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maker:listofsoftwareformakers
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List of free software for Makers
Sometimes having the right tools can make all the difference in the world. A lot of really good software packages can tend to be “best kept secrets”.
This is a list1) of software that Maker may find useful. Everything on this list is “free” (“gratis”), “free” (“libre”), or at the very least has a “light” version for non-commercial use. (Some may restrict commercial application, or require a paid license to use commercially, always check the license ahead of time, and compensate engineers for their work when they ask for it). Applications that are “trial” versions in that critical core functionality is fundamentally crippled or time limited are ineligible for this list.
Anibit staff tends to lean toward Microsoft Windows Desktops, and so this list may have somewhat of a bias, but many of the listed software is cross-platform, and we'll try to make a note of additional platform availability. In addition, many Mac and Linux user are likely already aware of many of these applications.
And now, on to the list…
Document and General File Management
Libre Office
Libre Office is an open source cross platform office suite.
Libre Office is a fork of the Open Office project. If you haven't tried Libre Office or Open Office in a while you should really give this a try. The quality and compatibility with Microsoft Office has improved a lot in the past couple years.
SciTe
7-Zip
A graphical file archive management tool, reads many formats. Can create zip files.
Hex Edit
Graphics Editors
The Gimp
The Gimp is the defacto standard in open source full-featured graphics editing applications.
The Gimp has been around forever, and is quite mature. The Gimp supports multilayer images, exports and imports many 2D raster formats, and comes with a multitude filters and plug-ins.
Inkscape
A mature, full featured 2D vector graphics editing tool focused on the SVG vector graphics format.
Paint.Net
Blender 3D
MeshLab
Physical Modeling
Libre Cad
Open SCAD
FreeCAD
FreeCad is a Parametric CAD system/Parametric model. Despite its disclaimers that it might not be ready for production use. I have found it very stable and reliable. It can read and write a variety of 3D and 2D CAD formats. The “parametric” aspect of it lets you get really sophisticated with the editing workflow. If you are familiar with Blender 3D, it is similar conceptually to using it's modifier stack.
CAM
HeeksCNC
OpenScad
Slicer
Electrical Design
Eagle
KiCad
LTSpice
Fritzing
Software Development Environments
Microsoft Visual Studio Express
Python Tools for Visual Studio
Eclipse/CDT
Atmel Studio
ARM tools for Eclipse
Math
Microsoft Mathematics
Octave
wxMaxima
Misc
PovRay
Audacity
1)
This is a work-in-progress! We expect this list to expand greatly, and to add mini-reviews or tech specs for each entry
2)
There is a non-free version for Mac
3)
You can buy the Windows binary, or build it yourself. HeeksCNC is a nice piece of software, please consider purchasing it.
4)
versions for FreeBSD and OpenBSD available too
5)
Mac version in the works, according to their site
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maker/listofsoftwareformakers.txt · Last modified: 2015/05/24 07:25 by Anibit
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