How to Do a Lot with Very Little: Open source software, tools and templates for webmasters

What is Open Source?Very similar to the concept of Freeware (Free as in freedom, not

free food) except for one important ideological point.A set of criteria that gives freedom to both the programmer and the

user:

1. Free Redistribution 2. Source Code must be included 3. Derived Works 4. Integrity of the Author's Source Code 5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups 6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor 7. Distribution of License 8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software 10. License Must be Technology-Neutral

(from http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd 2/12/08)

Why Open Source?

Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.

(from http://www.opensource.org/ 2/12/08)

Firefox 3 beta One-click site info: Click

the site favicon in the location bar to see who owns the site

Malware Protection: warns users when they arrive at sites which are known to install viruses, spyware, trojans or other malware

Full Page Zoom

Cost: Free

A user's bookmarks, history, cookies, and preferences are now stored in a secure database which will prevent data loss even if their system crashes.

Over 300 individual memory leaks have been plugged

Faster speed

Web Developer Has many important

tools Get extensive

information about page elements; a ruler; HTML/CSS validators; edit HTML/CSS, error prompts

Speeds up debugging

Cost: Free

Code can be very difficult to read

Cannot upload changes to the server. Must save and/or copy paste

Cost: Free

Easy-to-read and navigate HTML/CSS

Duel HTML/CSS windows

Highlighter Can show you how

long each element of the web page loads

Eats up lots of CPU Has to be disabled

when in non-use Can't upload changes

directly to the server

FireShot Snapshots of web

sites Leave notes Highlight text Can e-mail snapshots

directly through the program, also upload to a server

Cost: Free

GIMP Image manipulator

Combine photos, retouch photos, remove red-eye, etc.

Can rival Photoshop Can open and save

many different picture formats Gifs, jpgs, tiffs, pngs,

bmps

Interface can be awkward to a first time user

High level of difficulty On-line Tutorials not

necessarily helpful or out-of-date

Cost: Free

Book Burro “Senses” when you

are looking at a book Provides a list of local

libraries that have the same book

Can configure to show prices from certain on-line bookstores

Must enter zip code

Cost: Free

Free Templates http://www.oswd.org/

CSS/HTML templates free to download http://www.opensourcetemplates.org/

Web Site and Vector Art http://www.openclipart.org/ Free clip art and images http://www.freeimages.co.uk/ Free stock photos

Cost: Free

Resources

• Firefox - http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/• Gimp - http://www.gimp.org/• Book Burro - http://bookburro.org/

Fin