Unleash the Power of Open Source: The Best Free Tools for Your PC
One of the most exciting aspects of using a PC is the vast ocean of free software available at your fingertips. The sheer volume can be overwhelming, making it difficult to separate the truly valuable tools from the rest. Many users often stick to free versions of well-known commercial programs, unaware of the powerful universe of open-source software waiting to be discovered.
Open-source software offers numerous advantages. Beyond the crucial aspect of being free, its source code is publicly accessible. This fosters community-driven testing, iterative improvements, ongoing maintenance, and continuous development, resulting in incredibly robust and highly practical applications. Let’s explore some of the best open-source tools that can significantly enhance your PC experience.
Calendar and Contacts Reimagined: Borg Calendar
An alternative to Big Calendar
Tired of entrusting your personal data to tech giants? The Borg Calendar offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream calendar applications. This comprehensive tool allows you to efficiently manage your appointments and includes a built-in address book for organizing your contacts. A key feature is its ability to seamlessly synchronize with other calendars, including those from Google and Microsoft, providing flexibility and ensuring you stay connected.
Foundry If you prioritize data privacy and control, Borg Calendar provides a secure and reliable way to manage your schedule and contacts. The program offers various viewing options, including yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily views, each conveniently displayed in its own tab. Customize the interface to your liking by closing tabs to simplify the view. U.S. public holidays are displayed by default but can be easily changed in the settings. Borg Calendar supports synchronization with Google Calendar and various calendar formats, including VCard, ICS, and Caldav. XML import and export are also supported. Beyond calendar functions, Borg Calendar integrates an address book for storing contacts with essential information.
Ebook Management Made Easy: Calibre
Manage ebooks and convert them to other formats
Calibre is your go-to solution for organizing and managing your ebook collection. This powerful tool helps you manage your content, convert ebooks to different formats, and index them for easy searching. It even provides access to online ebook stores for purchasing or downloading free books.
IDG Calibre simplifies ebook organization. During the initial setup, you can select your preferred ebook provider (Amazon, Apple, Booq, Kobo, etc.) and your ebook reader model. If your device isn’t listed, choose the "Generic" option and specify a general device or even your smartphone or tablet if you prefer reading on those. For Kindle users, you can optionally enter your Kindle’s email address to complete the configuration.
Once set up, you can easily add your ebooks, index them, convert them into different formats, and even purchase new ebooks from various providers. You can search your collection by author, group books into series, and assign ratings. Note that Kindle books are typically copy-protected and might not be easily added to Calibre.
Keyboard Shortcuts on Steroids: Clavier+
Define your own keyboard shortcuts for macros
Clavier+ allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts to quickly open programs, automatically insert text, and perform other useful functions.
Clavier+ Keyboard shortcuts can significantly improve your productivity by enabling you to launch frequently used programs with a single keystroke. Actions such as printing, saving, or inserting special characters can also be performed faster with a custom key combination than by navigating through menus. With Clavier+, you can tailor keyboard shortcuts to your specific needs. Simply click the blue plus sign, select the desired action (open a program, insert a character, open a folder, insert text, or open a website), enter additional information (such as the text to be inserted), and specify the desired key combination. Existing shortcuts can be easily edited or deleted.
The Powerhouse File Manager: Double Commander
File manager with many functions
Double Commander offers an extensive range of features for efficient file management, including a multi-rename tool and support for all major archive file types.
Double Commander’s clear two-window display makes file management intuitive. All connected drives and network connections are conveniently displayed in a single bar. The search function allows you to locate files using filters, and the integrated packer compresses and unpacks files in various formats, including zip, 7z, tar, bz2, tbz, gz, tgz, lzma, and tlz. You can rename multiple files simultaneously, and the synchronization function compares folders. Customize the packer, tabs, and other functions through the "Configure" menu, and use the terminal emulator for system-level commands.
Effortless FTP Transfers: Filezilla
Easy-to-use FTP client
Filezilla is a user-friendly PC client for transferring files to and from FTP servers. You can save frequently used access points as favorites for quick connection.
Filezilla is an exceptionally easy-to-use FTP client. Upon launching the program, enter the login details for the desired FTP server and click "Connect" to display the folder structure. You can then exchange files, create bookmarks, and set up custom commands. Filezilla’s interface is logically divided into different windows, providing a clear overview of your current directory and enabling quick navigation. Transfer feedback is displayed at the bottom, showing successful, failed, and pending transfers.
Screenshot Capture and Editing: Greenshot
Taking and editing screenshots
Greenshot simplifies taking screenshots and offers a basic built-in editor for quick modifications.
Greenshot provides a faster and easier way to capture screenshots compared to Windows’ built-in functionality. You can use the print key or define a different keyboard shortcut to capture the entire screen, a single window, or a specific area. The settings offer further customization options. Add graphic elements or labels using the integrated editor. Screenshots can be automatically saved after capture, including to the cloud. For privacy, Greenshot allows you to obscure sensitive information like serial numbers or personal data before sharing screenshots via email or printing.
Vector Graphics Unleashed: Inkscape
Create vector graphics
If you need to create vector graphics, Inkscape is a free and powerful solution. The program offers a wide array of features and can be extended with downloadable extensions.
Inkscape allows you to create and edit vector graphics with ease. The program includes various tools for painting, drawing, coloring, and modeling, arranged as icons on the left side of the main window. You can apply textures, materials, and other effects, including 3D effects, using filters. Inkscape provides scrollable color palettes for color selection. Editing tools on the right side allow you to cut, copy, duplicate, and enlarge objects, insert text, and print finished graphics. If you need additional functionality, you can expand the program with downloadable extensions.
Password Security Made Simple: Keepass
Keep passwords safe
Keepass is a secure password manager that stores your access data, passwords, PINs, and other important login information in an encrypted database.
When you first launch Keepass, you’ll create a new database, assign a master password that will grant you access, and give the database a descriptive name. The main view allows you to create new entries by clicking "Entry." Organize your access data into categories like "Internet," "Shopping," or "Bank" for clarity. The program provides generic terms by default, but you can customize existing categories or create new ones via "Group." To add a new entry, click on the category and then the first key symbol "Add Entry." Keepass requires a master password to access the database.
The Ultimate Media Platform: Kodi
Platform for multimedia content
Kodi is a leading multimedia platform that plays films, music, and more from local and network sources. It can be easily expanded with add-ons.
IDG Kodi is an entertainment hub for playing films, music, videos, and pictures locally and over the network. You can listen to the radio, play games, and more. To unlock Kodi’s full potential, install various add-ons. Additional audio and video decoders, lyrics and subtitles, connections to cloud storage like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, and screensavers can be installed from the integrated repository. Gamers can find emulators and controller profiles, and custom add-ons can be installed. Customize Kodi’s design to your liking.
System Monitoring at a Glance: Libre Hardware Monitor
Clear PC information
Libre Hardware Monitor allows you to easily monitor your PC’s status. The tool reads various sensors and displays the information.
IDG If you want an overview of your PC’s performance, Libre Hardware Monitor is the tool for you. It accesses all installed sensors and provides information about CPU utilization, memory clock, current, fan speeds, and more. Remote monitoring is possible via the "Remote Web Server." Configure the information displayed and customize the font size and color in the settings. Save reports to compare values later. Libre Hardware Monitor doesn’t require installation, only admin rights and the .NET framework.
HDR Image Creation and Editing: Luminance HDR
Create and edit HDR images
Luminance HDR creates and edits HDR images, providing a range of operators with different options. You can preview the effects in real time.
Luminance HDR allows you to create and edit high dynamic range (HDR) photos. You can load an existing HDR photo or create one from images with different exposures. Adjust the color saturation, contrast, and image noise. The exact settings depend on the selected operator for dynamic compression. For example, Fattal allows you to adjust alpha, beta, color saturation, and noise, while Durand allows you to adjust base contrast, spatial kernel sigma, and range kernel sigma. Changes are immediately visible in the preview and can be undone.
File Archiving and Unpacking: Pea Zip
Create and unpack file archives
Pea Zip creates packed archives of your files, offering numerous formats such as Zip and 7z, and allows you to schedule automatic archiving.
IDG PeaZip combines files into archives and unpacks existing archives. It supports common archive types like ZIP, 7Z, and TAR, as well as more exotic formats like Brotli, GZip, and UPX. You can create limited-size volumes and split the archive if needed. Updates for archives are also supported. You can assign a password to archives and send them by email. Under the "Advanced" tab, you can customize the compression settings, and under "Schedule," you can set up automatic archiving plans and specify the exact time for creation.
The All-Purpose PDF Tool: Sumatra PDF
All-rounder for PDFs
Sumatra PDF is a lightweight PDF viewer that allows you to open PDF documents and search them using a text input field.
You can mark text passages, underline them in color, cross out text, circle elements, and leave annotations and stamps. A note reminds you if you haven’t saved a comment. This slim, quickly installed program offers various view options, from single-page to double-page to fitting the current window. Rotate PDF documents and zoom into pages. A print function is included, and you can define favorites.
Versatile Media Playback: SM-Player
Versatile playback program for videos and music
SM-Player plays both audio and video files. The program includes necessary codecs and many other functions.
IDG SM-Player plays videos and music, with all necessary codecs included. Adjust playback speed, display subtitles, and customize the software’s design. It remembers playback settings for each file, so playback resumes exactly where you left off. An optional module searches YouTube for videos, and Google’s Chromecast is supported. Create favorites and playlists and specify preferred languages.
Simple TV Program Guide: TV-Browser
Simple TV program also for pay TV
TV-Browser keeps you informed about current programs on your favorite channels. The channel list is customizable, and you receive program information.
TV-Browser After downloading necessary files and information, select which TV channels to display and their order. In addition to free-to-air channels, you’ll be offered pay TV channels. Note: TV-Browser requires an internet connection! Download the current program information for selected channels via the globe icon. Filter by channel, time, and date on the left side. Clicking a program displays further information. Edit the channel list and customize the design in the options.
