8 Game-Changing Open-Source Tools I Use
Let’s face it, open-source tools don’t always get the credit they deserve, yet they can be incredibly useful and, best of all, free!
Over the years, I’ve used countless pieces of open-source software, but there are some that have earned their place in my workflow. Many of these are tools that I can’t imagine living without.
That’s why, in this post, I decided to share the open source tools I use all the time. These aren’t just tools that I’ve tried once or twice; they’re the ones I genuinely rely on to get things done. Read on if you’re curious about the open source tools I use and how they can make your life easier and save you money…
1. Flameshot
My go-to tool for taking screenshots on macOS and Windows is Flameshot. I like Flameshot due to its quick and easy approach to taking and editing screenshots on the go.
To take a screenshot, I simply press the key I configured as my screenshot key, and my screen will get a dark transparent overlay, which allows me to draw over the section I want to screenshot.
Once I’ve drawn over the section I want to screenshot, Flameshot will provide me with a wide selection of tools I can use to edit the screenshot. Some of my favourite tools include the square tool, the marker tool which allows me to highlight text, the counter tool, as well as the pixelate tool, which is great for hiding confidential data.
Flameshot is great for making guides that include screenshots or just quickly sending screenshots with quick instructions to people. I’ve tried many screenshot tools over the years, both paid and free, but Flameshot remains as one of my favourites.
2. Proxmox
As an IT engineer, I like to learn new skills and try them at home. That’s why I created a space for learning and experimenting with IT infrastructure such as servers and networking equipment at home. I call this my home lab.
One of the key elements of my Home Lab is Proxmox, an open-source virtualisation platform that enables me to run virtual machines on a stand-alone computer, which happens to be my old gaming PC.
On that PC, I have several virtual machines, from server operating systems to desktop virtual machines and containers that run cool apps.
Having a home lab environment has drastically helped me in my day job as an IT engineer. Doing online courses and getting exposure to building solutions in Proxmox has helped me pickup new skills, learn new tricks, and expand my current skills.
3. KeePassXC
When working in my home lab, I prefer to keep all my password vaults separate from my main password management solution.
I use KeePassXC for managing my Home Lab password vault, as it helps me keep everything organised in one place. While I don’t use this solution as my primary password vault, I know people who swear by it.
KeePassXC is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and it has a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge.
One of the main reasons I like KeePassXC is the browser extension, which allows me to use autofill in the browser, making it a perfect solution for the virtual machines I have running in my home lab.
4. Linux Mint
Since we’re on the topic of virtual machines, the main desktop operating system I tend to use is Linux Mint, specifically the Xfce Edition, which is lightweight, making it perfect for virtual machines.
Linux Mint is a popular, open-source Linux distribution designed to be user-friendly, stable, and efficient. Having used various Linux operating systems over the years, I tend to recommend it to beginners transitioning from other operating systems due to its familiar interface.
In my home lab environment, I use Linux Mint for all sorts of things, and I have many virtual machines running the operating system.
The main way I use the operating system is for learning. I have a virtual machine running Linux Mint that’s set up specifically for practicing coding.
Linux Mint works great on older laptops that struggle to run newer versions of Windows. Over the years, I installed Linux Mint on many older computers, and the operating system worked incredibly well on them.
But if this is something you are thinking about doing, I highly recommend doing research first and backing up your data to an external storage device before doing any form of computer maintenance.
5. Home Assistant
Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that allows you to control and monitor your smart home devices from a central location. You can also use it to do some awesome things, many of which I discussed in this article.
Home Assistant is at the heart of my smart home; I use it as a central dashboard for controlling my smart home devices and home automation.
As someone who uses smart home devices from various brands, I find that having them all in one central place makes things so much easier. If we combine that with the awesome dashboards you can make, I think it adds a whole new level to interacting with your smart home. Speaking about dashboards, I like that they can be customised.
I also like that you can run some cool add-ons such as AdGuard Home, which is a network-wide ad blocker, and many more.
6. LibreOffice
When it comes to office suites, I tend to prefer Google Docs, but there are times when I want to just quickly use office apps locally, like for calculating things using a spreadsheet. That’s where LibreOffice comes in.
LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that provides tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and mathematical formulas.
As part of the office suite, LibreOffice offers Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (vector graphics), Base (database management), and Math (formula editing).
That’s quite a lot of tools! Best of all, it supports a wide range of file formats, including Microsoft Office documents.
LibreOffice is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. I tend to primarily use LibreOffice on virtual machines as it allows me to use office apps without the need of logging into my Google account. But there are times when I use it on my MacBook.
7. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is another tool that I’ve been using for years. It stands for Open Broadcaster Software, and it’s a cross-platform screencasting and streaming app available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
I’ve primarily been using OBS Studio to record my screen, and it’s been great for making video guides, tutorials, and reviewing software. I’ve also been using it to record PC gaming videos.
I also use OBS Studio for recording videos with my webcam, something I used to do a lot of for my Buy Me a Coffee page. These were unedited videos of me voicing my opinions. It proved to be great for that sort of thing!
8. ProjectLibre
ProjectLibre is an open-source project management tool designed to help teams plan, track, and manage projects. It includes tools to track tasks, Gantt charts, resource allocation, and time tracking.
When working on long-term projects, I like to use Gantt charts to plan and schedule projects. ProjectLibre proves to be excellent for this sort of thing.
I am fully aware that there are some fantastic tools out there for project management, many of which are free. But sometimes it’s just nice to be able to use basic software. In many cases, having a Gantt chart works really well for managing projects.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve used ProjectLibre to manage many projects, with my most recent one being my new productivity blog, which will be launching soon.
Final Thoughts
I think it’s fair to say that people primarily look at mainstream software solutions such as Microsoft Office as they are familiar with it and there’s no learning curve.
But the truth of the matter is that some open source tools offer a fantastic alternative that’s often just as powerful as their mainstream counterparts. Yes, they may come with a slight learning curve, but they can provide numerous benefits, such as cost savings and customisation features.
The tools I’ve shared in this post are perfect examples of how open source software can fit into your daily life. Most importantly of all, these aren’t just tools that I’ve tried once or twice; they’re the ones that I’ve used for many years and that I genuinely rely on to get things done.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you have any open-source tools that you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments below!