Software has been with us since the first computers, but more specifically the first commercial computers. Since the 1990s, we have had various types of software on computers, paid and free.
However, there have been talks of open source software since the late 1990s, specifically since 1998. Open source software is typically free and you can view and alter the source code as you like.
Do we even use open source software in 2022? Yes, we do indeed, and here are the programs we use.
Linux
This is not a program, but rather a kernel, on which operating systems are built, called Linux distributions. From Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, to Gentoo and openSUSE, we use lots of systems all the time.
Linux is popular with developers, and nowadays, regular people who don’t want to use Microsoft or Apple products anymore, but want a stable and simple system that doesn’t spy on them nor crashes with every update.
OBS
Every streamer’s favorite program, OBS, is actually the Open Broadcaster Software. Its name should tell you everything you need to know. It is a piece of software that you can use to record your computer’s output, whether desktop or various applications you choose, and either store the recordings locally, or stream them to a service of your choice.
This is typically used by every single streamer in the world, because it is very intuitive and easy to set up. It even comes with game streaming specific versions, which make the process easier for those who don’t care about learning how to use the program.
Firefox
The browser is Fast, Private & Free, to quote their slogan. It is, all of that. Being open source, you can view its source code and make sure that it isn’t spying on you. Firefox is one of the better browsers and one of the only remaining popular browsers that isn’t using Chromium at its base.
Google Chrome is by and large the most popular browser on the planet, but Firefox is really important, being one of the only open source popular representatives in the browser world.
VLC
The traffic cone of media players, and all jokes aside, it is a media player that can do everything. It doesn’t need codecs and can work on almost any system. It will not spy on you but it will play anything from MP3 files to DSF high-quality audio to audio and video streams. It is typically used as a movie player, but it can do anything.
LibreOffice
The name tells you what you need to know. LibreOffice is a complete office suite that is free and open source. We all like a good office suite, so why not always have one which is free and easy to use and operate. It comes with tons of customization options, to make every piece of the kit to your liking.
2022 is a great year for open source and we are using lots of software. Among the software not named here, Blender, Audacity, Python, WordPress, GIMP, 7-ZIP and more, should be mentioned. Open source is the future of software.
