List of free software innovations

Here is a list of software-related innovations done in an environment of free software whether by companies, communities or non-profits.

Graphics

Spiro: "a toolkit for curve design, especially font design". It is integrated into FontForge and Inkscape.

Multimedia

• gstreamer: implements a new, very flexible way to plug together multimedia components(decoder,encoder etc..)

Programming

• python

Networking

• BitTorrent: one of the most common protocols for transferring large files using peer-to-peer technology.
• maranello: designed packet recovery system implemented on a free firmware for broadcom cards
• codec2 : a lossy, low bitrate codec for audio conversations

Operating system

• Akonadi: the extensible cross-desktop storage service for personal information mangers data.
• Bzip2: bzip2 is a losless compression algorithm

Writing

• Metafont: the only way to make entire new font families by just changing less than 62 parameters.