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List of recommended Windows software

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This article is in the process of being overhauled. In other words, don't become incensed that your favourite software program was removed. Chances it will be added by the time this is finished in a day or so. Certain categories were removed due to their lack of relevance to end-users, but they may return. Detailed descriptions for each category are being written, and program icons will eventually be added for each listing. Until then, this article is going to look a bit messy. The final version of this will resemble the file compression section, but that category description is not final. The final ones will be longer and more helpful.

On the subject of security software, the previous recommendations were removed pending further research. Comodo's software was left listed, since its excellent performance in testing is well-known. Kaspersky will probably end up being listed as well.

Communications

Instant Messaging Client

As far as the Windows landscape is concerned, Pidgin is really the only serious contended for this role.

Pidgin

Pidgin, formerly known as GAIM, is a free and open source instant messaging client developed in C. It is based upon Libpurple and offers support for the AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MXit, MySpaceIM, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo!, and Zephyr chat networks out of the box. Partial or complete support for additional networks like Xfire is offered through third-party plug-ins like Gfire.

Internet Relay Chat Client

File Compression

Any one of the three software products listed in this category is well-suited to the role. Truth be be told, there are few apparent differences among them to the end user. For those who care, 7zip seems to be /g/'s recommended solution in this category.

7zip Archiver

7zip is a free and open source file archiver developed in C++ by Igor Pavlov. Its primary feature is lossless compression in the 7z format, based upon the Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm. In addition to the handful of formats it is capable of creating new archives in, 7zip can retrieve files from archives in virtually any format that one is likely to encounter.

PeaZip Archiver

The PAQ and LPAQ methods are capable of an impressive degree of lossless compression, but the time and system resources required are equally impressive.

PeaZip is a free and open source archiver developed in free Pascal by Giorgio Tani. It is notable for its native PEA format and its support of cutting-edge compression technologies like PAQ and LPAQ that are not supported by other popular archivers. Like 7zip, it is capable of retrieving files from virtually any archive that one might encounter.

WinRAR Archiver

Unless one has some specific purpose in mind, the use of WinRAR is not recommended.

WinRAR is a proprietary shareware archiver developed by the brothers Eugene and Alexander Roshal. Its once ubiquitous RAR format is still used almost universally by the Warez Scene, although it has falling out of favour with many other communities due to the growing popularity of 7z. Although it is only capable of creating new archives in the RAR and ZIP formats, WinRAR is capable of extracting files from archives created by many other compression tools.

File Sharing

BitTorrent Client

Official /g/ Torrent Guide v1.1

In this category, it is probably best to start out by listing what not to use. Of the three approved clients, qBittorrent seems to the the most popular among /g/'s Windows users.

  • Azureus. This bloated monstrosity of Java code was once the most feature-rich BitTorrent client. It is still permitted by most private trackers, despite being more of a paid content distribution platform than a BitTorrent client. The Azureus software (the actual client) is still free and open source, but the Vuze software packaged with it is proprietary.
  • BitComet. A proprietary Chinese client that is notorious for its bugs, padding files, and blanket ban from private trackers.
  • BitLord. This client started out as a licensed fork of BitComet. At the time of this writing, it is a fork of Deluge with spyware added.
  • BitTyrant. This client is Azureus fork with an interesting protocol modification to increase download speeds by favouring high-capacity peers. Tragically, development was abandoned after the related study was concluded. The source code is still available though, so perhaps all hope is not lost.
  • Halite This client was originally envisioned as a free and open source alternative to µTorrent. Unfortunately, it is barely maintained and lags behind other libtorrent clients in implementing new libtorrent features as a result.
  • Tixati. This proprietary client has gorgeous interface. Unfortunately, the code for its networking stack is presumed to be far less gorgeous.
  • µTorrent. This proprietary client is commonly used and recommended by technologically illiterate people. It comes with a built-in Tetris game as an Easter egg, which is admittedly pretty damned fun to play while waiting for a torrent to download.

BareTorrent

BareTorrent is a free and open source BitTorent with a focus on minimalism.

Deluge

Deluge is a libtorrent-based free and open source BitTorrent client written in Python. It is highly extensible via its plug-ins system. Deluge is notable for having originated the particular method of protocol encryption that is currently in use by every major BitTorrent client. In can be a bit of a resource hog on Windows compared to other clients.

qBittorrent

qBittorrent is a libtorrent-based free and open source BitTorrent client written in C++. According to the its developers, the aim of the client is to provide a free software alternative to µTorrent.

FTP Client

FileZilla

Filezilla is a free and open source FTP, SFTP, and FTPS client written in C++. Sourceforge downloaders should be advised that the installer offered there potentially contains adware.

WinSCP

WinSCP or Windows Secure Copy is a free and open-source FTP, SFTP, and SCP client written in C++.

Maintenance

Disk Cleaner

Disk Defragmenter

  • Defraggler
  • MyDefrag - Freeware, based on the standard defragmentation API by Microsoft. Also optimizes file locations.

File Recovery

See also: Data Recovery

System Information

Multimedia

Media Player

What you can expect from playback using VLC (animated)
  • MPC-HC - open-source; with the madVR renderer for GPU rendering and more features (Download here)
  • mpv - open-source, supports H.265 playback. A fork of mplayer(2). (Download here)
  • VLC - VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols. (Download here)

Disc Burner

  • ImgBurn - Make sure to uncheck any of the 'freebies' (Conduit Toolbars) and you'll be fine.
  • BurnAware - free and non-free version
  • CDBurnerXP - free, download the version without botnet (OpenCandy) here

Music Organiser

  • Foobar2000 - freeware; lightweight and customizable
  • MusicBee - freeware; less customizable than foobar2000, but still powerful and better out-of-the-box
  • MediaMonkey - freemium; powerful media player with a great database
  • AIMP - Freeware, considered successor to WinAmp

Office

Document Viewer

Text Editor

  • Notepad++
  • (g) Vim
  • Emacs
  • Sublime Text - Not free (officially) but beautiful out of the box and tons of features. The 'evaluation' can be used forever like WinRAR but each time you open it and save a few times it nags you (once) to buy it and makes you feel bad.

Word Processor

  • LibreOffice - After Oracle acquired OpenOffice, it asked community members to GTFO [1]. Since everyone despises Oracle, the developers all jumped ship as well [2] and stared LibreOffice.

Security

Antivirus

Common Sense is far more reliable than real-time protection.

Comodo Antivirus

This solution is one component in a software suite. Its use as a standalone product is not recommended.

Sandbox

Comodo Sandbox

This solution is one component in a software suite. Its use as a standalone product is not recommended.

The Comodo Sandbox is a component of the proprietary freeware program Comodo Internet Security that allows the user to create isolated virtual environments.

Sandboxie

Sandboxie is a proprietary shareware program for creating isolated virtual environments.

Software Firewall

Software firewalls should not be viewed as replacements for hardware firewalls. The proper configuration of modem and router firewalls remains vital to securing one's network no matter what software solutions are employed.

Comodo Firewall

This solution is one component in a software suite. Its use as a standalone product is not recommended.

Unclassified Software

These recommendations will be classified soon.

Disk Encryption

Hex Editor

Image Editor

  • GIMP - A popular Photoshop alternative. Is good if you know how to use it correctly.
  • Paint.NET - Started as a MS Paint alternative, now integrates plenty of features such as layers and effects
  • InkScape - Vector graphic editor. FOSS.

Image Viewer

Screen Capture

Virtual CD/DVD Drive

Virtual Machine

Virtual Desktop Manager

  • VirtuaWin - Allows you to use multiple virtual desktops

Related Pages

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