Free Operating Systems

Here are listed only open source free operating systems developed under the General Public License or the other license agreements which are similar to it. All the operating systems are absolutely free for copying, distribution and development. Free software for Windows is represented in a separate list that below. Software working under Linux and other UNIX-like systems is completely included into the listed Linux/UNIX distributions.

• Linux — a free open source operating system created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The hearth of the system is Linux Kernel, originally constructed by Torvalds, then surrounded by graphic shells such as KDE and GNOME (now with also novell 3D window managers Beryl and Compiz), and also many applications: office, programming, multimedia, etc. Despite a thousand individuals and many companies participate the project after 1991, Linux Kernel is maintained by Torvalds till now. Commencing the last 1990's Linux project is sponsored by bulky corporations such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Novell, and others. Linux distribution, in contrast to other operating systems on sale without applications, provides as possible complete set of applications accessed to such a kind of operating system. This is why once installed on computer, Linux doesn't require additional software in most cases (despite any additional program or update can be installed). There are many distributions of Linux, generated from the source code by different teams of developers. The distrbutions differ by installation method and set of programs. We present only a few main Linux distributions most popular between corporate users and individuals.

• Debian — the largest of Linux distributions started in 1993 by Ian Murdock. Debian distribution includes almost all (a few thousands) applications developed for Linux. Debian is available as stable, testing, and experimental versions. Debian stable is highly reliable: once set up on a computer it never require re-installation. This is why Debian is most popular among the internet servers.

• Knoppix — a Debian based live Linux system on CD/DVD created and maintained by Klaus Knopper on the basis of Debian. Knoppix-Math — a related project (maintained in Japan) — is containing much additional science software, and is oriented to scientists. Knoppix can work direct from CD/DVD or be installed on hard disk.

• Ubuntu — "humanity to others" (an ancient African word) — a Debian based project started by Mark Shuttleworth, and sponsored by his Canonical Ltd. Being a perfect configured system in one live CD or DVD alloved to install on hard disk, Ubuntu is fast-to-run. A large number of additional software can be downloaded from Ubuntu/Debian repository. Ubuntu Linux has modifications different by user interface: Ubuntu (GNOME), Kubuntu (KDE), Xubuntu (Xfce) and Edubuntu (school-related project). CD versions of those can be ordered for free shipping from the Ubuntu web-site.

• Mandriva — formerly Mandrake Linux started by Gaël Duval — a French-made distribution of Linux currently sponsored by Mandriva Co. Mandriva Linux is most eqipped by fresh versions of hardvare drivers and multimedia software. Owing to the fact Mandriva is much popular between individuals.

• OpenSUSE — a German-made distribution of Linux (now — sponsored by Novell, USA). High quality of the distribution and many features oriented to both everyday and professional use get SUSE Linux attractive to individuals.

• Fedora — a follower of the famous RedHat Linux, sponsored by RedHat Inc. Being truly experimental system, Fedora joined most fresh versions of Linux software (a drawback is that the lack of support for multimedia).

• Slackware — a "Linux consisting of bricks", created in 1993 and maintained till now by Patrick Volkerding. The main advantage of such a construction is that one can build Linux system by his own while installation, doing choose for its system components. The complicate installation process, oriented to experienced users (not recommended to beginners), pays for system configuration satisfying any of bizzare requirements.

• Gentoo — an unique Linux distribution created by Daniel Robbins. Gentoo Linux consists of just source codes, which should be compiled to executable binary files while installation (the other versions of Linux present pre-compiled executables). Gentoo is good to experts (not recommended to beginners).

• DSL — Damn Small Linux — a 50MB mini Linux distribution (based on Debian), which can be run from a business card CD or be installed on hard disk. It is run light enough to power even a 486DX with 16MB RAM. Despite that, this is a fully functional system equipped by the lightweight versions of well-known applications.

• WineHQ — an open source program shell running Windows applications on top of Linux and Mac OS X. WineHQ is a completely free alternative implementation of the Windows applications consisting of 100% non-Microsoft source code.

• FreeBSD and OpenBSD — advanced free open source operating systems derived from BSD, the version of UNIX initially developed at the University of California, Berkeley. FreeBSD and OpenBSD are developed and maintained by teams of individuals, and have a few derivatives such as PC-BSD, DesktopBSD, and the others, including live CD/DVD systems.

• OpenSolaris — an open source UNIX based operating system, initially based on the source code of the Solaris Operating System and currently sponsored by Sun Microsystems Inc. OpenSolaris is developed by a team of individuals and has derivatives such as NexentaOS and BeleniX, including live CD systems.

• ReactOS — an advanced free open source operating system providing a ground-up implementation of a Windows compatible operating system. ReactOS aims to achieve complete binary compatibility with both applications and device drivers meant for NT and XP operating systems, by using a complete public interface. ReactOS is the most complete working model of a MS Windows like operating system, consisting of 100% non-Microsoft source code. Beta version of ReactOS is announced on 2008 (see ReactOS Roadmap).

Free Software for Windows

The links we have listed refer only to the most popular, properly working free software developed for Windows Operating System (so the software should be working properly with ReactOS). All the software is absolutely free, mostly distributed under the General Public License, and has no limitations for use. This list of free software for Windows is contributed from the desk of Frettt's Freeware Archive and other repositories throughout the internet.

Wordprocessors and Office Suites

• OpenOffice — the most powerful free office suite containing a wordprocessor, spreadsheet, database, presentation, drawing editor, math editor, and PDF converter. OpenOffice possesses most properties of such commercial suites as MS Office or WP Office, and permits to create/edit/save documents in all formats known for the office suites. Dictionaries/speelcheckers for almost all of the world languages and many additional tools (plug-ins, converters) are available. OpenOffice is available in the English version and more than 70 localizations in other languages. OpenOffice is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

• AbiWord — a fast, small, and featureful wordprocessor possessing most properties of MS Word and WordPerfect. AbiWord permits to create/edit/save documents in all known wordprocessor formats. Many additional tools (dictionaries/speelcheckers in almost a hundred languages, plug-ins, converters) are available. Aside for the existing English version, more than 60 localizations in other languages are announced on this year. AbiWord is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

• Scribus — an award-winning open-source program for professional desktop publishing. Underneath the modern and user friendly interface, Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK color, separations, ICC color management and versatile PDF creation. Scribus is available for Linux, MacOS X, OS/2 and Windows desktops.

• PortableApps — a collection of portable versions of the well-known freeware, all owning an integrated menu and pre-configured to work from any portable device (USB flash drive, portable hard drive, iPod/MP3 player etc.) without installation onto a hard disk. PortableApps include: AbiWord Portable and OpenOffice Portable — the ready-to-run versions of the well-known wordprocessor and office suite, GIMP Portable — a photo and image editor, Nvu Portable — a visual HTML editor, XAMPP — a ready-to-use server (Apache, mySQL, PHP, phpMyAdmin and more in an integrated package), FileZilla Portable — a full-featured FTP client, Mozilla Firefox Portable and Mozilla Thunderbird Portable — the award-winning web browser and e-mail client, VLC Media Player Portable — a media player that plays most audio and video formats, Audacity Portable — an audio editor and recorder, 7-Zip Portable — the poweverful file archiver, ClamWin Portable — the antivirus on the go, PStart — the system tray launcher menu, Mac-on-Stick — a program running Mac OS 7.0.1 (now — freeware) portably under any Mac, Windows, and Linux OS to play Mac compatible software upto Mac OS 7.5.5 (the software can be also installed into PortableApps).

• PortableOffice — a nice shell working like PStart of PortableApps to join ready-to-use (portable) versions of software into an integrated interface (the applications should be downloaded separately).

Graphics Processors

• GIMP — the most powerful open source graphics editor, possessing all the properties of Adobe Photoshop. GIMP (Graphic Image Manipulation Program) is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

• Inkscape — an open source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Inkscape is available for Linux, MacOS X, and Windows desktops.

• XnView — a fast and small viewer/converter of graphical files.

• Irfan View — another popular viewer/converter of graphical files.

• Tux Paint — a nice drawing program for kids.

• Mandelbrot Explorer — a small program generating fractal pictures.

• Chaos Pro — another, more powerful program for fractal pictures.

DjVu Viewers and Tools

• LizardTech DjVu Browser Plug-In — the plug-in means of viewing DjVu documents. It runs inside most web browsers including Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc.

• LizardTech DjVu-Solo — the all-in-one powerful DjVu file creator and viewer (scaner, viewer, and file format converting tools). DjVu Solo is currently unsupported by Lizard Tech., and is distributed by third party. DjVu Solo is also accessed on Planet DjVu, Chemister, DjVu-Inf, and other web-resources.

• WinDjView & MacDjView — a fast, compact and powerful DjVu viewer with advanced printing options and many features.

• DjVu Libre — the all-in-one powerful DjVu package for Linux/Unix.

PDF Viewers and Tools

• Adobe Reader — the most powerful viewer of PDF documents by Adobe.

• FoxIt PDF Reader — the incredible fast and small size PDF viewer that possesses all the properties of Adobe Reader.

• PDFill PDF Tools — a free kit of powerful PDF tools (split, merge, watermark, convert, etc.) distributed in common with the complete PDFFill PDF Editor.

• eXPert PDF Reader & Tools — a software that lets you view and modify PDF documents.

• CIB PDF Brewer Plug-In for MS Word — a converter to produce PDF files. The central new possibility is to edit PDF files which were converted from within Microsoft Word by CIB PDF Brewer. Save your Word files in the new file format e.pdf provided by CIB PDF Brewer, then the PDF file with Word or open it with your PDF reader.

• CutePDF Writer — a PDF file creator, working as printer. CutePDF Writer prints documents to a PDF file from any application. CutePDF Writer requires to have Ghostscript installed on your computer.

• PDF Creator — another PDF file creator that creates PDF files from any application. Ghostscript is initially included into the PDF Creator distribution (no additional installation of Ghostscript required).

• WinPDF Easy PDF Creator — another PDF file creator working as printer (Ghostscript installation required).

Anti-Virus and Security

• Avast! AntiVirus — a very powerful anti-virus program, protecting against viruses, worms, Trojans, dialers & more.

• Avira AntiVir — another very powerful protection and security against viruses, worms, Trojans, dialers & more.

• AVG Free AntiVirus & Firewall — the famous powerful anti-virus and anti-spyware program.

• BitDefender AntiVirus Free Edition — a powerful free version of the well-known anti-virus program.

• ClamWin Free Antivirus — a powerful anti-virus engine for Windows.

• Comodo AntiVirus — the fast engine eliminates viruses, worms and Trojans from desktops and networks.

• Comodo Personal Firewall — the Comodo Firewall is unique in that it passes all known leak tests to ensure the integrity of data entering and exiting your system.

• Cryptainer LE — the powerful engine creates an encrypted container (vault) to store any type of data using strong powerful 128 bit strong encryption. The software creates new virtual drive letter(s), and all files that are added to this drive are encrypted on-the-fly.

• Filseclab Personal Firewall Pro — another powerful firewall for secure protection of your computer.

• Jetico BeCryptArchive — the software by Jetico Inc. is designed to compress a group of files/folders to a single encrypted file.

• Jetico Personal Firewall — the powerful firewall by Jetico Inc.

• Spybot Search & Destroy — the powerful engine detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications.

ZIP Tools

• 7-Zip — an excellent archiver supporting 7-ZIP, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR (packing/unpacking) and RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS formats (unpacking only).

• Filzip — a powerful archiver providing complete support to ZIP, BH, CAB, JAR, LHA (LZH), TAR and GZIP (packing/unpacking), and also ACE, ARC, ARJ, RAR, ZOO (unpacking only).

• GSplit — a file splitter that lets you split your large files (like self-extracting, Zip archives, multimedia, song, music, movie, backup, picture, archive, document files, etc.) into a set of smaller files.

• IZArc — as probable the most complete archiver utility. IZArc provides support to: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO.

• JustZIPit — the simplest and easy-in-use ZIP utility.

• QuickZip — one of the most powerful archivers with many features and tools. QuickZip provides complete support to 44 archive extensions and 22 encrypting formats.

• TUGZip — an excellent and powerful archiver that provides support to ZIP, 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BH, BZ2, CAB, CPIO, DEB, GCA, GZ, IMP, JAR, LHA (LZH), LIB, RAR, RPM, SQX, TAR, TGZ, TBZ, TAZ, YZ1 and ZOO archives, BIN, C2D, IMG, ISO and NRG disc-images, and also encrypt archives using 6 different algorithms (128-bit Blowfish, 56-bit DES, 168-bit Triple DES and 128, 192, and 256-bit Rijndael).

• UltimateZip — an easy to use archive utilty. Support for ZIP, RAR, ACE, BH, CAB, JAR, LHA (LZH), GZIP, TAR, BZIP2, ARC, ARJ, XXE, UUE formats, self-extracting ZIP files in 3 languages, and also 256-Bit AES encryption.

• Universal Extractor — this program extracts files from any type archives: 7-ZIP, EXE, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BZIP2, TBZ2, CPIO, GZIP, GZ, TGZ, CAB, LZH, LHA, LZW, TZ, LZO, IZO, RAR, RPM, TAR, MSI, ZIP, JAR, XPI, etc.

• ZipGenius — one of the most powerful archive utilites that supports a few dozens archive and encryption formats, including most popular disk-image formats.

• Chilkat Zip Self-Extractor — this program creates self-extracting ZIP files optionally with unbreakable AES encryption. The ChilkatZip Self-Extractor can safely encrypt the contents of your ZIP file with 128, 192, or 256-bit AES Encryption.

• FZ Zip Extractor — it allows you to create self-extracting ZIP archives that are run as an executable EXE file.

HTML Editors and Tools

• N-View Visual HTML Editor — the most powerful free WYSIWYG HTML editor maintained by Daniel Glazman, the creator of Mozilla Composer.

• Trellian WebPage HTML Visual Editor — a powerful WYSIWYG HTML editor.

• PageBreeze Visual HTML Editor — another powerful WYSIWYG HTML editor.

• Amaya Visual HTML Editor — another popular WYSIWYG HTML editor.

• WebDwarf HTML Editor — a powerful generator and WYSIWYG editor of HTML files. WebDwarf uses its own file format while the editing, which can be converted to HTML or SVG. Such a strategy permits to have much more tools and features than a regular WYSIWYG HTML editor has.

• Dynamic HTML Editor — another powerful generator and WYSIWYG editor of HTML files, which uses its own file format, convertable to HTML and SVG.

• Enersoft SiteGenWiz Web Site Generator — a simple and featureful generator of complete web-sites.

• Alleycode HTML Text Editor — a powerful HTML editor working in text mode.

• ASWriter 0.3 HTML Text Editor — another powerful HTML text editor.

• Easy HTML Text Editor — a really easy HTML text editor.

• SuperEdi HTML Text Editor — a powerful HTML text editor.

• CoffeeCup Free HTML Text Editor — a powerful HTML text editor by CoffeeCup Software.

• DeKnop Button Creator — a graphics editor that is designed to let you create buttons for your web site without requiring any graphic design experience.

HTML Templates

• CoffeeCup Free Web Templates — more than 400 fine templates by CoffeeCup Software.

• TheNetter.com Free Web Templates — 70 nice templates by Carole Nickerson.

Internet Browsers and Tools

• Internet Explorer — the famous powerful web browser by Microsoft.

• Netscape Browser — the famous powerful web browser by Netscape.

• Opera — the famous powerful web browser by Opera Software, the fastest of the powerful web browsers.

• Mozilla Firefox — the award-winning web browser by Mozilla.

• Mozilla Thunderbird — an e-mail and newsgroup client with powerful, new junk mail controls.

• Mozilla Suite — the all-in-one internet application suite, containing easy-in-use WYSIWYG HTML editor (Mozilla Composer).

• Maxthon Browser — another powerful web browser.

• Neoplanet Browser — another popular web browser.

• Adobe SVG Viewer — a plug-in by Adobe. The plug-in integrates into your web browser to view documents in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format.

• Corel SVG Viewer — another SVG plug-in, by Corel.

• Pegasus Mail — a standards-based electronic mail client.

• Eudora — a popular e-mail client program.

• WazFTP — a simple FTP file manager.

CD/DVD Utilites

• CD&DVD BurnerXP — a powerful CD/DVD burning free engine that provides almost all the possibilities that of Nero.

• Burn4Free — another powerful CD/DVD burning program with the same functions.

• DeepBurner — a powerful and popular CD/DVD burning package.

• Virtual CloneDrive — this free program does emulation for virtual drives on your hard disk like Alcohol and other popular commercial programs.

• CD Cover Creator — a very nice drawing program that creates CD/DVD labels, covers, etc. with the use of many original templates.

• ShrinkTo5 — a program to copy video DVDs.

MD5 Checking Programs

• DiamondCS MD5 — a simplest program checking MD5 sum.

• MD5 Checker — another simplest program to check MD5 sum.

• Hash Calculator — this powerful program supports checking/computing of 12 most common hashing algorithms: MD2, MD4, MD2, SHA-1, SHA-2 (256, 384, 512), RIPEMD-160, PANAMA, TIGER, ADLER32, CRC32.

• JSummer — a nice tool to compute/check MD5, SHA-160 and SHA-256.

Barcode Makers

• TechnoRiver Feee Barcode — a free barcode software that allows you to easily add barcodes to Windows documents like those from WordPad, MS Word and Excel.

• Bookland Barcode — an excellent LaTeX plug-in that generates ISBN barcodes.

Boot CDs

• Ultimate Boot CD — a bootable CD completed by an excellent graphical interface to use a powerful kit of the software diagnostic and disk utilites contained in the CD. The Ultimate Boot CD is working for all Windows and Linux/Unix systems.

• BartPE Live Win32 CD Builder — an engine permitting you to create a bootable CD with software diagnostic and disk utilites from your working Windows 2000/XP/2003 system (it isn't working under Windows NT4/ME/9x).

File Managers

• FAR Manager — the powerful file manager for WinNT systems with the interface like famous Norton Commander. Complete support to long file names, archive utilites, and many features are available.

• ExplorerXP — a fast and innovative file manager for Windows 2000/XP that provides more features than the standard file explorer used in Windows.

• FreeCommander — another nice file manager, added by a few useful utilites (MD5 checksum and more archive utilites).

• WazTree — an explorer for Windows like file manager with a twist which allows simpler selection of drives via tabs. Many useful utilites like a nice text editor, graphic file converters, and file archivers are provided.

Java Environment

• Sun Java Runtime Environment — the basic installation and updates of the original Java Runtime Environment by Sun Microsystems.

Links to TeX Software

TeX, pronounced as "tech", is a professional typesetting system created in 1977 by Donald E. Knuth, the author of The Art of Computer Programming. TeX provides a simple text-only code describing a typesetted document with a high quality output file in DVI (DeVice Independent) format, PostScript or PDF. In addition to PlainTeX, the initially TeX macro-language by Donald E. Knuth, other TeX modifications were created: LaTeX — the most popular extension of TeX by Leslie Lamport that became a standard for professional typesetting throughout the world, and AMS-TeX created by Michael D. Spivak at the American Mathematical Society for typesetting of highly complicate mathematical papers. Any TeX package contains PlainTeX/LaTeX/AMS-TeX processors, a DVI-viewer, postscript fonts, and utilites.

Free or shareware TeX packages can be downloaded from the Internet links given below. The links we have listed refer only to the most popular working TeX packages operating under Windows, ReactOS, Macintosh, OS/2, Linux/Unix and other platforms as indicated. Additional TeX software can be obtained from the TeX Users Group or the Compressive Tex Archive Network (CTAN). The principal CTAN hosts are U.S. CTAN, Cambridge CTAN (U.K.), Dante CTAN (Germany), which contain links to other CTAN mirrors throughout the world. For an express download use the FTP link to Cambridge CTAN. It should be noted that Windows, ReactOS, Macintosh, and OS/2 don't contain TeX software, so it is required to install the software separately. In contrast to it, any complete distribution of Linux or other UNIX-like system has a complete TeX-system, TeX-editor, postscript fonts and viewers on board.

TeX for Windows, ReactOS, OS/2, DOS

• BaKoMa TeX — a professional TeX system by Basil Malyshev (shareware, $49 for a license), which includes a TeX package and a perfect graphical shell (TeX-editor) with WYSIWYG mode.

• MikTeX — a popular free TeX package by Christian Schenk. MikTeX works in command-line mode, so it requires one of the graphical shells (TeX-editors).

• TeXnicCenter — a perfect free TeX-editor, containing pictogram menus and many tools.

• TeXMaker — a cross-plaform free TeX-editor with pictogram menus and many tools.

• WinShell — a simple free TeX-editor with pictogram menus.

• TeXShell — a simplest free TeX editor.

• WinEdt — a professional TeX-editor (shareware, $40 for a license) with pictogram menus and many tools.

• proTeXt — a free TeX system based on MikTeX (by Thomas Feuerstack). The system contains MikTeX, Ghostscript, GSview, TeXnicCenter, and WinEdt in one self-installing file.

• emTeX — a popular (now obsolete) TeX package by Eberhard Mattes. It works in command-line mode, so a graphical shell (TeX-editor) required. See the DOS folder on CTAN. emTeX works under DOS, Windows, ReactOS, and OS/2.

TeX for Apple Macintosh

• MacTeX — a free TeX system for Mac OS X.

• XeTeX — a cross-platform free TeX system for Mac OS X, developed by Jonathan Kew

• TeXShop — a popular free TeX shell for Mac OS X by Richard Koch and Dirk Olmes.

• OzTeX — a popular TeX system by Andrew Trevorrow (shareware, $30 for a license).

• CMacTeX — a popular TeX system by Thomas Kiffe (shareware, $35 for a license).

• TeXMaker — a cross-plaform free TeX-editor with pictogram menus and many tools.

• Mac OS X TeX Web Site — read all about TeX systems, editors/shells and tools working under Mac OS X.

TeX for Linux/UNIX

• teTeX — a professional TeX system for Linux/Unix by Thomas Esser. It works in command-line mode, so a graphical shell (TeX-editor) required. teTeX is a part of any complete distribution of Linux.

• XeTeX — a cross-platform free TeX system for Linux/Unix by Jonathan Kew, who initially developed it for Macintosh. It so requires a graphical shell (TeX-editor).

• Kile — a professional TeX-editor, containing pictogram menus and many tools.

• TeXMaker — a cross-plaform free TeX-editor with pictogram menus and many tools.

TeX Live

• TeX Live — a cross-platform complete TeX system on DVD which can be run without installation or be installed on hard disk. TeX Live can be run on Linux/Unix, Macintosh, Windows and ReactOS systems (OS/2 unsupported). In addition to it, TeX Live DVD contains also a collection of the other popular TeX systems, graphical shells (TeX-editors), fonts, and viewers for all the aforementioned platforms.

TeX for other platforms (Atari, Amiga, etc.)

• Look for an appropriate folder in the CTAN directory http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/systems/

Postscript viewing and printing

• Ghostscript — an interpreter for the PostScript page description language used by laser printers. Ghostscript is required to view and print postcript files created by TeX.

• GSview — a graphical shall for Ghostscript. It is available for Windows, ReactOS, Macintosh, OS/2 and Linux/Unix. GSview for Macintosh is accessed from another location: Mac GSview.

Converters from wordprocessors to TeX format

• word2tex — a shareware converter from MS Word to LaTeX, by Chikrii Softlab ($45 for a license).

• writer2latex — a free converter for OpenOffice Writer, by Henrik Just.

• wp2latex — a free converter for WordPerfect, by Jaroslav Fojtik.

• Read on the TUG pages: all about converters from Word to TeX and converters from TeX to Word