Links and Other Stuff

Posted On: 2010-08-30

It's Monday and I should be bouncing around full of vigor and eager to get on with some serious work but I'm not. The weekend was a total write-off and all I want to do is sit back and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and maybe even go for a walk on the beach.

Sadly the beach is the absolute last place I'm going to get to today. Instead I've got client work ... both scheduled and stuff that has just been dumped on me because it's so urgent and some clients think my team and I can perform miracles ... so it's all work today.

But before I jump into that let's have a look at some useful links that I've com across in the last week or so. Some of these might even make your life easier and some of them just might be distractions.

Create CSS Files
Now if you've had no training in writing your own style sheets ... or you've read all the books and tutorials you can find and you're still struggling to get them right there's a tool out there that might help you.

Simple CSS is described as a free CSS authoring tool and it's available for Windows and Mac users and it allows you to either create new stylesheets or modify existing ones. Now I have to admit that I do still have a few problems with CSS so I'm definitely going to be looking at this tool.

You can download it at hostm.com/css/ and, as I said a moment ago, it's free.

Perl, Python, PHP?
If you're into things that are a little weirder than CSS ... stuff like Perl, Python, PHP, Ruby and even Javascript and other stuff ... then here is a link to a editor that will handle all the details for you.

It's called Komodo-Edit and you can find it at activestate.com/komodo-edit and seeing that I'm always making noises about writing some of my own PHP scripts I'm going to be downloading this one too.

If you follow the link I just gave you be sure to look for Komodo Edit ... it's free but it's easy to get the wrong link and end up on Komodo IDE which isn't free.

FTP Client for Android
Now I'm not sure why you would want to upload files from your cell phone but if you're a true geek then I guess you can find an excuse to do something like that and now there's an FTP client just for your Android phone.

It's called AndFTP and it comes with an impressive list of features. There's even a forum where true geeks can get together and discuss using AndFTP. You can find it at lysesoft.com/products/andftp

Vector Graphics
Do you need a free vector graphics editor that is said to be almost as good as Adobe Illustrator but comes free instead of with a price tag that could destroy your bank balance?

Then check out inkscape.org for their free open source vector graphics editor. You can't miss the download links when you hit their home page and it looks like a great alternative to the brand-name software that you can't afford.

3D Modelling
Now most webmasters are probably not going to get into 3D modeling but when I saw the image on the front of this website I knew my Steve would want me to share this one with you.

The program is called 3D Canvas and it's available at amabilis.com and you will find that there's a forum, a whole bunch of tutorials and other helpful stuff there too. I'm sure that Steve will never have the time to play with this piece of software but the image of the train on the index page has really got him hooked.

Mind Maps
I have to admit that I rarely feel the need to use a mind mapping tool but Steve occasionally draws up a mind map on a piece of paper when he has a complex issue to think through.

However, if you want to use a mind map to help you to see where you're headed and a piece of paper sounds too low-tech for you then perhaps you need something like FreeMind. I have to admit that it does look interesting so if you think it might help you keep track of where you've been, where you're at and where you're headed then you will find it at freemind.sourceforge.net.

FreeMind is described as "a premier free mind-mapping tool" so it's not going to cost you anything and you might find it useful.

And now I'm off to tackle all those crazy things that I've got ahead of me today. I'm not going to need a map to find my way through them but I think that I am going to need bucket-loads of patience.