Examples of open source software in use at UK universities and colleges

• Apache HTTP Server [http://httpd.apache.org/] (web server)
• Blender [http://www.blender.org] (3D graphics and animation package)
• DSpace [http://www.dspace.org/] (digital repository)
• EPrints [http://www.eprints.org] (digital repository)
• The GIMP [http://www.gimp.org/] (image editor),
• GNOME [http://www.gnome.org/] (Linux desktop environment)
• GNU Compiler Collection [http://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/gcc.html] (GCC, a suite of compilation tools for C, C++, etc)
• KDE [http://www.kde.org/] (Linux desktop environment)
• LORLS [http://bookworm.lboro.ac.uk/distribution.html] (reading lists management system)
• Mailman [http://sourceforge.net/projects/mailman] (mailing list manager)
• Moodle [http://www.moodle.org/] (virtual learning system)
• Firefox [http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/] (web browser based on Mozilla)
• Thunderbird [http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/] (mail client based on Mozilla code)
• MySQL [http://www.mysql.com/] (database)
• OpenOffice.org [http://www.openoffice.org/] (office suite, including word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software)
• PHP [http://www.php.net/] (web development)
• Perl [http://www.perl.org/] (programming/scripting language)
• Plone [http://plone.org/] (content management system)
• PostgreSQL [http://www.postgresql.org/] (database)
• Python [http://www.python.org/] (programming/scripting language)
• Sakai [http://sakaiproject.org/] (learning management system)
• Samba [http://www.samba.org/] (file and print server)
• SSL-Explorer: Community Edition [http://sourceforge.net/projects/sslexplorer/] (browser-based SSL VPN solution)
• TeX [http://www.tug.org/] (typesetting language)
• WUBS [http://sourceforge.net/projects/wubs/] (resource booking system)
• Zope [http://www.zope.org/] (web application server)

Open Source Options

The UK Cabinet Office maintains a list of open source alternatives to common proprietary software packages used on the public sector. OSS Watch also maintains a related list focusing on software related to the education sector. If you would like to contribute to OSS Watch’s list of open source options for education, we have a publically editable version on Google Docs.

Resources cataloguing and providing open source software

• Freshmeat.net [http://freshmeat.net/], announcements about new software releases
• SourceForge.net [http://sourceforge.net/], a repository of thousands of open source projects
• UNESCO Free Software Portal [http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/free-and-open-source-software-foss/unescos-free-and-open-source-software-portal/]
• UK Mirror Service [http://www.mirrorservice.org/]
• The OpenDisc [http://theopendisc.com], a careful selection of open source software for running under Windows
• osalt.com [http://www.osalt.com], a site providing easy access to high quality open source alternatives to well-known commercial products