Free Software for Schools Catalog
From OpenEducationWiki
Download the FOSS Catalog from Open Source Victoria
http://www.osv.org.au/index.cgi?tid=155
Introduction
Why Consider Open Source Software
There are a number of great reasons to use open source software, ranging from the fact that such software is totally free of licence cost, that there are no restrictions in how you often you can copy and install the software and that you gain access to software technology your school would not normally be able to afford. We list a few of these reasons here.
By using Open Source software you can:
1. Save money - all the software is totally free.
2. Save time on licence administration you can install it on as many PCs as you want.
3. Legally copy and distribute software as many times as you like you can make copies of it for colleagues.
4. Reduce your school's licencing liabilities there is no possibility of piracy problems when you use open source.
5. Save your students money your students can take all the software home with them, to install on their home PCs.
6. Many open source applications are easy for Mac and Windows users to understand there are over 100,000 open source applications available, including almost all of the common desktop productivity programs, so there is likely to be an application for most needs.
7. Upgrades are free and open source software generally has a very long life spans and is rarely ever made obsolete. This helps ensure your data and experience with the software stays meaningful for much longer,
8. Invest money elsewhere the money you save for your school could be used to purchase new hardware or for teacher professional development.
Additional Software
Besides the software we showcase here, there are another 100,000 or so open source packages, running on a range of platforms. You can use your favourite search engine to find such software, for instance, if you are looking for geography software, search for:
open source geography software
You can also browse for or search additional software at repositories and foundries like http://sourceforge.net/ and http://freshmeat.net/
Acknowledgments
Open Source Victoria would like to acknowledge the State Government of Victoria, which through the grants made available through Multimedia Victoria have made this project possible.
Software
Office Productivity Applications
OpenOffice.org – The Future of Office Suites
- Writer – Word Processor
- Math (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Math) – For Mathematical Equations
- Calc – The Convenient Spreadsheet
- Impress (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Impress) – More Powerful Presentations
- Base – Creates Accessible Databases
AbiWord – Fast, Light, Simple & Usable Word Processor
KOffice
- Kword (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KWord) – Word Processor
- KSpread (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSpread) – Spreadsheet
- KPresenter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPresenter) – Presentation Application
- Kexi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kexi) – Database Application
- Kivio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kexi) – Flowcharting
- KPlato (http://www.koffice.org/kplato/) – Project Management
- KChart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kexi) – Charting Application
- KFormula (http://www.koffice.org/kformula/) – Mathematical Formula Formatting
Alexandria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria_%28software%29) – Manages your Book Collection.
Graphics
- GIMP – Photo Manipulation Program
- OpenOffice.org Draw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Draw) – Simple Drawing inside the OpenOffice suite
- Karbon14 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbon14) – KOffice Vector Drawing
- Xara Xtreme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xara_Xtreme) – Fast & Versatile Vector Graphics
- Inkscape – Scalable Vector Graphics
- Blender 3D (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_%28software%29) – Powerful Design & Rendering System
- FracPlanet (http://www.bottlenose.demon.co.uk/share/fracplanet/index.htm) – Make Your Own Planet!
- POV Ray (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POV-Ray) – Ray Tracer Program
- Krita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POV-Ray) – KOffice Paint Application
- QCAD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POV-Ray)] – 2D Computer Aided Design and Drafting
Desktop Publishing
Multimedia
- VLC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLC_media_player) – Networked Media Player
- MPlayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPlayer) – Versatile Media Player
- Audacity - The Free, Cross-Platform Sound Editor
- Rosegarden (http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/) – MIDI Sequencer
- Note Editor (http://developer.berlios.de/projects/noteedit) – Score Editor, successor NtEd (http://vsr.informatik.tu-chemnitz.de/staff/jan/nted/nted.xhtml)
- CinePaint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CinePaint) – Movie Image Processing
- Mixxx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixxx) - Digital DJ System
- MythTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythTV) – Versatile Media Center
- Jahshaka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahshaka) - Realtime Editing and Effects System
- KToon - 2D animation
Scientific Applications
- KStars (http://edu.kde.org/kstars) – The Desktop Planetarium
- Kalzium (http://edu.kde.org/kalzium) – Periodic Table
- MayaVi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MayaVi) – Scientific Data Visualiser
- Celestia – A True Space Simulator
- Resistor (http://resistor.sourceforge.net) – For Converting Resistor Color Codes to Values
- TkGate (http://www.tkgate.org/) – A Digital Circuit Simulator
- Quantum GIS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_GIS) - Geographic Information System
- The R Project – Statistics Package
- Stellarium – A Planetarium for the Classroom
- SciCraft (https://dev.scicraft.org/trac/) – Data Analysis Tool
- Virtual Terrain Project (http://www.vterrain.org/) – 3D Real World Simulations
- Edukator (http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=17602) – Physics & Maths
- MOLO (http://molo.concord.org/) – Molecular Workbench
- Scilab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scilab) - Scientific Software Package
Mathematical Applications
- Kig (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kig) – Geometric Construction Program
- KmPlot – Mathematical Function Plotter
- KMathTool (http://edu.kde.org/old/kmathtool/) – A Resourceful Maths Tool
- KBruch (http://edu.kde.org/kbruch/) – Fractional Exercises
- Maxima – Computer Algebra System
- YACAS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YACAS) - Computer Algebra System
- KAlgebra (http://edu.kde.org/kalgebra/) – A MathML-based graphic calculator
- ElectricForm – A program to calculate electronic values
- KMathsTest (http://edu.kde.org/kalgebra/) – Random Mathmatical Equation Generator
- Octave – Numerical Computations
- Fung-Calc – An Advanced Graphing Calculator
- Kalamaris – Mathematics Framework
- Shodor – 60+ Maths Applets
- XPlot – Gorgeous Maths Plotting Tool
- AERO (http://www.aero-simulation.de/) – A Physically Based Simulation System
Human Languages
- KMessedWords (http://edu.kde.org/old/kmessedwords/) – Jumbled Words
- KLearnSpelling (http://edu.kde.org/old/klearnspelling/) – Learn to Spell
- KLettres (http://edu.kde.org/klettres) – Helps Begin Learning Different Languages
- Kiten (http://edu.kde.org/kiten) – Helps With Japanese
- KVerbos (http://edu.kde.org/kverbos) – Helps With Spanish
- KTranslator (http://resistor.sourceforge.net/) – Language Translator
- PyKanjiCard (http://sourceforge.net/projects/pykanjicard/) – A flash card program to help with Japanese
- Accha (http://accha.sourceforge.net/) – A program to help learn the Hindi alphabet
- Nihongo Benkyo (http://www.nihongobenkyo.org/) – A Japanese Dictionary - now a dictionary server
- Pythoño (http://www.phrozensmoke.com/projects/pythonol/) – A program to help learn Spanish
Computer Programming
- KTurtle (http://edu.kde.org/kturtle) – Introduction to Programming
- StarLogo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarLogo) – Modelling Complex Systems
- KDevelop – Integrated Development Environment including KDevDesigner – GUI Designer
- Eclipse – Java Integrated Development Environment
- PhpMyAdmin – To Handle the Administration of MySQL
- DrPython (http://drpython.sourceforge.net/) – For Developing Python Programs
- DrScheme (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DrScheme) – Scheme language for the TeachScheme! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeachScheme%21) project
- NVU – A Web content editor
- Squeak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeak) – An Object-oriented Programming Environment (Smalltalk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalltalk))
- Quanta Plus (http://quanta.kdewebdev.org/) – Web Development IDE
- Alice - 3D programming environment
Educational Games
- XiStrat (http://xistrat.sourceforge.net/) – Geometric Recreation
- FreeCiv (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeCiv) – Competitive Resource Planning Game
- BZFlag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BZFlag) – 3D Team Battle Tank Strategy Game
- Vega Strike (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/) - A 3D Action Space Simulator
- GL-117 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GL-117) – 3D Fighter Simulation
- XshipWars (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/) – Space Combat & Trading Game
- Mars Simulation Project (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Simulation_Project) – Human Settlement Simulation
- GalaxyHack (http://galaxyhack.sourceforge.net/) – Programmable Starship Battles - superseded by RRGBIS (http://rrgbis.sourceforge.net/)?
- LinCity NG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincity) – Build and Run Your Own City
- DroidBattles (http://www.bluefire.nu/droidbattles/) – Build and Program Your own Battle Droids
- Thunder&Lightning (http://tnlgame.net/) – Futuristic Combat Simulator
- ORSA (http://orsa.sourceforge.net/) – Celestial Mechanics Simulation
- Gravit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravit) - Gravity Simulator
- Flightgear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightgear) – High Quality Open Flight Sim
- TORCS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TORCS) - High Quality Physics-based Car Racing Simulator
- RealTimeBattle (http://realtimebattle.sourceforge.net/) – Program robots to fight in arena
- NASA World Wind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_World_Wind) – Earth Discover Tool
- Battle for Wesnoth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Wesnoth) – Real Time Strategy Team Game
- Core Wars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_Wars) – Machine Code Warriors
Computer Infrastructure for Schools
- SmoothWall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmoothWall) - Internet Security Software Package
- Snort (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snort_%28software%29) – Intrusion Detection System
- Squid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_%28software%29) - High Performance Web Proxy Cache
- Apache (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_HTTP_Server) – World’s Best Web Server Server
- ModSecurity (http://www.modsecurity.org/) - An Intrusion Detection and Prevention
- Samba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_%28software%29) – Windows Network File Sharing Server
- NASLite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASLite) - Network Attached Storage
- Securepoint Security Suite (http://www.securepoint.cc/) – A Complete Firewall
- OpenVPN - Secure Remote Access Solution
Information System Solutions
- Koha - Integrated Library Management System - Compatible with SCIS
- [Open-Xchange (http://www.open-xchange.com)] – Collaboration & Integration Server
- PHProjekt (http://www.phprojekt.com/index.php?newlang=eng) – Project Management
- Drupal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupal) - A Modular Content Management System
- CaMail – A Modular Webmail System
- GroupOffice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group-Office) – Web-based Groupware
- Greenstone (http://www.greenstone.org/) - Digital Library Project
- Moodle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle) - Learning Management System
- HyperJournal (http://www.hjournal.org/) – Information Manager
- DoKS (http://sourceforge.net/projects/doksproject) - Document and Knowledge Sharing
- Wikipedia on DVD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Version_1.0_Editorial_Team)
- LAMS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAMS) – Learning Activity Management System
- MRBS (http://mrbs.sourceforge.net/) – Meeting Room Booking System
- FreeMind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeMind) – Mind Mapping Software
- Dokeos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dokeos) – eLearning System
- School Booking Manager (http://www.freemeg.com/) - A Free Resource Booking Manager for schools.
Primary School Children
- KTouch (http://edu.kde.org/ktouch) – Touch Typing Program
- Tux Paint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tux_Paint) – Fun Paint Program for Kids
- Pysycache (http://www.pysycache.org/) – Application for teaching to move the mouse
- blinKen (http://edu.kde.org/blinken) – The Linux version of Simon Says
- KHangMan (http://edu.kde.org/khangman) – The classical game of Hang Man
- KTuberling (http://games.kde.org/game.php?game=ktuberling) – A "potato editor" game for kids
- Tux Print (http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxprint/) – Used to print a number of different documents
- TuxMath (http://tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/) – An educational “Missile Command” style game
- Keyano (http://sourceforge.net/projects/keyano) – Use a PC keyboard as a Musical Instrument
- Tux Typing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TuxPaint) – A fun typing program
- Multiplication Flash (http://www.pcbypaul.com/software/mflash.html) – A Flash Card program
- ChildsPlay (http://childsplay.sourceforge.net/) – A suite of fun educational games for kids
- Gcompris – An Educational Software Suite
Acknowledgements
Kathryn Moyle's research on evaluating FOSS for schools outlines key indicators to look for; maturity, in active development and supported by a community of users and developers.
