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Web Professional Tools
May 2nd, 2005 | Posted in Analysis
Builders have hammers and nails. Singers have microphones. Baseballers have bats. So, what tools are for web professionals?
I use specific tools every day as a web professional. I cannot work without these resources – some tangible, some virtual.
First, let’s just cover the obvious professional web tools:
- Computer (laptop) – duh
- Broadband connectivity – the faster, the better
- Web browser – I prefer Firefox, but who doesn’t?
- Server software and hardware – the stage where we perform
- Development software – Dreamweaver, notepad, FTP, etc..
So, the basics are pretty simple. You give any real web professional an FTP (file transfer protocol) account and MS notepad and they’ll make you a website.
Second, some tools that I use every day are oriented towards business operations. That is, these tools do not actually produce a website, but they are essential for managing and handling the business of web development.
- Email – I prefer any web-based email. Just say “no” to downloading email. Go webmail or IMAP. No POP.
- Project management software – whether build in-house to suit, or purchased off the shelf (such as MS Project), you need something to manage projects. I have used Basecamp, built by 37signals in Chicago, and thought it was useful. Now, my team at ND is building a custom application for our usage. Either way, you need this to operate a business.
- MS Word and Adobe Acrobat – I write my proposals in Word then convert them to PDF using Acrobat. I rarely (if ever) send a Word document to a client, business partner, or any other contact during a formal business document exchange. Word documents can be changed, edited, and are subject to versioning-related formatting errors. I always send documents in PDF because they are closed, and can only be viewed. Think of it as if you are taking a picture of your Word document.
- Web Statistics reports – WebTrends, StatsCounter.com, etc..
- Instant Message – don’t phone a techie, IM them.
Finally, these websites are tools that I use every day. I consider them tools because they impact the final product, or shape the way in which the industry communicates.
- News.com – the best news site for all this tech, including the web
- Wired.com – culture, trends, and other lifestyle information about tech
- Merriam-Webster – spell check, dictionary
- Bloglines.com – If you are not using an RSS aggregator in your professional web development job right now, then you need to get out from under your rock. I hardly jump from site to site anymore. Rather, I log-in to my Bloglines account and read the numerous RSS entries syndicated to me from bloggers, websites, and other areas of my choice. If I see something compelling and interesting, then I click over to the site. Otherwise, I simply digest the information.
- Google.com – no need to explain this one
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