Blog

Develop Web Sites Using All Open Source Software

Maybe you think you’ve had enough. You think, I’m tired of Microsoft. You’ve wanted to change, but couldn’t leave your proprietary operating system because it houses all the software you use to develop web sites, like Dreamweaver and Photoshop. Well, there is good news. You can do web development for free, saving you hundreds (if not thousands) in your software budget. And here’s how to do it.

1. Get a Free Operating System

For web developers, Ubuntu is a great alternative to using Windows for three reasons. First, it saves time and money. Setting up your Ubuntu system will only take about thirty minutes (given that it supports all your hardware devices). Second, you can turn the system into a development web server in minutes. Using Ubuntu’s built in software install tools, such as its Add/Remove Programs module and its native Software Package Manger, you download and install all of your development environments (PHP, MySQL, Apache) just by clicking a few check-boxes. And, finally, third, it supports great open source web development IDEs.

2. Get a Free Web Development IDE

If you are looking for a more cost effective way to develop web pages, I encourage you to check out Aptana, a newer open source web development IDE. It comes with all the amenities of Dreamweaver, but with out the empty wallet. It can also be installed on Windows. Other IDEs you can install on Ubuntu include Eclipse, Screem, and Bluefish.

3. Turn Your Free Operating System into a Development Server

Turning your open source tower into development server is a breeze with Ubuntu. Just open up your pre-installed Synaptic Package Manager (under the Administration tab) and search for Apache, PHP, MySQL and all the other server software you love most. Once you check the box, choosing to install the software, the package manager will hunt down any software dependencies for your package. See the images below for more details:

Once you have your server packages installed, it is a good idea to restart your machine.

4. Finally, Download Free Image Processing Software

Open source operating systems have always been packaged with image processing software similar to Photoshop. Ubuntu comes pre-packed with Gimp, which is very well know. You might also check out Inkscape. Both Gimp and Inkscape can be installed on Windows, too.

5. That’s It. You’re Done.

Now, go code the universe or something.