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Software Devs to Support (and Some Useful Apps for All)
4 years ago
General
Every year around now, I try (if I can afford it) to make small donations to the developers of open-source or free software that I use regularly to support them and their work.
Working full-time freelance this year, I've been using all of these apps even more than I have in the past, so I figured I'd also give them a shout-out on here and recommend them!
These apps all have basic or full versions that are free to use, and receive regular updates. I have been using them for multiple years. They're a part of my daily workflow and my life would be a lot harder without them, so I couldn't recommend them more. I encourage you guys to try them out and, if you find yourself coming to rely on them as much as I do, send the developers a small donation. Independent developers work hard, knowing they'll never see a donation from the majority of their users, so it's nice to show them some appreciation when possible. 💚
Without further ado, The List!
PostyBirb (Windows, macOS, Linux) - The only (to my knowledge) app on this list made by and largely for furries, so I'll grant it the longest blurb here. PostyBirb is an app for posting to multiple art websites at once and scheduling the posts ahead of time. You've probably heard of it or seen "Posted using PostyBirb" appended to someone's FA posts at some point.
It's immensely useful for artists, but also anyone that likes keeping their posts consistent. Since 2018, all of my FA uploads are done through it (including this journal, which I wrote and posted in the app without even touching FA!)
It also supports Twitter, Patreon, e621, DeviantArt, Discord, and MANY more. Seriously, this thing supports websites I'd never even heard of so anywhere you upload to is probably on the list. Being able to write a post description and tags once and have it go to every site is a lifesaver. I really can't talk up this app enough. >> Go check it out here! <<
PureRef (Windows, macOS, Linux) - This one is for the artists among you. If you're tired of having to paste your reference images into your drawing program or having to look back and forth at a separate window for them while you're drawing, PureRef is for you. It lets you put a collection of images in an unobtrusive window that will stay on top of other applications as you work. I use this every single time I draw, which is really the highest praise I can give an app. >> Go check it out here! <<
Tasks (Android, [also a web app if you get the premium version]) - If you're like me and have trouble getting anything done unless you put it on a list first, you'll like this one. Tasks is a to-do list app with all the features you could want and none of the clutter most other apps have. >> Go check it out here! <<
Shuttle Music Player (Android) - For the weirdos like me that keep all their music saved on their device rather than streaming it, Shuttle is suuuuuper handy. I've tried a lot of different music players but this one has the nicest UI for my taste. >> Go check it out here! <<
Mp3tag (Windows, macOS) - Another one for the "I save all my music locally" weirdos. Mp3tag is an application for editing metadata tags on audio files. If you're not sure what the heck that means, you probably wouldn't have any use for this app, but if you do know and it sounds like something you need, give it a look! >> Go check it out here! <<
Bulk Rename Utility (Windows) - This app is for renaming multiple files in a systematic way. You can append text, find-and-replace, or make use of regexes if you're a little more computer-savvy. If you need to number a lot of filenames in order, rename a lot of JFIFs to JPEGs to make them work with a non-JFIF-friendly applications, or just do any kind of mass renaming of files, this one's handy! >> Go check it out here! <<
That's it for now! Have yourselves a great holiday season and new year, and if you yourself are an independent developer, I think you're cool and deserve support.
Cheers!
Working full-time freelance this year, I've been using all of these apps even more than I have in the past, so I figured I'd also give them a shout-out on here and recommend them!
These apps all have basic or full versions that are free to use, and receive regular updates. I have been using them for multiple years. They're a part of my daily workflow and my life would be a lot harder without them, so I couldn't recommend them more. I encourage you guys to try them out and, if you find yourself coming to rely on them as much as I do, send the developers a small donation. Independent developers work hard, knowing they'll never see a donation from the majority of their users, so it's nice to show them some appreciation when possible. 💚
Without further ado, The List!
PostyBirb (Windows, macOS, Linux) - The only (to my knowledge) app on this list made by and largely for furries, so I'll grant it the longest blurb here. PostyBirb is an app for posting to multiple art websites at once and scheduling the posts ahead of time. You've probably heard of it or seen "Posted using PostyBirb" appended to someone's FA posts at some point.
It's immensely useful for artists, but also anyone that likes keeping their posts consistent. Since 2018, all of my FA uploads are done through it (including this journal, which I wrote and posted in the app without even touching FA!)
It also supports Twitter, Patreon, e621, DeviantArt, Discord, and MANY more. Seriously, this thing supports websites I'd never even heard of so anywhere you upload to is probably on the list. Being able to write a post description and tags once and have it go to every site is a lifesaver. I really can't talk up this app enough. >> Go check it out here! <<
PureRef (Windows, macOS, Linux) - This one is for the artists among you. If you're tired of having to paste your reference images into your drawing program or having to look back and forth at a separate window for them while you're drawing, PureRef is for you. It lets you put a collection of images in an unobtrusive window that will stay on top of other applications as you work. I use this every single time I draw, which is really the highest praise I can give an app. >> Go check it out here! <<
Tasks (Android, [also a web app if you get the premium version]) - If you're like me and have trouble getting anything done unless you put it on a list first, you'll like this one. Tasks is a to-do list app with all the features you could want and none of the clutter most other apps have. >> Go check it out here! <<
Shuttle Music Player (Android) - For the weirdos like me that keep all their music saved on their device rather than streaming it, Shuttle is suuuuuper handy. I've tried a lot of different music players but this one has the nicest UI for my taste. >> Go check it out here! <<
Mp3tag (Windows, macOS) - Another one for the "I save all my music locally" weirdos. Mp3tag is an application for editing metadata tags on audio files. If you're not sure what the heck that means, you probably wouldn't have any use for this app, but if you do know and it sounds like something you need, give it a look! >> Go check it out here! <<
Bulk Rename Utility (Windows) - This app is for renaming multiple files in a systematic way. You can append text, find-and-replace, or make use of regexes if you're a little more computer-savvy. If you need to number a lot of filenames in order, rename a lot of JFIFs to JPEGs to make them work with a non-JFIF-friendly applications, or just do any kind of mass renaming of files, this one's handy! >> Go check it out here! <<
That's it for now! Have yourselves a great holiday season and new year, and if you yourself are an independent developer, I think you're cool and deserve support.
Cheers!
Metadata tagging/renaming for videos, super handy for TV series: [MetaX]
I'll keep Picard in mind in case I ever need to do something Mp3tag can't manage. :3
Before reading this, I'd felt Postybirb puts too much of a distance between artist and art-appreciator; it seemed to me people who use it got less comments because commentors would see that 'posted with postybirb' would mean the artist probably won't reply since they outsource their activity with the app- but reflecting on it and seeing how you are with your comments(I love how responsive you are, and am like that myself with my posts) maybe I should just give it a shot after all. I've found I've had a hard time scheduling uploads even with twitters native scheduler, plus FA uploads being even easier would be a boon.
Tasks is also something I think I'll check out too. The Samsung Notes app got a crrrappy update and ruined the UI making it unusable for me, so I've just been left with a ad-riddled third party app just to make a to-do list that has the satisfaction of tapping a checkmark on a task lol.
But that certainly doesn't have to dictate how you approach it and there is an option to disable that message too (you'll notice my uploads don't have it). :3 Overall it's a hugeeeee timesaver and I love it. Even if you don't post to multiple sites it's honestly worth it even just as an alternative to the FA upload UI, which is not the best. x3
It also has a really cool "tag groups" feature that you can use to save sets of commonly-used tags and apply them to new posts with a single click. :3 Fun fact: I actually suggested that feature to the developer and was so happy to see it get implemented! 👀
And yus sounds like Tasks would be what you're looking for! It's got no ads and is super slick. :D
And glad to hear you got that feature implemented! I'd gotten to using a scripting software to make an easy macro to type for my tags, but having it on postybirb will be great too in case I'm not at my main computer.
Thanks for doing this dude! One year of freelancing down, here's to the next!
I thought people who use PostyBirb are less likely to connect with their audience, but you are definitely an exemption, lol.
I didn't know so many people thought that about artists that use postybirb but I've heard it a lot :o
I guess it's a good thing I hide the "Posted via Postybirb" message on my posts, ha ha x3
Hahaha, it is! XD It's more organic, heh.