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List of free and open-source software packages

This is a list of free and open-source software (FOSS) packages, computer software licensed under free software licenses and open-source licenses. Software that fits the Free Software Definition may be more appropriately called free software; the GNU project in particular objects to their works being referred to as open-source. For more information about the philosophical background for open-source software, see free software movement and Open Source Initiative. However, nearly all software meeting the Free Software Definition also meets the Open Source Definition and vice versa. A small fraction of the software that meets either definition is listed here. Some of the open-source applications are also the basis of commercial products, shown in the List of commercial open-source applications and services.

01Artificial intelligence

Agentic AI

AI-assisted software development

General AI

Language models

Computer vision

Machine learning

Deep learning

Planning

  • TREX, reactive planning

Robotics

02Assistive technology

Speech (synthesis and recognition)

Other assistive technology

03CAD

Computer-aided engineering (CAE)

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

Subtractive

Additive Manufacturing

Electronic design automation (EDA)

04Computer simulation

05Cypherpunk software

Cryptography and Privacy Software

Hacking and Network Security Tools

Decentralized and Anonymous Communication Projects

Decentralized File Sharing and Storage

Cryptocurrencies and Anonymous Finance

06Cybersecurity

Antivirus

Data loss prevention

  • MyDLP not updated since 2014

Data recovery

Forensics

Anti-forensics

Disk erasing

Encryption

Disk encryption

Firewall

Network and security monitoring

Secure Shell (SSH)

Password management

Other cybersecurity programs

07Data storage and management

Disk cleaning utilities

Backup software

Database management systems (including administration)

Data mining

Data Visualization Components

  • ParaView, plotting and visualization functions developed by Sandia National Laboratory; capable of massively parallel flow visualization utilizing multiple computer processors
  • VTK, toolkit for 3D computer graphics, image processing, and visualisation

Data interchange and markup libraries

Disk partitioning software

Enterprise search engines

ETLs (Extract Transform Load)

File archivers

File systems

08Desktop publishing

  • Collabora Online Draw and Writer, edition of LibreOffice accessible from a web browser
  • Scribus, designed for layout, typesetting, and preparation of files for professional-quality image-setting equipment. It can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms
  • LyX, "What You See Is What You Mean" document creation system, LyX makes use of the LaTeX markup macro system for TeX, allowing the elegant creation of documents which match up with the layouts in it for various document classes

09E-book management and editing

10Education

E-learning, learning support

  • ATutor, web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS)
  • Canvas LMS, web-based, open, extensible learning management system
  • Chamilo, web-based e-learning and content management system
  • Claroline, collaborative Learning Management System
  • DoceboLMS, SAAS/cloud platform for learning
  • eFront, icon-based learning management system
  • H5P, framework for creating and sharing interactive HTML5 content
  • IUP Portfolio, educational platform for Swedish schools
  • ILIAS, web-based learning management system (LMS)
  • Moodle, learning management system
  • OLAT, web-based Learning Content Management System
  • Omeka, content management system for online digital collections
  • Sakai Project, web-based learning management system
  • SWAD, web-based learning management system

Academic advising

  • FlightPath, academic advising software for universities

Educational suites for children

  • Tux Paint, painting application for 3-12 year olds
  • GCompris, educational entertainment, aimed at children aged 2-10

Language

Operating systems

Mind mapping & others

Offline learning & Open data

  • Kiwix, offline web browser that allows users to download Wikipedia's entire content and use it for offline learning. Later it was expanded with repositories for Wikimedia Foundation, public domain texts from Project Gutenberg, many of the Stack Exchange sites, and other resources
  • OpenStreetMap, OpenStreetMap was developed in 2004. It uses Open data and users data input through Crowdsourcing and Web mapping to create a complete and downloadable alternative to other online maps. This allow users to enter data when there is no data available due to lack of governance and economic interest or due to lower population of the places mapped

Typing

  • KTouch, touch typing lessons with a variety of keyboard layouts
  • Tux Typing, typing tutor for children, featuring two games to improve typing speed

11Engineering

12File formats

2D

Raster imagery

Vector imagery

3D

Video

Containers

Codecs

Audio codecs
Video codecs

Document & Text

Web and Interactive Media

Database & Data Storage

13Finance

Accounting

Cryptocurrency

  • Bitcoin, blockchain platform, peer-to-peer decentralised digital currency
  • Ethereum, blockchain platform with smart contract functionality

CRM

  • CiviCRM, Constituent Relationship Management software aimed at charities and NGOs
  • iDempiere, business Suite, ERP and CRM
  • SuiteCRM, web-based CRM

ERP

Human resources

  • OrangeHRM, commercial human resource management

Microfinance

Process management

14Games

Game engines

Physics engines

Shader languages

Action

Application layer

Chess

Educational games

Video game emulation

Music video games

Karaoke

Rhythm game

Puzzle

Sandbox

Snake games

Simulation

Strategy

15Geographic information systems

16Graphical user interface

Desktop environments

Window managers

Windowing system

17Groupware

Content management systems

Wiki software

18Integrated library management software

19Image editor

  • Darktable, digital image workflow management, including RAW photo processing
  • digiKam, integrated photography toolkit including editing abilities
  • GIMP, raster graphics editor aimed at image retouching/editing
  • Hugin, panorama stitching
  • Inkscape, vector graphics editor
  • Karbon, scalable vector drawing application in KDE
  • Krita, digital painting, sketching and 2D animation application, with a variety of brush engines
  • LazPaint, raster and vector graphics editor, aimed at being simpler to use than GIMP
  • LightZone, digital photo editor software application
  • Luminance HDR, high dynamic range images
  • RawTherapee, digital image workflow management aimed at RAW photo processing

20Maps & navigation

  • OpenStreetMap, open geographic database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration
  • OsmAnd, freemium maps & navigation Android and iOS app
  • Organic Maps, offline map and navigation app for Android & iOS
  • CoMaps (Android, iOS)

21Mathematics

Calculators

Computer algebra systems

Cryptography

Physics

Computational electromagnetics

Computational fluid dynamics

Computational particle physics

Computational astrophysics

Monte Carlo method

Symbolic manipulation systems

Statistics

Numerical analysis

Mathematical libraries

Geometry

Plotting software

Charting

Mathematical biology

Mathematical chemistry

Mathematical notation software

Mathematical art software

Spreadsheet

22Mobile software

23Media

Audio editors, audio management

CD/USB-writing software

Flash animation

Game engines

Chess engines

Graphics

2D

  • Pencil2D, simple 2D graphics and animation program
  • Synfig, 2D vector graphics and timeline based animation
  • TupiTube (formerly KTooN), application for the design and creation of animation
  • OpenToonz, part of a family of 2D animation software
  • Krita, digital painting, sketching and 2D animation application, with a variety of brush engines
  • Blender, computer graphics software, Blender's Grease Pencil tools allow for 2D animation within a full 3D pipeline
  • mtPaint, raster graphics editor for creating icons, pixel art

3D

3D rendering

Image galleries

Image viewers

Maps

Multimedia codecs, containers, splitters

Music

Digital audio workstations

Scorewriters

Subtitle

Television

Video converters

DVD authoring

Video editing

Screencast

Other media packages

  • Celtx, media pre-production software

Ripping

Video players

24Networking and Internet

Advertising

Communication-related

E-mail

File transfer

Grid and distributed processing

Cloud computing platforms

Instant messaging

IRC Clients

Middleware

RSS, Atom readers, aggregators

Social network

Peer-to-peer file sharing

Portal Server

Remote access and management

Monitoring and observability

Routing software

Web browsers

Graphical

Text-based

Webcam

Webgrabber

Web-related

Web search engines

Other networking programs

25Office software

Text editors

SoftwarePlatform
AbiWordLinux, Windows
Atom (text editor)macOS 10.9 or later, Windows 7 and later, and Linux
geditLinux, MacOS
GNOME Text EditorLinux
Kate (text editor)25 Linux distributions, Microsoft Windows, macOS
LeafpadLinux, BSD, Maemo
MetapadWindows
MousepadLinux, BSD, Maemo
Notepad++Windows
Proton DocLinux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
Visual Studio CodeLinux, Windows, macOS

Spreadsheet software

SoftwareOperating systemFormat
GnumericUnix-like (Linux included).gnm, .gnumeric
GNU OleoLinux.oleo
PyspreadUnix-like, Windows.CSV, .XLS, .SVG, .PDF
SheetsterCross-platformJSON, XML, .XLS, .CSV, xlsx/.ooxml, .exml, .zip

Office suites

  • Apache OpenOffice, the cross platform office productivity suite from Apache Software Foundation (ASF) consists of programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, diagrams and drawings, databases, etc.
  • Calligra Suite, the office productivity suite from KDE consists of programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, databases, vector graphics, and digital painting
  • Collabora Online, edition of LibreOffice, web application, mobile phone, tablet, Chromebook and desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • LibreOffice, the cross platform office productivity suite from The Document Foundation (TDF) consists of programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, diagrams and drawings, databases, etc.
  • OnlyOffice Desktop Editors, offline edition of the Cloud

26PDF editors

  • PDFsam Basic edition, platform independent software designed to split, merge, mix, extract pages and rotate PDF files for Windows, Linux, MacOS. Open-source version of their commercial offering

27Operating systems

Be advised that available distributions of these systems can contain, or offer to build and install, added software that is neither free software nor open-source.

Emulation and Virtualization

28Personal information managers

29Programming

Programming languages

Application frameworks

Web frameworks

Multimedia frameworks

Widget toolkits

Integrated development environments

Source code editors

Compilers and assemblers

Libraries

Relational database management systems

NoSQL database management systems

Bug trackers

Debuggers

Dynamic analysis

  • DTrace, dynamic tracing framework for analyzing and troubleshooting running applications and operating systems
  • Memtest86, stress-tests RAM on x86 machines
  • strace, diagnostic utility for tracing system calls and signals
  • Valgrind, debugging and profiling tool for detecting memory and threading errors
  • Xnee, record and replay tests

Code generators

Build automation, configuration, and dependency management

JavaScript runtimes

Software testing

Unit testing frameworks

Behavior-driven and acceptance testing

GUI testing tools

Test support tools

Inspectors

Static analysis and linting tools

Containers and orchestration

Documentation generators

Version control systems

Configuration management and deployment

30Risk management

31Science

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics libraries and toolkits

Biology

Systems and cellular biology

Molecular and structural biology

Population and evolutionary biology

Computational chemistry

Molecular dynamics

Molecular modeling

Cheminformatics & docking

Utilities / frameworks

Data science

Electronic lab notebooks

Geographic information systems

Geoscience

Materials science

Grid computing

Microscope image processing

  • CellProfiler, automatic microscopic analysis, aimed at individuals lacking training in computer vision
  • Endrov, Java-based plugin architecture designed to analyse complex spatio-temporal image data
  • Fiji, imageJ-based image processing
  • Gwyddion, scanning probe microscopy data visualization and processing
  • Ilastik, image-classification and segmentation software
  • ImageJ, image processing application developed at the National Institutes of Health
  • IMOD, 2D and 3D analysis of electron microscopy data
  • ITK, development framework used for creation of image segmentation and registration programs
  • KNIME, data analytics, reporting, and integration platform
  • VTK, C++ toolkit for 3D computer graphics, image processing, and visualisation
  • 3DSlicer, medical image analysis and visualisation

Molecular design software

Molecular dynamics

  • GROMACS, protein, lipid, and nucleic acid simulation
  • LAMMPS, molecular dynamics software
  • MDynaMix, general-purpose molecular dynamics, simulating mixtures of molecules
  • ms2, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulation package to predict thermophysical properties of fluids
  • NWChem, wuantum chemical and molecular dynamics software

Molecule editors

Molecular graphics systems

Molecular mechanics modeling

Molecular structure

Molecule viewer

  • Avogadro, plugin-extensible molecule visualisation
  • BALLView, molecular modeling and visualisation
  • Jmol, 3D representation of molecules in many formats, for teaching use
  • Molekel, molecule viewing software
  • MeshLab, able to import PDB dataset and build up surfaces from them
  • PyMOL, high-quality representations of small molecules and biological macromolecules
  • QuteMol, interactive molecule representations offering an array of innovative OpenGL visual effects
  • RasMol, visualizes biological macromolecules

Nanotechnology

Nuclear Fusion Engineering

Plotting

Quantum chemistry

  • CP2K, atomistic and molecular simulation of solid-state, liquid, molecular, and biological systems

32Simulation software

33Statistics

  • R, statistics software
  • LimeSurvey, online survey system

34Theology

Bible study tools

35Web conferencing

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article List of free and open-source software packages, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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