|
April, 2001:
Filling Your Web Software Toolbox
Well, no epic “tips” this time. My hands are still cramped up from the last “tip.” So, this time, more of an FYI on some stuff you should have in your Web software toolbox.
The more you use your computer for Web stuff, the more you realize that there really are more things you need to be efficient beyond what comes with it right out of the box. From design to file transfer, there are lots of options.
PAGE/SITE DESIGN TOOLS
NetObjects Fusion MX
Well, gee, hmm, what would I use for a tool to build Web sites? Hmmm. How about NetObjects Fusion? Gee, no surprise there, right? With more of a design background than a coding one, NetObjects Fusion at v2 was the choice for me. Still is. ;)
Now, the newest version, NetObjects FusionMX, is available to try. Download Trial.
HTML EDITOR—WHEN YOU WANT TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY
You can add code to NetObjects Fusion many ways, but NetObjects Fusion isn’t an HTML editor. If you need to add some custom stuff or just want to learn about what makes Web pages work, there are many options and many favorites.
Homesite
My current favorite. When I do need to get my hands dirty, I always fall back on my old favorite, Homesite. I’ve used it since the days of the full version fit on a floppy disk!
General Info
Trial Version
Notepad (Free in all versions of Windows)
Though it doesn’t come with any help files relating specifically to HTML, for quick and dirty stuff, it’s great.
Arachnophelia
This is another HTML editor that’s been around for a long time. Lots of neat features and it’s sort of free.
General Info
Trial Version
CuteHTML
Yep, those “cute” folks are here again. Simple, yet efficient.
General Info
Trial Version
FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP) FILES—UPLOADING AND MANAGING FILES
NetObjects FusionMX comes with a built in FTP client that allows you to handle the basics such as file transfers and clean up
CuteFTP
My personal favorite. I’ve used it for a number of years and for my FTP’ing needs it works great.
General Info
Trial Version
GetRight
Not really a full-on FTP client, but it is a great tool for Web and FTP sites to your local machine.
General Info
Trial Version
WSFTP
This was the first FTP client I used way back in the old days of the Web. Just because it’s been around for a while doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a look. It is!
General Info
Trial Version
FTP Voyager
FTP Voyager uses a drag-and-drop interface and has features such as server-to-server transfers, scheduling, and resume-they even have Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish versions. Cool!
General Info
Trial Version
Absolute FTP
If you’re comfortable with Windows Explorer, this may be the FTP app for you.
General Info
Trial Version
FILE COMPRESSION TOOLS—ZIPPING IT UP
If you are sending files to clients, or are putting large files on your site, you really need to zip up and compress the files so they move across the Internet faster. The old way of taking care of this was with DOS commands … ick … but since Windows 95 came out, zipping up files has been pretty easy.
WinZip
Probably the grand daddy of Windows-based file compression tools, and the one I’ve used since day one, WinZip is easy, quick, and can handle virtually all your compression needs.
General Info
Trial Version
ZipMagic 2000
Unlike most file compression programs, ZipMagic allows you to access files in their folders as if they were regular Windows folders—no need to uncompress to work with the files.
General Info
Trial Version
CuteZip
From the makers of CuteFTP, CuteZip offers file compression and decompression like the other apps, but also adds 128-bit encryption when you really want stuff secure.
General Info
Trial Version
GRAPHICS APPLICATION/OPTIMIZERS— MAKING YOUR OWN IMAGES AND MAKING THEM EFFICIENT
While NetObjects FusionMX comes with a wide variety of graphic styles, sometimes you just need to create and optimize your own. My current favorites are Macromedia Fireworks and Adobe Photoshop, but these guys aren’t cheap, and if you are just getting started, it’s a big-budget expense. Having said that, there are tons of very good, yet very reasonably priced tools to choose from.
Paintshop Pro
Like flying first-class on an economy ticket, Paintshop Pro gives you Photoshop features at a more easy-to-stomach price. Great application.
General Info
Trial Version
Adobe ImageReady
A Web-ready image production tool now integrated into Adobe Photoshop, ImageReady can handle things well on its own too!
General Photoshop Info
Photoshop Trial Version
Ulead Gif Animator
Want to make some animated GIFs? Here’s a good start!
General Info
Trial Version
Looking for some additional info, check out the excellent information in the eFuse Design Section.
These are just a sampling of what’s available. For more examples and more reviews, try these sites:
The Slaughterhouse
Excellent listings of web resources … just a strange name. :)
Stroud’s Consumate Winsock Applications
With a name like “winsock” in the title, you’ll know they’ve been around for a long long while. An excellent collection of links and reviews.
Tucows
With local links all over the world, you are virtually assured of a good download near you.
Well, that should hold you for a while … or at least fill up your hard drive!
Oh, in a standard cover-my-butt disclaimer, with any software, there is always a risk of it not working great on your machine. So, downloaders beware. :)
|
