7 Free and Open-Source Software You Should Try in 2020

Are you tired of using cracked software?
Cracked software aren’t only illegal and unethical but they’re also unsafe for your computer and cyber security.

That’s because many of those keygens and cracks are made by black-hat programmers from the underworld. So they can’t be trusted.

Are you burdened by the huge cost of proprietary software? Are you looking for a free alternative to your premium software?
A Photoshop license, for example, costs $348 (125k Naira) per year! For some designers that’s peanut but for the vast majority of us it’s a hoo-loda maney.

Although some people call proprietary software leeches, I think it isn’t a right thing to say that. Developers worked hard to put value into their product, they aren’t leeches.

In this article, I want to show you eight free and open-source alternatives to your favourite proprietary software. Please note that I’ve used each of these software at one point or another in my career. While I’m a guru in a few of them, I’m not so strong in using others.

So here are eight free and open-source software you should try in 2020:

1- QGIS

QGIS comes first on the list because I’m a GIS analyst. Initially known as Quantum GIS, it is now simply known as QGIS.

QGIS is a powerful location analytics software. It has a beautiful and intuitive interface. It also has inbuilt algorithms to help you run complex Analytics.

More? It allows you to use the GDAL, SAGA, GRASS and OTB libraries from within QGIS.

It also allows you to extend it’s functionality by writing and running Python scripts through it’s PyQGIS Python API.
Many QGIS users have written dozens of plugins which you can easily download and use in your project. You may even write your own Python plugin!

The proprietary alternative for QGIS is ESRI’s ArcGIS.

2- GIMP

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It’s a raster graphic design software. Although I’m not a GIMP expert, I’ve seen superb designs people made with GIMP.
You may checkout this video to get an idea of GIMP in action.

The proprietary alternative to GIMP is Adobe Photoshop.

3- Linux

You’ve probably heard of Ubuntu. Ubuntu is perhaps the most popular version of Linux.

Linux is a free and open source alternative for Windows and MacIntosh.
If you’re a developer, you’re probably going to enjoy Linux. It comes with some of the most useful developer tools e.g. Python.

4- Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics software. You can use it to design banners, logos and even edit PDFs!

I, like many cartographers, use Inkscape to customize and cosmetize maps after designing in QGIS.

While QGIS comes with a powerful interface for designing maps, nothing beats using a specialized software for the job.

Proprietary alternatives to Inkscape are Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator.

Here’s a free Inkscape course.

5- Blender

Blender is used for rendering 3D designs. Blender is useful for animes and 3D modelling. Cartographers use blender for depicting elevations and depressions on maps.

I’m yet to try blender out but I’ve seen many cool designs done with it. This series of beginner-friendly tutorials shows you how to render 3D relief maps using blender.

The proprietary alternative to blender is Autodesk Maya.

6- FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a free and open-source CAD software. CAD software is used by architects, urban planners, and virtually all fields of engineering and environmental management and planning for design and model creation.

The coolest thing I know about FreeCAD is its ‘Work Benches’. Work Benches are preset interfaces for you to choose from depending on the nature of your work. So as an architect your Work Bench will be different from a civil engineer’s Work Bench.

And you can even customize these workbenches to your taste.

The proprietary alternative to FreeCAD is AutoCAD.

7- LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open-source set of tools for carrying out common office tasks. This includes typesetting documents, working with spreadsheets and preparing presentations among others.

It works with all Microsoft Office file formats so you shouldn’t have file format issues when migrating to LibreOffice from Microsoft Office.

Obviously, the proprietary alternative to LibreOffice is Microsoft Office Suites.

Conclusion

Those are some open-source software I’m familiar with. I hope you found a free and open-source alternative for your proprietary software.

About Nasiru:

He is a GIS Analyst, Cartographer and Principal Consultant at GeoAfrikana Spatial Solutions. He also finds time to write articles and be a GIS tutor.

His mission.

“To provide cutting-edge geospatial services for researchers, businesses and governments”.