Pro Freeware and Open Source Solutions for Business: Money-Saving Options for Small Enterprises

✍ Scribed by Phillip Whitt

• Publisher: Apress
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 283
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book will point the way to numerous free, low-cost, and open-source software solutions that could provide viable alternatives to their paid counterparts. Pro Freeware and Open Source Solutions for Business is now in its Second Edition; it has been thoroughly revised and updated. This book covers the most up-to-date software versions. Software described in the First Edition that is no longer available has been replaced with comparable titles when possible.

The book starts with an office productivity tool known as OfficeLibre and goes on to explain CRM and compression software. You will then learn about desktop publishing, illustration, 3D modeling, and photo editing software. As we progress further, you will learn more about audio-video capture and editing software along with Openshot, an easy-to-use free video editor. You will also learn about available project planning and time tracking software, and much more. By the end of the book, you will have also gained knowledge about security programs, as well as how to use Linux on Windows and MacOS.

With the challenging economic times we find ourselves in, this book may be more important than ever to help small business owners eliminate and reduce costs, and keep more money in their business. .

What You Will Learn

• Understand the important differences between freeware and open-source software.
• Discern which paid commercial software the free version replaces (when applicable).
• Gain insight into how organizations and municipalities around the world adopting open-source software to save money on licensing fees.

Who This Book Is For

Primarily small business owners, solo entrepreneurs or freelancers on a budget, and cost efficiency experts.

✦ Table of Contents

Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Office Productivity, Note-Taking, Accounting, and PDF Creation
LibreOffice: The Powerful Free Office Suite
LibreOffice Modules
Writer
Calc
Impress
Base
Draw
LibreOffice Support
FreeOffice 2021: A Free Alternative to Microsoft Office for Personal and Business Use
FreeOffice Apps
TextMaker
PlanMaker
Presentations
FreeOffice Support
Simplenote: A Free Note-Taking Application for Syncing Across Devices
Simplenote Support
Zim: An Open Source Note-Taking Application for Desktops
Zim Support
GnuCash: Open Source Accounting Software
Main Features
Advanced Features
Data Storage and Exchange Features
Other Goodies
GnuCash Support
Manager: Free Small Business Accounting Software
Manager Support
PDF reDirect: Basic PDF Creation Freeware
Feature Highlights
PDF reDirect Support
Summary
Chapter 2: Point-of-Sale, CRM, Backup, and Compression Software
Point-of-Sale Solutions
Customer Relationship Management Solutions
File Backup and Compression Solutions
Imonggo (Free Version): A Point-of-Sale Utility for Small Shops or Boutiques
Feature Highlights
Imonggo Support
POS/Cash Register: Turn Your Old PC into a Cash Register
Feature Highlights
POS/Cash Register Support
Bitrix24: A Social Intranet, CRM Solution for Small Business
Feature Highlights
Bitrix24 Support
FBackup: A Free Basic Backup Utility
Feature Highlights
FBackup Support
7Zip: An Open Source Alternative to WinZip
Feature Highlights
7Zip Support
Summary
Chapter 3: Desktop Publishing, Illustration, Painting, and 3D Modeling Software
Canva: Easy Template-Based Desktop Publishing
Feature Highlights
Design Capabilities
Canva Support
Scribus: The Powerful, Professional, Open Source Desktop Publishing Program
Feature Highlights
Design Capabilities
Scribus Support
Vectr: A Free, Basic Online Vector Drawing Program
Feature Highlights
Graphics Creation
Vectr Support
Inkscape: Pro-quality Open Source Vector Drawing Software
Feature Highlights
Graphics Creation
Inkscape Support
Krita: The Powerful Open Source Digital Drawing and Painting Program
Feature Highlights
Document Creation
Brush Presets
Krita Support
FreeCAD: Open Source Parametric 3D Modeling Software
Feature Highlights
Drafting Capabilities
FreeCAD Support
Blender: The Ultimate Open Source 3D Creation Software
Feature Highlights
Rendering Capabilities
Blender Support
Summary
Chapter 4: Photo Editing Software
PhotoScape: An Easy-to-Use Photo Editor for Beginners
Feature Highlights
Tools
Filters
Objects
PhotoScape Support
Paint.NET: Basic Image Editing for Windows
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
Graphics Creation
Paint.NET Support
GIMP: The Premier Open Source Image Editor
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
Graphics Creation
GIMP Support
Pixlr: Web-Based and Mobile Device Photo Editing
Pixlr X
Pixlr E
Photomash Studio
Pixlr Support
Darktable: An Open Source Photography Workflow Program
Feature Highlights
Darktable Support
FotoSketcher: Automatically Turn Photos into Digital Art
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
FotoSketcher Support
Summary
Chapter 5: Audio-Video Capture, Conversion, and Editing Software
fre:ac (Free Audio Converter): An Open Source Audio CD Ripping Program
Feature Highlights
fre:ac Support
Audacity: A Powerful, Open Source Audio Editor
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
Audacity Support
MPEG Streamclip: A Handy, Free Video Conversion Tool
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
MPEG Streamclip Support
VirtualDub: Open Source Video Processing for Windows
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
VirtualDub Support
OpenShot: A Versatile Free Video Editor
OpenShot Support
Kdenlive: Open Source Video Editing for Most Needs
Feature Highlights
Editing Capabilities
Kdenlive Support
Summary
Chapter 6: Project Planning, Inventory Management, and Time-Tracking Software
Project Management
Human Resources Management
Inventory Management
Time Tracking
ProjectLibre: An Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Project
Feature Highlights
ProjectLibre Support
Asana: Free Basic Project Management
Feature Highlights
Asana Support
MintHCM: Free, Open Source Human Capital Management
Feature Highlights
MintHCM Support
ABC (Always Better Control) Inventory: A Free Option for the Small- and Mid-Sized Business
Feature Highlights
ABC Inventory Support
My Hours: A Free, Web-Based Time-Tracking Tool for Individuals or Teams
Feature Highlights
My Hours Support
Summary
Chapter 7: Website Creation Software and Web Browsers
WordPress: Free, Open Source Website, Blog, and App Creation Software
Feature Highlights
Multi-User and Multi-Blogging
WordPress Support
Webador: Free for Individuals and Hobbyists
Webador Features
Webador Support
AVG Secure Browser: Browse More Securely and Privately
Feature Highlights
AVG Secure Browser Support
Firefox: The Open Source Browser That Respects Privacy
Feature Highlights
Summary
Chapter 8: Content Management Solutions
Drupal: An Open Source, Community-Based Alternative
Feature Highlights
Bug Smash Initiative
Drupal Support
ConcreteCMS: An Open Source Content Management System
Feature Highlights
ConcreteCMS Essentials
ConcreteCMS Support
GetSimple CMS: A Simple, Open Source Content Management System
Feature Highlights
GetSimple CMS Support
Summary
Chapter 9: Network and Security Utilities
Network Security Auditing
Password Management
Packet Analyzer
Antivirus Protection
Android and iPhone Privacy
Nmap: A Free and Open Source Utility for Network Discovery/Security Auditing
Feature Highlights
Nmap Support
KeePass: A Free and Open Source Password Manager
Feature Highlights
KeePass Support
tcpdump: A Powerful Command-Line Packet Analyzer
Feature Highlights
tcpdump Support
Avira: Powerful, Free Antivirus Protection for Personal PCs and Macs
Feature Highlights
Avira Support
ClamAV: An Open Source Cross-Platform (Including Linux) Antivirus Program
Feature Highlights
ClamAV Support
Signal: Open Source Security for Mobile Devices
Feature Highlights
Signal Support
Summary
Chapter 10: Linux: The Free Alternative to Windows and macOS
What Is Linux?
A Brief History of Linux
The Advantages of Using Linux
Ubuntu: Powering Millions of Laptops and Desktop Computers Around the World
Ease of Use
Ubuntu Desktop
Downloading and Installing Ubuntu Desktop
Ubuntu Software
Running Windows Applications on WINE
Security
Accessory Compatibility
Ubuntu Support
Zorin OS: Especially for Newcomers to Linux
Downloading and Installing Zorin OS
Zorin OS Support
Linux Mint: A Modern, Elegant Operating System
Downloading and Installing Linux Mint
Linux Mint Support
Summary
Appendix A: Professional Profile
Appendix B: Additional Software Products
Office Productivity, Note Taking, Accounting, and PDF Creation
Jarte Plus
NeoOffice
KeepNote
RedNotebook
Zoho Books
Buddi
FreePDF
PDF Slicer
Point-of-Sale, CRM, Backup, and Compression Software
Regit Express Point-of-Sale for Windows
monday.com
Areca Backup
PeaZip
Illustration, Painting, 3D Modeling Software, and Photo Editing
MyPaint
Sumopaint X
K-3D
Photo POS
Audio-Video Software
Audiograbber
Avidemux
Brasero
Project Management
Redmine
Index