The Kirksville Local’s Guide to Free and Open-Source Software#

By Switchboard Tech Services – Kirksville, Missouri

Every computer in Kirksville should come with a little less rent and a little more ownership.
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is exactly that idea made practical: you get powerful, secure tools built by communities, not corporations, and you pay nothing except attention.

This guide walks through two practical paths – one for Windows users who want to stop paying for subscriptions, and one for Linux users who already jumped the fence.

Part 1: Windows-Centric Tools#

Open-source software runs great on Windows. You can replace nearly every paid program with a free alternative that is often faster and safer.

Web Browsing: Privacy Without Popups#

• Firefox (https://www.mozilla.org/firefox)
  The classic open browser. Privacy-first, customizable, and backed by a nonprofit.
• Brave (https://brave.com)
  Built on Chromium, but blocks ads and trackers out of the box. It is Chrome without the snooping.

Office and Documents#

• LibreOffice (https://www.libreoffice.org)
  Fully replaces Microsoft Office. You can open and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files natively.
• OnlyOffice (https://www.onlyoffice.com)
  A clean, modern interface that feels closer to Microsoft 365. Great for collaboration.

Image and Design Tools#

• GIMP (https://www.gimp.org)
  A capable Photoshop replacement for photo editing, illustration, and graphic work.
• Inkscape (https://inkscape.org)
  Vector design software similar to Adobe Illustrator. Excellent for logo design and sign layouts.
• Krita (https://krita.org)
  Built for digital painters and illustrators. Artists love it for tablet workflow and brush realism.

Video and Audio#

• Shotcut (https://shotcut.org)
  Straightforward video editor with support for all common formats.
• Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org)
  The classic open audio editor. Ideal for podcasts, music trimming, or cleaning up recordings.

System Utilities and Maintenance#

• BleachBit (https://www.bleachbit.org)
  Cleans temporary files and caches better than most commercial “PC cleaner” apps.
• 7-Zip (https://www.7-zip.org)
  Essential file compression tool that handles everything from ZIP to ISO.
• VLC Media Player (https://www.videolan.org/vlc)
  The ultimate “plays anything” media player. Handles every format without downloading extra codecs.

Security and Privacy#

• KeePassXC (https://keepassxc.org)
  A password manager that keeps your credentials in an encrypted file you control.
• qBittorrent (https://www.qbittorrent.org)
  For legal torrent downloads (Linux ISOs, open data, etc.). No ads, no spyware.
• ProtonVPN (https://protonvpn.com)
  Free tier available, open-source client, and strong privacy track record.

Part 2: Linux-Centric Tools#

Linux users already live in the open-source world. But if you are new to it, think of Linux as Windows that respects you – fast, quiet, no forced updates or ads in the start menu.

Most of the tools above run on Linux too, but here are a few that shine brightest in that environment.

Everyday Linux Applications#

• LibreOffice (again, yes) comes preinstalled on most distributions.
• Firefox or Brave work just as well here as on Windows.
• Thunderbird (https://www.thunderbird.net)
  Reliable email client with calendar integration, offline storage, and encryption support.

Terminal and File Tools#

• Midnight Commander (https://midnight-commander.org)
  Old-school dual-panel file manager that still beats most GUIs for speed.
• rsync (https://rsync.samba.org)
  Command-line synchronization tool – perfect for local backups or cloning folders.
• Timeshift (https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift)
  Makes snapshot backups of your system. If something breaks, roll it back like a time machine.

Creative Tools#

• Darktable (https://www.darktable.org)
  Non-destructive photo editor for RAW image workflows, like Adobe Lightroom.
• Blender (https://www.blender.org)
  Full 3D creation suite for modeling, animation, and rendering. Used professionally worldwide.
• Kdenlive (https://kdenlive.org)
  Nonlinear video editor with advanced features – and it rarely crashes.

System Monitoring and Utilities#

• htop (https://htop.dev)
  Task Manager done right. Clean, colorful, and informative.
• GParted (https://gparted.org)
  Safely partitions drives. Ideal for dual-boot setups and troubleshooting.
• Synaptic Package Manager
  A graphical tool for browsing and managing installed software packages.

Why This Matters#

Kirksville’s tech scene thrives on independence. Every time you replace a subscription or cloud account with a reliable open-source tool, you keep a little more control over your computer and your wallet.
You also make local repair easier: open systems are fixable systems.

Most open-source software is made by small, passionate teams. When you use their work, you are joining a global circle of people who believe technology should serve everyone – not just shareholders.

The Honest Ending#

If you like this approach, you might as well take the next step. Most people who get serious about open-source software eventually realize that the foundation of it all – Linux – can replace Windows entirely.

Unless you are a gamer or a full-time graphic designer (and even then, Linux is catching up fast), there is no reason not to switch.

Start with something friendly like Linux Mint or Zorin OS.
Once you see how fast your system boots and how little it nags you, you will not look back.

Need a hand getting started?
Visit Switchboard Tech Services in Kirksville. We help locals install, dual-boot, and explore open-source software safely and confidently.