14 open source software to discover to create, work, optimize and have fun

Beyond the great classics such as the Mozilla Firefox internet browser, the LibreOffice office suite, the GIMP photo editing software, the Blender modeler or the essential VLC video player, there is a plethora of free software of formidable efficiency developed by a handful of passionate programmers. Let’s review some of these nuggets, whether you’re looking for screen capture software, a VPN or a game. And you, what are your favorite open source software? Feel free to share your discoveries in the comments.

1/ 0AD: set off to conquer the world, in complete freedom

If you like RTS (Real Time Strategy, or real-time strategy game) like Civilization, 0AD should give you a few (good) sleepless nights. The principle is simple: you must gather the resources you need to raise a military force and dominate your enemies. The realization is certainly not at the height of current productions like Age of Empires IV, but the fun is there. Above all, it is possible to organize dantesque online games with several friends, whether they are on Windows, Linux or macOS. In the same vein, we also invite you to try The Battle for Westnothanother turn-based strategy game.

2/ VeraCrypt: protect your sensitive data

If you want to protect certain computer data in an encrypted space, VeraCrypt is probably the software for you. Derived from the widely used TrueCrypt (left abandoned by its creators and suspected of containing security flaws), VeraCrypt is on the list of free software recommended by the French State as part of the overall modernization of its information systems. information. The software allows you to create an encrypted computer storage volume in which you can store all kinds of documents: photos, PDFs, films, programs, etc. VeraCrypt uses the following encryption systems: AES, Camellia, Kuznyechik, Serpent and Twofish. By depositing your VeraCrypt volume on removable media or a remote server, you can easily access sensitive data from different locations or devices. Too bad there is no version for Android or iOS.

3/ WinDirStat: looking for occupants

After analyzing a hard disk or other computer medium, WinDirStat displays a graphical representation of the tree structure of files. This allows you to quickly « see » which software or documents are taking up the most space on your computer. Certainly, it is not the fastest in the task and WizTree is much faster, but the latter is not open source even if its use is free. A must to free up space on your hard drives.

4/ Bull Crap Uninstaller: for spring cleaning

The name is certainly not very engaging, but this open software allows you to cleanly uninstall most Windows applications (Windows Store Apps, Steam). Indeed, Bulk Crap Uninstaller not only deletes the software, but also the folders, registry keys and various files that are generated during installation. It is particularly effective in getting rid of pre-installed software on computers. In addition, it allows you to choose which software will run when your machine starts up in order to optimize its operation.

5/ Snappy Driver Installer: always be up to date!

Keeping your computer up to date is essential to ensure its proper functioning and above all to limit security breaches. Of course, you can use Microsoft’s Windows Update utility, but this is not necessarily the most up-to-date and it can sometimes take weeks for the system to offer you a download. Snappy Driver Installer is a software that lists the different components and peripherals of your computer and offers you to perform an update according to the indications found on the Internet. Good point, Snappy Driver Installer suggests you to create Windows restore bridge. If a driver malfunctions, you can easily roll back. This is a good solution for people who help loved ones keep their computers in top shape.

6/ RustDesk: so far, so close

If you want to help your family members remotely with computer maintenance, RustDesk is a simple solution to implement and effective if not the fastest. Installing the solution is child’s play, since all you have to do is launch the software on the machine to be controlled and communicate the username and password to the remote person, who can then see your computer and take control of it. this last. RustDesk requires you to go through a server available for free, but you can, to improve the confidentiality of connections, host your own system, in particular on a Synology NAS.

7/ Scrcpy: access an Android phone from your computer

From a « marketing » point of view, Scrcpy is not the software whose name is the easiest to pronounce and the easiest to remember. But this small software developed in Java makes it possible to display the screen of an Android smartphone on a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and to take control of it. The lines of code also allow you to record the screen on video, which can be very useful for making tutorials. Note that using Scrcpy requires the installation of ADB software, which allows access to a smartphone from a computer.

8/ ProtonVPN: for covered surfing

Along with Mullvad, ProtonVPN is one of our favorite VPNs (Virtual Private Network). Both are open source, but ProtonVPN has the advantage of offering a free, albeit restricted, version. ProtonVPN, in its free version, allows access to servers in the Netherlands, the United States and Japan. Obviously, it is not possible to connect several devices simultaneously. And although the speed may be limited by the solicitation of the servers, it is still sufficient to safely access an open wifi network in a hotel or restaurant.

9/ Ferdi: a tool to bring them all together (or almost)

Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Gmail, but also ProtonMail or Juggernaut, we are often overwhelmed by an impressive number of communication tools and struggle to follow all the channels available to us. Ferdi, software derived from Franz which is now limited to three accounts in its free version, allows you to centralize your messaging (email, instant communication), but also your social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Thus, you will keep an eye on all your channels in a French interface. Too bad that for now, Ferdi is not compatible with Signal messaging. Note that it is possible to create workspaces to separate your professional life from your private life.

10/ balenaEtcher: to easily create bootable USB keys

Often, open source applications do not benefit from a worked graphical interface. This is not the case of BalenaEtcher, which is displayed in a window that is certainly uncluttered, but very functional. The software allows you to burn images (ZIP, img, iso) on different media such as USB or SD keys. To avoid corrupted images, balenaEtcher proposes to check, at the end of burning, the consistency of the data. What simplify the installation of many Linux distributions to try them!

11/ PeaZip: data compression (and decompression) just a click away

If 7ZIP, another open source compression software, has earned a good reputation, especially on Windows, PeaZip presents itself as an interesting alternative for Windows, Linux and macOS. It presents a non-localized graphical interface, identical whatever the platform. The software manages a large number of compression formats, but also encryption. The most advanced users can also install PeaZip so that it is accessible from contextual menus.

12/ Ocenaudio: the Swiss army knife of audio

For a long time, Audacity reigned supreme in the open source audio world. But now, following its takeover by the Russian company Muse Group, suspicions of the use of personal data have got the better of the reputation of the software. Different alternatives were born like Tenacity, a forked (modified copy) of Audacity, but the development of the latter seems not very active. We advise you to have a listen to Ocenaudio, which seems to be unanimous within the open source community, with a software with a clear interface (in French) and many features. Too bad there is no online help or manual to get started quickly, its richness deserves a little literature.

13/ Joplin: share your notes

With Joplin, Zettlr or Boostnote, a new generation of software is available between word processing, code editor and note taking. Joplin, available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, allows you to quickly create text files whose layout is based on Markdown. Entirely in French and displayed in a simple and quick to use interface, Joplin also offers to retrieve information (text, image, etc.) from your internet browser using an extension. Your documents can be synchronized on your different devices by taking advantage of online backup (Nextcloud, OneDrive, Dropbox) or at home by hosting the server.

Before sending an e-mail, letter or CV, it is important to check that they do not contain spelling mistakes. You can use the proofreaders included in Microsoft Word or your Internet browser, but there is also LanguageTool. This spell checker is available online directly on the website, but also as an extension for your browser. All you have to do is copy the text to be corrected to start the analysis. A €4.99/month subscription allows you to exceed the limit of 10,000 corrected signs and obtain advice on how to improve your writing style, also offering modules for Microsoft Word and Google Docs.