I wanted to add some value to the readers, who primarily will be doing all sorts and different forms of web based work, from web design to development & even flash 
so I wanted to share with you some of my favourite tools that I love to use in every day web design. Theres very few ‘Eureka’ programs I come across but these are certainly way up there. So in no particular Order:
DropBox for Sharing Project Files Across the Team
This tool is one of my favourite tools I have ever come across, we have a 50gb account currently and will upgrade as and when we need to. I found this tool using Twitter but here are some of its features:
- Up to 100gb storage
- Supports syncing across multiple machines
- Files are stored locally on each computer of course
- Can share any or all folders with other DropBox Users
- Web based interface if your somewhere without your dropbox installed and need a file.
- New updates, and works on iPhone now
- Works on Mac, Linux & Windows.
- Vote for the features you want them to build first.
- Start with 2gb Storage free
- Recover deleted files
Great tool, go get it now!
Parallels Desktop for Mac, Run Windows Programs / Files on Mac
If your like me and use a Mac (I’m newish to mac), but still have a few favourite programs which you don’t want to part with but still want to use a Mac, then this program is where its app. It’s a virtual machine program cleverly made so that you can run windows programs seamlessly, and even use a lot of the Mac features with it too, i.e expose etc.
- Run Windows Programs on Mac seamlessly
- Load your favourite windows programs up
- Not intrusive
- Use mac features like expose & more
- Test websites you design in IE8 without having to ask the Windows guy who mocks you.
- You’ll be the envy of all your friends, and even their friends too.
Collabtive (Online Project Management – Open Source & Free)
Brilliant online management for projects, multiple projects, users and more. We’ve just moved over to it and it allows user permissions and much more. You can even import BaseCamp files which will help that transition even easier to the open source community. Although I think this is made by some German guys, there is plenty of English documentation, there are a couple of tweaks you need to make to get all the features working but they are just folders & permissions. Even if you work alone, this is great to put projects into perspective and help meet realistic deadlines.
Features:
- Self hosted, you host it on your server, (requires MYSQL Database)
- Multiple users
- Great for managing any project
- Tasklists & assignment
- Very graphical
- Calendar with tasks
- Milestones
- Messages
- User Permissions
- Tons More!
PHP Designer 7 – Best PHP IDE I have found!
Hey guys, it took me ages of trawling through rubbish IDE’s to develop PHP in, and so far this is the best one I have come across, and I love it, I was a little upset when I went over to Mac and was unable to use this but after getting Parallels I was much happier! This ID has tons of stuff!
Features:
- Code Hinting
- Handy code finishing i.e brackets & quotes.
- Great syntax highlighting & editing of colours
- Highlights end and start of brackets
- Can view all the variables, functions, classes in a separate code navigator panel.
- Snippets of frequently used code.
- Database connetions
- Tons more features, great tool.
Flash Develop & Flash Development IDE (Open Source & Free)
Bill uses flash develop IDE, which is an intergrated development enviornment which has custom class code hinting and project managment tools which also intergrates with the Adobe CS4/CS3 Flash Complier. A great tool which he wishes he found sooner!
Features:
- Supports Syntax Highlighting
- AS2, AS3, Javascript Support
- Macro Running
- Code Snippets
- Works with CS2, CS3 Flash
- Automatic Class Import (including custom classes)
- Free!
- Open Source
- Find and Replace
- More!
