The Open Source Tools That can Make you More Productive

Open source technology is so-called because its underlying software is distributed with its source code. As a result, it’s more accessible for usage and distribution, and developers can leverage the software within its original rights.

Not only does open source power technologies like blockchain, but it also underpins in excess of 90% of the leading 500 supercomputers across the globe. What’s more, open source software accounts for 86% of the web servers throughout the world, while this percentage is likely to increase further in the near-term.

Of course, this market is also highly innovative and continues to see the development of new tools and applications. But which of these are the best from the perspective of boosting productivity? Let’s get into it!

1.   Penpot – Available for Individuals and Organisations

Let’s start with Penpot, which is an open source design tool that’s based online. It saw exponential growth in registrations last year, after Adobe’s proposed and high–profile $20 billion bid for the similar app Figma ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Penpot offers a viable open source alternative to Figma, and while it lacks some of its rivals’ features, it has raised an impressive $8 million in funding through 2024.

It’s also completely free to sign up for an account, while the tool offers enhanced transparency, security and customisation options across a diverse selection of potential applications.

The tool’s performance is also reliable, while Penpot’s ‘Flex Layout’ feature includes an impressive CSS flexbox inside an open source design app.

2.   Jitsi – The Latest Open Source Tool for Video Conferencing

Video conferencing tools enjoyed a significant boom in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with Zoom recording the highest rates of growth through 2020 and 2021.

Of course, the pandemic also precipitated a much wider shift towards remote work, with Zoom blazing a trail for others to follow since. This includes open source tools like Jitsi, which remains a community-driven initiative that has a long track record of success.

Meetings can be started instantly from the tool’s main page, while Jitsi’s basic features are available through open source software (and for free). Its parent company (8×8) also boasts a tiered, paid service that has been built on top of this, with this unlocking additional and premium features.

Interestingly, Jitsi started out as an Atlassian tool in 2018, before being acquired by 8×8 in 2018. 

3.   Chatwoot – Revolutionising Customer Support

When you register here with 1xbit, the chances are that you’ll need to rely on reliable and interactive customer support at some point online. 

In fact, the delivery of intuitive customer service has become key for brands across an array of industries in 2024, especially in terms of retaining customers in highly competitive markets.

Zendesk is a market leading operator in this market. However, this software is entirely closed and proprietary, with the lesser-known Chatwoot offering a viable open source alternative in the modern age.

This offers significant advantages to businesses. More specifically, users can self-host the customer support and engagement segments in-house, while also retaining full control over their data.