By Greg Penhaligon
(11/30/05)
The best things in life may be free, but most software isn't. Limited functionality, annoying adware, and pesky nag screens mean even most "free" software isn't actually without cost.
If "cheap" doesn't begin to describe your spending habits but you still need first-rate software to get the job done, bookmark this page now. With these absolutely free, top-notch development tools, you can host your own Web site (Abyss), add some tricked-out functionality with PHP (PHP Designer 2005), and whip up an online photo album (JAlbum)--all without going anywhere near your wallet. Think Bill Gates has enough of your money already? We do, too.
JAlbum
Creating online photo albums used to be a time-consuming chore before JAlbum came along. Not only does this utility do the tedious work of creating thumbnails and Web pages for you, it even comes with a built-in FTP client so you can quickly get those wedding pictures online.
DHTML Studio Lite
Frustrated by pop-up blockers that prevent users from viewing your site properly? DHTML Studio Lite helps you create slick-looking, draggable layers that evade the pop-up killers and make you look like a programming genius.
Abyss Web Server X1
Sure, building your own site is cool. But hosting it yourself? Now that's geek chic! With ASP and PHP support, password protection, antihacking tools, and remote-server editing, Abyss Web Server X1 lets you host your site right from your PC. Trés cool, baby.
SiteGenWiz
So you want to build a Web site, but you slept through HTML in college? Not a problem. This HTML editor makes creating a site as easy as finding drunk people in Vegas. SiteGenWiz walks you through the creation of your Web site and even uploads it for you when you're done.
Pixie
Free yourself from taking screenshots to determine the color of a pixel on your computer. Install this program, hover your cursor over any object on your monitor, and Pixie will display its color value in multiple formats. Pixie even lets you magnify areas of your screen for greater precision. Spending nothing at all has never been this much fun!
NoteTab Light
If you're ready to step up from Notepad but don't need all the bells and whistles of a full-featured HTML editor, then NoteTab Lite is right up your alley. With built-in commands for formatting your code and a powerful search-and-replace feature, the only thing light about this application is the price.
Drupal
Your boss tells you to whip up a large-scale dynamic Web site for your company, but you have no database skills and no budget. Enter Drupal, a powerful, open-source CMS that lets you create big sites with dynamic content--even if you don't know a thing about MySQL.
Install Creator
In exchange for creating installers for free, each installer produced by Install Creator displays a small ad for...that's right, Install Creator. Considering what most installer-creation apps go for, we'd call that as close to free as you can get.
PHP Designer 2005
Don't miss the PHP bandwagon just because you're a little light in the wallet. Features such as XML support, customizable syntax schemes, and autobracketing may sound expensive, but PHP Designer delivers them all and a whole lot more without requiring you to dip into your savings.
Duo
Hey, you can't code all the time, right? Imagine your project manager is one of the large colored blobs in this freeware shooter and you should fly through all four difficulty levels in no time. Duo: because when it's time to go postal, it's best to do it virtually.
