This post will take you to list of software under the following categories

• Integration Development Environment (IDE)
• Text Editor and Comparison
• Databases Engine, Client and Server
• File Archive and Transfer
• Virtual Machine
• Graphics and GUIs

View the following and get those that suit your requirement most

• Integration Development Environment (IDE)
  1. Eclipse
     An open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle. It’s well known as Java IDE, but it is in fact more than just an IDE.
     
  2. NetBeans
     A free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers. You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and Ruby.
     
  3. JBuilder 2008 Turbo
     A free, turnkey Eclipse bundle which provides the basic features and functions needed to create and deploy Java applications to today’s leading commercial and open source application servers.
     
  4. Microsoft Visual Studio Express
     A free version of VS which you can use to build application base on Microsoft .NET framework. It is packed with a completed set including C#, VB, Web, SQL server and MSDN Libraries.
     
  5. SharpDevelop
     A free IDE for C#, VB.NET and Boo projects on Microsoft’s .NET platform
     
  6. Jasper iReport Designer
     An Easy-to-use, drag-and-drop WYSIWIG report designer with support for all data sources and custom sources and sub-reports, complex layouts, multiple data sources, and programmable dashboards.
     
• Text Editor and Comparison
  1. Notepad++
     A light weight Text and Source code editor. It is Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment. Lots of feature that make your text editing experience more enjoyable.
     
  2. HTML Kit
     A full-featured free editor for HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and other text files. 400+ plugins are available for it, including HTML Tidy for creating standards-compliant web pages
  3. WinMerge
     An Open Source differencing and merging tool for Windows. WinMerge can compare both folders and files, presenting differences in a visual text format that is easy to understand and handle.
• Databases Engine, Client and Server
  1. MySQL
     Simply the world’s most popular open source database.
  2. PostgreSQL
     A powerful, open source relational database system. It has more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness
  3. SQLite
     A software library that implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. SQLite is the most widely deployed SQL database engine in the world
  4. Microsoft SQL Server Express
     Simple, Powerful, Easy to learn. Lots of feature and perfect for beginner. However it only run on Microsoft Windows
  5. Oracle Database Express Edition
     An entry-level, small-footprint database, Free to develop, deploy, and distribute. It is great for Developers working on PHP, Java, .NET, XML, and Open Source applications
  6. MySQL Workbench
     An ER/database modeling tool for MySQL. You can use it to design and create new database schemas, document existing databases and even perform complex migrations to MySQL
  7. DBVisualizer
     A database tool for developers and database administrators, helping you with both the development and maintenance of your databases.
• File Archive and Transfer
  1. 7-zip
     A file archiver with the high compression ratio. The program supports 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, LZH, CHM, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR, CPIO, ISO, MSI, WIM, NSIS, RPM and DEB formats.
  2. PuTTY
     A free telnet and SSH Client for Windows and Unix platforms
  3. WinSCP
     An open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows. Legacy SCP protocol is also supported. Its main function is safe copying of files between a local and a remote computer
• Virtual Machine
  1. VMWare Player
     Run virtual machines on your Windows or Linux PC with VMware Player 2.5. This free desktop virtualization software application makes it easy to operate any virtual machine created by VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, VMware Server or VMware ESX, as well as Microsoft Virtual Server virtual machines or Microsoft Virtual PC virtual machines
  2. VirtualBox
     A family of powerful x86 virtualization products for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software
• Graphics and GUIs
  1. GIMP
     The GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages
  2. Paint.NET
     An image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools
  3. LightScreen
     A small tool to automate the process of saving and cataloging screenshots, it operates as a hidden background process that is invoked with a hotkey and then saves a screenshot file to disk according to the user’s preferences.
  4. Pencil Project
     A tool for Sketching and GUI Prototyping. The project unique mission is to build a free and opensource tool for making diagrams and GUI prototyping that everyone can use

Some of those recommended products might be costing a fortune, usually it comes with support (for a limited time). You will have to regularly pay for that services monthly/yearly depends on the conditions and agreements.

If you experience with those kind of product, ask yourself this question now

How many time in a year you make a use of the support services you’ve paid for?

Usually the answer is second to none. Well, might as well don’t spend a dollar on it?

If you are new to the development world, ask yourself this question

Do I (or we) have the foundation fund for the license fee?

No? then read on…

When you develop a software and it requires a relational database back-end you could take advantage of no-cost. It is in fact require very minimal foundation fund investing in your project and when you ship out your product to client, you could feature as “no additional cost on database server” attaches with your white paper of your product.

Here is a list of free relational database servers

• MySQL – http://www.mysql.com
  The world’s most popular open source database because of its consistent fast performance, high reliability and ease of use.
  It’s also become the database of choice for a new generation of applications built on the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP / Perl / Python.) MySQL runs on more than 20 platforms including Linux, Windows, OS/X, HP-UX, AIX, Netware, giving you the kind of flexibility that puts you in control.
• PostgreSQL – http://www.postgresql.org
  Powerful, open source relational database system. It has more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness. It runs on all major operating systems, including Linux, UNIX (AIX, BSD, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, Mac OS X, Solaris, Tru64), and Windows.
• Apache Derby - http://db.apache.org/derby
  Open source relational database implemented entirely in Java. It has a small footprint, about 2 megabytes for the base engine and embedded JDBC driver. Good for light weight storage for embedded in a stand alone application.
• SQLite - http://www.sqlite.org
  A small software library that implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. It is used in countless desktop computer applications as well as consumer electronic devices including cellphones, PDAs, and MP3 players.
• Firebird - http://www.firebirdsql.org
  A relational database offering many ANSI SQL-92 features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. Read Get to know Firebird in 2 minutes
• H2 (Java) – http://www.h2database.com
  Another small and lightweight database engine, very fast and free. Only 1 MB footprint. Good for embedded in a stand alone application.
• HSQLDB (Java) – http://www.hsqldb.org
  Java developers’ best choice for development, testing and deployment of database applications

The bottom line is, before you go to deep, do more homework before you make decision.

Now, It’s your turn to explore and learn more on which you chose to be the best suit.