Windows Development Free Software for Windows

There is no free lunch in this world. Fortunately, the same doesn’t apply to software. Finding free software is a boon. But finding free software that is not a crippleware (functionality is so limited to the point of almost useless), nagware (repeatedly reminds user to purchase the software), demoware (can be used for certain times or certain number of days only), and does not contain adware(display advertisements every now and then), spyware(collect your personal information) is tough.

Here is a list of what I consider as Top 100 Free Software for Windows. Most of these are software that I am using or have used before. Majority are freeware with some of them under open source software license agreement. There are a number of shareware in this list too. These are great shareware that provides good functionality even if you don’t buy.

Windows Development

1. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
   A powerful and easy-to-use database to complement each Express Edition.
   http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/
   
2. Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
   Productivity that is ideal for first time or casual Windows programming.
   http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/
   
3. Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition »
   A great combination of power and productivity for the Windows developer.
   http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/
   
4. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
   Horsepower with a finer degree of control than other Express Editions.
   http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/
   
5. Microsoft Visual J# 2005 Express Edition
   Ideal for those with prior Java-language experience or learning the Java language.
   http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualj/
   

Education

1. WordWeb
   WordWeb is a free thesaurus and dictionary for Windows. It includes a comprehensive English thesaurus and dictionary, and can be used to look up words from within most programs.
   http://wordweb.info/free/
   
2. Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader
   Feeling lazy? Get Ultra Hal to read that ebook for you. The Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader application will read your documents out loud. This can be a great tool for proofreading because hearing your text out loud helps you spot all mistakes.
   http://www.zabaware.com/download.asp
   
3. Quotes
   Have you ever find yourself linger on at the end of an e-mail message to let out a smile or sit back and reflect for a moment due to a quote appended to the message? Quotes 2006, the latest version of this program that was first released in 1996, inserts random quotes in your e-mail signature, making you appear much smarter than you really are.
   http://qliner.com/quotes/
   
4. Google Earth
   Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in — Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips.
   http://earth.google.com/