10 Best Free open source software for Mac OS X

Rear looks “rough” of open source software, Mac users can equip their system hundreds of free software, very useful.

The following is a list of 10 open source applications for free for OS X the best choices by Infoworld.

1. Improved Mac OS with AppleJack

AppleJack is one of the easiest solutions to not worry right to access data, files, and help you make a series of common tasks such as time-consuming repair disk errors, clean cache.

Open source software is only a single limit, you must run it in Single User mode (click Command – S at startup).

AppleJack will not be asked to retrieve the parameters that you want to select automatic reporting system. This will help reduce confusion from the inconvenience caused by Mac OS X. Once the export is authorized to modify, Mac will run faster and smoother than.

Download http://applejack.sourceforge.net/

2. Replace Front Row with Boxee, Plex or XBMC

Apple’s Front Row engine will turn a Mac into a luxurious home theater, with numerous sources of entertainment such as video data, audio pre-loaded. Front Row of six buttons to control. Interface compact, sophisticated. However, Front Row lacks features to support expansion.

With Boxee, Plex, or XBMC, you will have the perfect alternative. The three open source software will have a common platform design.

XBMC can flowers into different interface, with features similar to Front Row. XBMC is also present on most OS other than Mac. Sports terms and download http://xbmc.org/



Meanwhile, building on the foundation of programming code XBMC, Plex was developed exclusively for Mac. Due to the direction of more intensive development, Plex XBMC improved significantly to match with OS X, thanks to the ability to optimize for specific operating systems. Details http://www.plexapp.com/

Candidate also can replace Front Row is Boxee, a product is necessarily hoi investment. Capital as social networks, Boxee goal is to help users share video, music with friends, relatives. Own software also Boxee XBMC-based development, but added quite a lot of specific code, supported use.

Join Boxee social network and download software at http://www.boxee.tv/

3. Unlock open source world with Fink

Mac OS X on the face of this significant contribution of the BSD Unix, an open source operating system has a long face, which is owned NeXT before Apple bought NeXT (although in terms of technique, the Apple won from NeXT, not vice versa).

BSD Unix is pretty much the “brothers” close, such as Sun’s Solaris, or “brothers” far more like Linux. All of them are open source software.

For Fink, all of this OS will be available on the Mac as they have adjusted the code to run “gas drop” on Mac OS X, along with additional system tools to support the installation.

To support Fink, which is controlled by command line, you can use more tools Fink Commander. Both will unlock all the Unix open-source software wonderful to landing Mac.

With Fink or Fink Commander, you can browse the list of new application packages. You will feel easy stroll around the “store” open source software. Although the task is not too complicated, but you may encounter some little trouble, if running the program, as Fink would call the “hammer xua” applications.

Fink currently has about 10,000 software packages, from software programmers, game. Perl, Python, and Ruby were available. Wireshark tool, very useful when the administrator is ready to assist you downloaded. The package mathematics, science … and not missing.

If you are not afraid to use the command line to control, Fink actually become all-powerful utility, allowing you to Unix within the Mac world.

Details visit at: http://www.finkproject.org/

4. Energy for Firefox with plug-in for free

Is not Apple’s browser, but Firefox is still the Mac faithful to receive the cheer. Strengths of the “Fire Report” is in the system accessories rich. Firefox on the Mac is similar on regular PC.

With about 5000 thousand add-on, which is why Firefox is not only a tool, open source web browser, but also an ecosystem. Developers simply added to the API simply can add new features to Firefox.

As Firefox users on Mac, you might consider some add-on expansion as FastestFox, used to increase the flow of data downloaded, Personas add new skin. In addition, the contribution of surface Greasemonkey will help you take advantage of a series plug-in JavaScript.

In the case of “food available, you might consider a browser-based open platform like Firefox or Flock XeroBank. Flock is a browser-oriented users regularly use social networking time XeroBank integrated Tor, a proxy tool, which lets you anonymously on the Internet.

5. Replace Photoshop with GIMP or Seashore

Adobe Photoshop is still consistent forces in support of image processing. But this software is relatively expensive (about 1000 USD).

With the GIMP, you will get a number of image processing tools are not inferior, but completely free. GIMP is distributed under the GNU license and mainly towards the world “penguins”. Therefore, to use the GIMP, you will have to install X11, a tool extension for Mac OS X to support other environments.

GIMP can help you handle most tasks, such as the Photoshop, with product quality not inferior edge. You can also use the plug-in integration to enhance features for this software. Download here.



Besides the plan to use Photoshop Elements (abridged version of Photoshop), cheap under $ 100, with most selling for Photoshop plug-in, you can choose Seashore, abridged version of the GIMP integrated computer features that GIMP property. However, if used Seashore, you will not have to install X11. Details here.

6. jEdit – indispensable tools for programmers

jEdit as a tool for editing Java code development platform for programmers. jEdit also add plugins to expand, is updated automatically. Due to system enhancements, jEdit also supports several languages such as Perl, PHP, Python, and Ruby, including less common languages such as Rexx, LaTeX, and Prolog. There are many formats and tools to run shell code executed within jEdit.

Besides the attractive features for the professional programmer, jEdit also supports a series of common tasks, such as processing text, HTML, XML, etc. ..

Details and downloadhere.

7. OpenOffice – software packages to handle office tasks for free

For years, Microsoft Office still make rain to wind market office processing software. However, the unique status of MS Office being wobbly intense, with the appearance of a series of emerging competitors, cheap or free. Most notably OpenOffice, open source software to support multi-platform. With OpenOffice, you get a set of tools to handle office tasks, from documents, spreadsheets, slide show to drawing. Even data processing tool similar to Microsoft Access is also integrated in OpenOffice.

Although not fully compatible with data from MS Office, but OpenOffice can save you a big expenses that still maintain the good work.

Download OpenOffice for Mac here.

8. Browse smart with RSSOwl RSS

There are many advanced tools RSS reader, but with some similar applications released under open source licenses, you can secure satisfaction. RSSOwl is a real “account he” can replace NewsFire, NetNewsWire Shrook or, the commercial applications. RSSOwl development on the Java, Lucene, supports multiple platforms.



RSSOwl is quite eye-catching interface, the configuration is relatively easy. Download here.

9. Processing email with the free application Thunderbird

Besides Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird also add, processing is quite popular email list. This application can also add a series of add-on like Firefox and is provided under license by Mozilla.

External support to handle common tasks when installing Thunderbird, you should consider some additional accessories such as Leet Key, helps transfer your mail to the format L337, ROT13, Base64, HEX, URL, BIN, DES , AES, Morse code, Dvorak etc … Enigmail is a plug-in be installed if you need to encrypt data.

Download Thunderbird for Mac and refer to the plug-in additional here.

10. Browse any video source, formats with VLC

QuickTime is a great tool on Mac. Unfortunately, not a codec that also supports Mac, if you have not purchased QuickTime Pro.

VLC, an open source application will help you solve all the difficulties problems related to browsing video on the Mac.



Are multi-purpose knives such as the famous Swiss, VLC lets you view, play most video formats. Besides support Windows, Linux, VLC also dedicated Mac version.

You will not need any other codecs because VLC has basically integrated the necessary codecs for most users.

Download VLC from here.

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