Ask Slashdot: Good, Useful Free Software For Gifts?

First time accepted submitter Jeng writes "I'm planning on sending flash drives to friends and family as stocking stuffers. Rather than just send a blank drive, I'm looking for what good useful free software that I can load on it — from system utilities and encryption software to fun little games." We've asked similar questions before, but software keeps getting better, and so do the prices on flash drives. So what would you give as a gift this holiday season?

Let's see:

[DangerOnTheRanger]

Gaming:

• SuperTuxKart
• SuperTux (SVN trunk)
• Warsow
• Warzone 2100, maybe
• Secret Maryo Chronicles

Graphics:

• Inkscape
• GIMP

Other stuff:

• Python (2.6 or 2.7)
• Transmission (the Bittorrent client)
• Filezilla
• Firefox or Chromium, if they don't use either already

Re:It's a ridiculous idea

[xs650]

Yup, I was thinking it was like giving someone a free Gideon's bible out of a hotel room.

lots of options

[lister king of smeg]

well you can use a bootable USB of course, or you could use virtualization-on-a-stick, using qemu or portable virtual-box

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/using-a-portable-virtualbox-to-run-linux-from-usb/ [pendrivelinux.com]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/run-a-live-linux-cd-from-within-windows/ [pendrivelinux.com]

or you could use portable app's projects off of sourceforge.

Tons of free games

[Anonymous Coward]

Works off a CD, DVD or USB flash drive. live.linuX-gamers.net [linux-gamers.net]

PortableApps

[Anonymous Coward]

If they are using Windows, I suggest the full collection of PortableApps from http://www.portableapps.com
It will runs directly from your flash drive and is really useful! :-)

Re:other bits to consider besides software

[Anonymous Coward]

How about a big collection of free music/ebooks/movies/art, etc?

Some hints:
* http://magnatune.com
* http://dig.ccmixter.org/
* http://archive.org/

Re:Bootable USB

[jmorris42]

> I'd suggest Ubuntu, with a "readme.txt" written for those who will plug it into their Windows box.

And make sure you give them WUBI instead of expecting someone new to Free Software to be willing to figure out repartitioning. Sure it doesn't perform quite as well, but the benefits balance out for new users.

PortableApps

[CastrTroy]

You should fill it full of stuff from PortableApps [portableapps.com]. Tons of great programs there. Plus they don't have to install anything. No worry about messing up their computer.

portableapps.com

[DragonTHC]

The portable apps suite is a powerful free toolbox useful for any user and admin alike.

You can also customize each flash drive to the recipient of the gift. There's tons of apps available including games.

www.portableapps.com

OSS for WIN

[enter to exit]

There exists such a project currently:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDisc [wikipedia.org]

Couple this with the selection from OSS-WIN solves your dilemma significantly: http://osswin.sourceforge.net/ [sourceforge.net]

Trinidad & Tobago Computer Society OSSWIN CD

[jdeisenberg]

http://ttcsweb.org/osswin-cd/index.htm [ttcsweb.org]

My Free App List

[tty7]

Games: FrozenBubble, Neverball, Vertigo, Zaz, Supertuxkart, Some form of tetris, Gweled, Blobby Volley 2, LBreakout 2, Frogatto, armagetron, xmoto, PokerTH, trackballs. Others: Cryptkeeper (hide directories), audacity(bundle mp3 support), openshot, desktop recorder, clementine-player(music), smplayer (if everyone has vlc), cherry--tree(note taking app, http://www.giuspen.com/cherrytree/ [giuspen.com]), tasque, focuswriter and virtualbox to run ubuntu.