Open Source Downloads: the Monster List

As demonstrated by the nearly 500 open source downloads on this list, open source software has benefited from an explosion of creativity in the last several years. Indeed, the first decade of the 21st century could be called “the Decade of Open Source.”

Since 2006, Datamation has put together at least 15 different lists of open source software, for file sharing, enterprises, small businesses, windows users, netbooks, security professionals, and others. (And check out the hot new open source list from late 2009). For this list of open source downloads, we revisited all those applications that we've featured before, culled out the projects that are no longer active (or no longer open source), made updates, and organized them alphabetically in categories.

Of course, with so many open source apps, they aren't all of equal quality. But they're all at least worth a look, and many of the older apps have improved. So if you're looking for open source software of nearly any type, we bet you'll find at least a couple of possibilities on our "Monster List."

Peruse the full list -- it's a mighty thing -- or search by alphabetical category:

Page 1: Accounting, Address Books, Anti-Spam, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware, App Firewall, Astronomy, Audio Tools,

Page 2: Backup, Biology, Blogging, Browsers, Bulletin Board, BI, BPM, Business, Calender, Chemistry, Classroom, Collaboration

Page 3: Communication, Compression, CMS (Wiki), CRM, Databases, Data Destruction, DW

Page 4: Desktop Enhancement, Desktop Publishing, Desktop Search, Developer Tools, Dictionary, DMS, Earth Science, eBook, eCommerce, Educational Testing, Eee,

Page 5: Elementary Education, Email, Encryption, Emulators, ERP, File Sharing, File Transfer

Page 6: Flashcards, Foreign Language Inst., Forensics, Games, Gateway Security, Genealogy, GPS, Graphics Editors, HRM, IM,

Page 7: Intrusion Detection, IT Inventory, Laptop Theft Prevention, Library, Log File, Logic/Debate, Math, Mind Mapper, Misc., Mobile. Multimedia, Mult. Func. Security, Music Ed, Network Firewalls,

Page 8: Network Scanning, Office Productivity, Online Ed, OpenCourseWare, OS/Kernel Mods, Password Management

Page 9: PDF Tools, Personal Financial, Photography, Physics, POS, Project Management, Religion, Remote Access/VPN, Report Authoring, Robotics, RSS Readers, School Admin, Server Software

Page 10: Speech, Systems Admin, Time Tracking, Text Editors, To-Do Lists/Schedulers, Typing, Utilities, User Authentication, Video Tools, Vulnerability Assessment, Web Filtering, Web Page Editors

Open Source Accounting

1. FriFinans

An alternative to Web-based open-source accounting apps, FriFinans is a cross-platform, multi-user, client/server finance system. It tracks accounts, offers, orders, invoices, purchase orders, payments, etc. and generates pdf reports of activities. Operating System: OS Independent.

2. FrontAccounting

This Web-based accounting/ERP app handles purchase orders, invoices, accounts payable, inventory, sales orders, general ledger, and more. In addition, it supports multiple languages, multiple currencies, and multiple GST/VAT settings. Operating System: OS Independent

3. GnuCash

This app works well for personal finance management and also includes some small business features such as customer and vendor tracking, invoicing and bill payment, and tax and billing terms. It's not as full-featured as some other accounting programs, but it is compatible with Quicken and OFX formats. Operating System: Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD, Solaris.

4. osFinancials

osFinancials includes accounting, invoicing, stock control, and POS abilities. It supports multiple users, up to 1 million debtors and creditors, and up to 1 million stock items. Operating System: Windows.

5. TurboCASH

Designed as an alternative to QuickBooks, TurboCASH is a simple but flexible small business accounting program with multi-user and multi-company capabilities. On the downside, it only runs on Windows, so you'll need an emulator if you want to run it on Linux. Operating System: Windows.

Open Source Address Book

6. Rubrica

Written using GNOME and GTK+, Rubrica stores contact information as XML data. It can import/export from a variety of formats, including GnomeCard, KAddressbook, Evolution, and csv file format. Operating System: Linux/Unix.

Open Source Anti-Spam

7. ASSP

Humbly claiming to be "the absolute best SPAM fighting weapon that the world has ever known," ASSP is short for "Anti-Spam SMTP Proxy" Server. While it takes a little work to get it up and running at first, it doesn't require a lot of maintenance, and the site wiki includes extensive help on configuring the app so that it works for you. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

8. SpamAssassin

The highly acclaimed "#1 open-source spam filter," SpamAssassin, uses a number of different features to identify spam, including header tests, body phrase tests, Bayesian filtering, blacklists and whitelists, and others. It can be used on its own, but it's also been incorporated into a number of other commercial and open-source applications. Operating System: OS Independent.

9. Spamato

Available as an Outlook add-on, as a Thunderbird extension, or as a stand-alone proxy, Spamato uses multiple filters to separate junk mail from the stuff you actually want to receive. Unlike some anti-spam tools, it also lets you see why a message gets classified as spam and adjust your settings as necessary. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

Open Source Anti-Spyware

10. Nixory

Nixory will quickly scan your system and remove any malicious cookies from Firefox. Unlike some similar apps, you can use it alongside other anti-virus or anti-spyware applications without first disabling those systems. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

11. xpy

This tiny program (less than 60KB), improves security, improves performance, and closes some of the flaws which opens up Windows to spyware. It disables the Windows "calling home" features, disarms Internet Explorer, disables Windows Media Player, and more. Operating System: Windows.

Open Source Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware

12. ClamAV

One of the best-known open-source security projects, ClamAV provides e-mail virus and malware scanning for Unix-based systems. Its owners update its prodigious virus database several times each day to provide up-to-the minute protection from evolving threats. Operating System: Linux, Unix.

13. ClamTK

As you might expect, this is an interface for ClamAV, this time for Linux only. The latest release adds directory whitelisting. Operating System: Linux.

14. ClamWin

Based on the well-respected ClamAV engine, ClamWin integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Windows Explorer to scan files for viruses and other malware. You can set it up to automatically download the updated virus database, and you can schedule system scans. However, unlike many commercial products, it does not include a real-time scanner for files you receive by e-mail. You'll need to save files and right-click in order to scan them for viruses. Operating System: Windows.

15. Moon Secure

This app also uses the Clam AV engine (though developers claim to be working on one of their own), but offers a different interface and some different features. Operating System: Windows.

16. P3Scan

This e-mail proxy server scans both incoming and outgoing messages for viruses, worms, trojans, spam, and other malware. Like most open-source anti-virus tools, it's based in part on the ClamAV engine. Operating System: Linux.

17. Rootkit Hunter

As you might expect from its name, Rootkit Hunter searches your system for rootkits and other unwanted tools. It does not provide live or scheduled scanning, but the Web site contains instructions for setting up your system to run Rootkit Hunter daily. Operating System: Linux, Unix.

18. Viralator

Still getting the occasional network virus even after you install anti-virus software? Viralator supplements the existing anti-virus software on your proxy server to block malware that might otherwise slip in when users access free webmail accounts. Operating System: Linux, Unix.

Open Source Application Firewall

19. AppArmor

Novell's application firewall uses policy-based profiles to control who can access various applications. It's included with openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise, but is also available for download for any Linux system. Operating System: Linux.

20. ModSecurity

ModSecurity Web application firewall provides real-time monitoring and anlysis of attacks. Hardened appliances and commercial support are available from project developer Breach Security. Operating System: OS Independent.

21. SELinux

Developed by the NSA, Security Enhanced Linux adds mandatory access control features to the Linux OS. It enforces complete separation of information to make it more difficult to bypass application security mechanisms. Operating System: Linux, Unix.

Open Source Astronomy

22. Celestia

Celestia lets you view the night skies from earth, and it also lets you fly through 3D space to any place in the known universe. When possible, it uses actual photographs of planets, asteroids, and other objects, so that you can see what they really look like. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

23. KStars

Developed by the KDE Education Project, KStars is a planetarium program that's very similar to Stellarium (see below). Unique features include an altitude vs. time tool, what's up tonight tool, and an AAVSO Lightcurve Generator. Operating System: Linux.

24. Space Trajectory Analysis

This app lets researchers analyze, simulate, and visualize the paths of objects that have been launched into space. It's currently being used by the European Space Agency and a number of international universities. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

25. Stellarium

Downloaded more than 8 million times, Stellarium is one of the most popular open-source education apps available. With this app, you can input coordinates for any point on earth and view the night skies for any particular point in time. It's so accurate, it's even used to power many planetariums. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

Open Source Audio Tools

26. Amarok

This audio’s player’s claim to fame is its easy-to-use, attractive interface. Amarok's browser-like feel also makes it easy to use playlists. Operating System: Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X.

27. Aqualung

Aqualung plays audio CDs, internet radio streams, podcasts, and nearly every audio file format in use. It also offers the unique option of eliminating sound gaps between adjacent tracks. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

28. aTunes

Much like a more well-known "Tunes" program that also starts with a vowel, aTunes lets you play music, create playlists, view and edit tags, and rip CDS. And because it's Java-based, it runs on any platform. Operating System: OS Independent.

29. Audacity

Audacity lets you record and edit multi-track audio files. It’s not a professional-quality tool, but it does more than most home users will ever need, including recording up to 16 channels at once, converting among multiple audio file formats, and adding effects. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

30. AC3Filter

This audio decoder and processor filter allows media players to play AC3 and DTS audio tracks from movies. It also allows you to mix audio tracks and adjust sound quality. Operating System: Windows.

31. CDex

Downloaded more than 38 million times, this CD ripper supports a number of different audio encoders, as well as audio tag formats. CDex also allows direct recording of multiple tracks and provides advanced jitter correction. Operating System: Windows.

32. Cdrtools

Cdrtools provides a complete set of applications (including Cdrecord) for recording/burning CDs, DVDs, and BluRay disks. Operating System: Linux.

33. CoolPlayer

CoolPlayer is a self-described “blazing fast audio player” for Windows. It features a very simple interface and an 8-band equalizer. Operating System: Windows.

34. DrumTrack

Turn your PC into a drum machine. DrumTrack allows you to create and record your own drum score, including incorporating samples from nearly any audio file type. One note of caution: this app is aimed at hobbyists, not professionals. Operating System: Windows

35. EasyTAG

EasyTAG allows users to view and edit the tag fields on MP3, MP2, MP4/AAC, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MusePack, Monkey's Audio, and WavPack files. It includes a tree-based browser and CDDB support for manual and automatic searches. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

36. Frinika

Frinika is a java-based music workstation that allows you to record and edit sound, add special effect, and mix in synthesizer sounds and drum beats. Unlike many other sound editors, Frinika lets you do everything from your existing PC without the need for extra hardware or equipment. Operating System: OS Independent.

37. Jajuk

If you have a large or scattered music collection, Jajuk is for you. This jukebox provides a lot of advanced features for users who know what they’re doing, while also being relatively intuitive. Operating System: OS Independent.

38. Juice

Juice makes it easy to capture and listen to podcasts, any time, anywhere. It includes a directory of thousands of online podcasts, so it’s also easy to find the one you want. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

39. LAME

Although LAME stands for "Lame Ain’t No MP3 Encoder," the first line on its Web site states, "LAME is an MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) encoder." It was intended as an educational tool for those interested in improving the speed and quality of MP3 files. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

40. Linux MultiMedia Studio Think you have what it takes to be a music producer? LMMS lets you create music on your computer, including creating loops, synthesizing and mixing sounds, arranging samples, and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

41. Mixere

Mixere lets you play and mix an unlimited number of audio tracks during a live performance. Features include dynamic looping, auto-triggering of audio, fully automated sliders, gradual muting, and crossfading. Operating System: Windows.

42. Mixxx

Designed for DJs performing live mixes, Mixxx replaces a traditional turntable and mixer setup. It supports mp3, ogg, wave, and flac playback. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

43. MOC

Simply select a directory, and the MOC (Music On Console) audio player will play all files in that directory. Supported file formats include MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, Musepack, Speex, WAVE, AIFF, and AU. Operating System: Linux/Unix, OS X.

44. Moosic

The key feature of this music player is its playlist management/queuing abilities. By default, Moosic supports MP3, Ogg, MIDI, MOD, and WAV files, but it can be configured to support other file formats as well. Operating System: Unix.

45. MP3Gain

Tired of constantly adjusting the volume when playing MP3s? MP3Gain uses statistical analysis to gauge how loud songs sound in the human ear, and then modifies the volume appropriately without degrading the quality of playback. Operating System: OS Independent.

46. Mp3splt

Mp3splt is an audio utility that does just one thing—it lets you cut mp3 and ogg files into smaller files and rename them. It’s especially useful if you need to split an entire album into individual tracks. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

47. pulpTunes

Want to access your home iTunes library while you’re at work? Install pulpTunes and you can access your music from any Web-connected computer. Operating System: OS Independent.

48. Songbird

While still a work in progress, Songbird has been receiving rave reviews as an open-source alternative to iTunes. It has tons of built-in features and services, including artist links, a music store, concert tickets, smart playlists, and much, much more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

49. StreamRipper

StreamRipper allows you to record and save Shoutcast streams and other Internet audio. Its key feature is the ability to find silences and mark them as possible points of track separation. Operating System: Windows, Linux/Unix.

50. Zinf

Based on the FreeAmp source code, Zinf plays a wide variety of audio file types. It includes a music browser, theme support, and a download manager. Operating System: Windows, Linux.