Freeware and Open Source software
On this page some useful, high quality utilities and programs (freeware and Open Source). There is no system in the list, it just grows in time ...

Main categories are Tools, Programming, Mono & MonoDevelop, Source code and Imaging.


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The items are in semi-random order.



Tools

FreeMind
Free mind mapping software for Windows, Linux, Macintosh OS X and other. FreeMind stores maps in XML format. You can include plugins for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and Portable Document Format (PDF).
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader is a free PDF document viewer and printer. Small and fast.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/

A-PDF Restrictions Remover
Remove your password, copy/paste and other restrictions from a PDF (15 day trial).
http://www.a-pdf.com/

PDFCreator
PDFCreator is a free tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application. Open Source.
http://www.pdfforge.org/

CutePDF Writer
CutePDF Writer installs itself as a "printer subsystem". This enables virtually any Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional quality PDF documents.
Uses GNU Ghostscript. Freeware.
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

XPS Viewer/Writer
Microsoft XML Paper Specification Viewer and Essentials Pack.
With the XPS Essentials Pack you can quickly begin reading and generating XPS Documents. It contains the XML Paper Specification Viewer to read XPS Documents and the Microsoft XPS Document Writer to output files to the XPS Document format. The Microsoft XPS Document Writer is supported on Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and later.
XPS Downloads - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/what-is-the-xps-viewer

NoteTab Light
Handy HTML editor. Handle a heap of files with a simple tabbed interface. Search files, strip HTML tags and format text quickly. Build libraries of text macros to speed up your work. 100% freeware, no ads and no nags.
http://www.notetab.com/

7-Zip
7-Zip is a file archiver with a high compression ratio (Open Source).
Packing / unpacking: 7z (LZMA compression), ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR.
Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS.
http://www.7-zip.org/

LAME MP3 encoder
LAME is an MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) encoder licensed under the LGPL. http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php

NCH Software - SUPER (Simplified Universal Player Encoder and Renderer).
A simple tool to convert (encode) or play multimedia files (audio, video, image sequence). http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

TrueCrypt
Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Some features:
o Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
o Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.
o Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed.
o Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
http://www.truecrypt.org/

Active@ ISO Burner
Active@ ISO Burner is a simple-to-use dialog-style software to burn CD/DVD/Blue Ray ISO images compatible with the ISO 9660 standard. Automated burning is also supported.
http://www.ntfs.com/iso_burner_free.htm

Microsoft Mathematics
Microsoft Mathematics provides a graphing calculator that plots in 2D and 3D, step-by-step equation solving, and useful tools to help students with math and science studies.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9caca722-5235-401c-8d3f-9e242b794c3a

WPF Graphics - Tools for WPF and Silverlight - Andrej Benedik
Create professional graphics for your WPF and Silverlight applications with almost any 2D or 3D drawing application.
http://www.wpf-graphics.com/Home.aspx


Programming

Aptana Studio
Aptana Studio is the web development environment that combines powerful authoring tools for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with additional plugins created by the community.
http://www.aptana.com/

Microsoft WebMatrix
WebMatrix is a web development tool from Microsoft that includes everything you need for website development.
http://www.microsoft.com/web/webmatrix/

QuickSharp
QuickSharp is a minimalist C# IDE for Microsoft .NET 3.5. QuickSharp is a streamlined integrated development environment for Microsoft's .NET platform; it provides a simple, uncluttered development approach that lets you get programming in an instant.
http://quicksharp.sourceforge.net/

FileHelpers Library (.NET)
The FileHelpers are a free and easy to use .NET library to import/export data from fixed length or delimited records in files, strings or streams. You can strong type your flat file (fixed or delimited) simply describing a class that maps to each record and later read/write your file as an strong typed .NET array.
http://www.filehelpers.com/

Physics Software - RobotProg
Program a robot and learn programmation. You draw the program flowchart. You run the program and watch the robot executing your program.
http://www.physicsbox.com/indexenglish.html

Processing
Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions.
http://processing.org/

Microsoft Small Basic
A simplified programming language and environment to help teach programming to beginners.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b006d58d-c2c7-44ad-936b-e7e2d7de793e&DisplayLang=en
Download Size: 4.0 MB.
DevLabs - Getting Started, Forums, FAQ, Small Basic Blog.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/devlabs/cc950524.aspx

Kodu Game Lab
Kodu is a visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone.
http://fuse.microsoft.com/project/kodu.aspx

NSIS
NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) is a professional open source system to create Windows installers. It is designed to be as small and flexible as possible and is therefore very suitable for internet distribution. NSIS is script-based and allows you to create the logic to handle even the most complex installation tasks.
Home - http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page.
Download - http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Download

WiX
The Windows Installer XML (WiX) is a toolset that builds Windows installation packages from XML source code. The toolset supports a command line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM setup packages.
WiX Official Website - http://wix.sourceforge.net/
WiX Download - http://sourceforge.net/projects/wix/

WixEdit
WiXEdit is an editor for XML source files for the Windows Installer XML (WiX) toolset to build MSI and MSM setup packages. WixEdit tries to make the editing of WiX XML source files simple and comprehensible for everyone. Without any or little knowledge of WiX or even XML, you can create MSI installer packages for your software.
http://wixedit.sourceforge.net/

HTML Tidy
A free utility that cleans HTML code and fixes errors. HTML Tidy accepts a variety of switches to control the way it processes HTML tags.
http://tidy.sourceforge.net/

FireFox DOM Inspector
DOM Inspector is a tool that can be used to inspect and edit the live DOM of any web document or XUL application. The DOM hierarchy can be navigated using a two-paned window that allows for a variety of different views on the document and all nodes within.
https://developer.mozilla.org/En/DOM_Inspector

Python
Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that can be used for many kinds of software development. It offers strong support for integration with other languages and tools, comes with extensive standard libraries, and can be learned in a few days. Many Python programmers report substantial productivity gains and feel the language encourages the development of higher quality, more maintainable code.
http://www.python.org/

IronPython
IronPython is an implementation of the Python programming language running on .NET. It supports an interactive console with fully dynamic compilation. It is well integrated with the rest of the .NET Framework and makes all .NET libraries easily available to Python programmers, while maintaining full compatibility with the Python language.
http://ironpython.codeplex.com/

IronPython Studio
IronPython Studio is a free full IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for the Python programming language. It is based on the existing IronPython example that is included in the VS SDK. IronPython Studio is based on the Visual Studio 2008 Shell runtime (royalty free) and can be installed without requiring any version of Visual Studio. It is available for Visual Studio 2008 Shell Isolated and Integrated modes.
http://ironpythonstudio.codeplex.com/

RelaxNG Validator
VBRELAXNG is a verification tool for RELAX NG (VBRELAXNG.DLL).
Note: this is an ActiveX DLL (COM) but it can also be used in .NET.
Download - http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Bay/4639/vbrelaxng/vbrelaxng.html
Relax NG Homepage - http://www.relaxng.org/

Schematron.NET
The Schematron. An XML Structure Validation Language using Patterns in Trees.
The Schematron is a simple and powerful Structural Schema Language. It is now an ISO standard.
http://xml.ascc.net/resource/schematron/schematron.html
Schematron.NET download - http://sourceforge.net/projects/dotnetopensrc/

JavaScript AES - Chris Veness.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) JavaScript implementation.
http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/aes.html
Home: http://www.movable-type.co.uk/

JavaScript Block TEA - Chris Veness.
Block TEA (Tiny Encryption Algorithm) JavaScript implementation.
http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/tea-block.html
Home: http://www.movable-type.co.uk/

NAudio
NAudio is an open source .NET audio and MIDI library, containing dozens of useful audio related classes intended to speed development of audio related utilities in .NET.
http://naudio.codeplex.com/

SharpZipLib - ZIP library for .NET
A library to manipulate various kinds of compressed files and archives (Zip and tar).
SharpZipLib Home - http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SharpZipLib/Default.aspx
Download - http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SharpZipLib/Download.aspx

Silverlight SharpZipLib - ZIP library for Silverlight
This project is a complete (less AES cryptography) port version of the C# library SharpZiplib. The library has been converted to be used in Silverlight 3/4 and Windows Phone 7.
http://slsharpziplib.codeplex.com/

DotNetZip Library
DotNetZip is an easy-to-use, FAST, FREE class library and toolset for manipulating zip files or folders. Zip and Unzip is easy: with DotNetZip, .NET applications written in VB, C# - any .NET language - can easily create, read, extract, or update zip files. For Mono or MS .NET.
http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/

Silverlight Toolkit
Controls for Silverlight 4 and Silverlight for Windows Phone.
http://silverlight.codeplex.com/

Windows Phone Developer Tools RTW
The same powerful and easy to use Visual Studio integrated developer environment (IDE) handles developing Windows Phone 7 phone applications.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=04704acf-a63a-4f97-952c-8b51b34b00ce&displaylang=en


Mono & MonoDevelop

Mono
Mono provides the necessary software to develop and run .NET client and server applications on Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, Windows, and Unix.
http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

MonoDevelop
MonoDevelop is a free GNOME IDE primarily designed for C# and other .NET languages.
http://monodevelop.com/

Gtk#
Gtk# is a Graphical User Interface Toolkit for Mono and .Net.
http://www.mono-project.com/GtkSharp

IronPython
IronPython is an implementation of the Python programming language running on .NET. It supports an interactive console with fully dynamic compilation. It is well integrated with the rest of the .NET Framework and makes all .NET libraries easily available to Python programmers, while maintaining full compatibility with the Python language.
http://www.codeplex.com/Wiki/View.aspx?ProjectName=IronPython


Source code

SourceForge
SourceForge is your location to download and develop free open source software.
http://sourceforge.net/

CodePlex
CodePlex is Microsoft's open source project hosting web site. You can use CodePlex to create new projects, join others who have already started their own projects, or use the applications on this site and provide feedback.
http://www.codeplex.com/

The Code Project - Your Visual Studio and .NET Resource
Free Visual Studio and .NET articles, code snippets, discussions, news.
http://www.codeproject.com/


Imaging

Paint.NET
Paint.NET is free image editing and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows (Open source). It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

Microsoft Pro Photo Tools
Tools for editing metadata in photographs including latitude, longitude, and other location details. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=184075d2-40b5-4172-88ae-878f81896d4d&displaylang=en

Inkscape
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. It exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
http://inkscape.org/

Processing
Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions.
http://processing.org/

IrfanView
IrfanView is a compact freeware graphic viewer.
http://www.irfanview.com/

XnView
XnView is a utility for viewing and converting graphic files.
http://www.xnview.com/en/index.html

JPEGsnoop - JPEG File Decoding Utility
JPEGsnoop is a free Windows application that examines and decodes the inner details of JPEG and MotionJPEG AVI files. It can also be used to analyze the source of an image to test its authenticity.
http://impulseadventure.com/photo/jpeg-snoop.html

Deep Zoom Composer
A tool to allow the preparation of images for use with the Deep Zoom feature in Silverlight 3 and 4 (in-place zooming and panning).
1] http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=457B17B7-52BF-4BDA-87A3-FA8A4673F8BF&displaylang=en
2] http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645050(VS.95).aspx

Image Composite Editor (ICE)
Microsoft Image Composite Editor is an advanced panoramic image stitcher. Given a set of overlapping photographs of a scene shot from a single camera location, the application creates a high-resolution panorama that seamlessly combines the original images. The panorama can be saved as Silverlight's Deep Zoom.
1] http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/
2] http://photosynth.net/

Microsoft Silverlight PivotViewer
The Silverlight PivotViewer provides a visual way to interact with massive amounts of data. PivotViewer is viewable on any machine with Silverlight 4 installed. Requirements for developing a PivotViewer application include: Visual Studio 2010, Silverlight 4 Tools for Visual Studio 2010, and Silverlight 4 Toolkit.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=9a1bb862-d80c-4145-9320-b279a63bff91