Cross-Platform Tools
-
7-Zip File archiver with high compression ratio
-
Aqua Data Studio (Java) Slow, but good for data import/exporthttp://aquafold.com/
-
ArgoUML UML design toolhttp://argouml.tigris.org/
-
CruiseControl Framework for a continuous build processhttp://cruisecontrol.sourceforge.net
-
CVS Source configuration managementhttp://www.nongnu.org/cvs/
-
DbVisualizer Database toolhttp://www.minq.se
-
FreeMind Mind-mapping softwarehttp://freemind.sourceforge.net/
-
Gaim Multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) clienthttp://gaim.sourceforge.net/
-
Image Manipulation Program http://gimp.org/
-
JAR Class Finder Eclipse plug-in utility for finding JAR files containing a given classhttp://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/jarclassfinder
-
J text editor (Java) http://armedbear-j.sourceforge.net/
-
KDiff3 Compare/merge two or three text input files or directorieshttp://kdiff3.sourceforge.net/
-
Mozilla Firefox plug-ins Hundreds of useful plug-ins for Firefox browserhttps://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/
-
Netbeans Fully featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE)http://www.netbeans.org/
-
Nvu Web Authoring Systemhttp://nvu.com/
-
OpenOffice Complete office applications, comparable to Microsoft Officehttp://www.openoffice.org/
-
Poseidon (community edition) UML design toolhttp://gentleware.com
-
SQuirreL SQL Client Manage JDBC compliant databaseshttp://squirrel-sql.sourceforge.net/
-
Sun Java Studio Enterprise IDE with integrated UML toolhttp://developers.sun.com/prodtech/javatools/jsenterprise/
-
TkCVS (includes TkDiff) Graphical interface for CVS and Subversion configuration management systemshttp://www.twobarleycorns.net/tkcvs.html
-
Vim GUI text editor mimics Unix 'Vi'http://www.vim.org/
-
vnc2swf Screen recording toolhttp://www.unixuser.org/%7Eeuske/vnc2swf/
-
XEmacs Text editor and application development systemhttp://www.xemacs.org/
-
Yahoo widgets http://widgets.yahoo.com/
Microsoft Windows-Based Tools
-
AppRocket keyboard launchpad (for Windows) http://www.candylabs.com/approcket/ (trial version, but too cool not to mention here)
-
ReplaceEm Windows text search-and-replace program (Probably the easiest, fasted installing, and the most intuitive program of its kind I have come across.)http://www.orbit.org/replace/
-
MWSnap Snapping (capturing) images from selected parts of the screenhttp://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html
-
Textpad Powerful, general purpose editor for plain-text fileshttp://www.textpad.com/
-
FileZilla FTP client and serverhttp://filezilla.sourceforge.net/
-
PrimoPDF Convert to PDF from any application via printinghttp://www.primopdf.com/
-
Cygwin Linux-like environment for Windowshttp://www.cygwin.com/
-
Sysinternals Advanced system utilities for Windowshttp://www.sysinternals.com/
-
WinMerge Visual text file differencing and merging toolhttp://winmerge.sourceforge.net/
-
Whiteboard Photo (limited version) Image capturing softwarehttp://www.polyvision.com/
-
ExamDiff Visual File Comparison Toolhttp://www.prestosoft.com/ps.asp?page=edp_examdiff
-
TortoiseCVS CVS client integrated with Windows Explorerhttp://www.tortoisecvs.org/
-
Mac OS X-Based Tools
-
Vim (Vi IMproved) for Mac OSX http://macvim.org/OSX/
-
Adium Instant messaging application; can connect to AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo, and morehttp://www.adiumx.com/
-
Grab It Build part of Mac OS X
-
Quicksilver (for Mac OS X) http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/
-
Linux-Based Tools (KDE)
It is difficult to recommend a few cool tools for a platform that comes loaded with so many cool utilities. Furthermore, some of the cross-platform tools recommended in this section also run on Linux. Nevertheless, here are a few recommended to me by colleagues.
Some K Development Environment (KDE) utilities that you might want to check outKonsole, Klipper, KEdit, KPrinter, Kate, Kompare, KFind, KSnapshot, KRuler, K3B, KAlarm, KTimer, KInfoCenter, KWiFiManager, and KSayIt.
Pollix Live CD (based on Knoppix, which boots directly from the CD; no install!)Pollix is loaded with programming tools such as Eclipse, NetBeans, Python, and others; http://moe.tnc.edu.tw/%7Ekendrew/pollix/.
Other Linux utilities include locate, expect, and wish.