Free operating systems based on the Linux operating system kernel are now a serious alternative to Windows. A wide range of open source software is available, and we reveal the most ingenious free applications under Linux, which need not fear comparison with expensive software under Windows.
GIMP is a professional pixel-based graphics program used for image editing and digital painting of raster graphics. It is a free software available in the basic installation of most major Linux distributions and can also be downloaded from the official website.
Inkscape is a platform-independent software for editing and creating two-dimensional vector graphics. It uses the SVG file format and competes with paid applications such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw.
OpenShot is a free video editor for non-linear video editing and improvements, with real-time editing functions and a cache background thread for preparing upcoming frames.
Kodi, formerly XBMC, serves as a media center and media player software that can be expanded with numerous plugins. The latest version 20 (“Nexus”) includes new features and supports additional platforms.
OnlyOffice, a free modern office suite, has been released in the latest version 7.5.1 for Linux, focusing on texts, spreadsheets, and presentations. It offers improved interoperability with Microsoft Office and increased compatibility with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ardour, a professional digital audio workstation for editing and mixing audio files and recordings, has been released in the latest version 8.2. It is available for free with the option to purchase the finished software and updates for a donation of one US dollar. It is modelled after the paid professional software Pro Tools and can rival all professional solutions in scope and performance.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
