CIW Community - Get caught in the Web!

Welcome to the CIW Downloads page! Many instructors have indicated that they would like a "one stop shop" for some of the more exciting technologies and downloads. So, we've created this page. Feel free to suggest more applications and sites!

Note: Most of the following pages open up a new window in your browser. So if you have aggressive pop-up blockers, take the steps necessary to allow for exceptions.

Common open source offerings
The advent of useful open source software is one of the more exciting An open source replacement is available for virtually any of the software you currently purchase. And some of it actually works! Below is a list of the more common offerings that are currently being actively developed and supported:

• Firefox: Believe it or not, there are quite a few of our CIW folks who don't use it. Do yourself a favor and start! Firefox is more than just a Web browser. With a few add-ons, you can start turning it into a sophisticated development environment.
• Audacity: Want to audio-enable your blog? Need a way to turn that huge, clunky system into an erstwhile iPod? Audacity's the tool to use. Here at CIW, we've been using it to create audio blogs.
• The Gimp: The open source version of Photoshop. The official page contains only versions that will run only on Linux. However, a Windows version of the Gimp is available at the Gimp-Win SourceForge page. A Macintosh version is available in the places listed at the following page: http://www.gimp.org/macintosh. So, the GIMP can run on the unholy trinity of Windows, OS/X, Linux. The might doesn't have all of Photoshop's features. But perhaps it doesn't have to. It's definitely not ready for the magazine page layout/CYMK scene, but for Web designers who live in a Web/RGB world, it is more than powerful enough.
• Amaya: A GUI replacement for DreamWeaver. Created by the W3C, the people who brought you XHTML, CSS, and XML, so you can trust it creates pretty good code. Available in Windows, Macintosh and Linux? Of course!
• OpenOffice: A replacement for Microsoft Office. Available in Windows, Macintosh and Linux. Called "Openoffice.org" by open source purists. Can create or edit any Microsoft document, except for the new proprietary XML format Microsoft introduced (e.g., docx). Novell has even created an add-on for .docx documents. You can also convert documents online at sites such as Zamzar (http://blog.zamzar.com/2007/04/10/convert-docx-files-to-doc-pdf-odt-and-txt) and Docx.com (http://docx-converter.com).
• Firefox add-ons: A dizzying collection of add-ons that extend the usefulness of your browser. Add-ons exist for power users, as well as for expert developers. Go to our CIW Forum to see a collection of useful add-ons designed to turn your Web browser into a sophisticated, enterprise-level design and development environment .
• Azureus: Distributed file downloading and uploading at its best. Azureus is a BitTorent protocol client. The BitTorrent protocol takes the old Napster idea and does it ten times better. First of all, it's a truly open source protocol. Second, all systems are truly distributed. Third, the protocol is able to muster vast amounts of bandwidth so that you can download files much more quickly. Azureus is one of many clients that uses the BitTorrent protocol. Check out the following review on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent_client. A bunch of other clients are available, but BitTorrent will run on any platform, and works well. Understand that like any tool, BitTorrent can be abused. However, it is used legitimately every day. For example, many telephony companies and Internet companies use BitTorrent to update its products.
• Eclipse: For you hardcore - or wanna-be hardcore - Java and C++ developers, Eclipse is the best open source development out there. Java-based, it will run on any platform you can throw at it.
• Gnome Googlizer: A nice little time-saver, Googleizer does only one thing, and one thing well: It proves that Linux Gnome developers are really cool (Gnome is one of the many desktop GUI environments - Macintosh systems use it). Okay, well it does two things. The second thing is it takes any text you have highlighted in any application (e.g., text you've highlighted in a Web browser, text editor, Word processor, terminal) and then with a click of a button, passes that text on to a new instance of a Web browser that then uses Google to search for any and all instances of the text you've highlighted. Trust me - it saves time, it's cool, and it's smart. Sorry Windows users - this one runs only on Mac and Linux/Unix systems.

If you spend any time at all with the above applications, you'll find that they'll become a regular part of your Web designer/developer arsenal.

Useful software collection sites
Note: Each of the following links opens a new window.

• Sourceforge: Perhaps the best collection of open source software downloads. Contains thousands of open source projects and associated downloads. Searchable and indexed for your convenience.
• Freshmeat.net: Another collection of open source projects and downloads. Searchable as well.
  The WebDevology.com page: A useful page provided by Jason and Sadie Hebert. Contains tutorials, articles, blog lists, downloads and general resources. Put together by a couple of real experts in the business!
• The Web 2.0 Backpack: Designed to be everything a student needs to get started in college - from word processors, note taking software, collaboration suites, mind mapping, and study aids. Not a bad little collection.
• The CIW AAP/ATP Partner and Instructor Login Page: For those of you looking for downloads specific to our courses, click on this link and log in. If you don't have a login, contact info@ciwcertified.com and get one.
• One other useful page I've found is seopher's "70 coolest free applications" list.

Does it have to be a binary download?
Check out the file given below named "online_communities.png." It's a relatively current, entertaining map of the online communities that exist today. Enjoy!