This article presents a ready reference of the top ten open source tools of 2019, with a small write up on each of these. This list will be of help to newbies in the software industry.
For tech newbies, it is always a good idea to learn more about the best open source tools. So let’s go through a list of open source tools that were the most popular over the past year.
NetBeans
NetBeans is free-to-use software for developing different kinds of mobile and desktop applications. It can also be used to develop software through popular programming languages, like HTML5, JavaScript, Java, C/C++ and more.
Developers can use NetBeans for accurate project management and competent coding. This means that you can stay on top of your game and write defect-free code. NetBeans is managed by the Apache Software Foundation.
Pencil
Prototyping is a key part of any project. Pencil is a GUI based open source prototyping tool that lets you handle prototyping efficiently. It is available on all platforms, including Windows, Linux and Mac.
Pencil is a desktop tool, which means you need to download it to use it. Its key features include easy GUI prototyping, built-in shape collections, diagram-drawing support, output format exporting, inter-page linking, and clip art.
Atom
Atom is a free, open source text plus source code editor for MacOS, Linux and Microsoft Windows. It has built-in support for plugins, Node.js and embedded Git Control, and has been developed by GitHub. Atom is a desktop application built using Web technologies. Most of the extended packages have free software licences, which are community-built and maintained. Atom is based on Electron (formerly known as Atom Shell), a framework that enables cross-platform desktop applications using Chromium and Node.js. It is written in CoffeeScript (a programming language that compiles to JavaScript) and Less. It is fully customisable within HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Linx
Low code development is gradually gaining popularity. Linx is one of those popular tools that lets you do just that!
Through Linx, you can automate workflows and tasks, as well as build back-ends for mobile apps and APIs. It is an ideal tool for quick development and design, and can also improve the custom business process.
Linx offers an easy-to-use IDE and server that also come with a vast collection of built-in plugins. It enables one-click deployment, live debugging and automated processes using different methods.
Manta
Developers find client invoicing one of the most challenging parts of their job. Manta is an elastic invoice desktop app that simplifies invoicing for developers. It comes loaded with customisable templates and makes it easy to send and control clients’ invoices.
KompoZer
KompoZer is a WYSIWYG HTML editor. It uses the Mozilla Composer codebase. With it, you can do easy Web authoring. Its rich set of features includes a file management system, a WYSIWYG editor and an easy-to-use interface. It works on all major operating systems including Windows, Linux and OS X.
Cypress
Cypress is a Web testing tool that lets you test anything that runs on a browser. It can be installed on Linux, Mac and Windows, and focuses on end-to-end testing. But Cypress tests can be written only in JavaScript.
With Cypress, you can write, run and debug tests. The tool is designed for QA engineers and developers who love to work with Web technologies. It lets you write reliable tests. Moreover, you can run all types of tests, including unit, integration and end-to-end tests.
Hyper 2.0
This is a cross-platform terminal that uses JavaScript, HTML and CSS. The application is built on top of Electron to create cross-platform desktop apps. It powers apps like Visual Studio Code, Atom and GitHub Desktop. Under the hood, Hyper uses React and Redux in the UI layer.
BRL-CAD
BRL-CAD is a free and open source cross-platform modelling system that includes interactive geometry editing, a system performance analysis benchmark suite, geometry libraries for application developers, and high-performance ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analysis.
Godot Engine
Godot Engine is a free and open source game engine that lets developers get creative with their games without reinventing the wheel, and without any strings attached, i.e., no royalties.
It is team-friendly, and ships with a wide set of common tools to speed up game development. It features sleek 2D and 3D graphics, and is simple to use. With Godot Engine, the games you build are 100 per cent yours.
