30 Cool Open Source Software I Discovered in 2013

#1 Replicant - Fully free Android distribution

Replicant is entirely free and open source distributions of Android on several devices including both phones and tablets. I have installed it on an older Nexus S. You can install apps from F-Droid store a GPLv2 client app that comes configured with a repository hosting only free as in freedom applications.

Operating system : Linux/Android

Purpose : Free os for phone/tablets

Targets : User who wish to have a full control over the mobile phone with strong privacy settings

License : Apache License 2.0/GPL 2.0

Download url : replicant.us

#2: Miro video converter

This is an open source, cross-platform application to convert videos from and to various formats, including formats suitable for devices such as Android/iOS phones. It is simple and easy to use software to convert almost any video to MP4, WebM (vp8), Ogg Theora format. Miro Video Converter is based on FFMPEG and act as a front end to FFMPEG command line tools.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Video converter

Targets : Multimedia users

License : GPL

Download url : mirovideoconverter.com

#3 OwnCloud - Dropbox alternative for cloud storage service

I was looking for an alternative to Dropbox to run cloud on my own server at home and office. This software is open source software, and it is self hosted. I don't have to trust third party with my data. I found this software easy to install and quite useful. I started to use it for syncing files and other data. I have been using for couple of months and it has been proven reliable alternative to Dropbox. There are clients available for MS-Windows, OS X, Linux, and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices (or simply access data using the ownCloud web frontend).

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Cloud storage (Data synchronization)

Targets : Home users/IT departments/Sysadmins

License : AGPLv3

Download url : owncloud.org

#4 Docker - FreeBSD like container+API for Linux

The FreeBSD jail provides an operating system-level virtualization partition a FreeBSD-based serve into several independent mini-systems. You can do the same with Linux using OpenVZ. Linux Containers (LXC) is a virtualization method for running multiple isolated Linux systems. Docker extends LXC. It uses LXC, cgroups, Linux kernel and other parts to automate the deployment of applications inside software containers. It comes with API to runs processes in isolation. With docker I can pack WordPress (or any other app written in Python/Ruby/Php & friends) and its dependencies in a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container. I can deploy and test such container on any Linux based server.

Operating system : Linux amd64

Purpose : OS level virtualization

Targets : DevOps/Sysadmins

License : Apache License 2.0

Download url : docker.io

#5 Adminer - A lightweight and full-featured database management tool

Adminer is a full-featured database management tool written in PHP. Conversely to phpMyAdmin, it consists of a single file ready to deploy to the target server. Adminer is available for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL and Oracle. I usually install this for clients who are new to PostgreSQL/MySQL. The software acts as a drop-in-replacement for phpMyAdmin with a better user interface, better support for MySQL features, higher performance and more security.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Database management

Targets : DBA/new users

License : Apache License or GPL 2

Download url : adminer.org

#6 MariaDB - Drop-in replacement for Oracle MySQL server

MariaDB is a community-developed fork of the MySQL server. MariaDB is going to be default in many popular Linux distro and open source project. Red Hat will switch the default database in its enterprise distribution, RHEL (including its clones such as CentOS), from MySQL to MariaDB, when version 7 is released in 2014. I started testing MariaDB and found no problems at all. The speed is same or better in some cases.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : RDBMS

Targets : DevOps/Sysadmins

License : GPL/LGPL

Download url : mariadb.org

#7 RackTables - Manage your data center assets like a pro

I wish I discovered RackTables earlier. It is is a datacenter asset management system. With this software one can document hardware assets (such as server, workstations, routers, switches and more), network addresses, space in racks, networks configuration and more:

1. List of all devices, racks, and enclosures you've got
2. Mount the devices into the racks
3. Maintain physical ports of the devices and links between them
4. Manage IP addresses, assign them to the devices and group them into networks
5. Document your NAT rules, describe your loadbalancing policy and store loadbalancing configuration
6. Attach files to various objects in the system
7. Create users, assign permissions and allow or deny any actions they can do

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : IDC asset management system

Targets : Sysadmin/DevOPS/IT Managers

License : GPL

Download url : racktables.org

#8 Apache Cordova - Create smartphone app just with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Apache Cordova is a free and open source framework that allows you to create mobile apps using standardized web APIs. You can create apps that work on iOS, Andriod, BlackBerry, Windows, Ubuntu and other phone based operating systems. You write code once and run on selected mobile platforms with little or no change at all. PhoneGap uses Apache Cordova.

Operating system : iOS, Android, webOS, Symbian, BlackBerry, Ubuntu Touch, Windows Phone, Windows 8

Purpose : Build native mobile apps

Targets : Developers

License : Apache License 2.0

Download url : cordova.apache.org or phonegap.com

#9 Angry IP scanner - ipscan tool

Nmap is an open source security tool for network exploration, security scanning and auditing. ipscan (Angry IP Scanner) is an alternative to nmap command. It is also an open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use. It scans IP addresses and ports as well as has many other features.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Network scanner

Targets : Sysadmin/Network administrators

License : GPL 2

Download url : angryip.org

#10 Jekyll - Create simple static blog

Drupal, Typo3, WordPress and many other content management system (CMS)/blogging software dynamically create feature rich content. However, you may not need all the all features and complexity offered by modern CMS based systems. For example, a WordPress based blog like nixCraft requires multiple VMs, CDN for static assets, caching engine such as memcached, PHP, mysql database, comment moderation, and on going updates. A growing trend is to keep your blog simple by avoiding CMS and use static HTML generators that offers the following benefits:

• No more complex setups i.e. no databases/php/caching engines required.
• No more comment moderation.
• Pesky updates.
• Static files are more secure.
• Easy to scale or cache on edge/CDN nodes.
• Provides all the blog-aware visual bells and whistles such as categories, pages, posts, Permalinks, and custom layouts.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Blogging system

Targets : Bloggers who wish to follow KISS principal.

License : MIT License

Download url : jekyllrb.com

Similar apps: Haskell based Hakyll, Ruby based nanoc, Python based Pelican.

#11 TurnKey Linux - Deploy open source apps on VM or the clouds

You can setup a open source software such as WordPress, Drupal, ZenCart, and over 100+ other software easily with TurnKey Linux. It is a virtual appliance library that integrates and polishes the very best open source software into ready to use solutions. Each virtual appliance is optimized for ease of use and can be deployed in just a few minutes on bare metal, a virtual machine and in the cloud/in physical server. TurnKey Linux is based on Debian 7.2 with automatic security updates for all packages. It also includes a web management interface, web shell, and simple configuration console. I often use this to deploy development server in the cloud.

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Virtual appliance library

Targets : Sysadmin/Developers/DevOPS

License : Free software licenses

Download url : turnkeylinux.org

#12 DokuWiki - Create a personal wiki

DokuWiki is a simple to use and highly versatile open source wiki software that doesn't require a database. Easy to install on Linux or Unix-like operating systems with the following features:

1. Ease of use and low system requirements.
2. Built-in access control lists.
3. Customization using large variety of extensions, plugins, and templates.

I use this on my laptop to keep notes about various projects.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Documentation

Targets : Wiki users.

License : GPL 2

Download url : dokuwiki.org

#13 MediaGoblin - An alterative to Youtube/Flickr/Soundcloud

GNU MediaGoblin is free software, decentralized media publishing platform. You can host and share videos, music, and images using MediaGoblin. It is an alternative to major media-publishing services such as Flickr, deviantArt, YouTube, Soundcloud, etc. It is written in Python and SQL.

Operating system : Linux/OSX/MS-Windows

Purpose : Sharing many forms of digital media

Targets : Freedom respectful media sharing self-hosted service

License : AGPLv3/CC0

Download url : mediagoblin.org

#14: Scrollout F1 - Create email firewall gateway

Scrollout F1 is easy to use and setup email firewall gateway system. It includes anti-spam and anti-virus protection for Microsoft Exchange, Postfix, Exim, Sendmail, Qmail and others. It runs on Debian and Ubuntu Linux operating systems. This is perfect software for filtering incoming messages and other features are as follows:

1. TLS/SSL encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy for SMTP & HTTPS
2. Virus scanning and different Quarantine per domain
3. Tagging and blocking SPAM at domain level
4. Geographic filtering for Sender IP, Server IP, URL IP and TLDs
5. Verifies incoming emails for DKIM and signs outgoing emails (2048 bits RSA)
6. Protection against fake messages that appear to come from your domain or from yourself
7. Protection against executable files, malicious content, scripts and more
8. Protection against forged domains like (fake) yahoo.com, gmail.com etc.
9. Whitelist and Blacklist
10. Simple web interface for management

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Firewall and anti-spam gateway for MS-Windows/Linux/Unix-like email servers

Targets : Sysadmin

License : GPL

Download url : scrolloutf1.com

#15 Observium - Network observation and monitoring system

Observium is free and open source software written in PHP/MySQL. It collects data from devices using SNMP and presents it via a web interface. It includes support for a wide range of network hardware and operating systems including Cisco, Windows, Linux, HP, Dell, FreeBSD, Juniper, Brocade, Netscaler, NetApp and many more. I use this software along with Nagios to get better understanding of certain devices and technologies. It provides historical and current performance statistics, configuration visualization and syslog capture.

Operating system : Linux/Unix-like

Purpose : Network monitoring

Targets : Sysadmin

License : Observium License

Download url : observium.org

#16 SimpleInvoices

It is a web based invoicing system. It helps me to create quick and nice looking invoices without having to set up too much services on server. All you have to do is install the SimpleInvoices software, enter a biller, a customer details and go creating invoices. You can easily track your finances; send invoices as PDF's and more. It is the best invoicing set up for my independent IT consultancy business.

Operating system : Linux/Unix-like/Windows/OSX

Purpose : Invoicing system

Targets : Sole traders/Small business owners

License : Observium License

Download url : simpleinvoices.org

Similar apps : BambooInvoice - another invoicing software intended for small businesses and independent contractors

More cool apps

I sometime use and recommend the following software for MS-Windows/Linux users due to simplicity and ease of use features. Here is the list of the other best and FOSS apps of 2013:

#17 FileZilla - sftp/ftp client for noobs

This is a perfect open-source FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS) and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client for Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux. It has the following features that new users might find useful:

1. Drag & drop support
2. Tabbed user interface
3. File transfer queue and bookmarks
4. Remote file editing and remote file search
5. SOCKS5 and FTP-Proxy support

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : FTP client

Download url : filezilla-project.org

#18 WinSCP - Easily transfer file using scp

It is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows. Its main function is the secure file transfer between local and server under your control. Most new MS-Windows user find WinSCP an easier to use as compare to putty and friends.

Operating system : MS-Windows

Purpose : SFTP/FTP client

Download url : winscp.net

#19 XAMPP - Easily write and test Apache+MySQL+PHP/Perl apps on desktop

I give this software to many developers. They can easily setup Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl to deploy and write an application on their own desktop. No need to install virtual machine and Linux server. Just focus on development and skip real server management job to pros.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Apache distribution for desktop user/developers.

Download url : apachefriends.org

#20 Abiword - A nice little word processor

Many users only use 2% of the features of a program like Microsoft Word. No need to spend money or time on Microsoft Word. I personally use Abiword due to:

1. Easy to use and not bloated as OO.org.
2. Small size word processor i.e. it loads very fast on my old computer.
3. I can read and write OpenOffice.org documents, Microsoft Word documents, WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages and more.
4. Abiword is tightly integrated with the AbiCollab.net web service, which lets you store documents online, allows easy document sharing with your friends, and performs format conversions on the fly.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Word processing program

Download url : abisource.com

#21 {less}: The dynamic stylesheet language

LESS extends CSS with dynamic behavior such as variables, mixins, operations and functions. LESS can run on the client-side and server-side or can be compiled into plain CSS.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Web developers

Download url : lesscss.org

#22 Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a GTK+ based desktop environment and a fork of the GNOME Shell. It was initially developed by Linux Mint. It offers a user interface with the following features that I needed most:

1. A movable panel equipped with a main menu, launchers, a window list and the system tray
2. Various extensions and applets
3. Cinnamon makes GNOME3 a useful desktop

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Desktop user

Download url : linuxmint.com

#23 Tmux

Tmux is terminal multiplexers for Unix-like platforms. tmux offers several advantages over GNU/screen:

1. Vi or emacs key layouts
2. Multiple paste options
3. Secure code base
4. An option to limit the window size and more.

Operating system : Linux/Unix-like

Purpose : Terminal multiplexer

Download url : tmux.sourceforge.net

#24 Artica - Full SMTP/Mail/Proxy server Appliance in 10 minutes

It is a simple and straightforward software that offers the following features:

1. Proxy server Appliance
2. SMTP server Appliances
3. Mail server Appliances
4. NAS server Appliance
5. Web based management

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Turn normal server into appliances

Download url : artica.fr

#25 Zentyal small business server

Zentyal is a full-featured Linux server for small and medium businesses that you can set up in less than 30 minutes. It is a drop-in replacement for Microsoft Small Business Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. It is easy to use software. Zentyal is based on Ubuntu and it can be installed either from Ubuntu repositories or from Zentyal's own installer.

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Office server

Download url : zentyal.org

#26 Ack-grep - a source code search tool for programmers

ack-grep is a grep like tool, optimized for programmers. This tool isn't aimed to "search all text files". It is specifically created to search source code trees, not trees of text files. It searches entire trees by default while ignoring Subversion, Git and other VCS directories and other files that aren't your source code.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Search source trees

Download url : beyondgrep.com

#27 ditaa - DIagrams Through Ascii Art

ditaa is a small command-line utility, that can convert diagrams drawn using ascii art, into proper bitmap graphics. I use this tool all the time to draw diagrams and forwarding them via email or chat session.

Operating system : Cross-platform

Purpose : Convert diagrams drawn using ascii art

Download url : ditaa.sourceforge.net

#28 GNU parallel

GNU parallel is a shell tool for executing jobs in parallel using one or more computers. If you like xargs command, try GNU/parallel utility. It can run command/script/job on all available CPU's or on multiple computers.

Operating system : Cross-platform (Perl)

Purpose : Execute shell scripts/jobs in parallel

Download url : gnu.org

#29 luckyBackup data back-up and synchronization tool

luckyBackup is an application for data back-up and synchronization powered by the rsync tool. It is simple to use, fast, safe, reliable and fully customizable backup software. I often set and recommend this too for new Ubuntu/Fedora desktop users to backup their own files.

Operating system : Linux/Unix-like

Purpose : Desktop backup

Download url : luckybackup.sourceforge.net

#30 OpenShot video editor

OpenShot Video Editor is a free and open-source non-linear video editing software package for Linux. I use this tool to create videos for my youtube channel. It is a stable, free, and friendly to use video editor on Linux.

Operating system : Linux

Purpose : Video editing

Download url : openshot.org