There are many open source programs that can help website developers. Open source programs are excellent not only because they cost nothing (they are free), but also because of their warm and supportive community. Sometimes it is worth looking for ways to save on tools, and open source solutions are a good place to start.
Here is a partial but select list of 10 software programs that assist with web development. The list includes software that provides options for handling source code, WYSIWYG editors, graphics and image software, and more.
WYSIWYG editors and code editors
KompoZer
KompoZer is professional software for editing websites. It allows you to view the site and edit the code simultaneously, has built-in FTP, an excellent tabbed interface, and supports all major operating systems.
Bluefish Editor - Very similar in features to KompoZer. Fast and lightweight. It has convenient wizards for creating HTML documents, convenient project management, and extremely convenient search and replace! Recommended for those who didn't quite get along with KompoZer.
One of the most powerful tools for editing code in the Windows operating system. Notepad++ is more than just a notepad; it is a powerful IDE with add-ons that make it the best code editor for the Windows operating system. Linux users have gedit, which is truly the best code editor in the world. Highly recommended!
SeaMonkey, from Mozilla, is an all-in-one browser that includes a convenient HTML editor called SeaMonkey Composer.
Graphics and image software
GIMP is a professional graphic design and image editing package and the best alternative to Photoshop. For fans of the Photoshop interface, there is Gimpshop - an extension that closely resembles the Photoshop interface. Highly recommended!
Inkscape is a top-notch program for editing vector graphics, just like its counterparts Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.
Recommended software
FileZilla is considered one of the most popular open source programs. It runs on all operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Macintosh, and offers advanced options such as transferring multiple files simultaneously. Highly recommended!
Sometimes you need to give a presentation on your computer to one of your clients, perhaps to explain the interface and services offered by your website. So if you need screen capture software, look no further than CamStudio. CamStudio is open source screen capture software with all the advanced features you need.
Browser Add-ons
Firebug is an exceptionally powerful and effective tool! It can be used to view HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code and modify it in real time. You can check web page loading speed and many other advanced options. It comes with dozens of other add-ons to choose from and run from within Firefox. Highly recommended!
This is a Firefox add-on that lets you select a color from anywhere on the page.