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DEL.ICIO.USFree and good
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Anyone that thinks “nothing worth having is free” doesn’t know much about computers. A recent blog got me thinking that you don’t need to pay a penny for software to have a fully-functioning computer. You surely don’t have to fork over any cash to Microsoft or Apple for an operating system.
Some folks heckle Geekboy because he finds a lot of his hardware at apartment Dumpsters. They usually quit laughing once, with a modicum of effort, I get the HP laser printer or Dell laptop working.
My Linux webserver was found aside a Dumpster, and has operated flawlessly for several years. I use it as a test bed for PHP/MySQL sites before moving them to a real web host. The computer and software were all free.
“Vintage hardware” can be redeployed in a variety of ways. If you have kids, you can likely find a computer that will be good enough for junior or granny to surf the web with. A 500mhz computer with 128 megs of memory and an Ethernet card is all you really need to start surfing. Sure, some sites will creep, but Dumpster divers cannot be choosers. I have made several of these and given them to friends so they can use e-mail at least.
If you are a programmer, a Linux machine with an IDE (integrated development environment) like KDevelop or Anjuta is fun to tinker with. You don’t need much horsepower for that either.
A lot of the “free software” out there is for true geeks. Don’t be alarmed at the first few entries on the list, we will be getting around to the fun stuff later. The first few entries are dominated by workhorse software, the type of stuff high-paying jobs are built around.
So, let’s start off with a bang! What is the best free software you can get on the Internet?
NUMBER ONE: Debian Linux (an operating system)
There are a lot of Linux distros out there, and Debian is the one I always turn to when it counts. Other are prettier, but none are more reliable. You can install Debian on a toaster, and when you do, you will have everything you need, including word processors, programming environments, MP3 players, chat programs, simple games, web browsers, e-mail clients.
There’s more free Linux software out there than you can imagine. And not only is it free, it is “militantly free,” whatever that means.
If you must have “pretty” check out Ubuntu (newer hardware), or Xubuntu (Dumpster hardware). Both are based off Debian but are designed to appeal to those who think pretty equals good.
I was kidding about the toaster, but you can install Debian on almost any computer you find in a Dumpster, including old Macs. I created a dandy web browsing machine using an old 333-mhz iMac. It would be perfect for a kid’s room.
NUMBER TWO: Apache (a web server)
Apache serves most of the web pages you read on the Internet, including this one. It is the standard against which all other open source software is measured. Apache is included with most Linux distros, including Debian. There’s really not much to say about Apache other than it rocks.
NUMBER THREE: PHP (a server side scripting language for websites)
PHP basically supercharges HTML (which is used to make websites). PHP allows for the manipulation and redisplaying of information on the fly, creating something called “dynamic websites.” HTML is not a programming language, it is simply instructions for displaying text and images. With PHP, you can do some really great stuff, like create and store text files generated from user input, dynamic sorts, resize pictures, create forums, all kinds of stuff. And, it is fairly simple to learn – similar enough to the C-family that most programmers can churn out PHP code quickly.
NUMBER FOUR: MySQL (a database)
As you can tell, I am quite fond of the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySql, PHP) environment! And why not? You can build a LAMP server on 10-year-old hardware and it will serve more web pages than a home internet connection can deliver. Even the largest websites on the planet use LAMP servers to deliver content, the only difference is newer hardware (with multiple CPUs and drives and oodles of memory) and a fatter pipe connecting their servers to the Internet.
MySQL is a database, and a fast one designed for use with websites. Why do you need a database? You probably don’t, and even if you do, you can fake a database using a flat file system with PHP. But, if you need to track a large inventory, like the CarMax auto dealership for example, you would use a database to store all the information in a central location. In this manner, customers from all over the country can search the database and see what autos are available. When a car is sold, it can be deleted from the database. Databases are very handy for sites with a lot of searchable information, like the AJC classifieds.
I will be adding to this list in the next few days. Feel free to offer up other good examples of free software. We will be covering everything from word processors to programming suites to video games with our list, the only requirement is that the software be FREE and GOOD.
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By Prootwadl
April 7, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this
How about listing some applications like Firefox (a web browser), Open Office (a whole office suite including a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a number of other tools), and Thunderbird (an e-mail client).
Or one of my faves: VNC (Virtual Network Computing), a nice way to remotely access one PC’s desktop from another. I use it under Windows, OS/2, and Linux at home.
I’d provide URLs, but this forum software won’t let me. :-)
By Prootwadl
April 7, 2006 06:44 PM | Link to this
Whoa…
By GatorGeek
April 7, 2006 07:16 PM | Link to this
I understand where you’re going with this - free, good, software to install on a free, charity machine. But how about if you already have a machine and Windows and all that?
OpenOffice is a stable, good office suite that features a Microsoft Word compatible Word Processor, Excel compatible Spreadsheet application, PowerPoint-style presentation application and even an Access-style database program. Works on Windows AND Linux!
If you already run Windows XP Professional, and you’ve just GOT to have a web server, it’s very simple to install Internet Information Server (IIS) for free. Go to Add/Remove Programs, Add Windows Components, check the “Internet Information Services” check box, click OK, pop in your Windows CD, and you’re done. There’s plenty of sites give better detail on the web.
Want something similar to PHP? Try the original web page scripting language, ASP. Sure, it’s been around for a while and isn’t as sexy as ASP.NET, but it works great and tons of sites still use it. And, when you install IIS, ASP gets installed for free as well!
MySQL is awesome and can be installed on Windows for free too. While Microsoft offers up free versions of SQL Server (MSDE for SQL Server 2000, or SQL Server 2005 Express), MySQL is the way to go.
Moral of the story is, you can get plenty of good, free software if you already have a Windows-based machine!
By Geekboy
April 10, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this
I am going to get around to the free but good software available for Windows.
I was trying to start out with the best avaialable, and work my way down.
I don’t expect folks to run out and install Debian Linux, but wanted to point out the obvious — you can get a free OS that works great.
I have OpenOffice and Tight-VNC on the list of things to mention, so, fear not! I will probably provide a walk-thru for VNC, since it is so cool.