Brian Gongol
The following are programs recommended for a variety of applications. They are all open-source programs, meaning they are (a) developed by users, for users; and (b) free.
| Program | Purpose |
| FileZilla | FTP client program for updating websites and transferring files |
| FireFox | Web browser. Better than Internet Explorer. |
| Thunderbird | Open-source e-mail program. Better protection than Outlook. |
| Pidgin | Open-source instant messenger, with compatibility across AOL-IM (AIM), IRC, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo services |
| Audacity | Sound processing |
| Gimp | Image editor. Lighter than PhotoShop. Does most everything you could want. |
| OpenOffice | Word processing, spreadsheet, and other office functions, including a PDF maker |
| Scribus | Desktop publishing |
| PDF Creator | Prints virtually anything to PDF |
The following programs are not open-source, but they are available free of charge:
| AVG Anti-Virus | Anti-virus software (not truly "open-source," but a useful free antivirus program) for home use only. |
| Opera | Web browser. Doesn't offer add-on tools like Firefox, but another good alternative to Internet Explorer. |
| Apple Safari | Web browser |
| Spybot Search and Destroy | Anti-spyware/malware tool. |
| Google SketchUp | 3D modeling tool |
| Apple iTunes | Offers music downloads and streaming audio |
| Orca Search | A program that allows web designers to create custom search engines for their sites |