The programs you need depends on what you want to do.

If you want to create models for the game, you will need 3d modelling software, such as Blender, or Autodesk XSI

for textureing, all you need is GIMP (which is free) or you can go to other end, Photoshop

As for entity files, all you need is notepad, and the converter that comes with the game

UZi already has lots of great planets so why not stack your new race mod onto uzis mod. You can play both mods at once untill you do the planets yourself.

First, you need to convert the bin files to text files. This can be done manually or with a bin to text converter like the text bin gui from harpo. Quote from harpo "here is my uploaded sins 1.19, entrenchment 1.05, and diplomacy 1.01 all txted by my text bin gui (all convertable files converted, but excluding movies,textures and sounds)."      harpo rocks! 

Get NotePad ++ (optional). NotePad ++ is notepad on steroids and great for coding. Free open source.

For texturing, photoshop is best ($999). There is also Gimp (free) (download) with the DDS plugin from http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/#download

3d moddeling for new ships. Get XSI 3D Modeling

To edit the sounds and music use Audacity (free open source) and save as ogg. Note that the music can be saved in stereo but event sounds must be saved in mono or they will come over 1 channel only.

Happy Modding

im new can anyone tell me where i go to get patch 1.19 so i can play sacrifice of angels mod for the original sins?

Did you register the game with Impulse? if you did, log on with your account here, and then download the patch updates