The Free Software Megathread

[Aerodynamic]

Nope.avi

Well, it has all the tools you need or blockland, like logos, graphics, converting file images, adding new layers, icons, ci's, and etc.

[Ad Bot]

[Tetris]

Paint.NET > GIMP

anyone who says otherwise i won't hesitate to fight

[WALK2222]

Notepad++
Eclipse
LogMeIn
Sophos Anti-Virus
Unity
UDK

Use all of these on a daily basis and they are all free

[Setro]

alot of adobe's CS2 products went "free" due to activation servers
NOTE: THESE ARE NOT TECHNICALLY FREE!!! its just the activation servers no longer checking for these products
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/

I'm grabbing me some premiere pro today :3

[allyorbase]

Well, it has all the tools you need or blockland, like logos, graphics, converting file images, adding new layers, icons, ci's, and etc.

Honestly, GIMP is so much different that photoshop it's not funny. While they have the same basic features, GIMP does everything really weirdly and sometimes it seems without thought. Anything beyond basic functions, though, GIMP doesn't have.  

[Nonnel]

WinRAR

[Setro]

Added everything suggested multiple times. (except notepad ++, I have hands on experience with it)

[blockguy123]

the blockland demo lole so fune
in all seriousness, paint.net and gimp, some SSTV software, all that jazz

[WALK2222]

I have GIMP and photoshop and I will easily say that Photoshop is at least 10 times better.  It handles operations extremely smoothly, is organized in a fantastic way, and doesn't throw tons of stuff at you at startup.

[The Big Bad Jellyfish]

I have GIMP and photoshop and I will easily say that Photoshop is at least 10 times better.  It handles operations extremely smoothly, is organized in a fantastic way, and doesn't throw tons of stuff at you at startup.

GIMP doesn't though.
Just the loading screen then the actual program.

Paint.NET > GIMP

anyone who says otherwise i won't hesitate to fight

i disagree
GIMP master race.

Honestly, GIMP is so much different that photoshop it's not funny. While they have the same basic features, GIMP does everything really weirdly and sometimes it seems without thought. Anything beyond basic functions, though, GIMP doesn't have. 

When you learn how to use GIMP after a week or so of using it, you can do some pretty advance stuff with the stuff you learned.

[WALK2222]

GIMP doesn't though.
Just the loading screen then the actual program.

On a mac you have to start up X11 then, gimp.  It is extremely large and will eat up all your memory.  The main window becomes absolutely filled with random stuff.

Please remember, that this is on a mac OS.  I don't know how it works on Windows OS, as I have photoshop on my desktop PC.

[BanishedLetters]

How about some IRC clients?

Y-Chat | irssi (personal favorite) | LimeChat for Mac OS X | Mibbit (web-based)

[Alteration]

Audio Editors:
Audacity - Can edit, generate, record, add effects to, splice, stereo > monoize, improve the quality of, convert formats of, and most importantly, can make Rick Astley sound like Alvin the chipmunk. Lots of available plugins too.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Image Editors:
Paint.net - A very capable and versatile image editing program. With a bit of practice (and a freight train's load of plugins), you can create photoshop-like results.
http://www.getpaint.net/

GIMP - Similar to paint.net, except it uses individual windows for each file and can edit .gif files. UI takes a bit of getting used to.
http://www.gimp.org/

Music-Making Programs:
ModPlug Tracker - Take a trip to the 90s in a rockin' music making program that can edit and create many module-tracker formats, like .mod, .xm, .it, and more. While it is excellent for making 8-bit music, it can also be used to make very real sounding music. Features access to the .midi library of instruments (and any other soundfonts you may have), the ability to import custom .wav samples (or if you're use certain formats, .mp3 and .ogg can be imported as well), looping/panning/volume sliding of samples via built-in editing, many Italian-named effects like arpeggio, portmentau, vibrato and the ever popular-yet-mysterious "VolSlide + Vibrato", easy-to-learn controls + interface and SO MUCH MORE!!!
http://www.modplug.com/

Hipster Audio Players:
SIDPlay - Plays Commodore 64 .sid files. Enjoy scener favorites such as, Chirs Huelsbeck's legendary "Shades" (so good an real-deal orchestra played it live in germany), Maktone's "1992" and Jeroen Tel's uappreciated "Hawkeye Loader Subsong 15".
http://www.gsldata.se/c64/spw/sidplayw.html

XMPlay - Plays module-trackers such as .mod, .xm, .s3m, .it, and some non-tracker formats windows media player can't comprehend the true form of, like .flac and .ogg. Many more formats can be played via plugins.
http://www.un4seen.com/xmplay.html

Paint.NET > GIMP
anyone who says otherwise i won't hesitate to fight

^THIS. You just need to not be a 5 year old computer noob, install some plugins, and practice a bit. I'm sure gimp is fine and dandy but I'll keep my single window, easy to navigate interface thank-you-very-much.

[Blockzillahead]

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
RKill
LatencyMon
HiJackThis
PortableCMD
WireShark
MalwareBytes Chameleon

[Night Fox]

dude

>free software thread
>doesn't have links to sourceforge or launchpad etc