2FA two-factor authentication
Password + a second factor (TOTP app, security key, or passkey). Reduces damage if the password leaks. In the catalog: Bitwarden, 2FAS, and related tools in Security; the privacy kit also lists 2FA. Not the same as SSO.
Glossary
Catalog vocabulary — licenses, homelab, security, OCR, EPUB, GEDCOM, OSM, SRS, and other formats. Short definitions. The FAQ covers usage questions (download, cracks); the download guide explains the safe path to the installer.
Download aggregator
A site that “bundles” programs and pushes its own installer, toolbar, or Download Manager — Softonic and similar. The real project download is usually a smaller link on the official site. Avoid them; the safe path is in safe download.
Community Community edition
A free version of a program that also has a paid edition (Pro, Enterprise). Often enough for personal use or a small team; commercial support, SSO, or scale stay paid. Not the same as a “forum community”: in the catalog, Community is a license tier. Check the official site before work use. See also freemium.
Container / Docker
A container packages a program with what it needs to run, isolated from the rest of the computer. Docker is the most cited tool; Podman and Portainer fill a similar role. In homelab and development, many people run Nextcloud or a database this way — it is not required for LibreOffice or GIMP on the desktop. This page does not teach how to install Docker.
Parental controls
Tools to filter sites, limit screen time, or supervise children's devices. Network DNS filtering (AdGuard Home) blocks addresses house-wide; system apps (Family Link and similar) supervise the device. They are not the same. Catalog: Family.
Crack / activator
A file or program that “unlocks” paid software without paying — malware by another name. Pirate keygens and serials fall in the same category. SwitchToFree does not list or link to that: the alternative is the official site, a legitimate free tier, or an open-source equivalent. Details in the FAQ and safe download.
CRM
Customer Relationship Management: a system to track customers, leads, and sales pipelines (instead of Pipedrive or HubSpot). Open-source catalog options: EspoCRM, SuiteCRM, and similar in Business. Related: ERP.
Distro
Short for Linux distribution: a “flavor” of the OS (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora) with an installer, app store, and default setup. Not a standalone app. If you only want an Office alternative on Windows, you can ignore the term; it shows up in news and desktop pages.
DNS
A service that turns names (example.com) into network addresses. In a homelab, Pi-hole and AdGuard Home use custom DNS to block ads and trackers on the home network — including smart TVs. It does not replace antivirus or a VPN.
DTP desktop publishing
Layout for books, magazines, flyers, and print-ready PDFs — the role of InDesign or Publisher. In the catalog: Scribus (open source) and Affinity (layout with a free Canva account). See Publishing. Different from pure vector drawing (Design).
E2EE / zero-knowledge
E2EE (end-to-end encryption): only sender and recipient can read the message or file; the server stores encrypted data. “Zero-knowledge” describes the same ideal for pads and vaults (e.g. CryptPad): the provider cannot see the content. Do not confuse with plain HTTPS (protects the path, not necessarily storage). See Security and Productivity.
EPUB e-book
An open digital-book format (reflowing text, images, table of contents). A common alternative to Amazon's MOBI/AZW. calibre organizes libraries and converts formats; readers like Thorium and KOReader open EPUB. It does not remove DRM. Catalog: E-books. Related: lock-in.
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning: a system that combines finance, inventory, sales, and sometimes HR in one place (the role of entry-level QuickBooks or Xero). Open-source Community options: Odoo, ERPNext, Dolibarr in Business. Needs setup; it is not “turn on and go” like a spreadsheet. Related: CRM.
Fork
A copy of an open-source project that takes its own path — for example VSCodium from VS Code, or LibreWolf from Firefox. The original code still exists. A fork can be more private, more stable, or simply another team. Not piracy: it is a typical open-source right.
Freemium
A permanent free tier plus paid features. It enters the catalog only when the free part already works everyday use — not a seven-day trial. See the FAQ and About.
Freeware
A program you use without paying, but whose code is closed. Not the same as open source. There may be telemetry, commercial-use limits, or sudden end-of-life. In the catalog the badge is “Free”. Details in the FAQ.
GEDCOM
The standard format for exchanging genealogy data (people, dates, relationships) between programs. Gramps, RootsMagic, and many sites export/import GEDCOM — useful so you are not locked into one service. Catalog: Genealogy.
Git
A version-control system: it stores code history (and sometimes documents) in commits. GitHub and GitLab host repositories; Git itself runs on your PC. Catalog clients: GitHub Desktop, LazyGit, and similar in Development. Not the same as a product fork — though open-source forks also use Git.
Homelab
From home laboratory: a home server (old PC, mini PC, Raspberry Pi) for cloud, media, DNS, or automation on your hardware instead of paid Drive, Netflix, or Alexa. Not free as in zero cost: you still pay for power, disks, and maintenance. Not a single app. Software and caveats are in Homelab. Related: self-host, NAS, and VPS.
IDE
Integrated Development Environment: a code editor with debugger, terminal, and project integration — IntelliJ Community, NetBeans, VS Code/VSCodium. Lightweight editors (Notepad++, Kate) do less; paid “Ultimate” IDEs add plugins and deeper analysis. Listed in Development.
Kanban
A task board in columns (to do, doing, done). Trello and similar popularized the format; catalog equivalents are in Project management.
Screen reader
Software that reads aloud (or in braille) what appears on screen — essential for people who are blind or have low vision. Examples: NVDA (Windows), Orca (Linux), built-in Narrator and VoiceOver. Part of assistive technology (AT). Catalog: Accessibility.
LLM / local AI
An LLM is the kind of language model behind chats like ChatGPT. “Local AI” means running that kind of model on your computer without sending text to a company's cloud. It needs a stronger machine and does not fully replace a paid assistant. Catalog tools: Local AI.
Lock-in
Being stuck with a service because files, accounts, or formats are hard to leave. Example: notes only in one app's cloud, with no export. Open-source alternatives and open formats (Markdown, ODF) reduce lock-in; they rarely remove migration work entirely.
Markdown
Plain text with light markup (**bold**, lists, links) that becomes a formatted page or note. Obsidian, Joplin, and many READMEs use Markdown. The file is a .md on your disk — easy to copy and not locked to one app. See Organization.
Matrix
An open messaging protocol (like email, but for chat): multiple servers talk to each other. The best-known client is Element. Not the movie. Clients and Slack/Teams alternatives are in Communication. For help in Matrix channels, see community.
MusicXML digital score
An open format for exchanging scores between editors (MuseScore, LilyPond, and others). Lets you export/import without relying only on one program's native file. Catalog: Music.
NAS
Network Attached Storage: storage on the home network — a “shared drive” with its own OS (TrueNAS and similar). Acts as a home cloud. In the Homelab category; not the same as a USB stick.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition: recognizes text in images or scanned PDFs and makes the file searchable/editable. Tesseract is the most cited open-source engine; NAPS2 scans, OCRmyPDF applies OCR in batches, Paperless-ngx archives. Catalog: Scanning & OCR. Also in the FAQ.
ODF / OpenDocument
A family of open document formats (ODT text, ODS spreadsheet, ODP presentation), an ISO standard and native to LibreOffice. Reduces lock-in versus Microsoft-only DOCX/XLSX — though LibreOffice also opens those files. See Productivity.
Open source
The source code is public: you can audit, study, and — depending on the license — modify and redistribute it. Almost always free in the catalog, but open source does not ban selling support or a Pro edition. We prioritize these options. See the FAQ and free software.
OSM OpenStreetMap
A volunteer-made world map with open data. Apps like Organic Maps, OsmAnd, and CoMaps use that data and let you download regions for offline navigation without a Google account. Coverage varies by city. Catalog: Maps.
P2P peer-to-peer
Devices exchange data with each other without a required central server. Syncthing syncs folders this way; torrents are also P2P. Useful for backup between home PCs; machines must be online and configured. See Cloud and Downloads.
Portable
A program that runs from a folder or USB stick without a system installer. Useful on lab PCs or machines without admin rights. “Portable” from an unknown site is a classic risk; prefer the project's official package. See safe download.
RSS
A feed format: the site publishes updates; a reader (FreshRSS, Miniflux, Fluent Reader) pulls news without opening every page or relying on a social algorithm. An alternative to paid Feedly. Listed in Organization; site articles also in News.
SaaS
Software as a Service: the program lives in the company's cloud and you pay a subscription (Notion, Slack, Drive). A free alternative may be a desktop app, self-hosting, or a free tier of the same SaaS.
Self-host / self-hosting
You (or a server you control) install and maintain the software instead of using only the company's site. Nextcloud instead of Drive is the classic example. You get control and work: updates, backups, networking. Related: homelab. There is a catalog category; SwitchToFree does not host the service for you.
Free software / FOSS
Free software emphasizes the freedoms to use, study, modify, and share — “free” as in freedom, not only price. FOSS means free and open source software. In catalog practice it overlaps with open source; the FAQ explains the difference from freeware.
SRS spaced repetition
A memorization method: the app shows the card again at the right interval (sooner if you missed, later if you got it). Anki is the classic example for languages and exams. Desktop and AnkiDroid are free; the official iPhone app is paid. Catalog: Languages and Study.
SRT subtitles
A subtitle file with timestamps (VTT exists too). Whisper and Buzz generate text from audio; Subtitle Edit adjusts timing and spelling. Useful for classes, videos, and accessibility. Catalog: Transcription.
SSO
Single Sign-On: one corporate login (Google Workspace, Azure AD, etc.) opens multiple systems. Almost always a paid or Enterprise feature — which is why Community editions often omit SSO. For personal use, password + 2FA in a password manager is enough.
Telemetry
The program sends usage data (sometimes anonymous) to the developer. Not a virus, but it is collection. Open source makes it easier to disable or audit; freeware closes that door. If privacy is the priority, read the policy on the official site.
Virtualization
Running one system “inside” another: a virtual machine (VM) with VirtualBox/UTM, or a hypervisor like Proxmox in a homelab. Useful for testing distros and isolating services. Different from a container (lighter; shares the host kernel).
VPN
An encrypted tunnel between your device and a server, useful on public Wi-Fi or for another country. “Free VPN” Google results are often ads; the catalog only lists known projects with official links in Security. A VPN is not antivirus and does not replace a good password.
VPS
Virtual Private Server: a slice of cloud server you rent (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and similar). Lets you self-host away from home, 24/7, with a public IP — but there is a monthly fee. A homelab is “your hardware”; a VPS is “someone rents you the machine”. SwitchToFree does not sell VPS.
WebDAV
A protocol to open and edit files on a server over the network (like a remote folder). Nextcloud, ownCloud, and many note apps (e.g. Joplin) use WebDAV for sync. CalDAV/CardDAV are cousins for calendar and contacts. Appears in Cloud and Organization.