Iwdsa.org: Wiki Pages

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Heavy feature boosted development environment.

Coda ($100:Mac):

Mac

Aptana (Free:All):

A fully-featured web development environment built off of eclipse. Java based application.

NetBeans (Free:All):

Almost identical to the eclipse development environment applications, however it uses it's completely own code-base and is unrelated to eclipse. Java based.

Eclipse with PDT (Free:All):

PDT is a plugin that can be added to eclipse (used in the CIS department for object oriented Java programming) for usage with PHP and other web languages.

Kommodo IDE ($250:All):

Another eclipse-like editor with web development capabilities.

CSS Edit + Espresso:

A mac environment editor that specializes in assisting with live feedback of css rules and a graphical interface for editing rules.

Adobe Dreamweaver ($400:Windows+Mac):

An excellent program for live graphical feedback, should not be used to generate code however and is not as compatible with dynamic languages (php, mysql)

Zend Studio ($400:All):

Another build of Eclipse with PDT, based upon the Zend Framework. No real benefits for the cost

Microsoft Visual Studio / Expression:

I'm not too familiar with web development in these programs, I recommend the same instructions for Microsoft Frontpage.

Microsoft Frontpage:

!!!DO NOT TOUCH!!! Seriously, Just don't.

Text Editors:

Text editors are lighter and use less computer memory while running. They usually have less standard features but in exchange run faster. Any decent text editor has syntax highlighting, but not code hinting.

Wordpad is not a true text editor and should not be used

Textmate ($50):

Considered to be one of, if not, the best web development application. A simple text editor with code highlight with an excellent plugin base. It is in fact the massive array and support of plugins for expediting common programming tasks in a wide variety of languages that makes this tool a powerful resource, at the same time requiring very few resources.

Notepad++ (Free):

Due to lack of better alternative, this program is the usually the most heavily used text editor on the windows environment. A decent plugin base facilitates some common IDE capabilities (like FTP and file browsing) but not a diverse array, in exchange however is speed and stability.

E Text Editor ($35:Windows):

A windows port of Textmate for its sheer popularity. Due to stability and inability to port certain features and plugins to windows, this program can be less stable than Notepad++ occasionally and hasn't quite taken the lead.

Textpad ($30:Windows):

Very similar to Notepad++, however issues a payment nag-screen and issues a different selection of functions and features to the other, quite possibly less.

Kommodo Edit (Free:All):

A slimmed down version of Komodo IDE, although this could still pass as an IDE, the stripping of major features (listed on the website) to increase speed and stability has placed it into this category.

Notepad (Windows Native/ Free):

No features or syntax highlighting. Loads the fastest (usually) though.

Packaged Server Build (LAMP):

Used for setting up your development environment. If you wish to create advanced websites that use any degree of dynamically generated pages (php and/or mysql database driven), these are pre-compiled and packaged builds of all the necessary libraries and server softwares needed ready to go from launch. No configuration or advanced knowledge needed. LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP.

Not needed if you just plan to use HTML and CSS only

MAMP (Free+Pro:Mac):

The free version has all functionality built in. The Pro version is simply an addon tool that gives you a convenient graphical interface for advanced configuration of your server. Pro is an excellent resource and highly recommended to avid developers.

WAMP (Free:Windows):

Windows only LAMP build

XAMPP (Free:All):

Although XAMPP is compatible in all OS's, it's generally agreed usage of the above two is generally easier to use and more straight-forwards due to no configuration needed on their parts and the additional graphical interface features provided.

FTP / SSH and File Transferring:

Transmit ($40:Mac):

A nicely polished and clean FTP solution for the mac environment. However there are many other free solutions that work just as well.

Filezilla (Free:All):

Unbelievably widely used (even on xbox) open-source solution to FTP. Very oddly though, I personally have had issues with file permissions and transfers crapping out midway through and prefer to avoid this software.

Cyberduck (Free:Mac):

The open-source FTP solution nicely polished for the mac environment.

SmartFTP ($?:Windows):

CuteFTP ($?:Windows):

Windows Explorer or Terminal (Built into OS:All):

Windows Explorer is capable of setting up ftp servers as local folders, while *nix (Mac) terminals usually have SSH capabilities built-in

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) Tools for collaborate chatrooms

IRC is chatrooms before messengers existed. Although considered 'old-school' there are easy ways to connect to the network and locate the excellent chat rooms available filled with fellow users who are as able to help you as the local tutor on EVERY subject or hobby, INCLUDING accounting, physics, biology, web design and programming. It helped a friend through Bio-Chem.

It is not necessary to install extra programs just to connect to IRC. Many programs already installed on most people's pc's are fully capable, and if none of those are available, browser-based solutions are also (see websites below). Many programs can be launched and connected using IRC links in browsers irc://irc.freenode.net/html with the domain being the server and the final argument being the chatroom (channel) to join.

Chatzilla Plugin for Firefox

If you already use Firefox, install this addon and you're ready to go.

Opera Browser (Windows/Mac)

The web browser comes with IRC functionality. Not necessary to use if you don't already use Opera normally.

Multi-Network Messengers (Trillian, Pidgin/Adium beta, Miranda)

Many multi-protocol instant messengers are capable of handling IRC protocol, unfortunately setting up IRC will usually require you to know which server and chatroom before-hand that you want to join.

mIRC (Windows)

The original IRC client for windows. Standalone.

Colloquy (Mac)

The defacto IRC-dedicated client for Mac. Standalone.

Freenode.net and #IWDSA

Not actually a piece of software or website, this is an IRC Chatroom server that is host to MANY excellent developer chatrooms. Rooms with 300+ active users who daily discuss their simple to expert issues from HTML to Java to C++

Websites:

AlternativeTo.net:

An excellent website where you can search for recommended alternative software to programs. If you need an alternative OS, price, or just solution altogether, an excellent place to check.

Pastebin.com (and other variants)

A source code copy+paste tool for quickly sharing with other developers chunks of code for debugging or other temp-storage purposes

Etherpad.com:

A live-editing version of Pastebin.com that lets multiple users edit the code on-screen simultaneously in addition to storing revisions and chatting. Useful for live group review

Github.com

Online code repository hosting for your projects. Requires usage of Git. Includes wiki, ticketing (bug tracking) system, and free public project hosting, paid private project hosting.

Code.Google.com

Online code repository hosting for your projects. Requires usage of SVN or Mercurial. Includes wiki, ticketing (bug tracking) system, and free open-source project hosting.

Mibbit.com

A browser based IRC client. Comes with quick access to tools like pastebin and chatroom searching. No longer permitted access to the Freenode server however

Java.Freenode.net

The dedicated Freenode server web-based IRC client. For if you're not at your computer but need to get on that server

SearchIRC.com

If you don't know what chatroom (channel) or server to use for the community you're looking for, you can always search here and use the IRC links to join.