Required Software for Web Development

Essential Web Developer Tools

These simple, PC programs are essential tools for web development. Proper use of these tools gives you complete control of your website. There is no simpler, more cost effective or thorough way to interface to websites, computers and the internet than through these programs. Click the links & download them all, create a folder and save them in that folder, and then make a backup of the folder.

Filezilla – Free FTP Client for moving files to your website server.
WinZIP – Free archival & file compression tool.
Mozilla Firefox – Superior, free web browser that I do most of my tutorials in.
Google Chrome – My latest, favorite browser! Better than FireFox.
Free HTML editor from Mozilla.

Notepad – Free text editor that comes with the PC. I love notepad. It’s zen-easy to use .. right click on your desktop, and you can open a new notepad file for notes and html code snippets. You never have to worry about your data being corrupted, and you can always open the files on all other computer platforms. Use of any form of office software is an epic fail and massive waste of time. Wordpad, however, is simple and can read some files that notepad can’t.

GIMP – Free image editor that can do all the basics.

When it comes to image editing software, the most basic thing you have to be able to do is change your image resolution, your pixel dimensions, basic editing such as cropping, and save it as a jpg, png or gif. Something like Photoshop or Corel Draw are ideal, and a used copy of Photoshop 6 does the trick just fine.

USEFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

SeaMonkey – All in one web-browser, html editor, email client, ftp client, RSS reader, IRC Chat & other web development tools. Free. The HTML editor is essential, and the other all in one features are real nice.

Pidgeon – Combine and use all of your internet instant messenging services through one interface. It even works with your mobile. Free.

Skype – Communicate via voice all over the world.