College is expensive.So is the software you need to get through your classes, including science, math, or video production, even with academic discounts.There are open-source alternatives to popular proprietary apps that can help you survive college without spending too much money.
Paid: Mathematica/MATLAB/Maple Free: Python + NumPy and SymPy or SageMath Take the pain out of math If you're studying science, math, or engineering, there's a good chance you've come across something like Mathematica, MATLAB, or Maple.Mathematica and Maple are computer algebra systems.They're like calculators, but they work on exact algebraic objects instead of decimal approximations you'd get with a calculator.
For example, when calculating square roots, they'll show you the exact answer and even factor out perfect squares, as you'd learn in an introductory algebra course.Computer algebra systems let you do other algebraic operations like solving equations and can even handle differential and integral calculus.MATLAB works numerically, but it handles the matrix calculations that are essential to modern science and engineering.
All of these programs are also expensive, but Python can serve as an alternative to these programs with some libraries.For algebraic calculations, SymPy is a compact library that lets you tackle everything from basic algebra to matrices to calculus to differential equations.The NumPy library also handles matrices easily, which is why it has become so popular in data analysis and the broader scientific community.
Jupyter notebooks also provide a user-friendly interface similar to what you'd find in the proprietary programs.SageMath is a full-featured alternative that includes SymPy and NumPy.Paid: Adobe Photoshop Free:GIMP Photo editing without a subscription If you're in graphic design or media, the Adobe Creative Suite is ubiquitous.
It's to graphic design what Microsoft Office is to office work: it's just the thing most people use.Paying for it is a common gripe among creative types.GIMP, or the GNU Image Manipulation Program, is one of the biggest open-source alternatives to Photoshop.
I'm not a graphic designer, but I've used GIMP quite a bit, mainly for resizing images for HTG, and it works well enough for my purposes.I can't vouch for more extensive work, and people who do have more experience with Photoshop find the interface hard to navigate.GIMP is likely missing some features from Photoshop.
It's still worth looking at if you can't get access to Photoshop through a school computer lab.Paid: Microsoft 365 Open Source: LibreOffice Read and write Word and Excel files without Word or Excel No matter what you're studying, you'll need to write essays and research papers for your classes.The most widely-used word processor is still Microsoft Word.
It's been a while since I actually used Word, but I found it pleasant enough to work with, and I'm far from Microsoft's biggest fan.Like a lot of software companies, Microsoft has been pressuring their customers to switch from single purchases to subscriptions, largely because paying them over time puts more money in Microsoft's pockets.LibreOffice is similarly ubiquitous on desktop Linux systems, but it's available cross-platform, including on Windows.
The best part of LibreOffice is that you can just download a copy and it's yours without any subscription fees.While LibreOffice uses the default OpenDocument Format (ODF) for saving its own files, it can read and save popular Office formats like Word and Excel.This means that you can exchange documents with other people.
This will be easier if you stick to standard fonts and formats.I have experience using LibreOffice as a substitute for Office.I had a freelance writing client that required me to submit pieces in the Word format.
They happily accepted pieces as .doc files, and nobody ever seemed to catch on that I wasn't using Microsoft Word to create them.If you have to create a spreadsheet for a business class or a paper for an English class, you should consider LibreOffice.If you're writing a paper, there's an extension that lets you generate works cited and bibliography pages with Zotero in popular formats, including the MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian citation styles.
Paid: Adobe Premiere, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro Free: Kdenlive Free professional video editing Close When I was in college, I took a video production class that included editing on iMovie and then Final Cut Pro.The latter gave me a taste of what kind of professional video editing was possible.It was amazing to use the same software that Hollywood film editors did to cut Academy Award-winning movies for my small student projects.
Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere are similar products widely used in the professional video world.Kdenlive, created by the KDE project, is a similar product.Despite the connection, it's not just a Linux program, but is also available on Windows.
As with GIMP, the proprietary projects are favored for professional work, and you'll likely have access through a computer lab if you're taking a video, TV, or film production class, but it's worth a look if you're desperate for something to run on your own machine.Paid: Evernote or OneNote Free:Joplin Free note-taking across all your devices I used to be a fan of Evernote for note-taking, outlining pieces, and saving web pages for my projects.While I discovered Evernote after I'd already graduated, it would have been a good tool to use when I was studying.
But the problem was Evernote's constant squeezing through its premium option, to the point where the only way to make it actually useful was to sign up for an expensive premium plan.Microsoft OneNote has a similar use case, but while basic access is free, it's still locked into the Microsoft ecosystem—something I was wanting to avoid.Joplin has happily replaced Evernote (and OneNote) for me.
The best part is that it's completely free, even for syncing across multiple devices.If you want to take notes in class or outline papers, it's a great tool.I like that there's even a mobile app I can use without having to cough up money for a subscription.
Open-source apps to make being a student easier College is expensive enough without having to find money for tools to get through your studies.With these apps, you can do your best work and get higher grades.
Read More
