My preferred set of Web Development tools
- Posted by Tengku Zahasman on June 16th, 2007 filed in Web App Development, Softwares and Tools
- (20,018 Views)
Most experienced developers usually have their own list of favorite tools to use when it comes to writing codes or do design works, database management, file management and all those stuffs. These are the tools that they normally install first hand whenever they get a new laptop or had to work on a different workstation. Different developers may have different sets of tools that they like to use. As of myself, I like to use tools that gives me less headache, increases productivity and speed, reasonable startup time, user-friendly, straight-forward, lightweight and at the same time very powerful.
Below are some of the favorite tools that I use when developing web applications:
1. XAMPP (Free - download)
XAMPP is a standalone server which bundles up all of the three major components for a convenient PHP development environment (an Apache webserver, a MySQL database management system, and PHP itself) into one installation. No longer do you need to install and manage each of them separately. No more wasting time on manual configurations. Starting up and shutting down of Apache or MySQL servers are only a click away and on only a single interface. That means less headache & speeds up productivity. You can get this free software at ApacheFriends.
(Note: There are many other “extra” components bundled together in XAMPP such as an FTP client, a mail server, PhpMyAdmin… etc.. but I have my own preferred tools for those stuffs which will be introduced later below)
2. Dreamweaver (Ain’t Free)
Even though I don’t use Dreamweaver a lot lately, it still is undoubtly a very powerful tool for developing websites. It is a pretty handy software to use especially when it comes to desinging the user-interface at the HTML level. I mainly use Dreamweaver for placing out layouts and generating tedious HTML/CSS codes. That also means less headache, faster development. But it’s not free.
3. Komodo Edit (Free - download)
Komodo Edit is a great IDE for many different types of languages. It supports PHP, Javascript, HTML, CSS, Ruby, Python… you name it. This is where I write most of my PHP codes. Even though it is free, it is still very powerful. It has many useful features like file tabbings, syntax highlighting, codes collapsing, error-checkings, tree-view files management, code auto-completion, drag-and-drop features, automatic indention, and many more. It makes coding fun. and it shortens the learning curve with their automatic code completion that allows us to quickly search for useful functions without needing to ask Mr Google so much.
The interface is nice and friendly. We can easily store our favorite code snippets and re-use it in other projects. It also has a project manager which allows easy management of different projects. That’s less headache, increase productivity, user-friendly and powerful. Download this free software at ActiveState.
4. Notepad++ (Free - download)
Notepad++ - This is what I call lightweight AND powerful at the same time. Notepad++ acts as a replacement for the default Notepad application you have on your Windows OS. Before I found Notepad++, I usually use the default Notepad to quickly squash bugs or when making tiny modifications to my codes. The reason is because Notepad starts up very fast. I don’t want to open up heavier programs like Dreamweaver or Komodo Edit and wait for 10 seconds startup just to add a few lines of code. But Notepads sucks because it doesn’t provide line numbers. Line numbers are important because that’s the thing we immediately look for when we receive an error/debug message (error messages usually return the line number where the problem occurs). After I found Notepad++, it becomes one of my favorite lightweight tool. It supports many languages, has syntax highlighting, automatic code indention, code collapsing, line numbers, and so many useful plugins, and yet it loads up as fast as the default Notepad. I use this tool mainly for doing quick code modifications or when I’m working on only a single file.
Get this free software at Notepad-Plus.
5. Fireworks (Ain’t free)
Fireworks - I think it is already clear from my other posts that I use Fireworks to draw most of my web graphics. From headers to buttons to layouts to sketches, Fireworks gets the job done with style. The reason why I pick Fireworks in opposed to Illustrator/Photoshop is obviously because of its startup time, its user-friendliness, and its practicality. While Photoshop is powerful, it loads up bad, exporting images is complex, and I just don’t like the idea of having floating toolbox, pallettes and layer windows everywhere like that. It’s uncomfortable. Firework’s interface is cleaner, I can easily dock its toolbars to the sides, it loads faster, exporting images is straight forward, and it’s powerful enough to create the most elegant web graphics you need. For production environment, Fireworks is the way to go. It has a great number of useful textures, symbols, brushes and plugins. Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, in my sincere opinion, is only useful when creating hardcore graphics such as those people do for posters, flyers, mockups, t-shirt designs and stuffs like that.
6. UMLPad (Free - download)
UMLPad - A very lightweight CASE tool that I use for quickly planning out my web application in UML notations. Why I like this program is of course, its startup time and its simplicity. I like to plan my application beforehand, but I also make sure I don’t “overplan”. UMLPad supports only four diagrams - Class diagram, Sequence diagram, State diagram and Activity diagram. Very straight forward…. and that’s all I ever need!
You can get UMLPad free at Tiscali.it.
7. MySQL Control Center (Free - download)
MySQL Control Center - Don’t waste time writing SQL queries everytime you want to create database tables, modifying field names, or viewing records. Cut all the unnecessary work by using MySQL Control Center (MySQLCC) instead. This super-useful software provides a GUI for you to easily manage your MySQL databases without hassle (think MS Access). Although PHPMyAdmin that comes bundled with XAMPP can do the same, it’s not as simple-to-use as MySQLCC. And since PhpMyAdmin is web based, it’s more practical to use a desktop application when you’re developing on your local PC. It’s faster, it gets the job done quickly, and it reduces the headaches pretty much. It’s weird that such a good application like this is only known to a few…
Get MySQLCC at SourceForge. (Note: MySQLCC 0.9.4-beta is buggy. Download the latest one which is version 0.9.8-beta)
8. AceFTP (Free - download)
AceFTP3 - A very user-friendly FTP client for uploading/downloading files to/from your Internet server. There are many free FTP clients out there but most of them likes to use an interface that I find annoying and not as friendly. Other FTP clients like to use a tree-view for local files and a document-view for the server files. I hate that. AceFTP uses document-like view for both local and server files. Now that’s better. It loads up fast and it transfers are also very smooth.
Get AceFTP Freeware from Visicom Media.
There, the complete list of tools I use when developing web applications. Of course there are some other extra tools that I use for added quality like Flash, some Firefox plugins, but those are optional unless I really need them. Hope some of you find this list useful. If you have any other tools you like to use, feel free to share 
If I've provided some info that you find to be useful, don't hesitate to 
June 17th, 2007 at 5:09 am
as for the Xampp alternative, there is also Web-Developer Server Suite from devside.net, to be frank, I have never used it, but I did come across people rave about it, just thought you might wanna have a look…
June 17th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Thanks for sharing Kahfei! I haven’t tried it myself but it did caught my attention..
June 17th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
There are tonnes of XAMPP alternative. Check out the Wikipedia’s comparison page. I used WAMP before but found out some problems although I do like the front management page.
I use number 1, 2 and 5 for my web development tasks. Thanks to you, I’ll try the rest of them soon and see if it fits.
How about a list of your FireFox plugins in later post?
June 20th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I would prefer Dreamweaver just because of it’s excellent syntax highlighting. I have to say some of the color for syntax highlight in PSPad or even Komodo Edit a bit lame in my opinion.
June 20th, 2007 at 9:15 am
The default syntax colouring in Komodo Edit may be a bit lame to some people, but we can always tweak the colours (and the font) from the settings to match our preference. Not such a big problem.
Dreamweaver colouring is good, sharp and bright… but sadly it doesn’t have automatic indention, which is a crucial part to make coding “fun”, and keeping our code readable without having to use the tab button so much. If there’s a way to make Dreamweaver do automatic indention for PHP codes, please share.
June 20th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Yes, made some modification but only for common keywords (unless you know how to change everything in HTML, CSS, PHP and JS).
Another thing I found out while using Komodo Edit is that sometime it use TAB indention and some time SPACE indention. Dreamweaver use TAB all the time and PSPad use SPACE all the time (suck IMO).
June 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I’ve never used PSPad so I have nothing much to say about it. But coming back to Dreamweaver.. you mentioned that it uses TAB indention all the time. But when I use Dreamweaver to code PHP, I don’t see it has automatic indention at all. Or maybe you mean doing manual tabbing?
There are so many other things that Dreamweaver lacks when it comes to PHP coding, such as automatic code completion, bracket lines and bracket indicators (having paired brackets highlighted when pointing to any one of them), which are again some of the things that makes coding fun. It reminds me of coding Java in Netbeans.. works the similar way.
June 27th, 2007 at 3:59 am
For the tiny amount of MySQL work that I do , I love MYSQLCC. I am incredibly lazy when it comes to setting up databases and this really keeps things simple. Great tip, stumbled!
June 27th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Wow.. thanks for stumbling Steve S
And I’m glad you found MySQLCC to be useful!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
for FTP, I prefer SmartFTP to anything else I’ve used. It’s available from www.smartftp.com
June 28th, 2007 at 2:21 am
I USE CUTEFTP
June 28th, 2007 at 2:31 am
@Dekay: SmartFTP is ok too, but it’s interface seems to be a bit overcrowded.
@TPN Web Design Inc: CuteFTP ain’t free, is it?
June 28th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
AceFTP forces you to install vmwtoolbar and as soon as I installed it it crashed explorer anytime I went to Control Panel. I had to go into the uninstall key in the registry to remove the toolbar and stuff seemed to work ok from there…just a heads up
June 28th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
AppServ is my choice for home test server. I like Notepad++, but try jEdit. As for ftp - FileZilla has to be the way to go.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:10 am
@Patrick: Weird, I never had to install any toolbar when using AceFTP. If I’m not mistaken there’s an option not to install the toolbar while installing AceFTP. Or maybe the new version forces you to install.. that I’m not sure. But thanks for the heads up tho
@davep: I never used AppServ before but maybe could give it a try. FileZilla also comes bundled with XAMPP, but I don’t find it to be very friendly. The interface is simplistic though. Less clutter
June 29th, 2007 at 8:24 am
FileZilla is the right stuff to use!
June 29th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Wow.. looks like there are many FileZilla fans out there..
July 4th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I use Notepad++ and love it. I have been looking for a program like Umlpad for ages, but couldn’t find a nice free one. Thank you!
As for Dreamweaver and Fireworks?
Here are some free alternatives:
Dreamweaver - Nvu http://www.nvu.com/index.php
Fireworks - Inkscape http://www.inkscape.org/
(Photoshop) - The Gimp http://www.gimp.org/
On a side note, I can’t see how anyone could consider Dreamweaver a preferred development tool. I loathe creating clunky code! In my experience, Dreamweaver has always produced bloated code and was unable to do what I wanted at times. I am much more lean with hand-coding and can get exactly what I want everytime I create something.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Great to hear some fireworks love. It is much better than photoshop in a production environment. I think photoshop is more powerful, and i use it for complesx graphics that i bring into fireworks for production.
July 9th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Smart Ftp here.. Dreamweaver 8 and I agree with you on Adobe with exporting etc,not easy and lots of fiddly shortcuts.
But stil I stick with Adobe
Dan
July 10th, 2007 at 6:35 am
I don’t use Dreamweaver because it doesn’t make good websites.
At least it is my opinion.
Why don’t you talk about Eclipse ?
Do you this :
- FileZilla
- Photoshop
- Crimson Editor
- OpenLaszlo
July 10th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Thanks for Komodo Edit, it’s on my must have list.
Notepad DOES provide line numbers (Settings/Components), it’s been sitting there all the time…
July 10th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Thanks everyone for sharing your views and other softwares you found interesting..
@Vince:: Exactly! Adobe is just too powerful for doing web graphics.. its more to doing posters, photo retouching and so on. Fireworks is the most optimized solution for web graphics
@Martin Ottiger: Humm.. I still can’t toggle line numbers in Notepad.. can’t seem to find the Settings/Components menu that you mentioned.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:06 am
@Tengku
Get latest Version 4.1.2, then Settings/Preference…/Edit Components
Tick “Display Line number margin”.
Enjoy!
July 11th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Martin Ottiger: Oh actually the Notepad I was referring to was the default Windows Notepad which has no line numbers functionality… I am aware that Notepad++ has line numbers and that is why I opted Notepad++ to replace the default Windows Notepad when doing tiny modifications to my code..
When you mentioned version 4.1.2, I realised that you were referring to Notepad++ and not Windows Notepad
~ Cheers
July 11th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Wow, thanks for this info bro…
July 11th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I think AceFTP will really come in very Handy as SmartFTP isn’t free anymore…
July 11th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
good job
July 12th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Nice list, Ive made one kinda like that to except ive put it all in an executable file for easy download Called the Web Developer Toolkit
August 10th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I used Programmer’s Notepad as my primary PHP/XHTML/CSS development tool:
http://www.pnotepad.org/
For FTP/SFTP - check out the latest beta of WinSCP:
http://www.winscp.com/
I’ll check out UMLpad - sounds nice!
Thanks!
James
January 11th, 2009 at 3:08 am
I use Eclipse / Aptana for editing. Aptana features database manupulations as well in a grid view. I also use HeidiSQL for this. Both more user friendly than phpMyAdmin. I will take a look at the MySQLCC alternative you suggested.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:36 am
I will recommend not to hold off until you get enough money to order all you need! You can get the personal loans or small business loan and feel yourself comfortable
December 9th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
you can use denwer
Size: 6.17 Mb (6471848 bytes) include: PHP 5.3.3, Apache 2.2.4, MySQL 5.1.40, phpMyAdmin 3.2.3