An Overview of Linux Applications for the Ordinary End User

Introduction

Philosophy

Information on the GNU Philosophy can be found on the GNU web site.

The GNU web site also has information on the GPL General Public License and Copyleft.

Distributions

Kernel

Desktop Software

Window Managers

A listing of X11 Window Managers can be found here.

Themes

Window Blinds (Skins)

Screensavers

Computer Management Tools

Disk Partitioners

Boot Selectors

Backup Programs

File Managers

Web Administration

UPS Management

Security Software

Emulator Software

Windows/Dos Emulators (Wine, Wabi, Dosemu, Vmware etc)

Personal Productivity

Address/Phone Books/Daily Planners/Schedulers/Calendar/Date Book/ToDo List/Memo Pad

StarOffice Schedule is a calendar and to-do list manager from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Office Productivity

Office Suites

The StarOffice 5.1 productivity suite from SUN microsystems includes a wordprocessor, spreadsheet, presentation and graphics software, calendar and to-do list, e-mail handler, database, internet reader and math software. This productivity suite is available as a free download or on a CD for a small charge. The source code will be available through the Sun Community Source Licensing program. This suite lacks integrated voice recognition software.

Word Processors

WordPerfect 8 for Linux is a word processor from Corel.

StarOffice Writer is a word processor from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Presentation Software

StarOffice Impress is a presentation tool from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Spreadsheets

StarOffice Calc is a spreadsheet from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Database Tools and Software

StarOffice Base is a database access tool from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

GNU MySQL 3.20.32a (released under the GPL license) is a fast SQL server for large databases. It is both multiuser and multithreaded.

Business Math Software

StarOffice Math is a formula derivation tool from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Fax Software

OCR

An As-Yet-Unnamed OCR Project is listed in the LPD. The project is no longer active, however, the web site lists many links to OCR projects and information.

Information on obtaining the public domain source code for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) OCR program is here.

Xocr is a shareware X11 OCR program for Linux. English and German versions are available. A posting mentioned that it is not too reliable and has minimal documentation.

Bar Code Reader

Desktop & Web Publishing Software

Note: Use of LZW based image types such as GIF, TIFF-LZW, and PDF-LZW on a web site may put one in violation of Unisys's patent on the LZW compression algorithm. Here is the information on GIF from the GNU web site. The GNU project has a pseudo-GIF format which does not use LZW.

A Beginner's Guide to HTML .

Editors (TEXT)

Desktop Publishing

Editors (HTML)

Graphics Applications

GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a GPL image composition and authoring program.

StarOffice Draw and StarOffice Image are a pair of graphics tools from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Three-Dimensional Modelling

Internet Software

Dialup Networking

DSL Networking

Web Browser

Mail Software

StarOffice Mail is an e-mail handler from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

FTP Clients

News Software (Usenet)

StarOffice Discussion is an Internet news reader from SUN, free downloading for everyone.

Instant Messaging

Chat Clients

Multimedia Software

CD/DVD Player Software

CD/DVD Writer Software

Music Editors

Radio Players

Audio Players

Audio Editors

TV Applications

Video Players

Video Editors

Financial Management Tools (HOME)

Banking Software

Financial Management Tools (SOHO)

Accounting/Bookkeeping

Inventory Software

Scheduling/Planning/Tracking Software

General Software

Genealogy Software

Religious Software

BibleTime v0.1 is a bible study tool available for Linux.

Educational Software (EDU)

Information on Educational Software for Education can be found here.

Educational Software (HOME)

Learning Tutors

Dictionary

Atlas

Encyclopedia

Games

Scrabble

Solitary

Speciality Software

Speech Recognition/Synthesis

Graphing Tools

Computer Assisted Drafting Programs

Knowledge Base/Expert System Tools

Home Automation Software

X10 Interface Software

Appendix

Feature Considerations

Appendix 1

Operating System