my software list, mostly open-source.I have used the vast majority of the software listed there myself for a long time.
This software list open-source/free/freemium apps for Windows 10/11 that I would recommend.This also includes tools for CS/EE background developer.
This list is designed to highlight excellent software in a particular area, so you don’t need to install all the software on the list. You should only consider installing the software I’ve selected when you have a need that falls under a specific section of the list.
Open-source CLI tool enables installing, upgrading, and managing Windows software via command line, supports configuration files, automation, and curated repository.
Use winget or choco to install regular apps for best compatibility and flexibility.
Use Scoop to install dev tools and portable apps.Scoop saves your PATH from pollution!
npm is a package manager for Node.js that is run through the command line and manages dependencies for an application. It is the predominant package manager for Node.js.
The Python Package Index (PyPI) is a repository of software for the Python programming language. PyPI helps you find and install software developed and shared by the Python community. Package authors use PyPI to distribute their software.
Cargo is the Rust package manager. Cargo downloads your Rust package’s dependencies, compiles your packages, makes distributable packages, and uploads them to crates.io, the Rust community’s package registry.
C++ Library Manager for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Contribute to Microsoft/vcpkg development by creating an account on GitHub.
NuGet is a Visual Studio extension that makes it easy to install and update open source libraries and tools in Visual Studio.
Apt (for Advanced Package Tool) is a set of core tools inside Debian. The user interface application for Apt is aptitude.
The latest Windows update with a redesigned Start menu, Widgets integration, Xbox gaming features, and tighter security requirements, built with modern hardware in mind.
de-facto PC OS.
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows.
Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.
de-facto Linux distro, but notorious for Snap packages.
Desktop-focused Linux system offering custom menus, multimedia codecs, browser plugins, native DVD playback, and integrated software manager with user-friendly tools.
an easy-to-use linux distro, based on Ubuntu.
FreeRTOS is a real-time operating system kernel for embedded devices that has been ported to 35 microcontrollers. It is distributed under the MIT License.
great rtos for mcu.
Open-source hypervisor emulating CPUs via dynamic translation. Supports unmodified guest OS, allows mixed binary translation and native execution.
Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool for web writers. Markdown allows you to write using an easy-to-read, easy-to-write plain text format, then convert it to structurally valid XHTML (or HTML).
the most widely-used text-based document format.
LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system; it includes features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation.
the gold standard for formal publication, like book, papers and legal documents.
Typst is a new markup-based typesetting system for the sciences. It has got instant previews, easy-to-learn markup and supercharged templates. Its collaborative web app makes working in a research group or student team a breeze.
Typst has become a strong competitor of LaTeX since 2023.TeX is an old macro language, and it's difficult to use.Typst is much easier and powerful to use.But the Typst community is much smaller than TeX.
A free, lightweight office suite offering high compatibility with files and multi-platform support. Includes features for text, presentations, spreadsheets, and PDFs.
stay proprietary for Chinese government security.
Free and open-source office suite with advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, vector graphics, math formula editor, and database tools.
leader of OpenDocument format.
There are a lot of feature-rich, general-purpose, WYSIWYG slides makers like Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. They work pretty well for making nice slides with animations, charts, and many other things, while being very intuitive and easy to learn.
make beautiful sildes using markdown and javascript.
Ever wanted to simplify documentation and avoid heavy tools like Visio when explaining your code? This is why mermaid was born, a simple markdown-like script language for generating flowcharts, Gantt charts and sequence diagrams from text via JavaScript.
the gold standard for text-based flowchart.Also like to mention D2, an neo alternative to mermaid.
Privacy-focused diagramming software supporting real-time collaboration, offline mode, and cloud storage without ads or registration.
Pandoc is a Haskell library for converting from one markup format to another, and a command-line tool that uses this library.
powerful converter developed by John Macfarlane.
VERT.sh is an online file converter that processes files on your device instead of the cloud. It's blazingly fast, ad-free, and open source.
An open-source website using wasm technology to convert documents offline or online.
Open source note-taking app with Markdown support, to-do integration, and synchronization with cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive.
extinguished for great support on multiple platforms.also supports webdev.
Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, share research and cite your research sources directly in your favourite word processor, with 300 MB free online storage.
goat research manager.
Task manager with sync, reminders, recurring tasks, list sharing, color-coded organization, suggestions, subtasks, daily planning, notes, and GTD support.
One agent for everywhere you code. Powered by OpenAI’s frontier coding models and included in ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu.
codex cli is open-source.support BYOK models however only in Response API format.
GitHub Copilot leverages the power of OpenAI Codex to provide real-time suggestions for code and complete functions, all within your editor. With its training on vast amounts of code, GitHub Copilot translates natural language prompts into coding suggestions across multiple...
copilot cli is open-source and support BYOK models.
OpenCode is a free, open-source AI coding assistant that helps you build, understand, and improve software projects. It works in the terminal, as a desktop app, and through IDE integrations, so you can use it in the environment that best fits your workflow.
heavyweight open-source agent.
Pi aka Pi.dev is a minimal terminal coding harness. Adapt pi to your workflows, not the other way around, without having to fork and modify pi internals.
lightweight open-source agent.
DeepSeek is a state-of-the-art AI assistant designed to provide intelligent, conversational support across diverse tasks. It leverages advanced natural language processing and machine learning to answer questions, generate creative content, solve complex problems, and offer...
Z.ai is an AI-powered conversational platform developed by Zhipu AI, designed to provide intelligent, natural, and context-aware interactions. It leverages Zhipu’s advanced large language models (GLM series) to support tasks such as answering questions, generating content...
Git is a free & open source, distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency.
SVN support for VS Code. Contribute to JohnstonCode/svn-scm development by creating an account on GitHub.
TortoiseSVN is a really easy to use Revision control / version control / source control software for Windows.
TortoiseGit is a Windows Shell Interface to Git and based on TortoiseSVN. It's open source and can fully be build with freely available software.
GitHub Desktop is a native Git client for Mac OS X and Windows with a graphical user interface.
Web-based Git hosting service facilitating collaboration, with features like issue tracking, social networking, and wikis for project management.
Offers on-premise or hosted Git repository management, including issue tracking, wikis, code reviews, and continuous integration and deployment.
A free Git source code hosting service with the objective to give the open-source code that is running our world a safe and friendly home, and to ensure that code remains free and secure forever.
open-source clone/alternative to Github, run by a germany nonprofit organization: Codeberg.
Beyond coding. We forge. Forgejo is a self-hosted lightweight software forge. Easy to install and low maintenance, it just does the job.
No comments so far, maybe you want to be first?
