7 free computer things I couldn't do without

Time to give credit where credit's due. Here are a few of the things, free as in free speech and free beer, I got so accustomed to I couldn't live without anymore (well, almost). May the force be always with them. Amen.

1. Open source software

I've been an open source fan ever since I heard about its existence, back in the days when you had to stay up nights trying to get your monitor back up because something got broken again. (Or, more precisely, you broke it yourself because that's where the fun part was). I didn't even mind, I just loved the whole idea.
Now most open source software out there is as good as any other, and a lot more congenial. Actually, it's more than congenial, it's on ongoing revolution and anyone can be part of it.
Of the open source software I use, here are some programs/systems I couldn't do without anymore (not necessarily in order of importance):

• Inkscape:
  
  awesome SVG (scalable vector graphics) editor, or, more simply put, a vector drawing program like Illustrator. Only this one is free, as in free speech and free beer, and adheres as much as possible to open SVG standards. It's more than mature, more than stable, and if you find any bugs, be cool and just report them (and don't pressure anyone afterwards, remember, it's all free and voluntary). Thumbs up for Inkscape. Inkscape exists for Windows, Linux and Mac. I make all my contemporary art drawings with it, and learn every day.

• Ubuntu Linux
  
  
  
  needs no further introduction. It's absolutely fabulously great. I shouldn't even be talking to you if you haven't got it running on some computer somewhere. Or, maybe, on second thoughts, it's exactly you I should be talking to. Try it if you haven't already! I still have Windows on dual boot, but hardly ever use it. Ubuntu rocks!

• The Gimp.
  
  
  
  Who needs Photoshop anyway. Get Gimpin'!

• Libreoffice.
  
  
  
  A full suite that does most things MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint and MS Please-pay-my-big-yacht-you-sucker does for you, only in an endlessly better quality/price ratio, because it's completely and totally free. And it works! (Yes, it has its quirks here and there, but so do I so we get along fine).

• Kdenlive:
  
  
  
  a full-blown and fully functional non-linear video editor. I'm not a video pro so can't tell you if it has all the features pro's would need, but as far as amateur editing goes, it has more than I can handle. A bit of a learning curve, but nothing you can't cope. Only for Linux.

2. Internet things

Some of the "computer things" I use aren't exactly installed on my PC (let's not get too technical here), but I couldn't live without them anyway. Here's a non-exhaustive list:

• Lastpass:
  
  
  
  
  a fabulous password manager. One password gets you into your heavily secured vault that contains all other passwords, available online and/or offline. Lastpass doesn't even know your passwords, as they are already encrypted when they leave your PC. Apart from that, it comes with multi-factor security. The browser plugin works interactively on all pages where you can login, and can generate new strong passwords when you need them. And all that, for free, or for a ridiculously low price as a Premium user. Great stuff.

• Flattr:
  
  
  
  I recently discovered the (micro)donation service Flattr. Basically, it's a great way to manage your monthly donations to all those cool projects and persons out there, without hassle. You set the monthly total and happily Flattr away, Flattr does the rest for you. And if you're a creator, you can put your Flattr button on your own site (like mine, above to the right ;) ). Cool.

• to be continued/completed...

Why Flattr does mattr

Have you ever wanted to contribute to projects that make your heart beat faster, or your life more pleasant, but finally didn't, because:

• one-time payments seem too much of a hassle, or you just never get around to them?
• recurrent contributions seem scary: who knows how much slack you'll have on your budget in six months' time? Maybe you're committing to something you'll regret later?
• you want to have the freedom to pick and choose at any given moment who you support, but at the same time don't want to exceed a given monthly budget for your total contributions? And you can't figure out how to combine freedom and budget control?

In that case, you probably end up, like me, contributing much less than you want and can, just because of practical problems. Which is truly a shame.

Yes, Flattr is worth it!

Luckily, there is Flattr! I knew about it for a long time, but only recently joined it. And I'm super happy with it! Here's why:

• you decide, up front, how much you want to spend contributing each month. No unpleasant surprises because you were too generous for your budget. If you can't spend more than €2 a month contributing, €2 will be the maximum you spend, independently of how many projects you support! (At the end of the month, your €2 will simply be divided between the projects you clicked on, whether it was one or one hundred). This goes for one-time contributions and recurrent subscriptions alike: your montly limit is always respected!
• you can, at the click of a mouse button, decide whether you want to just give a one-time contribution, or have Flattr include the project as a monthly recurrent beneficiary. (Clicking once on a Flattr button means a one-time contribution, clicking twice makes it into a monthly subscription). If you change your mind, just remove it again from the recurrent beneficiaries list at another click of the mouse.
• if during a month you didn't "flattr" anyone, your budget is carried over to the next month.
• in case you receive money through flatter, every time you have earned at least €5, you can have them paid out to you (or pass them on by flattring of course)
• You can stop flattring any time, temporarily or for good. (Your Flattr funds will just stay where they are, or you can give them to beneficiaries, or in a soon-to-come update of the Flattr system you should be able to get them paid out to you).

Go for it!
Just have a go at it! Head over to flattr.com, sign up, put some money on your Flattr account (just a few bucks to start is more than enough), and go flattring all those beautiful people and projects that make internet and the world a better place!
You'll feel great and so will they! Finally, donating has become simple, safe, budget-friendly, free and fun.

For more information, head over to How Flattr works on the Flattr website.

If you appreciated this article for some reason or another, please share it (see the buttons below), and, of course, don't forget to Flattr ;)

(Flattr logo source: Wikimedia).

P.S. I'm just an enthusiastic Flattr user and am in no way affiliated to Flattr. My Flattr profile is here: bartovan.