Forums | MacLife

Python, which is built in to the system already (just open terminal and type 'python') is a great programming language.  It helps to update it to the latest version though, just go to the site python.org and follow the directions.  One great free addition, or package, is vpython, a nifty 3-D editor.  Currently you have to use Fink to install it and you have to run it in X11, but it's worth it if you need it like I do, for a course on computational physics. (you have to enable unstable packages to get the latest and most stable version)

Another great free app with a limited audience is teleport, a system preference that allows you to control other computers with one keyboard and mouse.  It's just like having multiple monitors, and it has some great functionality like being able to drag a file from one computer to another.  It's very intuitive in how it works, for example your keyboard only controls the computer where the mouse is being controlled.

And finally, I don't get what's so bad about stuffit expander.  I use it on a regular basis to open sitx files, so I have to use it, but it's pretty seamless as far as I can tell.  However I don't consider it something to put on this thread because it's so common and you pretty much know if you need it or not.

joshlocker wrote:

No one mentioned Firefox yet, I'm surprised.

that's because it's a free necessity, not an add-on free app

macnuke wrote:

joshlocker wrote:

No one mentioned Firefox yet, I'm surprised.

that's because it's a free necessity, not an add-on free app

Or, in my case, because I think the Mac version is awful.

I don't agree.  In my opinion, Firefox isn't a given on a Mac because Safari is good and the difference between the two is slight, while the difference between Firefox and IE on Windows is much larger.  However that's just me.  In fact I use both and they both have features that the other doesn't have.  But Firefox changes much more readily than Safari, so to me that puts it over the top.