Need a disc-burning program but don't want to drop a few hundred rand on Nero? Want a game or two but don't want to pay for it? Well, forget the piracy (and shame on you!), www.sourceforge.net is a great alternative.

SourceForge hosts tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of programs and games ? all made by other people for free. There are many categories to browse through, with offerings ranging from communications and security applications to financial and educational tools.

There are many free alternatives to programs to be had on the site ? with replacements for commercial burning programs and video processing tools. Even the most obscure requests are catered for; from operating systems on your flash drive, to apps designed to keep track of your family tree.

The best part is that with a little know-how, you can contribute to any programs on the site. Yes, the beauty of open-source programs is that anyone can tweak, change or modify the applications. If learning about software development is a little daunting for you, there's always the option of submitting suggestions and comments to the developers themselves.

It's great to know that there are guys and girls out there "sticking it to the man" and creating some awesome applications and games for free. And who knows, you might find a new hobby!

Visit www.sourceforge.net and check it out!