• CapCut icon
  • Clip Studio Paint icon
  • delphitools icon
  • Neocities icon
  • Phoenix Code icon
  • +37

What I Use

AidAid42 appsUpdated
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The apps I have installed and use myself for day to day things, mostly as someone who has PP memory and subpar energy; I am trying for more open-source apps, but it depends. Organized alphabetically.

Creative

Things I use for my creative endeavours (which does include coding + game dev).

  1. CapCut icon
     Like

    Free video editor with multi-track timeline, trimming, advanced filters, stickers, licensed music, auto-captions, export in 4K 60fps, and seamless platform sharing.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    • HarmonyOS
    CapCut screenshot 1
    CapCut screenshot 1
    CapCut screenshot 2
    +4
    CapCut screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Honestly, cracked CapCut for life, you will not catch my ass updating beyond my current version. I'd have used Shotcut icon Shotcut more if it had built in transitions and animations.

  2. Essential digital tool for comic and manga artists, offering specialized tools for shortcuts like panel layouts, inking, vector support, and 3D model import.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    Customizable workspace
    Simple UI mode
    Blank Canvas
    +9
    Tool editing dialog
    AidAid’s note

    My primary art program, I am an unfortunate shill to the monthly subscription (I kinda have to be to use it on my iPad). The free brushes and tools included definitely do make it worth it, and it's a reason it's very touted as a good art program (even if their subscription model is kinda doodoo).

  3. Multi-purpose web utilities for color conversion, image editing, typography, calculators, and QR code creation, with no login, registration, or intrusive ads.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    delphitools screenshot 1
    delphitools screenshot 1
    delphitools screenshot 2
    +4
    delphitools screenshot 3
  4. Neocities icon
     Like

    Create your own free website, and connect with others you by following their sites. You get 1 GB of space to make whatever you’d like with HTML, CSS, JS, image, text, and web font files.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Neocities screenshot 1
    Neocities screenshot 1
    Neocities screenshot 2
    AidAid’s note

    My website host. Nothing fancy to say here, it was either Neocities or Nekoweb icon Nekoweb. I also use Carrd icon Carrd but that's for niche roleplaying carrds.

  5. Phoenix Code is a text editor designed to make coding as intuitive and fun as playing a video game - specially crafted for web developers, designers, and students.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Phoenix Code screenshot 1
    AidAid’s note

    My primary use for coding CSS/HTML stuff. Not very happy they're shoving in AI integration, although you have to be logged in to use it.

  6. Unity icon
     Like

    Real-time 3D engine enabling collaboration to create immersive, interactive experiences on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with extensive platform support.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Unity screenshot 1
    Unity screenshot 1
    Unity screenshot 2
    +2
    Unity screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    My primary game engine I've been learning/using for 7+ years at this point.

Focus

Apps to help me focus better on my work.

  1. Finch is a mobile app that integrates self-care activities with a virtual pet, offering a variety of personalized exercises aimed at promoting mental health, resilience, and positivity.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Finch: Self-Care Pet screenshot 1
    Finch: Self-Care Pet screenshot 2
    Finch: Self-Care Pet screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Still trying this out, but it's been helping me with keeping on top of goals.

  2. Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a gamified focus tool, set to a soothing lofi soundtrack. Discover and collect Spirits, customize your cozy virtual space, and facilitate your real-life tasks with a collection of handy features designed to improve concentration and ease stress.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    Official Banner on Steam
    Spirit City: Lofi Sessions screenshot 1
    Spirit City: Lofi Sessions screenshot 2
    +9
    Spirit City: Lofi Sessions screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    I wish I had this earlier ... one of my favourite tools if I need to lock in, plus being able to customize the avatar to my OC makes it feel a little closer to body doubling. Alternatively I use On-Together icon On-Together for an actual body doubling experience with other people.

Organization

Things to organize my life.

  1. Reminders makes it easier than ever to remember the things you need to do. You can use it for all of life's to-dos, including grocery lists, projects at work, or anything else you want to track. And with iCloud, it's easy to keep all your devices in sync, so you’ll...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    Apple Reminders screenshot 1
    Apple Reminders screenshot 1
    Apple Reminders screenshot 2
    +1
    Apple Reminders screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Unfortunately I've been in the Apple Ecosystem for so long (15+ years) that it's hard to detangle my reminders from my usage, especially the Siri integration. Would highly, HIGHLY recommend alternatives, I'm just stuck here for now.

  2. Anytype icon
     Like

    Organizes notes, tasks, and projects offline using Markdown, P2P syncing, and encrypted storage, complemented by dynamic collections on all devices.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Source Available

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Docker
    Movie Database
    Daily Journal
    Habit Tracker
    +6
    Files
    AidAid’s note

    Notion alternative for tracking some certain things.

  3. Backloggd icon
     Like

    Backloggd is a place to keep your personal video game collection. Every game from every platform is here for you to log into your journal. Follow friends along the way to share your reviews and compare ratings.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Website - Home Page
    Website - User Page
    Website - Game Page
    AidAid’s note

    My primary tracker for games.

  4. calibre icon
     Like

    Free e-book manager offering library management, multi-format conversion, syncing to devices, news download as e-books, built-in viewer, editor, and privacy.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Homebrew
    • Haiku
    calibre screenshot 1
    calibre screenshot 1
    calibre screenshot 2
    +3
    calibre screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    It's calibre. Not much more to say. Use it to house my books, fanfics, and manga.

  5. KeePass icon
     Like

    Free and open source password manager storing passwords in a local encrypted database with strong AES or Twofish encryption and master key access.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Mono
    Entry Templates Plugin
    Main window
    Login Screen
    +5
    Built-in Password Generator
    AidAid’s note

    My primary password manager, though it definitely needs a gutting/cleaning out of my old accounts. Feels nice to just have a local password manager, though it's mildly cumbersome to transfer the file monthly, so the same passwords are updated on my phone (I'm not gonna rely on a cloud service for that). KeePassium icon KeePassium for iOS.

  6. Obsidian icon
     Like

    Obsidian is a note-taking app that lets you create a personal knowledge graph with ease. It is designed for non-linear thinking and allows you to easily link your notes together wiki-style.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • AppImage
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Obsidian screenshot 1
    Obsidian screenshot 1
    Obsidian screenshot 2
    +6
    Obsidian screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    My note-taking app for mostly things like code learning, writing blog posts, recipes, journaling, and keeping track of schedules for making videos.

  7. Store bookmarks with related content, organize thematically with real-time collaboration and privacy focus, offering web clipper and cloud sync.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Yandex Browser
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Opera
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Raindrop.io interface with dark theme selected
    service description (Snapshot from homepage)
    (Snapshot from homepage)
    +5
    organize feature description (Snapshot from homepage)
    AidAid’s note

    Bookmark manager. I'm sure there's a better alternative for this, but right now it works to have cross-platform bookmarks with a tag/folder manager.

  8. TagStudio icon
     Like

    TagStudio is a photo & file organization application with an underlying tag-based system that focuses on giving freedom and flexibility to the user. No proprietary programs or formats, no sea of sidecar files, and no complete upheaval of your filesystem structure.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    TagStudio homepage
    AidAid’s note

    Mostly used for beginning to organize my art, photos, and resources.

  9. thoughts.page is a platform for hosting a small webpage for your thoughts. it's basically like twitter, but nobody can @ you.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    AidAid’s note

    Less ... organizing? More ... thought dumping?? Sometimes I just don't have my journal on hand and don't wanna micropost.

Privacy

Or well, I guess better said apps picked with privacy in mind.

  1. addy.io icon
     Like

    Open-source service offering unlimited anonymous email aliases, encrypted forwarding, spam protection, and anonymous replies to keep your identity private.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Manage aliases from the dashboard
    The main interface for the Firefox extension
    Settings for the extension
    +1
    Generate Random Chars alias using the extension.
    AidAid’s note

    Email forwarding aliases, usually the primary one I use. I do also have SimpleLogin icon SimpleLogin ones as well, but they're less used.

  2. Ente Auth icon
     Like

    Generates, stores, and encrypts two-factor authentication tokens, enables secure backup, offers offline access, multi-device sync, and flexible import/export options.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • OpenAPK
    • Flatpak
    Ente Auth screenshot 1
    Ente Auth screenshot 2
    Ente Auth screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Moved over from Authy icon Authy , though I'm still migrating 2FA codes in over.

  3. Secure Swiss-based email with end-to-end encryption and zero third-party access. Available across devices, offering a free version to promote privacy.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • OpenAPK
    • Tor
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 2
    +9
    Proton Mail screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    One of my two email providers I use.

  4. Tuta Mail icon
     Like

    Tuta is an all-in-one email, calendar and contacts app which protects your data with full end-to-end encryption and it requires zero personal information. Tuta is built with open source software so you can inspect every piece of code running on your devices so you can be sure...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • OpenAPK
    • Thunderbird
    Tuta Mail screenshot 1
    Tuta Mail screenshot 2
    Tuta Mail screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    One of my two email providers I use.

  5. Windscribe VPN is your all-in-one solution for privacy, security, and unrestricted internet access.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • OpenAPK
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Windscribe screenshot 1
    Windscribe screenshot 2
    Windscribe screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    It's Windscribe, what else is there to say. I've been using them primarily for VPN stuff, plus I like that they have a 'choose your places' discounted plan + an extension for double protection.

Windows Stuff

... I dunno how else to word this outside of 'makes computer usage better' LOL.

  1. Auto Dark Mode helps you to be more productive. When it is light outside, we enable you to have a bright and clearly readable OS. After the sun starts to set, your operating system switches to a matching theme to take care of your eyes.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Main UI
    Apps
    Wallpaper
    +1
    Settings
    AidAid’s note

    Great tool for swapping between dark and light mode on Windows, especially since sometimes dark mode is too dark during the day. Allows customizing wallpaper per dark/light mode.

  2. DeskPins icon
     Like

    DeskPins can be used to make any application topmost, that is, to keep it above all other windows. Just grab a pin from the DeskPins icon in the system notification area (a.k.a. taskbar tray) and click on any window.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Explorer
    DeskPins screenshot 1
    AidAid’s note

    Not often used, but powerful when it is. Good for keeping certain windows on top.

  3. Professional Windows diagnostic tool offering real-time hardware monitoring and comprehensive device information, ideal for experts and integrators.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    HWiNFO (32/64) screenshot 1
    HWiNFO (32/64) screenshot 1
  4. LocalSend icon
     Like

    Free open-source tool offers secure, end-to-end encrypted file and message sharing over local networks across major desktop and mobile operating systems.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
    • Mac
    • Homebrew
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • Obtainium
    • OpenAPK
    • Linux
    • AppImage
    • Flatpak
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    • Arch Linux
    • Nix Package Manager
    LocalSend screenshot 1
    LocalSend screenshot 1
    LocalSend screenshot 2
    +5
    LocalSend screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    It's SO nice to send photos/files between my laptop and iPhone just through wifi. Web alternative is JustBeamIt icon JustBeamIt .

  5. Rainmeter icon
     Like

    Enhance your Windows with customizable skins showcasing system resources, and more. Enjoy privacy-focused features, lightweight performance, and no ads.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Rainmeter screenshot 1
    Rainmeter screenshot 1
    Rainmeter screenshot 2
    +1
    Rainmeter screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Desktop customization for the win.

  6. TeraCopy icon
     Like

    TeraCopy is a utility software for efficient and reliable file copying. It verifies copied files by comparing their hashes and can skip bad files during the process to avoid terminating the entire transfer.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    TeraCopy screenshot 1
    TeraCopy screenshot 1
    TeraCopy screenshot 2
    +3
    TeraCopy screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Where has this been my whole life? I'm so late to TeraCopy, basically a big upgrade to Window's built in copy and paste system, but so much better and more thorough. I haven't had any issues with using it, but YMMV.

  7. TreeSize icon
     Like

    Analyze disk space usage with in-depth insights and interactive visualizations across local and network drives, including mobile devices.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    The main window is split into the file system tree on the left and the details view on the right.
    Details view offers valuable information about the disk usage like the folder size, the disk space wasted due to the file system structure, the last access date, the NTFS compression rate and the owner.
    The tree map is an hierarchical chart visualizing the size of all subfolders.
    +5
    Treesize Professional can scan Mobile Devices via MTP
    AidAid’s note

    Mostly the free version for viewing what's taking up space in your harddrive.

Other

  1. FreeTube icon
     Like

    Experience YouTube ad-free on desktop with enhanced privacy. FreeTube prevents Google tracking and works seamlessly across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • AppImage
    Watching a video
    Browse videos from subscribed channels
    Search for and discover content
    +3
    Manage subscribed channels
    AidAid’s note

    I'm trying to wean off using YouTube more (on PC), and this helps to consolidate all my subscriptions into one cleaner place.

  2. Tiny tray application for windows to track gaming time. Helps you record your gaming story over the years.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Game data showcase.
    Playtime per month.
    Most played platforms for games.
    +6
    Time spent on most played games.
    AidAid’s note

    My game tracker!! I can't be assed to track otherwise to log it all on Backloggd icon Backloggd.

  3. HakuNeko icon
     Like

    HakuNeko is a cross-platform downloader for manga and anime from various websites. HakuNeko was made to help users who download media for circumstances that requires offline usage. The philosophy is ad-hoc consumption, get it when you want to read/watch it.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    HakuNeko screenshot 1
    HakuNeko screenshot 1
    HakuNeko screenshot 2
    +1
    HakuNeko screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    For manga downloads. Not much more to say. KCC converter to get them into epubs. Profit.

  4. An AI-powered proofreading tool supports over 20 languages, offering free and premium versions with extensive grammar checks across multiple apps.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • ONLYOFFICE
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Safari
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Microsoft Word
    • Eclipse
    • TinyMCE
    • Google Docs
    • Thunderbird
    • Vim
    • Cloudron
    • Sublime Text
    • GNU Emacs
    • Opera
    • Gmail
    • LibreOffice
    • Apache OpenOffice
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • LibreOffice - Writer
    LanguageTool screenshot 1
    LanguageTool screenshot 1
    LanguageTool screenshot 2
    +2
    LanguageTool screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    I'm actually using this fully offline, installed through Docker icon Docker, mostly since I'm not paying the premium for it lol.

  5. LetsView icon
     Like

    LetsView is a free screen mirroring app that allows users to mirror their screen to a larger display in real time, offering superior quality without lag. Easily connect by scanning the QR code!.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    LetsView screenshot 1
    LetsView screenshot 1
    LetsView screenshot 2
    +1
    LetsView screenshot 3
    AidAid’s note

    Lazy way to beam iPad screen to desktop. Not the best, there's better alternatives out there most likely.

  6. MusicBee icon
     Like

    Manages and organizes music libraries, playlists, and folders, supports podcasts and web radio, advanced tagging, CD ripping, device sync, and multiple audio formats.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Promo 1: Main Features
    Promo 2: Main Features
    Now Playing view
    +8
    -Library View.
-Waveform Seekbar / Progress bar
    AidAid’s note

    My main music player, though I sometimes use iTunes icon iTunes since I'm in the Apple ecosystem.

  7. The Swiss Army Knife for PDFs.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Overview of all tools (July 2019)
    PDF Editor file selection window
  8. Open-source, ad-free torrent client offering a polished user interface, integrated multi-site search, RSS support, remote web control, and cross-platform availability.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Cloudron
    qBittorrent screenshot 1
    qBittorrent screenshot 1
    qBittorrent screenshot 2
    +2
    qBittorrent screenshot 3
  9. Rufus icon
     Like

    Formats USB drives to various file systems and creates bootable USBs from ISOs. Supports MS-DOS/FreeDOS bootable sticks and offers BIOS or UEFI options.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Rufus screenshot 1
    Rufus screenshot 2
    Rufus screenshot 3
  10. RustDesk icon
     Like

    Open source tool for secure remote access and screen sharing, supporting cross-platform use and self-hosting for complete data control.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    RustDesk screenshot 1
    Main window
    RustDesk screenshot 2
    +2
    File transfer window
  11. The Windows 11 version of the Startisback replacement shell. This software allows you to make Windows 11 look like previous versions of Windows or a modified version of itself.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Desktop showcase
    Consistent design language
    AidAid’s note

    Windows 11 ugly, this adds a lot of customizable options even for the Windows Explorer windows. Don't think I could live without it now. Unfortunately paid and not open source, but the cost isn't terribly high, and it does have a Windows 10 version.

  12. Waterfox icon
     Like

    Waterfox is an open-source, privacy-focused browser based on the popular open source browser with a red panda as a mascot. It is designed to be a drop-in replacement for said browser that offers enhanced privacy features, performance improvements, and customizability while...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Flathub
    Desktop
    Mobile
    AidAid’s note

    My primary browser after moving off Firefox (and after moving off Chrome after I think I got cookie hijacked lol). My browser extension list is here: https://alternativeto.net/lists/43731/browser-extensions/

This is just a list of the apps I use to help ease my day. Not all of the choices are perfect, I'd definitely love if some were open source, but I'm trying to be more mindful of that for future apps.

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