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Ace is an open source, standalone and web-based code editor that focuses on providing a similar or better experience with desktop-based ones.

It is actually developed for the well-known Cloud9 IDE and can be integrated into any web page easily.

The editor's syntax highlighting works with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, JSON, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, etc..

There is support for auto indent/outdent, completely customizable key bindings ad theming.

Users can perform search/replace operations with regular expressions besides the standard method, toggle between soft tabs + real tabs and much more.

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WIODE is an open source and web-based IDE application which focuses on simplicity and expandability.

It is built with PHP-MySQL and has an interface that will feel familiar to anyone working with desktop IDEs.

The application is very easy to work with; it can manage multiple projects, a file-tree helps browsing files-folders where double-clicking an item is displayed in a new tab (multiple tabs, yay!).

Right-clicking on files/folders (context menu) brings options like "create copy, rename, delete or "FTP upload".

For the opened files, there are features like syntax highlighting, line numbering, auto-indenting, saving and previewing.

Also, a "system" menu displays the lists of projects, number of files in each and presents options like taking backups or archiving them.

WIODE is a multi-user application where users can work at the same time without overwriting each other's files.

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For a productive development process, every web designer/developer needs tools that are functional and make you feel comfortable. 

An IDE (integrated development environment) is possibly the most frequently used tool as it is your touch to the code whether you're building something from scratch or applying just a small update.

And, you don't have to use only a single IDE, maybe something complicated with a debugger, built-in FTP, etc. as the main code editor and something simpler for quickly making updates + viewing source codes.

Here are 16 free IDEs for designers/developers that are used widely and proven to be stable:

Aptana Studio (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Aptana Studio is a very impressive and open source development tool that supports HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and Ruby, Rails, PHP & Python on the server side.

It has a "code assist" feature where you can find out details about functions, elements, etc.

You can stay synchronized with the server via FTP, SFTP and control your code with the help of an integrated debugger.

There are many other features that will ease the development process including Git integration or a built-in terminal.

Komodo Edit (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Komodo Edit is an open source application that has support for PHP, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Perl, Tcl, XML, HTML 5 and CSS 3.

It has syntax coloring, folding, background syntax checking,  auto-complete and calltips.

There are lots of extensions created by the community that will help you customize it more.

Code::Blocks (Windows, Mac, Linux)

A flexible IDE, focused on C/C++ code, that can be extended very easily with its powerful plugin support.

It has syntax highlighting, code folding, auto-completion and a tabbed interface.

There is also a task manager to simplify working on the same project for multiple users.

Aptana RadRails (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Similar to Aptana Studio, RadRails is also a great code editor that is open source. With only one difference, it is focused on Ruby on Rails applications.

It includes support for project navigation, smart code assistance, visual debugging and structure outlining.

Eclipse (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Eclipse is a free, state-of-the-art Java development environment (there are also JS, PHP and C/C++ versions).

It has a very active community and many open source plugins + developer tools built around the ecosystem.

CodeLite (Windows, Mac, Linux)

An open source IDE for C/C++ which can be easily extended with plugins.

It has a XML-based syntax highlighting for most of the popular languages and has a powerful code-completion mechanism.

Visual Studio Express (Windows)

Express products are the lighter versions of the Microsoft's popular developer tools (but they are still powerful).

There are various programs provided under 4 categories:

• Web
• Desktop
• Mobile
• Database

Each program targets a Microsoft platform (Windows Mobile, SQL Server, etc.) and they are very handy if you're developing in these platforms.

NetBeans (Windows, Mac, Linux)

It consists of an open-source IDE and an application platform that enable developers to rapidly create web, enterprise, desktop, and mobile applications.

Java is the main platform and it also supports JavaFX, PHP, JavaScriptx, Ruby +Ruby on Rails, Groovy and Grails and C/C++.

Xcode (Mac)

Xcode is the "Mac way" of building for Apple-powered platforms.

It includes features to complete all the build, debug and test cycles.

A graphical editor (Interface Builder) helps designing every aspect of your iOS or Mac OS Xapplication’s graphical user interface.

For iPhone developers, there is a full-featured simulator for a complete testing of the output and much more.

MochaCode (Mac)

A Java IDE that offers a complete "Mac" user experience with text editors, keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, etc., all behaving exactly as you would expect from a Mac application

There is a powerful code assistant with auto-complete and a library displaying any parameters related to the code.

Geany (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Geany is a simple-yet-powerful IDE that support all major filetypes.

It supports code-folding, auto-completion, code navigation and new features can be added with the plugin support

PSPad (Windows)

The editor supports many file types and languages, with syntax highlighting.

There are macros, clip files and templates to automate repetative tasks.

Other features include an integrated HEX editor, FTP client, macro recorder, code explorer and more.

Anjuta DevStudio (Linux)

With a simple user interface, Anjuta has many features including project management, application wizard, interactive debugger, source editor, version control, GUI designer, profiler and many more tools.

Also, the functionality can be extended quickly with thanks to its plugin support.

KDevelop (Windows, Mac, Linux)

The IDE supports many programming languages like C, C++, Fortran, Java, Pascal, Perl, PHP, Python and Ruby.

It has built-in project management, debugger and can be extended with plugins.

Notepad++ (Windows)

Notepad++ is actually an advanced text editor and a must-have for every developer using Windows.

It has syntax highlighters for every popular scripting language and it is usually a perfect fit for a 2nd IDE, for small updates or simpler codes (however, there are many developers who only use it).

Multiple tabs can be created, macros can be used and there are many other features like code folding, advanced search, etc.

ConTEXT (Windows)

Similar to Notepad++, ConTEXT is an advanced text editor where you can work on unlimited files at the same time.

Besides features like syntax highlighting and multilanguage interface, it enables you to store code templates, record macros, compare files and more.

Also, it has customizable help files for each file extension.

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Cloud9 IDE is an open source application that aims to provide a powerful and focused IDE for JavaScript developers.

It is powered by the Ajax.org platform + makes use of HTML5, node.js, socket.io and many other projects.

The application has a pretty fast text editor with bundled syntax highlighting support for JS, HTML, CSS and mixed modes.

Cloud9 IDE has integrated debuggers for node.js and Google Chrome which can be started, paused and stopped from the IDE.

Using WebDAV, it can connect to remote workspaces too and has a plugin system for improving it further (already has several bundled plugins).

P.S. The application is still in early development stages, can be a little buggy but improved continiously.

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MonoDevelop is a free & advanced IDE that is mainly built for C# & other .NET languages.

It works in Linux, Windows & Mac OSX which is great, specially for developers who use multiple platforms but still want to work from the same interface.

MonoDevelop comes with advanced text editing features like code completion support for C# 3, code templates & code folding.

It also has an integrated debugger, web server (for instantly testing ASP.NET applications) & a GTK# visual designer.

The software also offers much more features like source control, makefile integration, unit testing, packaging & deployment, localization & more.

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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.

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UIzard is an open source development tool for creating web applications on the web.

It has built-in support for various project types like:

• standard web applications
• Google API-based widgets/gadgets
• mobile web applications

User interface elements can be controlled with drag’n drops just like a desktop IDE & UIzard’s built-in editor has support for code-highlighting.

With an instant preview feature, the outputs of the design & code can be seen easily.

P.S. The application is currently in beta status & can be a little unstable.

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