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Open Source Software Downloads

Here are some downloads of Open Source, and Freeware. We have not included all of the applications, but only those that we feel should be shipped on all computers. We have tried to keep it simple, and have also provided links back to where we acquired most, but not all, of these links.

NOTE: To run GIMP and a couple of other open source apps on Windows you will need to run this driver: GTK http://www.gtk.org/

GTK+ is a multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. Offering a complete set of widgets, GTK+ is suitable for projects ranging from small one-off projects to complete application suites.

GTK+ is free software and part of the GNU Project. However, the licensing terms for GTK+, the GNU LGPL, allow it to be used by all developers, including those developing proprietary software, without any license fees or royalties.

GTK+ is based on three libraries developed by the GTK+ team:

GLib is the low-level core library that forms the basis of GTK+ and GNOME. It provides data structure handling for C, portability wrappers, and interfaces for such runtime functionality as an event loop, threads, dynamic loading, and an object system.

Pango is a library for layout and rendering of text, with an emphasis on internationalization. It forms the core of text and font handling for GTK+-2.0.

The ATK library provides a set of interfaces for accessibility. By supporting the ATK interfaces, an application or toolkit can be used with such tools as screen readers, magnifiers, and alternative input devices.

GTK+ has been designed from the ground up to support a range of languages, not only C/C++. Using GTK+ from languages such as Perl and Python (especially in combination with the Glade GUI builder) provides an effective method of rapid application development.

Get Driver

Make sure you record the names of any renamed files in case you decide to uninstall the apps. The program MAY rename some files, but it will not return them to their original name upon uninstalling.

Operating System

Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support. It is developed by a large community and we invite you to participate too!

The Ubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Ubuntu Philosophy: that software should be available free of charge, that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities, and that people should have the freedom to customize and alter their software in whatever way they see fit.

These freedoms make Ubuntu fundamentally different from traditional proprietary software: not only are the tools you need available free of charge, you have the right to modify your software until it works the way you want it to.

We have chosen Ubuntu for several reasons. It is very easy to use, and install. The philosophy of the folks at Ubuntu is one that we subscribe to ourselves. Ubuntu has taken Linux to a level that should make it easier for Linux to take over the world of the digital domain.

To make a Windows install disk do the following:

Verify the ISO file (highly recommended, but not required).

You can go to the Ubuntu site for more complete instructions. They suggest that you download some software to check the integrity of the download. Ubuntu has an option that allows you to check the CD integrity before the install, so this becomes a moot point. For those who like to go by the book or are using a OS other than Windows go to the Ubuntu BuringISOHowto page.

To burn the ISO image, download and install ImgBurn, a free image burning program. This is a sweet program.

Insert a blank CD in the drive and select Do nothing or Cancel if an autorun dialog pops up.

Right click on the ISO image you downloaded and select Burn with Imgburn.

Click the Write Disc button and wait for the CD to finish burning.

Now insert the disk into the computer that is to get the new face-lift and re-boot the system. You may want to go into your BIOS and have your computer boot off of the CD drive rather than the HD.

At this point you either have Linux, Windows, or Mac OS running on your box. We have several choices for you at this point:

The Best Free Windows XP Software and Opensource Software Available This is where we go for our must have software when we rebuild a system. Filtered.
Mac Software some of the best freeware and Open Source. Filtered.
Free Open Source Software...an extensive non-filtered list of software and resources.
Free Open Source Portable Media Software...non-filtered media geek's on the go.
Free Portable Software...non-filtered geek's on the go. OSes to Browsers.
Free Music Software ...music only software. Filtered.
Free plugins, mp3 Players, and browsers Filtered.
One Million Free and Legal Music Tracks added just for kicks.

Note: Filtered software is software that we have downloaded, used, and approve of for its utilitarian or entertainment value. Non-filtered is just the opposite.

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