Engineering Freely

Introduction

Join me as I explore the world of software engineering using entirely open-source tools, free services, and eco-friendly hardware. This blog shares my journey, including the challenges and triumphs, offering insights for those seeking a more sustainable and affordable approach to development.

Why Open Source?

Open-source software not only fosters innovation and collaboration but also aligns with my vision of a sustainable and accessible technology ecosystem. Tools like Linux, LibreOffice, and GIMP are just the beginning of what's possible.

Low-Cost Hardware

Reusing old laptops and upgrading them with lightweight Linux distributions like Lubuntu or Arch Linux is my go-to approach. It's amazing how much you can achieve with minimal investment.

Mobile Devices

• Android: Flutter SDK will give you Android emulators.
• iOS: XCode on macOS, which comes with an iOS emulator for testing and development purposes.

Free Software

• Operating System: Linux Mint - Perfect for renewed laptops
• Text Editor/IDE: Visual Studio Code - Powerful and extensible
• Browser: Google Chrome - Fast with great developer tools
• 3D model and animation Blender - Open-source 3D designer
• Video Editing: ShotCut - Open-source video editor
• Communication: WhatsApp, Slack, Microsoft Teams - Staying connected across platforms
• Office Suite:
  • On Linux systems.LibreOffice
  • On macOS, we suggest utilizing the free Apple iWork Suite, which provides a seamless experience for users.
  • On Windows systems, we recommend using the Microsoft Web Office, ensuring compatibility and ease of use.
• Version Control: Git with VS Code integration

Code Frameworks

Reaching users across various hardware, platforms, and operating systems is a priority for me. To achieve this, I develop with cross-platform frameworks. My go-to choice is Flutter, using the Dart programming language. Flutter's efficiency and open-source nature align perfectly with my development philosophy.

Git Project Repo Hosting

For my open-source projects, I use GitHub. It's a fantastic platform for sharing code, collaborating with others, and fostering open-source contributions. GitHub's extensive community and features make it ideal for projects I want to make publicly available.

For private projects, I prefer GitLab. Its robust features for private repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and issue tracking make it a great choice for managing projects that require more control and security.

Challenges

The path isn't without obstacles. Some professional tools are locked behind proprietary systems, and finding alternatives can be tricky. I'll share how I navigate these hurdles.

Contact

Have questions or want to share your journey? Feel free to reach out via email: info@vteam.com.