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Opa is a web development platform that is mostly focused on scalability, easy deployment to the cloud, security and a faster coding process to create apps.

It consists of the following which are tightly integrated into each other:

• a new programming language
• a new web server
• a new database
• a new distributed execution engine

Opa is a little different most other programming languages around considering the integrity it has. There is no need to deal with any other software, server or language (even SQL or JavaScript). Just Opa.

Out of the box, the platform has everything for scaling of storage, transactions and how they are served. It handles them automatically by using minimum resources.

Opa is currently available for Mac OS X and Linux, however, Windows support is under development. It is also very well-documented.

P.S. Although a new language usually looks hard (or unnecessary) for any developer, Opa is definitely worth checking out.

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As the number of cloud storage services increases & projects may require using multiple services at the same time, it becomes complicated for a developer to learn the details of each provider.

Simple Cloud API is an open source project that aims to create a common PHP interface for using cloud services.

It currently supports the storage API for:

• Amazon S3
• Windows Azure Blob Storage
• Nirvanix
• Local

and, in the near future, aims to support Rackspace Cloud Files, GoGrid Cloud Storage besides the queue & document APIs of all services.

The project is backed by Zend & supported by IBM, Microsoft, Rackspace, Nirvanix, and GoGrid.

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Web applications are offering an almost desktop-like functionality parallel to the increase in the connectivity speeds, wider usage of the cloud (easier scalability) & improvements in JavaScript/RIA development.

Also, moving to the cloud is no more a fantasy, it is the "current & future trend" considering the popularity of applications like Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat Online or web-based OSs.

As a web designer/developer, it is possible not to use any desktop softwares & work 100% web-based.

There are several tools that we use daily & has vital importance:

• IDE (code editor)
• Image editor
• Database manager
• FTP application
• Storage

Although desktop environment, clearly, has many advantages over web, web has an important one like working from any computer (even it is a weak one) & staying synchronized.

Here are free web applications that you can use to create your own web-based design/development environment:

Code Editing

PHPanywhere

This web application offers a desktop-like coding environment with features like:

• multiple projects
• built-in FTP explorer
• syntax highlighting
• undo-redo support
• & more.

There are also features like tabs, find-replace or auto-completion that we could expect from a desktop IDE.

Bespin

Bespin, an open source project by Mozillla Labs, is a web-based code editor created with HTML 5 technology.

It has a built-in file browser (not FTP) & a collaboration feature where multiple users can work on the same document.

It is not a complete IDE yet but very promising.

CodeRun Studio

CodeRun Studio is a mature platform for easily developing, debugging & deploying web applications using a browser.

It has support for multiple languages (C#/.NET 3.5, PHP 5.1, JavaScript, HTML and CSS). There is also SQL Server 2005 & Amazon SimpleDB support.

Using the application, multiple projects can be managed.

Kodingen

Kodingen is a full-featured online web development platform that enables individuals or teams to work on projects.

It is possible to define unlimited projects and FTP accounts to connect to any server.

There are also other projects like:

• ecoder – (see WRD post)
  
• Ymacs (an Emacs-like editor)
• AmyEditor
  

Image Editing

Few weeks ago, a post at WRD was sharing 5 amazing online image editors & why to use them. Let's remember them:

Sumo Paint

A very impressive application that looks & functions so similar to Photoshop.

It has support for layers, filters & provides some geometric shapes that you'll be surprised to see what can be created using them.

Some other great online image editors are:

• Aviary Phoenix
  
• Photoshop.com
  
• Pixlr
  
• Splashup
  

Also, there are other applications that are focused on specific functions like:

• rsizr (see WRD post)
• Stripe Generator
  
• Tartan Maker (see WRD post)

Database

phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is probably the most popular MySQL management tool.

It supports most of the MySQL features & database/table/record adding-updating-deleting is a breeze.

It can export/import data using multiple formats like SQL, XML, CSV & can create PDF graphics of your database layout.

Adminer (see WRD post)

Adminer is a one-file MYSQL management application that is built with PHP.

Besides standard features, it can display processes & enables you to kill them.

Other web-based MySQL managers include:

• MySQL-Sidu (see WRD post)
• Mysql Ajax Table Editor – (see WRD post)
  
• SQL Buddy (see WRD post)

phpPgAdmin

A phpMyAdmin-like application for PostgreSQL databases.

It can administer multiple servers, supports almost every database feature & import/export using multiple formats.

FTP

net2ftp

An open source PHP application which functions as a web-based FTP client.

It can connect to any server, navigate through files, upload-download-copy-move-delete-rename them & view the contents with syntax highlighting.

net2ftp can also copy-move files to a 2nd ftp server or zip/unzip them.

eXtplorer (see WRD post)

eXtplorer is a PHP file manager script that can optionally connect to FTP servers.

It can accomplish every file/folder function, zip/unzip them & offers a user management system for enabling permission-based access to files.

F->IT (see WRD post)

This open source application works very similar to Windows Explorer with drag'n drop support.

It has syntax highlighting & offers multiple file uploads.

Some of the other web-based FTP applications are:

• OurWebFTP
  
• Oliver
  
• phpWebFtp (see WRD post)

Storage

Storage is a little tricky as the services are either paid or limited free versions of the paid ones. However a limited free version is mostly enough to store data for multiple web design/development projects

Dropbox

Dropbox is an amazing service which keeps you synchronized on any computer with the help of a software that functions as a drive or from a web interface.

The service is paid but comes with a full-featured free plan with a 2gb limit.

Box.net

The service enables you to store data in the cloud and share them when needed.

It offers a 1gb free storage plan where you can reach from web easily.

ADrive

ADrive offers a free version where files can only be reached via a web-based interface & has a limit of 50gb.

humyo

humyo offers an online storage space of 10gb for free which can be reached from only web.

There are many other services like:

• File Qube
  
• IDrive
  
• FilesAnywhere
  
• File Den

Do you use other web-based services/applications that ease your daily web design/developments tasks?

And, do you think it is efficient for a web designer/developer to work 100& web-based?

Please share your thoughts with the community.

Special Downloads:
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