Software

Below is a list of recommended software that is typically used in the space by our members, please only use/link legally obtainable software, open-source software is particularly encouraged. 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 -probably the most used free 3D cad package. Windows, macOS.
 * 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://en.makercase.com/ -use to make laser cut boxes (like the donation box in the space). Runs in browser (cross platform).
 * https://www.onshape.com/ -another free powerful 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.

Home Automation

 * https://nodered.org/ -created by IBM, simple yet powerful, see https://notenoughtech.com/home-automation/nodered-home-automation/why-nodered-server/ Open-source. Windows, macOS, Linux (inc RaspberryPi).

Image Manipulation

 * 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).

PCB design software

 * https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/pcb-software -RS components Free package. Windows
 * https://kicad-pcb.org/ -Electronics Design Automation Suite. 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 -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.

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).