While I’m currently using Microsoft Project 2007 here is a new name on the list , and that’s not all … it’s completely free and open source.

It’s called OpenProj and it’s an open source project management software intended as a complete desktop replacement for Microsoft Project.  This software is a serious alternative to Ms Project. OpenProj will do: control, tracking and management of projects.

OpenProj interface

OpenProj is ideal for desktop project management and is available on Linux, UNIX, Mac or Windows. It even opens existing Microsoft or Primavera files. OpenProj is an user interface and even opens existing MSProject files.

OpenProj shares scheduling engine with Project-ON-Demand and provides Gantt Charts, Network Diagrams (PERT Charts), WBS and RBS charts, Earned Value costing and more.
The OpenProj solution has been translated into French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Galician, Persian, Russian, Korean and Chinese.

Features:

•     Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) used to order and control the tasks of the project for people who manages projects
•     Resources Breakdown Structure (RBS) used to define the structure of the resources, teams, providers, etc.
•    Task Usage and Resource Usage are used to control your project and provide a good track on it.
•    The Report tool provides information about the current status of your project.

Microsoft Project retails for $999.99, is installed on 7% of all Office desktops and drives over $1 billion in revenue for Microsoft. OpenProj fills an important gap in the desktop market, as a key component in the Office family of products now has a replacement available on Linux, Unix, Mac or Windows. OpenProj was also selected for inclusion with Star Office suite boxes in Europe. The OpenProj solution has been translated into French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Galician, Persian, Russian, Korean and Chinese.