Education/Applications/Desktop/Ages 12-18

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Wherewith do you teach tomorrow?

Contents



Applications for teenagers (from 12 up to 18 years)


Amusement

Packagename (link points to full description) Description Homepage Remark Gnome KDE Ages 4-10 Ages 10-14 Ages 15-adult Default For Pattern
gnuchess A worthy chess opponent that runs in text mode. Find an X11 interface in the xboard package. http://www.gnu.org/software/chess/chess.html
kanagram Kanagram is a replacement for KMessedWords, and is new in KDE 3.5. Kanagram mixes up the letters of a word (creating an anagram), and you have to guess what the mixed up word is. http://edu.kde.org/kanagram/
blinken blinKen is the KDE version of the well-known game Simon Says.

Follow the pattern of sounds and lights as long as you can! Press the start game button to begin. Watch the computer and copy the pattern it makes. Complete the sequence in the right order to win.

http://edu.kde.org/blinken/
khangman KHangman is the classical hangman game. The child should guess a word letter by letter. At each miss, the picture of a hangman appears. After 10 tries, if the word is not guessed, the game is over and the answer is displayed. http://edu.kde.org/khangman/
knights Knights is a themeable chess front-end. You can play against the crafty engine or via an Internet server. http://knights.sourceforge.net/
kmahjongg KMahjongg is a clone of the well known tile based patience game of the same name. In the game you have to empty a game board filled with piece by removing pieces of the same type. http://games.kde.org/kmahjongg/
kmines KMines is the classical Minesweeper game where you have to find mines by logical deduction. http://kmines.sourceforge.net/
kpat KPatience is a collection of various patience games known all over the world. It includes Klondike, Freecell, Yukon, Forty and Eight and many more. The game has nice graphics and many different carddecks. http://www.kde.org
kreversi KReversi is a board game game where two players have to gain the majority of pieces on the board. This is done by tactically placing ones pieces to turn over the opponents pieces. http://www.kde.org
KSudoku KSudoku is a program that can generate and solve sudoku puzzles. The word Sudoku means "single number in an alloted place" in Japanese. Some cells are filled with a number at the beginnning: the remaining are to be filled by the player using numbers from 1 to 9, without repeating a number twice on each column, row, or subsquare. http://ksudoku.sourceforge.net/
lincity-ng LinCity-NG is a city simulation game. It is a polished and improved version of the classic LinCity game. Within the scope of the GoTM project at happypenguin, a new iso-3D graphics engine was created with a completely redone and modern GUI. http://lincity-ng.berlios.de/wiki/index.php/Main_Page


Computer science

Packagename (link points to full description) Description Homepage Remark Gnome KDE Ages 4-10 Ages 10-14 Ages 15-adult Default For Pattern
Blender Blender is the open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. http://www.blender.org/
Bluefish Bluefish is a HTML editor designed for the experienced Web designer (supports HTML, PHP, Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, C, Pascal and more). http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/ We packaged bluefish and bluefish-unstable. Your decision which package you use... ;-)
BlueJ An integrated Java environment specifically designed for introductory teaching. http://www.bluej.org/
eXelearning eXe, the eLearning XHTML editor, is an authoring environment which enables teachers to publish web content in standard package formats (like IMS Content Packages and SCORM) without the need to become proficient in HTML or XML markup. Content generated using eXe can be used by any Learning Management System. http://exelearning.org/
gambas This project aims at making a graphical development environment based on a Basic interpreter, so that we have a language like Visual Basicâ„¢ under Linux. http://gambas.sourceforge.net/
kile Kile is a LaTeX Source Editor and TeX Shell. http://kile.sourceforge.net/
Knoda Knoda is a database front-end for MySQL and PostgreSQL, which also contains a generic ODBC driver. You can use it for creating tables and databases, forms, reports, and queries. Knoda has also an export and import filter for CSV files. http://www.knoda.org/
kturtle KTurtle is an educational programming environment for the KDE Desktop. KTurtle aims to make programming as easy and touchable as possible, and therefore can be used to teach kids the basics of math, geometry and... programming. http://edu.kde.org/kturtle/
LabPlot LabPlot is for scientific 2D and 3D data and function plotting. The various display and analysis functions are explained in the handbook (KDE help center). LabPlot also provides a component for easily viewing the project files in Konqueror. http://labplot.sourceforge.net/index-de.html
NVU A complete Web authoring system for Linux Desktop users, similar to Microsoft Windows programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Nvu (pronounced N-view, for a "new view") makes managing a Web site a snap. Now anyone can create Web pages and manage a Web site with no technical expertise or HTML knowledge. http://www.nvu.com/
Quanta Quanta Plus is a highly stable and feature rich web development environment. The vision with Quanta has always been to start with the best architectural foundations, design for efficient and natural use and enable maximal user extensibility. http://quanta.kdewebdev.org/ The package is renamed to kdewebdev on openSUSE > 10.1
Rekall Rekall is a programmable personal database management system (DBMS). It supports form and report generation. http://www.rekallrevealed.org/


Math

Packagename (link points to full description) Description Homepage Remark Gnome KDE Ages 4-10 Ages 10-14 Ages 15-adult Default For Pattern
Basic Calculator (bc) bc is an interpreter that supports numbers of arbitrary precision and the interactive execution of statements. The syntax has some similarities to the C programming language. A standard math library is available through command line options. When used, the math library is read in before any other input files. bc then reads in all other files from the command line, evaluating their contents. Then bc reads from standard input (usually the keyboard).
The dc program is also included. dc is a calculator that supports reverse-polish notation and allows unlimited precision arithmetic. Macros can also be defined. Normally, dc reads from standard input but can also read in files specified on the command line. A calculator with reverse-polish notation saves numbers to a stack. Arguments to mathematical operations (operands) are "pushed" onto the stack until the next operator is read in, which "pops" its arguments off the stack and "pushes" its results back onto the stack.
ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/bc/ The package contains bc and dc
calctool A simple scientific calculator, which can also represent values in binary, hexadecimal, or decimal format. http://www.netsw.org/math/calc/
Drgeo An interactive geometry program that allows the construction of interactive geometric figures. http://www.ofset.org/drgeo
fraqtive Fraqtive is a program for drawing Mandelbrot and Julia fractals.

It uses a very fast algorithm and generates high quality, smooth images. It is fully interactive, allowing for real-time mouse navigation and dynamic generation of the Julia fractal preview.

OpenGL-rendered 3D view of the fractals is also supported.

http://fraqtive.mimec.org/
galculator Galculator is a GTK+ scientific calculator. It supports different number bases and angle units and features a wide range of mathematical and other useful functions. http://galculator.sourceforge.net/
gcalctool A GNOME calculator package based on calctool and MP library. http://www.gnomefiles.org/app.php?soft_id=573
geogebra A dynamic mathematics software for education in secondary schools that joins geometry, algebra and calculus.

On the one hand, GeoGebra is a dynamic geometry system. You can do constructions with points, vectors, segments, lines, conic sections as well as functions and change them dynamically afterwards.

On the other hand, equations and coordinates can be entered directly. Thus, GeoGebra has the ability to deal with variables for numbers, vectors and points, finds derivatives and integrals of functions and offers commands like Root or Extremum.

These two views are characteristic of GeoGebra: an expression in the algebra window corresponds to an object in the geometry window and vice versa.

http://www.geogebra.org/cms/ Please delete /opt/geogebra before you take an update
GEONEXT Geonext acts as a tool for creating geometric constructions with a various number of construction tools. Compared to paper based constructions constructions can be changed and varied dynamically afterwards. http://geonext.uni-bayreuth.de/
kbruch KBruch is a small program to practice calculating with fractions. Therefor 4 different exercises are offered.
  1. Exercise Fraction Task - in this exercise you have to solve a given fraction task. You have to enter numerator and denominator. This is the main exercise. The difficulty of this task can be influenced by the user. The user can decide if he wants to solve tasks with addition/substraction and/or multiplication/division. Also he can set the number of fractions and the maximum size of the main denominator.
  2. Exercise Comparison - in this exercise you have to compare the size of 2 given fractions.
  3. Exercise Conversion - in this exercise you have to convert a given number into a fraction.
  4. Exercise Factorization - in this exercise you have to factorize a given number into its prime factors. Factorization is important while finding the main denominator of 2 fractions.
http://edu.kde.org/kbruch/
kmplot KmPlot is a mathematical function plotter for the KDE-Desktop.

It has built in a powerfull parser. You can plot different functions simultaneously and combine their function terms to build new functions. KmPlot supports functions with parameters and functions in polar coordinates. Several grid modes are possible. Plots may be printed with high precision in correct scale.

http://edu.kde.org/kmplot/
kig Kig is a program for exploring geometric constructions. It is meant as a better replacement for such free programs as KGeo, KSeg and Dr. Geo. http://edu.kde.org/kig/
kpercentage KPercentage is a small math application that will help pupils to improve their skills in calculating percentages. http://edu.kde.org/kpercentage/
KSeg KSEG is a program for exploring Euclidean geometry. You can create a construction, such as a triangle with a circumcenter, then, as you drag verteces of the triangle, you can see the circumcenter moving in real time. KSEG is very fast even in big and recursive constructions and may well be used in math lessons in school. http://www.mit.edu/~ibaran/kseg.html
MultiplicationStation Multiplication Station will teach your child to add, subtract, and multiply. It is a multi-user application with a simple admin interface. All parameters

are configurable, like grid size and the fonts and colors of number ranges. A countdown timer is used to keep the player's attention focused. A list of high scores is maintained.

http://www.asymptopia.org/index.php?topic=MultiplicationStation
SciLab A large mathematical package for numerical computations containing a lot of demos. Take a look at the license information in /usr/lib/scilab/notice.*
This program may not look very appealing, but it is as powerful as some commercial products. Scilab even includes a converter for Maple files.
http://scilabsoft.inria.fr/
wxMaxima Maxima is a full symbolic computation program. It is full featured doing symbolic manipulation of polynomials, matrices, rational functions, integration, Todd-coxeter, graphing, bigfloats. It has a symbolic debugger source level debugger for maxima code.
Maxima is based on the original Macsyma developed at MIT in the 1970's. It is quite reliable, and has good garbage collection, and no memory leaks. It comes with hundreds of self tests.
http://wxmaxima.sourceforge.net/
Octave Octave is a high level programming language. It is designed for the solution of numeric problems. There is a command line interface supplied. http://www.octave.org/
Yacas YACAS is an easy to use, general purpose Computer Algebra System, a program for symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressions. It uses its own programming language designed for symbolic as well as arbitrary-precision numerical computations.
The system has a library of scripts that implement many of the symbolic algebra operations; new algorithms can be easily added to the library.
YACAS comes with extensive documentation (320+ pages) covering the scripting language, the functionality that is already implemented in the system, and the algorithms we used.
http://yacas.sourceforge.net/


Natural sciences

Packagename (link points to full description) Description Homepage Remark Gnome KDE Ages 4-10 Ages 10-14 Ages 15-adult Default For Pattern
atomix Atomix is a gtk2 puzzle game for building molecules from atoms
Avogadro Avogadro is an advanced molecular editor designed for cross-platform use in computational chemistry, molecular modeling, bioinformatics, materials science, and related areas. It offers flexible rendering and a powerful plugin architecture. http://avogadro.sourceforge.net/wiki/Main_Page
Celestia Celestia is a free real-time space simulation that lets you experience our universe in three dimensions.
Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia does not confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system to any of over 100,000 stars or even beyond the galaxy. All travel in Celestia is seamless; the exponential zoom feature lets you explore space across a huge range of scales, from galaxy clusters down to spacecraft only a few meters across.
A 'point-and-goto' interface makes it simple to navigate through the universe to the object you want to visit.
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/
Chemtool Chemtool is a program for drawing organic molecules easily and storing them as an X bitmap, Xfig, or EPS file. It runs under the X Window System using the GTK widget set. http://ruby.chemie.uni-freiburg.de/~martin/chemtool/
gElemental gElemental is a GTK+ periodic table viewer with detailed information on elements. http://www.kdau.com/projects/gelemental/
kalzium Kalzium is an application which will show you some information about the periodic system of the elements. Therefore you could use it as an information database. http://edu.kde.org/kalzium/
kgeo KGeography is a geography learning tool. Right now it has six usage modes:
  • Browse the maps clicking in a map division to see it's name
  • The game tells you a map division name and you have to click on it
  • The game tells you a capital and you have to guess the division it belongs to
  • The game tells you a division and you have to guess its capital
  • The game shows you a map division flag and you have to guess its name
  • The game tells you a map division name and you have to guess its flag
http://kgeography.berlios.de/
KLogic You can place digital operators on a canvas and wire them into a circuit. Then the program simulates the operation of this circuit. http://www.a-rostin.de/klogic/indexd.html
KSimus KSimus is a tool for the simulation, automation, and visualization of technical processes (currently limited to idealized logic circuits). It is also useful for education and experiments in the scope of logical and automatic control circuits. http://ksimus.berlios.de/
kstars KStars is a Desktop Planetarium for KDE. It provides an accurate graphical simulation of the night sky, from any location on Earth, at any date and time. The display includes 130,000 stars, 13,000 deep-sky objects,all 8 planets, the Sun and Moon, and thousands of comets and asteroids. http://edu.kde.org/kstars/
ktechlab KTechlab is a development and simulation environment for microcontrollers and electronic circuits.


KTechlab consists of several well-integrated components:

  • A circuit simulator, capable of simulating logic, linear devices and some nonlinear devices.
  • Integration with gpsim, allowing PICs to be simulated in circuit.
  • A schematic editor, which provides a rich real-time feedback of the simulation.
  • A flowchart editor, allowing PIC programs to be constructed visually.
  • MicroBASIC; a BASIC-like compiler for PICs, written as a companion program to KTechlab.
  • An embedded Kate part, which provides a powerful editor for PIC programs.
  • Integrated assembler and disassembler via gpasm and gpdasm..
http://ktechlab.org/
RasMol RasMol is an X Window System tool intended for the visualization of proteins and nucleic acids. It reads Brookhaven Protein Database (PDB) files and interactively renders them in a variety of formats on either an 8-bit or 24/32-bit color display. http://www.bernstein-plus-sons.com/software/rasmol/
Stellarium is a free software available for Windows, Linux/Unix and MacOSX. It renders 3D photo-realistic skies in real time.. With stellarium, you really see what you can see with your eyes, binoculars or a small telescope. http://www.stellarium.org/
tkgate TkGate is a event driven digital circuit simulator with a tcl/tk-based graphical editor. TkGate supports a wide range of primitive circuit elements as well as user-defined modules for hierarchical design. The distribution comes with a number of tutorial and example circuits which can be loaded through the "Help" menu. The example circuits include a simple CPU, programmed to run the Animals game.

TkGate Features:

  • Easy to use point-and-click user interface.
  • Customizable color configuration.
  • Intelligent placement and movement of wires.
  • Multi-bit buses.
  • Hierarchical design through user defined modules.
  • Six valued logic including 0, 1, floating, unknown, "low" and "high".
  • Wide range of circuit elements including:
    • Basic gates (AND, OR, etc.)
    • Switch-level NMOS and PMOS transistors
    • Tristate buffers
    • Alu components (Adders, shifters, multipliers)
    • Memory elements (Registers, RAMs, ROMs)
    • A "tty" element which allows the creation of interactive circuits.
  • Graphical display of simulation results.
  • Breakpoints, single-step and clock-step simulator control.
  • Includes a generic microcode/macrocode compiler for creating memory initialization files.
  • Simulations can be controlled through the GUI or through script files.
  • Verilog-like save file format.
  • Hyperlinks to move about in circuit or load other files.
  • Can be configured to use Japanese interface (see README file).
  • Supports static critical path analysis.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~hansen/tkgate/
xaos XaoS is a fast portable real-time interactive fractal zoomer. It displays the Mandelbrot set (among other escape time fractals) and allows you to zoom smoothly into the fractal. Various coloring modes are provided for both the points inside and outside the selected set. In addition, switching between Julia and Mandelbrot fractal types and displaying planes is provided. http://xaos.sourceforge.net


Artistic scope

Packagename (link points to full description) Description Homepage Remark Gnome KDE Ages 4-10 Ages 10-14 Ages 15-adult Default For Pattern
Audacity Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating sys