Software

Below is a list of recommended free software that is typically used in the space by our members, please only use/link legally obtainable software, open-source software is particularly encouraged and suited to the ethos of the Hackspace. If you can't see what you're looking for ask on Slack

CAD / 3D Design

 * https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/fusion-360/overview -was probably the most used free 3D cad package, 2020 reduced some usability for the free maker licence. Windows, macOS.
 * https://www.blender.org/ -3D creation suite. Open-source, Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/ --Use to make laser cut boxes more advanced than makercase (does trays etc). Open-source. Runs in browser (cross platform).
 * https://github.com/Ultimaker/Cura/releases -Use for converting 3D CAD files to 3D prints, Teesside Hackspace's slicer of choice. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://www.freecadweb.org/ -Parametric 3D CAD package. Open-source, Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://en.makercase.com/ -Use to make laser cut boxes (like the donation box in the space) (see also festi.info/boxes.py/ ). Runs in browser (cross platform).
 * https://www.onshape.com/ -Another parametric 3D CAD package for makers, saves in the cloud, its creators used to work for SolidWorks (so has a lot in common). Runs in browser (cross platform)

Comm's

 * https://www.fing.com/products/fing-desktop -See what IP + MAC addresses are on a network, and more. Windows, macOS, Android, IOS
 * http://freeserialanalyzer.com/ -Sniff your COM ports. Windows.
 * http://www.putty.org/ -SSH client. Open-source. Windows, Linux.
 * https://realterm.sourceforge.io/ -Serial terminal/ monitor. Windows.

Graphic design / Image Manipulation / Photo editing

 * http://www.getpaint.net/index.html -like Microsoft paint but with loads more functionality whilst staying simple.
 * https://www.gimp.org/ -GNU image manipulation package -closest free thing Photoshop. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi).
 * https://inkscape.org/ -Vector graphics package (Adobe Illustrator alternative), Open-source, Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://www.photopea.com/ -Browser based Photoshop alternative. Runs in browser (cross platform).

Home Automation
Home Automation Guides:
 * https://nodered.org/ -created by IBM, simple yet powerful. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi).
 * https://tasmota.github.io/docs/About/ -open source firmware for ESP8266 based devices, eg a sonoff S26, sonoff basic (replaces their built in questionable? firmware) Open-source, flash via Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi).
 * https://notenoughtech.com/home-automation/nodered-home-automation/why-nodered-server/ -Node Red
 * https://notenoughtech.com/featured/sonoff-tasmota/ -Tasmota & MQTT

PCB design software

 * https://www.altium.com/circuitmaker -Free version of Altium's (widely used in industry) pro PCB design software. Windows
 * https://easyeda.com/ -Easy powerful PCB design tool, integrates with JLCPCB (manufacturer). Runs in browser (cross platform).
 * https://kicad-pcb.org/ -Electronics Design Automation Suite. Recommended. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux

Programming

 * https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software -IDE for Programming Arduino (inc ESP8266 and more), includes serial monitor and plotter. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi),
 * https://create.arduino.cc/editor Online version of Arduino IDE (including serial monitor). Runs in browser (cross platform)
 * https://code.visualstudio.com -Most widely used IDE for most common programming languages. Windows, macOS, Linux
 * https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ -simple text editor but with colour coding for HTML, XML etc. Open-source. Windows.
 * https://platform.io/ -add on for visual studio code for programming Arduino etc through a more developed interface. Windows, macOS, Linux
 * http://winmerge.org/?lang=en -text file difference-ing and merging files. Windows.

Video

 * https://www.blender.org/ -Blender is great for animations, motion tracking ,video editing and more. Open-source, Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/ -Davinci Resolve is a video editor with lots of features (similar to Adobe Premiere). Windows, macOS, Linux.
 * https://www.openshot.org/ -OpenShot video editor, not as advanced as Davinci Resolve but easier to use. Open-source, Windows, macOS, Linux.

Other

 * https://www.libreoffice.org Free office suite and compatible with .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx files. Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi).
 * https://ubuntu.com/ Open-source is an opensource operating system, a free alternative to Windows that runs Linux programs. Open-source, Linux.