Where To Find Free Design Software And Webmaster Resources
By Gary B. Smith
Who said that the days of free information and software on the Internet were a thing of the past? Whoever did was certainly misinformed. If you are looking for Web design and webmaster tools or information there is a virtual cornucopia of sites that offer free downloads and full applications. Many trial demos and shareware products are also available and are usually fully functional. Even more helpful for the Webmaster are the vast amounts of free information and tutorials on Web design and Web maintenance that can aid both the aspirant and professional webmaster.
Some of the Best Sites
It's hard to judge which download site is the best. There are numerous sites that offer freeware across a wide range of categories, while others are more specialized. The following selection is intended to assist you in the time-consuming task of finding appropriate software and information to suit your requirements. While it is often best to choose sites that cover a wide range of category areas, some of the best freeware is often hidden in dedicated product and marketing sites. Here are a few well-known and not so well-known sites that provide an ample supply of regularly updated software.
One of the most frequented sites - and also one of the first to provide a full and comprehensive category listing of shareware and freeware available for download - is Tucows. Tucows (www.tucows.com) is a vast labyrinth of software that could take you days to explore only to find that tons of new software has arrived. The Internet section at www.tucows.com/internet.html is imposing, with a rich variety of programs that will certainly assist the designer and Webmaster. One can download various multiple search engines, such as 007 GoldenEye 2.0, numerous multimedia add-ons and applications, as well as free firewalls, Html editors, and Web submission software - to name but a few. This is a perfect site to browse for the Webmaster working on a shoe-string budget. It's also well worth investigating their multimedia section, particularly the shareware tools for Flash animation.
Tudogs (www.tudogs.com), which takes after the famous Tucows, is another site that offers virtually everything you might need as a Web designer and developer. While possibly not as extensive or category conscious as Tucows, this site offers a vast array of essential software. It also seems more concentrated on offering more freeware than shareware. The Webmaster resources also offer some interesting tools for download.
A favorite resource that has developed into a massive and comprehensive site over the years is Nonags, at www.nonags.com. This has long been a favorite bookmark for designers and developers as the site offers only free downloads - as the "Nonags" title implies. However, the pressures of Internet commerce also reached this site, and while the free section remains, the best and most extensive range of downloads are reserved for subscribers - which sort of puts the whole idea of free software into question. However, the free section alone is worth visiting. For example, valuable tools for designers include Html to JavaScript converters such as jsFileMaker 1.2, which is a JavaScript external file creator that takes a HTML page or plain text page and creates a .js file that can also be reduced. Another JavaScript tool that is handy is the Developer's JavaScript Editor, which is a notepad look-alike for editing JavaScript files. An interesting download is Gatekeeper, which also uses JavaScript to restrict access to Web pages without the need to use CGI scripting or server based authentication methods.
Keeping Up To Date With Free Downloads
Part of a webmaster's task is to be aware of the latest software and relevant information available that can assist in the task of creating and maintaining a Web site. To do this, here are a few basic tips.
- Create a folder in your browser and bookmark the most popular sites mentioned in this article.
- Visit these sites regularly and keep a watch on their listings of new software and updates.
- Make a list of the most frequented Web sites and specialist sites that you encounter and follow these up as well.
- It is important to regularly visit the brand name sites, such as Macromedia and Adobe, to find out about their latest products. New products are continually being offered on a trial or demo basis.
- Most sites offer newsletter updates on their products or latest software. Many of the shareware and freeware sites also offer a regular e-mail update on the latest download opportunities.
- When it comes to freeware, quality will vary, and some products will simply not be worth the download time, or even worse, may be buggy and cause computer problems. One of the ways to avoid downloading poor software is to look at the product reviews that most of the larger download sites offer. These reviews are generally written by users who have first-hand experience with the software applications.
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Another somewhat unusual tool that can be extremely useful is a little program called Webcow. Webcow is a small and easy tool that grabs links from Web pages, Web sites or directory listings and lists them, filters them, and downloads all files. There is also support for FTP, HTTP, HTTPs, protected sites, redirects, cookies and proxy, as well as Integration into the Internet Explorer Menu. Another program that is simple but could prove to be a valuable asset in the Webmaster's arsenal is Check4Me. This application can monitor any change in a Web page or in an FTP directory. Nonags also has a range of free graphic tools and editors that may come in useful.
A site that has an appropriate name to describe its contents is Jumbo, which is a massive site. Jumbo (www.jumbo.com) is a repository of almost every category of free and shareware applications. The site has been around for many years, and has built a large database and a loyal following.
C/net's Download.com is one of the perennial favorites for free and shareware software. This site is also very up to date, and the latest freeware can be found here. It is well-categorized with a good search facility to make it easier to find that particular program you are searching for. The Web developer category gives some idea of the range of tools available for download. This includes shareware and freeware HTML editors, JavaScript, HTML conversion tools, reference & tutorials, sponsored Web design software as well as servers, site management, Web design utilities, and Flash design tools.
Another site worth bookmarking is Webmasterfree, at www.webmasterfree.com. This is a well-designed and easily navigated site, but the range of tools - particularly when it comes to pure freeware - is not as extensive as some of the other sites mentioned above. However, there are some very useful downloads here and the site may possibly be a relief from wading through mountains of software.
Webmaster freebies at The FreeSite (www.thefreesite.com) are well worth a visit. This site offers a wide range of tools that can aid the developer and designer. There is also a section on free affiliate programs that provides descriptions and links to some of the better affiliate programs. The site also hosts a section on useful CGI tools as well as links to free counters and trackers, guestbook services, message boards and free polls and site monitoring services.
While sites like The FreeSite offer some very useful tools, they cannot compare in quantity to the larger download sites such as Zdnet, which hosts a huge repository of free and shareware software. The categories on this site have been well thought out and it's a breeze to navigate. Zdnet has a "most popular" category, and keeps you easily up-to-date on the latest application arrivals. This site also provides information and updates on the latest Internet technology news. Zdnet has excellent interface design and navigation facility.
Zdnet's extensive design section includes a wide range of flash and animation tools as well as font tools; tools to assist with digital photography, 3D modeling & CAD, font programs, illustration software, authoring tools and tools for desktop publishing, image editing and media management. The only downside to this site is that while there is a wide selection of software available, most of the applications are shareware and require purchase after a certain period.
WebAttack (www.webattack.com) is a surprisingly rich site that has devoted a section exclusively to freeware. These include valuable Web tools like Outlook Spam Filter, design tools, free Photoshop plug-ins, and a very intriguing Jpg To Film program, which creates a film reel style output from a list of JPGs. There is also one the better collections of free server tools which includes FTP server tools, IIS add-ons, mail server tools, miscellaneous server tools and server security.
It is worth remembering that trial software is also free to download and can provide the webmaster with a valuable insight and introduction to the latest technologies. Most of the well-known software creators allow trial and demo downloads. These are all fully functional and can be used for a limited time. One of the best known is Macromedia (www.macromedia.com), which offers some of the latest Web design and management software (www.macromedia.com/downloads/). Adobe offers a range of demo software for download such as After Affects and Photoshop. Some software creators even offer their products for free and unlimited use. Eversoft is one such company and you can download First page 2000 at http://www.evrsoft.com/ with no time limits or loss of functionality.
Tutorials and Information
Information is still free on the 'Net and this is particularly the case when it comes to tutorials and other knowledge sources for the webmaster. Sites that provide lessons and tutorials are essential for the newbie webmaster, but equally so for the professional webmaster. The demanding task of being a webmaster is continuous, and requires keeping up to date with the latest events and technologies.
A great site for diverse freebies and tutorials for the webmaster and site developer is Page Tutor, at www.pagetutor.com. Here you'll find all sorts of HTML, including JavaScript and Web authoring tutorials, material for both the absolute beginner and the expert. This site offers comprehensive introductory tutorials and HTML lessons that are particularly aimed at the beginner webmaster. While the JavaScript tutorials are well laid out and easy to follow, some are unfortunately only available to members.
A recommended site for webmaster information is SourceBank (www.sourcebank.com). This is a specialist directory and search engine aimed specifically at the webmaster. He or she can find solutions to almost any problem here. Continual learning about new techniques and design possibilities is part of the webmaster's lot, and here one can also play around with multimedia demos and read articles.
Another site that provides an invaluable range of free tutorials is W3 Schools at www.w3schools.com. Here you can find tutorials on XML, HTML and other languages. The XML section is extremely comprehensive and well documented with examples at every stage. This is an important technology that webmasters should know about if they need to keep abreast of the latest developments. The site is well presented and includes informative tutorials on Flash which are as good as any introductory book on the subject on sale today.
The extent of the free information for the Web developer is astounding. Another site that deserves a permanent bookmark is Boggie Jacks. At www.boogiejack.com you can find tutorials and examples at the Learning Center that offer information on, amongst others, HTML and CSS as well as tutorials on Corel Photopaint. Adding to the depth of the site is a range of freeware programs for download that may just contain the tool that you are looking for to do a particular job.
Finding information quickly on the millions of sites online is always a time-consuming process. Internet research is one of the areas where new software is continually being produced to find ways of controlling and sifting through the masses of online information. It is well worth trying some of the free and shareware programs out there. One way to explore this area is to try the demo version of Internet research software that can be downloaded from Zdnet (at LINK). A free tool that is very popular and does an astoundingly good job of searching through most of the main search engines is WebFerret. This can be downloaded from www.webferret.com and is well worth the short download time.
One of the perennial favorites for Web design and developing is the popular Webmonkey at www.webmonkey.com. This site has earned accolades because of the quality of the articles and tutorials that are offered. Another point in the site's favor is that it deals with the latest developments and innovations. One can spend hours going through the extensive library of information and lessons that provide important learning material for any level webmaster. The site also has a very useful quick reference section that deals with a range of topics including JavaScript code, color codes, browser charts, a reference guide on style sheets and Unix. The entire site - including references - is kept up to date with the latest Internet developments. There are lessons in the "How to" section on just about every Internet scripting and programming language, including JavaScript, Java, ASP, PHP and Perl/CGI. The design and graphics section also covers everything you might need for site creation. There are also some excellent tutorials and articles on XML and RSS. This site is must for the dedicated webmaster.
Another site that deserves mentioning is About.com. About.com provides a valuable service to the webmaster with its vast library of well-written and informative articles and tutorials. While the Web design section of this gigantic site is a valuable resource (webdesign.about.com), its extensive library provides everything the newbie webmaster will want to know in terms of references and information on site design and building.
A site that should be a permanent bookmark is the Web Developers Virtual Library, which is a mine of information that the developer can ill afford to ignore. (www.wdvl.com).
In summary, when it comes to online information and guidance, the webmaster has everything at his or her fingertips. The sites noted in this article are only a few from the vast array of well-constructed and informative Web sites dedicated to helping the Web developer and designer. There are also sites that are specifically aimed at providing the webmaster and site manager with information and tools. One of these is 123Webmaster.com (www.123webmaster.com). This site offers extensive webmaster resources, including free products and services that can be used to announce your site by means of scripts, banner exchanges, etc. Another resource that you should bookmark is Bravenet.com, which is continually improving and expanding its list of services and tools. Free-Webmaster-Tools (www.free-webmaster-tools.com) is a similar site that provides valuable resources for the webmaster and developer.
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