 Freeware:
Adobe Acrobat Reader
(for displaying PDF files)
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Adobe Acrobat Reader is freeware for reading PDF (Portable Document Format) files produced by
the electronic publishing software Adobe Acrobat marketed by Adobe Systems, Inc. The download
includes plug-ins for Netscape and Internet Explorer so that the reader will run as effectively from
within these web browsers as from your desktop. PDF has been widely adopted as a standard by large
organizations (e.g., the National Science Foundation). Acrobat Reader is an advisable addendum for
anyone who uses the World Wide Web.
 Freeware:
Cygwin (Unix environment for Windows w/gcc).
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Cygwin is a full-fledged UNIX environment for Windows insofar as what the underlying Windows OS can deliver.
It consists of two parts:
- A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a UNIX emulation layer providing substantial UNIX API functionality.
- A collection of tools, ported from UNIX, which provide UNIX/Linux look and feel. It is covered by the terms of the GNU General Public License.
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 Freeware:
SSH Secure Shell for Workstations (terminal emulation and file transfer software all in one package).
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SSH Communications Security has made
the Windows version of one of their products, SSH Secure Shell for Workstations, available
free-of-charge for non-commercial use by students and faculty. SSH Secure Shell provides
means for both remote logins and file transfers. After initial login, additional terminal sessions
and file transfer are initiated by just using "point and click". The file transfer window
lists remote file directories in Windows format, and transfer can be accomplished by familiar
"drag and drop" to a local file directory window. For files over about 50Kb,
file transfer may prove to be significantly faster if the file transfer
settings in SSH are adjusted. As initially configured, SSH automatically selects the file transfer
mode based on the file extension (ASCII mode for
.txt, .htm, .html, .bat files and binary mode for everything else), which can save
the annoyance of forgetting to set the mode to match the type of file being transferred.
 Freeware:
Fedora (complete package for a user friendly
stand-alone Linux, including dual-boot capability).
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The goal of the Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete,
general purpose operating system exclusively from free software. It is sponsored as freeware by
Red Hat Linux, but is not a supported product of
Red Hat, Inc., which markets enterprise Linux-based solutions. The install CD's for Fedora Core are
available by download. There are
5 CD images in all, but only the first 2 are needed to set up a Linux workstation. Dual boot capability and
SMP (multiprocessor support) are endemic. There is also a DVD image (in excess of 4Gb), which may
challenge the capabilities of current download clients, so it is probably easier to go with CDs.
If your CD burn capability has trouble with .iso images, try
Nero CD Burning Software, which can be
downloaded in a free trial version.
The Fedora installation sets up a Windows-like login interface (X11), integrating in
Linux versions of typical applications such as web browsing (Mozilla),
word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation manager (Open Office). Installed programs
provide access to system resources via the desktop. Terminal windows can be opened for
command line capabilities characteristic of all Unix environments. The default shell is the
Bourne-again shell (bash). The Bourne shell (sh) and C shell (csh) are also included. Most Korn
shell constructions also work under bash.
 Freeware:
Interactive C (a user friendly reduced version of
C supporting the MIT Handy Board, Lego RCX, and KIPR XBC
robotics controllers).
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Interactive C (IC) is freeware contributed by the
KISS Institute for Practical Robotics.
IC is implemented for Windows, Apple OS/X, and Linux to provide a C
programming environment for a selection of robotics controllers (MIT Handy Board v 1.2, Lego RCX, KIPR XBC PWM/PID, and Sumo 11).
C programs are entered and compiled at the workstation level to produce an object
module in an intermediate language. Compiled code is downloaded to the selected controller via the
IC interface. The selected controller is configured with an interpreter for the
intermediate language (downloaded via the interface if necessary). The program may be run either via the interface
or autonomously using the controller's capabilities.
Not all C language statements are implemented in IC and
there are limited operations for long integers. On the other hand, support for concurrent processes has been incorporated
into IC (since there is no operating system on the controller).
Standard C libraries are not implemented, but rather the IC/controller
environment is automatically configured with an IC library supporting the controller selected.
Documentation and simulator are incorporated into the software interface. The communications
link between workstation and controller is managed by the IC interface.
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