Software and Priorities (Open and Other)
Just a quick note about software and priorities. I am continually looking to change the software I use to reach the most desirable set of criteria (if I am using software that does not yet embrace those criteria). Here are the criteria, in alphabetical order:
- Active developer community
- API
- Cross platform
- Extensible (plug-ins, etc.)
- Free
- Functionality
- Large user base
- Open source
- Simplicity
- Stability
There are a few pieces of software that more or less meet these criteria, such as:
- Apache
- MySQL
- PHP
- Python
- Ruby
- Firefox
- Open Office
- Pidgin
- Blender
- VLC
- FileZilla
- Gimp, especially the GimpShop
- MediaWiki
- WordPress
Some software I like to use might violate these criteria, such as notepad2 (no development, windows only) and iconforge (not free, windows only), but they are simple and good at what they do, so I stick with them. However, over the long run, I see open source, cross platform as winning. I believe I will be cutting over to Ubuntu around 2009 or 2010. Here are my current reservations:
- Cinelerra is not cross platform, plus drivers!
- Open Office Impress sucks compared with Powerpoint
- Second Life client for linux is in alpha
So, the way I look at it, as soon as I can move over to a new operating system while maintaining my current set of software tools (which have been slowly migrating to linux supported options), then I can make the move.
I look forward to the transition.
Related posts:
- Ubuntu
- Microsoft Live Writer blogging tool endorsement
- IT Strategy Trends: Open Source, Cloud, Mobile, Synchronization, Localization
- Intro to Statistics course costs vs. open source / creative commons / remix education
- Microsoft and Novell agree not to litigate patents

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