500+ Free Software to Make you the Windows Puppet Master

You are here and you are a Windows user. Your Mac friends are mocking you everyday? Seriously! I’m here today writing this long post to make your Windows Super Charged without costing any money. Yes all for free! Now you can be the puppet master of Windows in no time. Proceed to the listing of software that will make you the Windows Hero and you will save the day. Go and show off your friend that you can almost do anything and everything for free.

Office Applications

1. PC Suite 602 – office suite
2. AbiWord – text editor
3. Atlantis Nova – text editor
4. Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer – power point files viewer
5. Adobe Reader – pdf reader
6. Foxit PDF Reader – pdf reader
7. Doc Converter – document converter
8. Convert – unit convert or
9. Converter – unit convert or
10. Sunbird – calendar/organizer
11. EssentialPIM Free – calendar/organizer
12. PhraseExpress – speed up your writing
13. ATnotes – create notes on the desktop
14. Celtx – Celtx is a comprehensive software package designed for people who work in the film, TV, theater, and new media industries. It combines full-feature script writing with media rich pre-production support and enables online collaboration.
15. Dia – Basically Visio.
16. LyX – LyX combines the power and flexibility of the TeX typesetting system with the ease of use of a graphical interface. This results in world-class support for creation of mathematical content and structured documents. In addition, staples of scientific authoring such as reference list and index creation come standard. But you can also use LyX to create a letter or a novel or a theater play or film script. A broad array of ready, well designed document layouts are built in.
17. OpenOffice.org – Office suite, like Microsoft Office and compatible with MS Office formats. Word processor, Spreadsheets, Publisher, Presentation, HTML, and Powerful database (like Access) products. Impress (Like Powerpoint) exports to many formats including SWF (Flash). All can be exported as PDF. Highly recommended.
18. OpenWorkbench – Open Workbench is an open source Windows-based desktop application that provides robust project scheduling and management functionality and is free to distribute throughout the enterprise. Like MS Project.
19. PDF Creator – Create PDF documents.
20. PDFCreator – Another Tool to create PDF files, like Adobe PDF Writer.
21. RoughDraft – Really nice word processor geared towards authors created by an author.
22. Scribus – Desktop publishing application similar to Pagemaker. Look here if you have trouble finding the installer.
23. Winplanner – Project management application.

Graphics Software

1. ArtRage – Natural Painting Application, like Painter. and so worth the download!
2. Cinepaint – Image editor geared for video production.
3. Delineate – Raster to Vector converter. Nice
4. Dogwaffle – Natural painting application similar to Open Canvas. It limited, but pretty full featured at the same time.
5. EZThumbs – Batch thumbnail creator.
6. Artweaver – image editor
7. FastStone Image Viewer – image viewer
8. FuturixImager – image viewer
9. JoJoThumb – create thumbnails from images
10. iWebAlbum – create web photo albums
11. JAlbum – create web photo albums
12. 3D Box Shot Maker – design quality box shot
13. FastStone Capture – screen capture
14. WinSnap – screen capture
15. Flame – Fractal Flames are algorithmically generated images and animations
16. Fractal-Explorer – Fractal generator with landscape and script lib.
17. Gimpshop – Gimp restructured like Photoshop. Very nice and you only need install this one file as opposed to Gimp’s GTK lib install. If your a Photoshop junky like me this will fit nice into your tools and may save you money down the road.
18. Google Picasa – Download your images directly from your digital camera, share and organize photos on and off line, edit and print, post on-line, or create a CD. You can chat about your photos through Picasa also with Hello and works with Google blogger.
19. Hugin – Panorama Tools – Make panoramic photos out of normal images.
20. Inkscape – Illustration (vector) application, similar to Illustrator. The interface may be friendlier to an Adobe person than Sodipodi. Get the latest win32.exe installer here. Highly recommended.
21. Irfanview – Photo manager with some editing and plugin ability.
22. XnView – Another Cool Photo manager with some editing.
23. Paint.Net – Cool Photoshop like application.
24. Pencil – Pencil is an animation/drawing software that lets you create traditional hand-drawn animation (cartoon) using both bitmap and vector graphics. Pencil is free and open source.
25. Photofiltre – Photo editing application similar to Paint Shop Pro.
26. Pixia – Painting/Image editing application. This reminds me of Open Canvas.
27. Serif Software – Several FREE apps – Desktop Publishing, Graphic Design, Image and Photo Editing, 3D Animation, Web Publishing
28. Sodipodi – Illustration (vector) application.
29. Texture Processor – Create nice textures (seamless).
30. The Gimp 2 – Very much like Photoshop, tons of great plugins including a Flame fractal generator! Highly recommended.
31. Xaos – Fractal generator.

3d Applications

1. 3D Canvas – 3D animation, modeling, rendering.
2. Anim8or – 3D animation, modeling, rendering.
3. BRL-CAD – The BRL-CAD package is a powerful Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) solid modeling system with over 20 years development and production use by the U.S. military. Visit the project page for downloads.
4. Blender 3-D – 3D modeling, design/illustration, animation, game development. I like to call it the Free Maya 3-D! Highly recommended.
5. SketchUp – 3D modeling designer from Google
6. BlockCAD – BlockCAD is a freeware program for building virtual models with Lego-like bricks.
7. DAVIDLaserscanner – DAVIDLaserscanner is too cool not to mention! DAVID-Laserscanner is freeware software for 3d laser range scanning. All you need to build a 3d scanner is a PC, a camera (e.g. a webcam), a background corner, and a laser that projects a line onto the object you want to scan. So everyone can use it to scan objects without high costs.
8. Dusty – Dusty is a nice real-time 3D Smoke Simulator. Allows real-time smoke and fire.
9. Freyja – Freyja 3d is a modeller and animator focusing on low polygon game content with wide range of model import/export plugins. Freyja has some unique features such as Lua macros, tools for reverse engineering, and use of GLSL shaders while editing.
10. GSculpt – gSculpt is an open source, procedural subdivision modeller. It has a comprehensive set of polygon modelling tools, including most of those found in Wings 3D, and more.
11. Gcad3D – 3D CAD design.
12. Ivy Generator – Creates realistic ivy, including leaves.
13. K-3D – 3D animation, modeling, and rendering application. Uses multiple rendering engines including the renderman engine; Aqsis. Also see Yafray and Povray.
14. MegaPOV – MegaPOV is a custom unofficial version of POV-Ray with a lot of additional features.
15. Moonlight/3D – 3D illustration, modeling, etc. A little easier learning curve than Blender.
16. OpenFX – 3D design, illustration, and modelling application.
17. Planet Genesis – Terragen clone – creates 3D landscapes, planets, etc.
18. PoseRay – So Nice! Poser like software, but much more with lots of 3D file support. Also see DazStudio
19. QCad – Autocad application.
20. Shapeshop – 3D modeling application that is a sketch-based 3D modeling tool for creating procedural hierarchical implicit volume models, also known as “BlobTrees”, basically metaballs.
21. SharpConstruct – D modeling program that paint depths on to polygon models in real-time. Like Z-Brush. Is being adding into Blender 3-D!
22. Sketch It Up – 3D design, illustration, and modelling brought to by Google.
23. Sketchboard – CAD software. 3D
24. Truespace 3.1 – 3D modeling, design\illustration, animation, game development. I’ve used this since version one, nicest 3D app next to Cinema 4D. You must register for the free serial number.
25. UVMapper – Map textures to 3D objects.
26. Wings3d – Wings 3D is a 3D subdivision modeler inspired by Nendo and Mirai from Izware.

Multimedia Tools

1. Audacity – Wav editor with VST support and can export to mp3. Highly recommended.
2. Cdexos – CDex a CD-Ripper, thus extracting digital audio data from an Audio CD. The application supports many Audio encoders, like MPEG (MP2,MP3), VQF, AAC encoders. Highly recommended.
3. Ephpod – Copy iPod music to your PC.
4. Flac – Lossless audio compression tool. Rips tracks without the quality loss like you find in mp3 format.
5. Foobar2000 – Audio player.
6. Gungirl Sequencer – Gungirl Sequencer is an easy to use Audiosequencer. It includes a simple Filemanager and uses Drag & Drop to arrange Audiosamples.
7. Hydrogen – Drum and synth application like Fruityloops.
8. Hymn – The purpose of the Hymn Project is to allow you to exercise your fair-use rights under copyright law. The various software provided on this web site allows you to free your iTunes Music Store purchases (protected AAC / .m4p) from their DRM restrictions with no loss of sound quality. These songs can then be played outside of the iTunes environment, even on operating systems not supported by iTunes and on hardware not supported by Apple.
9. Jazzware – Midi sequencer
10. Kristal – Powerful multi-track recorder, audio sequencer and mixer – ideal for anyone wanting to get started with recording, mixing and mastering digital audio. KRISTAL Audio Engine is free for personal, educational and non-commercial use.
11. Media Player Classic – Media Player Classic looks like the original Windows Media Player, but with more codex support. Tons of other downloads can be found here also, audio and video…
12. Mixx – Dj software.
13. Neuromixer – Neuromixer Innovative software solutions for visual artists and musicians for live video production.
14. Ogg Vorbis – Ogg is like an open source version of mp3. They list many ripping, playing, and utilities on their site also for use with this format. I like it better than mp3.
15. QCD – MP3/Ogg player and OGG encoder plugin Screw MP3 – rip to OGG!!! Better and free! Highly recommended.
16. Razorlame – Audio to mp3 ripper. Uses Lame Encoder
17. Resolution AXS – AXS is a combination of an analog synthesizer, a sampler, two effect units and a sequencer.
18. Skale – This is a Freeware Music Creation Program, This means you can create your own music with this software completely for free. All you need is your creativity and a big bunch of good sound samples to create all you want.
19. Songbird – Desktop Web player, digital jukebox and Web browser mash-up. Like Winamp, it supports extensions and skins feathers. Like Firefox®, it is built from Mozilla®, cross-platform and open source. Reminds me a bit of Amarok. Also runs on OS X and Linux. Very nice player indeed!
20. Traverso – Cross platform multitrack audio recording and editing suite, with an innovative and easy to master User Interface. It’s suited for both the professional and home user, who needs a robust and solid DAW.
21. Wavosaur – Wavosaur is a free sound editor, audio editor, wav editor software for editing, processing and recording sounds, wav and mp3 files. Wavosaur has all the features to edit audio (cut, copy, paste, etc.) produce music loops, analyze, record, batch convert. Wavosaur supports VST plugins, ASIO driver, multichannel wav files, real time effect processing.
22. XMPlay – Really nice music player with plugin support. Supports all the major formats.
23. Zinf – Mp3/Ogg player, skinnable.
24. MediaPortal – MediaPortal is an Open Source application ideal for turning your PC in a very advanced Multi-Media Center / HTPC. MediaPortal allows you to listen to your favorite music & radio, watch your video’s and DVD’s, view, schedule and record live TV and much more.
25. SesamTV – SesamTV is an freeware application ideal for turning your PC in a very advanced Multi-Media Center / HTPC. MediaPortal allows you to listen to your favorite music & radio, watch your video’s and DVD’s, view, schedule and record live TV and much more.
26. XBMC – XBMC media center is a free cross-platform media-player jukebox and entertainment hub.
27. Yamipod – YamiPod is a freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. It can be run directly from your iPod and needs no installation. Take a look at the feature list to find out what it can do and feel free to suggest anything that might be missing.
28. AVI Maker – Makes avi video from images.
29. Avidemux – Video editor.
30. Creatoon – 2D cartoon animation application.
31. DVDFlick – DVD Flick aims to be a simple but at the same time powerful DVD Authoring tool. It can take a number of video files stored on your computer and turn them into a DVD that will play back on your DVD player, Media Center or Home Cinema Set. You can add additional custom audio tracks as well as subtitles of your choice. Highly recommended.
32. DVDShrink – DVD ripper (rips encripted discs) that compresses for burning to DVD-r/CD-r. The best DVD backup tool I could find. Highly recommended.
33. DVDStyler – DVDStyler is a cross-platform DVD authoring application that makes possible for video enthusiasts to create professional-looking DVDs.
34. Democracy Player – Best damned video player! Play virtually any video– Quicktime, WMV, MPEG, AVI, XVID, and more. Video blog, YouTube, hell it does everything including BitTorrent.
35. Dorgem – Video/webcam capture.
36. Dr Divx – Officially the unofficial DivX encoding tool to create DivX media files for playback on DivX hardware and software players.
37. Griffith – Movie collection manager, which fetches movie info, supports cover art, etc.
38. Jahshaka – Video editor for Windows. Very nice.
39. K-Lite Codec Pack – Just about every codex you will ever need in Windows XP (Vista?). Also provides DVD (encrypted) playback in Windows Media Player. Highly recommended!
40. MPEG Streamclip – Video converter/editor.
41. Mediacoder – MediaCoder is an open source universal audio/video batch transcoder (converter), which puts together lots of excellent audio/video codecs and tools from the open source community into an all-in-one solution.
42. Movica – Video editor.
43. MuteVJ – Mute is VJ software which aims to facilitate improvised, unique visuals.
44. StopMojo – StopMojo is cross-platform stop-motion animation suite designed to aid in the creation of stop-motion animations. Currently it includes a capture program supporting capture of image files from various video capture devices, overlay of previous frames (onion skinning), and export to AVI and QUICKTIME video formats.
45. Super – If you need a simple, yet very efficient tool to convert (encode) or play any Multimedia file SUPER © is all you need.
46. Synfig – Cartoon animation – industrial-strength vector-based 2D animation software package, designed from the ground-up for producing feature-film quality animation with fewer people and resources. Highly Recommended.
47. TransCoder – Video/DVD ripping and conversion tools.
48. VeohTV – VeohTV is a free specialized video browser that turns online video into Internet Television. Watch video from thousands of web sites, in one easy-to-use full screen application. Watch streaming video from major television networks such as Fox and CBS, to independently-produced content available on sites such as YouTube, Google Video, Veoh.com and MySpace. Highly recommended.
49. VideoLan – Movie player, plays most everything including DVD!
50. Videora iPhone – Convert video to iPod/iPhone format. Cues to iTunes for easy syncing. Highly recommended.
51. Virtualdub – Video capture/processing utility for 32-bit Windows platforms.
52. WinMorph – Morphing app for video. Also look at Wax and Wink.
53. XMM – MeD’s Movie Manager is a simple to use, yet customizable, movie manager. Info is automatically retrieved from IMDb and tv.com. Technical info can also be retrieved from media files like AVI, OGM, MPEG and DVD (ifo). It’s written in Java and should therefore run on most desktop systems supporting Java.
54. WinAmp – audio player
55. 1by1 – audio player
56. JetAudio – audio player
57. XMPlay – audio player
58. Xion – audio player
59. Apollo – audio player
60. MediaMonkey – music organizer
61. The GodFather – music organizer
62. WavePad – audio converter
63. Kristal Audio Engine – audio editor
64. Exact Audio Copy – CD ripper
65. Mp3 Tag Tools – tag editor
66. Mp3tag – tag editor
67. Taggin’ MP3 – tag editor
68. Monkey’s Audio – APE compressor/decompressor
69. mpTrim – mp3 editor
70. WavTrim – wave editor
71. EncSpot Basic – analyse mp3 files
72. MV2Player – video player
73. CrystalPlayer 1.95 – video player
74. Zoom Player – video player
75. GOM Player – video player
76. viPlay – video player
77. DSPlayer – video player
78. CamStudio – video screen recording
79. AviSplit – Avi splitter
80. Video mp3 Extractor – rip audio from video files
81. Free iPod Converter – convert all popular video formats to iPod video
82. iDump – This program will allow you transfer your songs from your iPod to a PC, iDump does come wrapped in installer but you can simply drop the .exe in the root directory on your iPod and run it from there

Databases

1. MySQL – Most popular SQL Database.
2. Postgresql – SQL database. Heavy duty relational database.
3. SQLCC – GUI Frontend for mySQL.
4. GnuLedger – Open source financial solution. GnuLedger includes all of the functionality that home users need to manage their finances.
5. SQLite – Super fast and free file based database platform

Finance

1. Grisbi – Personnal accounting application.
2. HomeBank – HomeBank is free software. Use it to manage your personal accounts. It is designed to easy to use. Analyse your finances in detail using powerful filtering tools and graphs.
3. JMoney – Personal banking and accounting app.
4. Quasar – Nice replacement for Quickbooks.
5. TurboCash – Accounting personal finance software.

Font

1. Doubletype – Font creation application.
2. Fontforge – Font creation application. Requires Cygwin.

Misc

1. Gourmet – Recipe Manager is a simple but powerful recipe-managing application.
2. SpeQ Mathematics – mathematics program
3. TimeTo – to better organize your work, or your entire life.
4. Dia – diagram creation program
5. Google Earth – explore the world
6. NASA World Wind – 3D virtual globe
7. Celestia – explore the space
8. Stellarium – planetarium
9. grabMotion – webcam capture
10. iDailyDiary – simple page-for-a-day diary
11. Pivot Stickfigure Animator – create stick-figure animations
12. Scribus – professional page layout
13. FreeMind – midn mapping software

Network

1. Open SSH – SSH Remote administration.
2. Putty – Telnet/SSH application.
3. RRDTool – The industry standard data logging and graphing application. Use it to write your custom monitoring shell scripts or create whole applications using its Perl, Python or PHP bindings. RRD is the acronym for Round Robin Database. It is a system to store and display time-series data (i.e. network bandwidth, machine-room temperature, server load average).
4. TeraTerm – Terminal.
5. TightVNC – Remote desktop tool.
6. VNC – Remote desktop tool.
7. WinSCP – SCP for Windows. It’s a very good one.
8. UltraVNC – UltraVNC is a powerful, easy to use and free software that can display the screen of another computer (via internet or network) on your own screen. The program allows you to use your mouse and keyboard to control the other PC remotely. It means that you can work on a remote computer, as if you were sitting in front of it.
9. Netstumbler – Network Stumbler is a neat little program that allows you to see all the available Wi-Fi access points and networks that are in range of you and your active Wi-Fi computer. Network Stumbler is for desktop and laptop machines, and Mini Stumbler is the equivalent for the Wi-Fi enabled PDA.
10. Hamachi – VPN client
11. RealVNC – remote control
12. Ethereal – local area network administration
13. The Dude – network administration
14. Wireshark – network administration
15. Angry IP Scanner – IP scanner
16. IP-Tools – IP scanner
17. Free Port Scanner – IP scanner
18. NetMeter – network bandwidth monitoring

Interent

1. BitTorrent – BitTorrent downloading!
2. BitTyrant – BitTorrent protocol compatible client. Faster than traditional BitTorrent, read more on their site.
3. Burst – A bittorrent creation and management tool! Highly recommended.
4. UTorrent – Ultimate Bittorrent Application. Highly recommended.
5. BitComet – torrent client
6. BitTornado – torrent client
7. DC++ – Direct Connect network client
8. PeerGuardian – IP blocker
9. Miranda – chat client
10. MSN Messenger – chat client
11. Yahoo Messenger – chat client
12. QIP – chat client
13. JAJC – chat client
14. HydraIRC – IRC client
15. Talkative IRC – IRC client
16. IceChat – IRC client
17. Google Talk – VOIP client
18. VoipStunt – VOIP client
19. Gizmo – VOIP client
20. Wengo – VOIP client
21. Bid O Magic – EBay bidding/selling utility.
22. Chronicle Lite – Blog client that works with xmlrpc – works with Drupal and any other blogapi supporting blog.
23. Ekiga – Ekiga (formely known as GnomeMeeting) is an open source VoIP and video conferencing application for GNOME. Ekiga uses both the H.323 and SIP protocols. It supports many audio and video codecs, and is interoperable with other SIP compliant software and also with Microsoft NetMeeting.
24. EmailXT – EmailXT is an open, patent-free protocol that replaces your current email with a more secure, full-featured system. EmailXT is a relationship-based email system where unauthorized bulk emailing is no longer possible. No more spam and mass mailing viruses. You don’t need spam filters or service subscriptions any more.
25. FeedDemon – RSS Feed reader. Get your news and information instantly. Customize the way you read and organize feeds. Feeds are stored on NewsGator. I highly recommend this and NewsGator.
26. Feedreader – News aggregator that supports RSS and ATOM formats.
27. FireFox Tune – This will automatically tune Firefox for speed
28. Flock – Web browser based on Firefox with social networking utilities built in.
29. Digsby – All in one instant messanger and social networking client. Highly recommended.
30. Gaim – Chat client. It is compatible with AIM and ICQ (Oscar protocol), MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, GroupWise Messenger, and Zephyr networks.
31. IM2 – Chat client. Works with Yahoo, MSN, AOL, ICQ, IRC. Features voice\video and encrypted chat. Skinnable
32. Pidgin – Multi-protocol Instant Messaging client that allows you to use all of your IM accounts at once, used to be Gaim. Supports all the major IMs
33. Gizmoproject – Internet Phone. Gizmo Project uses your internet connection (broadband or dial-up) to make calls to other computers.
34. Jap – Anonymous proxy. JAP makes it possible to surf the internet anonymously and unobservably.
35. Juice – If you want to listen to podcasts, this program is for you.
36. Kmelon – Web browser, very lightweight.
37. Maxthon – Web browser, similar to Firefox, but uses the Internet Explorer backend and settings.
38. MegaTrack – MegaTrack is an application that tracks Atlantic and eastern Pacific tropical storms. It uses the HSQLDB engine and is updated from the tropical storm data repository from the Unisys weather center.
39. Mozilla – Web applications like Thunderbird mail client, Firefox web browser, and Sunbird Calendar. Highly recommended.
40. Opera – Web browser.
41. Pegasus Mail – Email client, very mature and feature rich.
42. RSS Owl – RSS news reader.
43. RSSBandit – News aggregator that supports RSS and ATOM formats. Requires .Net
44. SFLphone – The SFLphone project aims to provide a multi-platform, multi-protocol (SIP/IAX2), and multi-GUI desktop VoIP phone.
45. Semagic – Blog clent for Live journal. Has the best features for Lj.
46. Skype – Internet phone. Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. Its free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers so your not limited to call friends using the same operating system. Skype also has other services that allow the calling of actual phone number and cells, plus video options for a small price.
47. Snarfer – RSS with very powerful features, like search, web broswer, sharing, and embedded video playback. Highly Recommended.
48. Speak-freely – Voice over ip, Internet phone.
49. BlogDesk – Blog client, in my opinion it is the best one around. Supports Drupal, Word Press, Live Journal, and many other blog types and even FTPs files and tags them with either link or image. Too many features to list here, highly recommended application.
50. Windows Live Writer – Powerful Blog client from Microsoft. Supports Drupal, Word Press, Live Journal, and many other blog types and even FTPs files and tags them with either link or image.
51. Zoomify – Flash image gallery creation.
52. Avant Browser – web browser
53. PopTray – check for emails
54. Free Download Manager – download manager
55. FlashGet – download manager
56. WellGet – download manager
57. WGET – commandline download manager
58. HTTrack – offline browser
59. WebReaper – offline browser
60. Yeah Reader – RSS reader
61. GreatNews – Excellent RSS reader

Programming

1. Frhed – Hex editor.
2. ActiveGrid Studio – ActiveGrid Studio enables developers to rapidly build enterprise-level Web 2.0 applications with a minimum of training, time, and effort. Supports Java, PHP, Python. Database supports is the best I’ve seen in an open IDE. Has built in Python and Java environments plus a built in running Apache web server. Highly recommended.
3. Aptana – Development environment geared towards web development, Ajax style! Autocomplete and assistance for HTML, CSS, Java Script.
4. Balthisar Cascade 2.0 – CSS level 2 editor available for the Windows platform.
5. BlitzMax IDE – Basic programming IDE for use with the Blitz game development environment.
6. Boa Constructor – A visual GUI designer and IDE for Python
7. Code:Blocks – The IDE with all the features you need, having a consistent look, feel and operation across platforms.
8. Cooktop – XML editor.
9. Cream – A modern configuration of the powerful and famous Vim, with full GUI.
10. Eclipse – Eclipse java IDE for Windows. It can be extended into many other platforms.
11. Entice – Entice Designer is a Form Designer for DFL and a rich code editor, and is on the path to becoming an IDE. D programming language
12. Envelop VBasic – Visual Basic clone; compiles to exe, gui designer!
13. FarPy – Awesome wxPython and .Net GUI designer.
14. Flashdevelop – Actionscript 2 IDE with seamless swfmill and MTASC integration. FlashDevelop is the first alternative opensource IDE to feature AS3 & MXML completion, including Flex2 compiler integration (the best compiler integration after Adobe FB) and AS3 syntax checking. Highly recommended. Requires .Net.
15. GNUStep objective C – Objective C lib, compilers, etc.
16. Groovy – Groovy is an agile, dynamic programming language for the Java Virtual Machine. Groovy includes features found in Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk, but uses syntax similar to the Java programming language.
17. Haste – Haskell TurboEdit – is an IDE for the functional programming language Haskell, written in Haskell.
18. IronPythonIDE – IronPython IDE is a GUI application written in C#. It is dedicated to the IronPython language which is a .NET implementation of the Python language. It is aimed at providing a nice, easy, full featured development environment for IronPython. Read up on or download IronPython.
19. IronPythonStudio – IronPython Studio is a free full IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for the Python programming language. It is based on the existing IronPython example that is included in the VS SDK. IronPython Studio is based on the Visual Studio 2008 Shell runtime (royalty free) and can be installed without requiring any version of Visual Studio.
20. Komodo Edit – Free, feature-rich editor for JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby and Tcl, on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.
21. Lazarus – Delphi/Kylix like programming environment using Pascal, compiles to exe and includes gui designer.!
22. NVU – HTML wysiwyg editor, supports CSS, Javascript, etc. Highly recommended.
23. Netbeans – IDE with the following features and language support Ajax | C/C++ | Databases | Debugger | Desktop | Editor | GUI Builder | Java EE | Java ME | Java SE | Javascript | Mobile | Profiler | Refactor | REST | Rich Client Platform | Ruby | SOA | SOAP | UML | Web | WSDL | XML.
24. OpenLaszlo – Flash creation, plus much more. Kind of like Macromedia Flex. For everything you need for this visit my Laszlo article.
25. PyScripter – A very powerful, full featured, professional Python IDE written in Delphi. Highly recommended.
26. Python Enthought edition – Scientific power packed Python install! This has wxWindows installed by default.
27. Python for Photoshop – Python Actions Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop
28. Python programming language! – So much power and easy to pick up! Has an included programming editor/IDE called PythonWin.exe
29. RadRails – Ruby On Rails IDE.
30. Rec – Decompiler, breaks exe files into C/C++ code.
31. SPE – If your a Python programmer working on Mac or Windows and your looking for a kick ass IDE Spe is for you! Highly recommended.
32. Scite – A free source code editor for Win32 and X.
33. Selenium – Web application test tool. Tests run directly in a browser, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla, and Firefox. Supported platforms Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. Languages include C#, Python, PHP, Ruby, etc.
34. Sepy – Flash Actionscript IDE. This is really nice! Has class list, auto complete, and compiler. Highly recommended.
35. SharpDevelop – IDE for C# and VB.NET projects on Microsoft’s .NET platform..
36. SimpleCSS – CSS Editor.
37. Spket – IDE for JavaScript, XUL/XBL and Yahoo! Widget development. It provides features like code completion, syntax highlighting and content outline that helps developers productively create efficient JavaScript code. Supports Laszlo and Silverlight. Requires Java.
38. TSWebeditor – HTML/PHP IDE. Has FTP, projects, and css support built in. Very nice! Highly recommended.
39. Vex – Vex is an editor for XML documents. The “visual” part comes from the fact that Vex hides the raw XML tags from the user, providing instead a wordprocessor-like interface. Because of this, Vex is best suited for “document-style” XML documents such as XHTML and DocBook rather than “data-style” XML documents.
40. WXWindows – BOA uses wxWindows backend
41. Webniac – HTML editor, CSS, ETC.
42. Xerlin – XML editor.
43. Xinha – HTML editor also has a Firefox extension.
44. ConText – Programmers text editor, supports most languages, shell scripts, plugin support.
45. Crimson editor – Programmers text editor. Features tabbed interface, html, php, c, python syntax highlighting, code output window, and built in FTP! Highly recommended.
46. Jedit – Jedit is a mature and well-designed programmer’s text editor with a big focus on Java. Has nice Jython support!
47. Notepad++ – Notepad replacement with tabs, plugins, no file size limit. Highlights many langauges included Python, Java, Html, etc. Highly Recommended.
48. AutoIt – task automation programming
49. SciTE4AutoIt3 – text editor for AutoIt
50. AutoHotkey – task automation
51. PHP Designer – PHP editor
52. PSPad – text editor
53. FoxEditor – text editor
54. Elfima Notepad – text editor
55. Notepad2 – text editor
56. Nvu – HTML editor
57. Alleycode – HTML editor
58. BlockNote – web page editor
59. Weaverslave – web page editor
60. TortoiseSVN – the best windows SVN client at your finger tips.

System and Desktop Utilities

1. nLite – Build your own custom Windows disk.
2. Comodo – Firewall, Anti-virus, anti-spam, malware utilities.
3. Ewido – Blocks spyware/adware and trojans.
4. Eyeline – Professional Video Surveillance Software with multiple camera support.
5. Filseclab – Internet personal firewall
6. GPG4Win – File, email encryption and other encryption utilites, like a file shredder.
7. Hitman Lite – Hitman Pro is a freeware tool that combines a number of powerful anti-spyware programs in one integrated solution. Hitman Pro combines Ad-Aware SE, SpyBot Search & Destroy, Spy Sweeper, Spyware Doctor, CWShredder, Spyware Blaster, NOD32, Sysclean package. Most of the included programs are freeware.
8. Hotspot Shield – Hotspot Shield creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop and the wireless router. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers and hackers from viewing your email, instant messages, credit card information or anything else you send over a wireless network. Which means you remain anonymous and protect your privacy.
9. Kerio Firewall – Internet personal firewall. Highly recommended.
10. My Lockbox – My Lockbox is a security software enabling you to password protect any folder on your computer. The protected folder (lockbox) is hidden from any user and application of your system, including Administrator and System itself. It is impossible to access the lockbox not only from the local computer, but also from the net.
11. Outpost – Firewall.
12. PGP – A free encryption software program that is the de-facto global standard for E-mail and file privacy. Pretty Good Privacy (or PGP) offers full-strength, 128-bit encryption. PGP has constantly been upgraded over the years and now offers loads of useful features, including secure file wiping; advanced keyserver searching; and seamless integration with Qualcomm’s popular Eudora E-mail client
13. Password Gorilla – Password manager.
14. Spyware Blaster – Blocks spyware/adware. Highly recommended.
15. Truecrypt – Open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP , Mac OS X, and Linux. TrueCrypt is a software system for establishing and maintaining an on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device). On-the-fly encryption means that data are automatically encrypted or decrypted right before they are loaded or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/keyfile(s) or correct encryption keys. Entire file system is encrypted (e.g.., file names, folder names, contents of every file, free space, meta data, etc).
16. Whisper32 – Password Manager with encryption.
17. WinPooch – Winpooch is a Windows watchdog, free and open source. Anti spyware and anti trojan, it gives a full protection against local or external attacks by scanning the activity of programs in real time. Associated with ClamWin antivirus, Winpooch keeps safe your computer against virus.
18. Zone Alarm – Internet personal firewall. Highly recommended.
19. Simple File Shredder – securely delete files
20. KeePass – password manager
21. LockNote – password manager
22. nPassword – password manager
23. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer – identify security misconfigurations
24. Spybot: Search & Destroy – anti-spyware
25. Windows Defender – anti-spyware
26. SpywareBlaster – anti-spyware
27. Spyware Terminator – anti-spyware
28. HiJack Free – system protection
29. HighJackThis – hijackers detector and remover
30. 3DNA – Alternative Windows Shell in 3-D. I thought these were cool, well amusing so I listed a few. Here is a screenshot of 3dna in action.
31. Black Box – Alternative Windows Shell. I found this to be more stable than XOBlite2. BB4Win: News
32. Black Box Lean – Alternative Windows Shell.
33. Blueberry – Alternative Windows Shell in 3-D.
34. Clockwise3d – Alternative Windows Shell in 3-D.
35. Litestep – Alternative Windows Shell.
36. Project Looking Glass – 3D desktop. It reminds me of os x in three dimensions. Note: This is under development and requires lot’s of Java setup. I would not use this unless you want to test and develop and arn’t worried about your Windows installation.
37. SharpE – Alternative Windows Shell. More info and screen shots Here.
38. Sphere – 3D effects in Windows similar to Beryl, Compiz/Metisse.
39. XOBLite – Alternative Windows Shell. Screenshot of my machine running XOBLite (blackbox) here
40. Madotate – 3D effects for Windows similar to those found in Project looking glass. This is a direct download link and is the english version.
41. Pitaschio – Pitaschio is the essential tool to use windows efficiently. Adds some interesting features.
42. RocketDock – Rocket dock is a Mac OS X like launcher complete with fisheye effect, taskbar features, and even themes well with other engines. They also have a cool icon enhancer for your desktop and file explorer with cool effects, plug-in based.
43. TaskSwicthXP – Task switcher (alt+tab) replacement.
44. Virtual Dimension – Multiple desktops in Windows. I love this app, it actually makes your desktop sessions separate and lots more cool features. Highly recommended.
45. VirtualWin – Virtual desktops in Windows.
46. Disclib – CD organizer
47. Dexpot – virtual desktops
48. DriveImage XML – create partition images
49. MozBackup – backup and restore bookmarks, etc.
50. SyncBack – system backup
51. Atomic Cock Sync – syncronize your clock
52. Citrus Alarm Clock – alarm clock
53. allSnap – make all windows snap
54. Sysinternals Tools – various system tools
55. StrokeIt – mouse gestures
56. Net Profiles – create profiles of your network settings
57. AveDesk – desktop enhancer
58. IconPhile – customize windows’s system icons
59. CursorXP Free – change mouse cursors
60. LClock – Windows Longhorn clock
61. Y’z Dock – application launcher
62. Y’z Shadow – shadow effect to the windows
63. Y’z Toolbar – change the toolbar icons in Explorer and Internet Explorer
64. Taskbar Shuffle – rearrange the programs on the taskbar by dragging
65. Visual Task Tips – thumbnail preview image for each task in the taskbar
66. Badges – put badges on any folder or file
67. Folderico – change icons of the folders
68. Folder Marker – mark your folders
69. Folder2MyPC – add favourite locations to My Computer
70. Microsoft TweakUI – system settings
71. BricoPacks – shell packs
72. ShellPacks – shell packs
73. Tango Shell Patcher – shell patcher
74. XPize – GUI enhancer
75. CPU-Z – cpu information
76. CrystalCPUID – cpu information
77. Central Brain Identifier – cpu information
78. Everest – system information
79. SiSoft Sandra – system information
80. SpeedFan – hardware monitor
81. Memtest86 – memory test
82. PowerMax – HDD test
83. 3Dmark 06 – 3D game performance benchmark
84. Aquamark – performance benchmark
85. rthdribl – 3D benchmark
86. Prime 95 – cpu benchmarking
87. SuperPI – cpu benchmarking
88. CPU Rightmark – cpu overclock
89. Core Temp – cpu temperature
90. aTuner – GeForce and Radeontweaker
91. RivaTuner – video overclock
92. Nokia Monitor Test – monitor adjustmets
93. UDPixel – fix dead pixels
94. Visual Tooltips – Enhance the Windows taskbar with thumbs ans 3D effects. Check out Yod’m while you’re there for a 3D cube virtual desktop.
95. WinRoll – Lets you shade your windows like in Linux.
96. 7Zip – Zip utility with File Explorer support.
97. CabPack – compression program
98. Universal Extractor – extract files from any type of archive
99. AB Commander Lite – File explorer replacement.
100. Adaware – Spyware removal tool.
101. AlienGuise – Theme engine like Windows Blinds, by the same guys, and brought to you from Alienware computer systems.
102. AntiVir – Anti-virus. I have been using this for awhile and it kicks ass. Beats the **** out of Norton and it’s free! Highly recommended.
103. Avast – Anti-virus applcation. Free for personal use. I have not tried this software, but it works with Kerio so it can’t be bad.
104. BartPE – Windows live cd. Now you can boot Windows from a CD-Rom and have full read/write access to NTFS volumes!.
105. Boot manager/partition manager – Partition magic like clone and boot manager.
106. DeepBurner – CD/DVD burner
107. BurnAtOnce – CD/DVD burner
108. Express Burn – CD/DVD burner
109. Zilla CD-DVD Rip’n’Burn – CD/DVD burner
110. ImgBurn – ISO, BIN burner
111. DVD Decrypter – DVD ripper
112. Nero CD-DVD Speed – CD/DVD info and quality test
113. Burn4Free – CD/DVD burner application, works oh so well! p.s. Run Adaware after installing to remove the spyware piece
114. CD Image – ISO ripper. Like UltraISO, create convert disk images. Supports all the main images types.
115. CD burner XP – CD Burner.
116. Console – Terminal enhancement. Ever wanted a transparent background in the command prompt window like in Linux?
117. Crap Cleaner – Cleans up Windows, internet cache, temp files, registry entries, etc. Also has a kick ass uninstaller that works and a startup editor. Highly recommended.
118. xp-AntiSpy – OS setup
119. jv16 Powertools – system utilities
120. XP SysPad – system monitoring utility
121. What’s Running – process guard
122. Registrar Lite – registry editor
123. WinIPConfig – replacement for “ipconfig.exe” and “route.exe”
124. Unlocker – file eraser
125. Eraser – secure file eraser
126. Undelete Plus – file recovery
127. Duplicate File Finder – find all duplicate files
128. Ant Renamer – file renaming
129. ReNamer – file renaming
130. Icons From File – icos extractor
131. Chaos MD5 – MD5 generator
132. HashTab – MD5, SHA1 and CRC-32 file hashes
133. Cygwin – Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows.
134. Cygwin/x – Cygwin/x allows x11 (Linux apps) to run on Windows.
135. Daisy – Windows updater replacement that does not use IE settings.
136. DoISO – Create and burn ISO disk images.
137. Download Checker – The Update Checker will scan your computer for installed software, check the versions and then send this information to filehippo.com to see if there are any newer releases. These are then neatly displayed in your browser for you to download.
138. Explore2fs – Let’s you see and explore a Linux partition, and do file operations, from Windows. Highly recommended if you dual boot.
139. ExplorerXP – Windows File Explorer replacement.
140. FS-driver – Mount Linux Ext2/Ext3 file systems on Windows.
141. Floola – Floola is a freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod or your Motorola mobile phone (any model supporting iTunes). Floola supports all common used iPod features including artwork, podcasts and smart playlists! It’s also able to convert audio or video incompatible with the iPod so that you can copy almost any file to it. It even allows adding youtube and myspace videos just entering the page url!
142. Free commander – File Explorer replacement. This is one of the best file explorer replacements I have ever used. Highly Recommended.
143. Mucommander – File Explorer replacement. If you liked Norton Commander you will love this.
144. ISOrecorder – ISO burn utility! Add an option to Explorer to burn .iso file to cd. HIghly Recommended.
145. IZArc – Zip utility. Opens everything and has File Explorer support.
146. Infrarecorder – CD/CDR burner.
147. Launchy – Launchy is a free windows utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager. Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes! Similar to Quicksilver on OS X and Katapult on Linux.
148. OpenVMS – Defrag and hard drive utility.
149. Partition Utilities – Partition resize, delete, create, etc…
150. PortableApps – Now you can carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you. Use them on any Windows computer via USB Flash device, iPod, or portable hard disk, and it works like a start menu. Includes Firefox, Open Office, VideoLan, to name a few.
151. Rainlendar – Very cool skinnable calendar for windows, will set events from Outlook/Exchange!
152. Registry Fix – Fixes the Windows registry.
153. Resource Hacker – Utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems.
154. Samurize – Another skinnable clock, system meters, weather, email, and trash indicators as well as music playback, but with so much more – like multiple machine support! Highly recommended.
155. Skin Calc – Cool skinnable calculator.
156. Spybot – Spyware removal tool.
157. Stickies – Post it notes for your desktop.
158. StickiesforWindows – Post it notes for your desktop.
159. Synergy – Synergy is like dual monitors, a kvm switch, and vnc on speed! If you want to operate multiple machines with one keyboard and mouse, move files between them, and have both screens at your disposal this is for you. Works between platforms also!
160. Sysmetrix – Very cool skinnable clock system meters with weather, email, and trash indicators as well as music playback.
161. Task Scheduler – Task Schedule replacement.
162. Tugzip – Zip/archive application. Really nice and opens most everything including rar.
163. UBCD4Win – UBCD4Win is a bootable CD which contains software that allows you to repair/restore/diagnostic almost any computer problem. Also see Win/Linux Version.
164. UltraExplorer – File Explorer replacement.
165. Unxutils – Linux/Unix command line tools, like grep, written natively for Windows.
166. VSpeech – Voice command your Windows computer.
167. WikidPad – wikidPad is a real-time wiki. wikidPad is not a web server, or application server, or groupware solution. wikidPad is a standalone notepad like application, albeit notepad on steroids. wikidPad is like an IDE for your thoughts.
168. ZScreen – ZScreen is an open-source screen capture program that allows for region/window/full-screen screenshots. It can FTP screenshots and put the URL in your clipboard in a single keystroke. It supports automatic custom naming conventions with variables. It can also interface with image editing software. It is a C#.NET 2.0 program hosted on Sourceforge.net and built by BrandonZ (inf1ni).
169. Zipeg – Zipeg allows you to open and explore content of zip, rar and other archives, preview files and images before you extract/unzip them. Extract only the files you want. Zip thru photo archives. See image thumbnails. Zipeg allows you to decide what do you want to extract. You can choose what to extract and where to put extracted files or just drag and drop them.
170. Zipgenious – Zip utility that supports all the major archive types, zip, s7, gz, etc. Skinnable.
171. PearPC – Run Mac OS X or Linux on Windows !
172. VMWare – Run Windows, Linux, etc. in virtualization. Like Vitual PC, but 1000 times better! I am running Windows in Linux and it’s absolutely flawless!
173. VirtualBox – VirtualBox is a general-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware. Targeted at server, desktop and embedded use, it is now the only professional-quality virtualization solution that is also Open Source Software.

Servers

1. Apache Tomcat – Apache Tomcat is the servlet container that is used in the official Reference Implementation for the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages (jsp) technologies.
2. Apache Web Server – Web Server, the best one around.
3. Apache2Triad – Installs a developer preconfigured environment with Apache, PHP, mySQL with control panel/PHPMyAdmin, xMail, ftp, and a Apache Web based Control Panel, etc. Power packed with new cool things like Python/Pearl mods, ASP support, SSL and so much more. Highly recommended.
4. EasyPHP – Really nice Apache install with PHP and mySQL included and configured. If you need a heavy duty Apache web development environment look at Apache2Triad.
5. FileZilla – FTP Server and client. Highly recommended.
6. Instantrails – Instant Rails is a one-stop Rails runtime solution containing Ruby, Rails, Apache, and MySQL, all preconfigured and ready to run. No installer, you simply drop it into the directory of your choice and run it.
7. Uniformserver – The Uniform Server is a WAMP package that allows you to run a server on any MS Windows OS based computer. It is small and mobile to download or move around and can also be used or setup as a production/live server. Developers also use The Uniform Server to test their applications made with either PHP, MySQL, Perl, or the Apache HTTPd Server.
8. WOS X – WOS stands for the three letter abbreviation Webserver On Stick and makes it possible, to run a webserver based on Apache, MySQL and PHP from an USB Stick or any other writable media (harddrive, flash cards etc.) without installation under Windows (98 to Vista).
9. Web-Dev. Server Suite – WAMP-based [Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP] web-server distribution for Windows that is fully configured and ready to run. This has every thing from a Web Application firewall to ASP.NET Host Interface. Security hardened and even includes some open source CMS software, like Joomla.
10. XAMPP – Apache, MySQL, PHP web development environment install. Takes care of most configs and setup issues so you don’t have to.
11. EFTP – FTP client/server
12. WAMP – Apache, PHP5 and MySQL server

500+ Free Software to Make you the Windows Puppet Master

Thats some great stuff ,Pierre I think me and other members on the forum will find those useful .

Thanks Mike. There are some very nice (free) programs listed in there!

[medohad]

It's hard to build such a list which cover almost everything , Pierre you are magician

Holy , That must have taken forever to put together, Nice work.

cheers
xxrazor