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.
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:
#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.
#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:
- Ease of use and low system requirements.
- Built-in access control lists.
- Customization using large variety of extensions, plugins, and templates.
I use this on my laptop to keep notes about various projects.
#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.
#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:
- TLS/SSL encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy for SMTP & HTTPS
- Virus scanning and different Quarantine per domain
- Tagging and blocking SPAM at domain level
- Geographic filtering for Sender IP, Server IP, URL IP and TLDs
- Verifies incoming emails for DKIM and signs outgoing emails (2048 bits RSA)
- Protection against fake messages that appear to come from your domain or from yourself
- Protection against executable files, malicious content, scripts and more
- Protection against forged domains like (fake) yahoo.com, gmail.com etc.
- Whitelist and Blacklist
- Simple web interface for management
#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 Nagiosto get better understanding of certain devices and technologies. It provides historical and current performance statistics, configuration visualization and syslog capture.
#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.
#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:
- Drag & drop support
- Tabbed user interface
- File transfer queue and bookmarks
- Remote file editing and remote file search
- SOCKS5 and FTP-Proxy support
#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.
#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.
#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:
- Easy to use and not bloated as OO.org.
- Small size word processor i.e. it loads very fast on my old computer.
- I can read and write OpenOffice.org documents, Microsoft Word documents, WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages and more.
- 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.
#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.
#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:
- A movable panel equipped with a main menu, launchers, a window list and the system tray
- Various extensions and applets
- Cinnamon makes GNOME3 a useful desktop
#23 Tmux
Tmux is terminal multiplexers for Unix-like platforms. tmux offers several advantages over GNU/screen:
- Vi or emacs key layouts
- Multiple paste options
- Secure code base
- An option to limit the window size and more.
#24 Artica - Full SMTP/Mail/Proxy server Appliance in 10 minutes
It is a simple and straightforward software that offers the following features:
- Proxy server Appliance
- SMTP server Appliances
- Mail server Appliances
- NAS server Appliance
- Web based management
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#30 OpenShot video editor
1. Lisa – In 1983, Apple debuted its first model, the Apple Lisa. The computer took more than three years to make, and around $50 million to develop. Named after Steve Jobs’ daughter, the computer was quite pricey, clicking in at nearly $10,000 (about $25,000 by today’s standards). The high price tag repelled most consumers, and the computer sold poorly.
2. Macintosh XL – In order to ramp up Lisa sales, Apple redesigned the model in 1985, renamed it the Macintosh XL and lowered the price to $3,495.
3. Macintosh 128K - Introduced in 1984, the 128 model was the first true Macintosh personal computer, and retailed for about $2,495. With its 9-inch screen, 128K of RAM and “easy to use” accessibility, the Mac was off to a robust start.
4. Macintosh 512K - Released right after the 128, the 512 was virtually the same, but had four times more memory.
5. Macintosh Plus - Enter 1986, when the Macintosh Plus emerges into the market. It had 1MB of RAM and cost about $2,599. It also came with an SCSI port, which meant users could install external hard drives.
6. Macintosh Portable - The first battery-powered Mac creation entered the arena in 1989. It was considered fast for its time, operating at 16 MHz. Though it was quick, the Portable sold poorly and weighed nearly 16 pounds.
7. Powerbook – The Powerbook came out a few years later, in 1991, and was Apple’s first true portable computer, thanks to its lightness. The floppy disk drive was a separate, external entity. The line had staying power, continuing until 2006.
8. iMac – The iMac debuted in 1998 and was one of Apple’s first big projects after anointing Steve Jobs its CEO. Translucent and brightly colored, the iMac was a stylish step above its predecessors, and did away with floppy disk drives, opting instead for USB ports.
9. iMac G4 - The iMac G4 marveled tech lovers with its flexibility and flattened shape. Because of its thin neck, the screen could be pulled forward and swiveled around. The 2002 creation literally had audiences gasping during Steve Jobs’ keynote.
10. MacBook - Apple trotted out the new MacBook in 2006, noted for its built in “iSight” webcam, crisp and glossy LCD screen and integrated keyboard.
11. MacBook Air - The holy grail of modern day MacBooks, the Air is Apple’s sleekest invention, touted as the world’s thinnest notebook (due in part to the removal of the CD/DVD drive). Jobs unveiled it in 2008, and the line has continued to pump out redesigned and updated models. The original had an 80GB hard drive and bright LED backlighting.
12. iMac today - Thinner and larger than past models, the modern iMac features a slender screen and a detached keyboard and mouse. The most recent 27-inch version sports a lighting-fast Intel processor and Fusion Drive data storage, which combines a traditional hard drive with Flash storage.
