Recommended software

This is a preliminary list of 'must have' software and utilities for RISC OS.

Shareware is starred - * Commercial software is bracketed - ()

Essential modules

• SharedUnixLib - Needed for a growing number of programs being developed: NetSurf and Cretin, to name just two
• Universal Boot (RISC OS 3.x only) - This enables users of < RISC OS 4 to have a compatible Boot structure. Essential for all users, regardless of vintage of hardware. The skeleton official download is available from the legacy Acorn website or you can try the more comprehensive (& recommended) "FancyBoot" version.

Text Editors

• StrongED / Zap

There's a huge debate about which is superior. My advice is: flip a coin, and stick with that one, then cite it as the best whenever anyone asks. A quirk with both StrongED and Zap is that by default, the Delete key does a LEFT-DELETE and Copy/End does a RIGHT-DELETE, instead of the more common Delete for RIGHT-DELETE and Copy/End to jump to the end of the text. To fix this please follow the instructions on this page.

Desktop Utilities

• StrongHelp - provides help for a number of programs
• Director - browse the directory structure of your Harddisc using menus and submenus
• Thump - Filer-like image viewer
• HID* - drivers for interactive USB keyboards and mice (Iyonix and Castle USB only). 10UKP to register
• InfoZip (recommended) (SparkFS - 25UKP) - Decompress (and compress) ZIPs and other archive formats
• Organizer (Latest version: 11UKP) - Fully functional addressbook and diary, capable of running tasks, remembering anniversary dates, alarms
• Remane* - Bulk renamer: rename entire directories of files using simple criteria and wildcards. 10UKP to register
• ChangeFSI - Multi-format image convertor, outputting jpegs or sprites
• FSIbatch* - Batch process of images with ChangeFSI, eg: convert a directory of large 16million colour jpegs into smaller 256 colour sprites for desktop backgrounds. 10UKP to register
• (CDVDburn - 65UKP) - cd and dvd burning software
• cdburnlite - provided with the Iyonix PC

Modules/Utilities

• AltClick - Alt-Click on a window to bring it to the front
• NetTime - Update your clock to internet time servers
• PlayIt - codec for most audio formats on RISC OS
• AMPlayer - adds support for MP3 playback
• SpecialFX - utility that improves overall desktop appearance by anti-aliasing drawfiles and blending fonts. Also fixes printing issues which can occur when printing text from several applications
• MiscSetup - a !Boot plugin that allows easy configuration of several desktop appearance choices no configurable elsewhere
• ZapFonts - Bitmap font renderer. Used for Zap, StrongED and Cretin, among others

Email/News

• Messenger/Lite (Pro - 39UKP)/(Pluto - from 29UKP) - Email and News Agent, allowing sorting and searching of messages and news
• Newsbase - Freestanding News database for use with the free version of messenger

Note: The free version of Messenger and Newsbase are not 32bit compatible, however the Iyonix is provided with Messenger Lite as standard

• Popstar - Mail client for fetching and sending Email
• Newshound - News client for fetching and sending news

Other Internet

• NetSurf - Free web browser, under constant development
• Firefox beta - A Work-in-progress port of the popular Firefox browser to RISC OS, currently undergoing further improvement and testing.
• Ftpc - FTP access, fully featured
• Cocognut - File share client for the Gnutella network

Media

• PlaySound
• DigitalCD - multiformat audio player (MP3, Audio CD, wave)
• AMPlay - Sophisticated MP3 player with filterable playlists

DTP and Spreadsheet

• (Easi/TechWriter - 99 & 124UKP respectively)
• (Ovation Pro - 125UKP)
• (Impression Publisher) - Currently being rewritten by X-Ample Technology
• Writer - Provided free with RISC OS 4
• Writer+ - Provided free with the Iyonix PC
• (Fireworkz Pro 26 - 100UKP) - Fully functional spreadsheet and database package
• Fireworkz32 - Provided with the Iyonix PC

Instant Messaging

• (Grapevine - 29UKP) - Supports MSN, ICQ and IRC
• LIRC - Free IRC client. Fully featured. Not currently 32bit compatible
• Cretin - Alternative free IRC client. 32bit version available.

Games

• (Quake Resurrection) - 23UKP - A port of the awsome Quake for RISC OS, includes two expansion packs.
• (Heroes of Might and Magic 2) - 35UKP - A port of the awsome Heroes of Might and Magic 2.
• (6502Em) - 15UKP - One of the best BBC Micro emulators on the RISC OS plaform.

Compatibility

This issue is rather important for all users of minority systems, so here we go: MS Word compatible software:

• AntiWord - a viewer and convertor of MS Word (.doc) documents. Converts to Text or Draw
• Writer(+) also can read MS Word documents to a fair degree of accuracy, and convert them to its native format.
• Easi/TechWriter also exports MS Word documents

MS Excel compatible software:

• ViewXLS - ditto for MS Excel (.xls) spreadsheets. Converts to CSV, TSV or Draw. CVS files exported can then be loaded into eg: Fireworkz for editing.