any GUI development in C, so switching back and forth between Visual Studio IDE and Eclipse just slows me down. Hence, I can code much faster if I just stay in Eclipse and do all of my development in it. And yes, I said I use makefiles. Developers get so freaked-out when you say makefiles. But there is nothing wrong with using makefiles. All it means is that the developer needs to understand what components his/her project uses. I have to use makefiles on AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, IBM i (OS/400) and z/OS (JCL actually), so what is wrong with using makefiles on Windows? Absolutely nothing.
I create/update all of the product manuals (open source, licensed as free and commercial) using LibreOffice. I currently have roughly 100 product manuals and I have no issues using LibreOffice. It works really well and I like the 1-click button to create a PDF.
Finally, if you are a developer or not, make sure you backup your stuff. Besides, Cobian and RoboCopy, there are lots of open source programs to backup your important files, pictures, code, documents, etc. It doesn’t matter what you use, just use something.
Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.
