Packages and Applications

It is only when you begin to assemble a list of open source packages and applications that you fully realise the true global nature of open source. There is a package for everything that you can think of - even for things that wouldn't cross your mind! And the packages come from all over the world and from a huge range of individuals, groups, companies, organisations and even governmental bodies.

For convenience, this section has been divided into twelve chapters which contain the most important application areas. Packages and applications are generally in alphabetical order in each of these chapters.

• Operating systems
• Desktops
• Software applications
• Printing
• Software development
• Networking
• Web access
• Mobile internet
• Web & application servers
• Website development
• Data and Databases
• Cloud

There are a great many other applications, however, which haven't made it into this section. This is either because they are too arcane, or they may be too recently developed to appear here - or simply because there isn't enough room to cover them all.

The best way to use these chapters is as a starting point for finding the right application package for your organisation. For most tasks, you will find that there is a choice of packages available. The descriptions of the packages cover the packages' main features and limitations. There are also links to the main website for the packages as well as informational websites.