22
Nov
2008

Best free software for cheap (I mean, frugal) web developers ...and everyone else

Best free software for: protecting your computer, developing web sites, and having fun/being productive.  I assume you have a Windows machine because they're cheap (unless you're a REAL techie who uses Linux and builds their own computer, in which case, this blog entry is probably beneath you).

Protecting and securing your computer

  • Anti-Virus Software: AVG - must be set to download updates and perform scans regularly. Note that cnet's download.com site has also given high ratings to: Avast and Avira.
  • Anti-Spyware Software: Spybot - must be set to download updates and perform scans regularly; and turn on both resident and teatimer. Note that cnet's download.com site also lists additional high-rated anti-spyware software.
  • Web browsing: Firefox - for safe-ish and more fun browsing of the web (see my previous post on some of the best add-ons)

Developing web sites

  • Web design: Firefox (again!) - see my previous post on some of the best add-ons for developers
  • Content Management: Drupal - why create content management from scratch, when a global community has done it for you?
  • Link checking & sitemap creation: Xenu - finds broken links, generates an html sitemap of your content
  • Testing dynamic code without a server: Xampp - test your pages on your local computer, without needing a remote server.
  • FTP: FileZilla - upload and download files to/from your server without going through Dreamweaver!
  • SVN: SmartSVN - for the hard-core web programmers who want version control and may need to share.
  • XML & XSLT: OxygenXML - as xml is the wave of the web future, it's worth the academic price to buy this, but cnet.com's download site also lists a number of truly free, high-ranking xml editors.
  • Text editing: Notepad++ - for source code editing with syntax coloring.
  • A/B testing: Google Website Optimizer - great way to let user traffic decide which is the more effective design of a specific web page.

Having fun (or being productive) without giving more money to Microsoft, Apple or Adobe

  • Typing, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawing: OpenOffice - who needs Microsoft Office?!
  • Videos: VLC player - plays darn near every format of video that there is, unlike SOME players!
  • Podcasts: Juice - download your podcasts without using iTunes or Windows Media Player
  • Audio: Audacity - record and edit audio.
  • Convert: Switch - converts audio to non-proprietary formats
  • Compress: IZArc - handle those .zip, .tar, etc. files. Note that cnet's download.com site also lists additional high-rated compression software.
  • Graphic editing: GIMP - old standard, but still good. Note that cnet's download.com site also lists additional high-rated graphics software.
  • Operating system: Ubuntu - a free software to make your computer go.

Other people's lists