Basic Web Development

A list of some software and resources for very basic web development. This list will continuously be updated and expanded upon.

Text Editors and IDEs

The first thing you'll need when you want to start programming is some sort of text editor or IDE (Integrated Development Environment). If you're doing more "robust" programming, then using an IDE is recommended. IDEs often have things like automatic code completion, access to databases, GUI building, optimization tools, and much more.

• Atom - A hackable text editor for the 21st Century
• Sublime Text - A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose. If you're not using this yet, you really should try it out. Lightweight and very customizable for a text editor.
• Notepad++
• Coda - Paid.
  
• Aptana Studio - The world’s most powerful open-source web development IDE. Aptana Studio harnesses the flexibility of Eclipse and focuses it into a powerful web development engine.
• NetBeans

Useful Software Tools

• CodeKit - Paid. CodeKit helps you build websites faster and better. It lets you process Less, Sass, Stylus, Jade, Haml, Slim, CoffeeScript, Javascript and Compass files automatically each time you save.
• SourceTree - A free Git & Mercurial client.
• DropSync - Paid. Fast and easy folder syncing. It uses rsync to transfer only the parts of files that have changed, so it's fast, especially over a network.
• FileZilla - A free FTP/SFTP client.
• FreeFileSync - Free Open Source software that helps you synchronize files and synchronize folders for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
• Bower - A manager for front-end package management. Requires Node and npm.

HTML

• Codecademy: Web Fundamentals
• HTML Dog - The best practice guide to XHTML and CSS.
• Dive Into HTML5 -A comprehensive look at HTML5 by Mark Pilgrim.
• HTML5Rocks - A look into HTML5 with examples and tutorials.
• HTML-Ipsum - Some basic HTML that can be handy when creating CSS styles.

CSS / LESS / Sass

• CSS Zen Garden - A demonstration of what can be accomplished visually through CSS-based design.
• CSS 3 Maker - Generate popular new CSS 3 styles with this fancy generator. Also displays browser compatibility.
• TypeTester - Compare screen typography.
• LESS - The dynamic stylesheet language.
• Sass - CSS with superpowers.
• CSS Frameworks
  • CSS Framework Comparison - Super useful!
  • Unsemantic
  • Twitter Bootstrap
  • YAML

JavaScript

• Codecademy: JavaScript
• JavaScript Frameworks:
  • AngularJS
  • jQuery - A fast, concise, library that simplifies how to traverse HTML documents, handle events, perform animations, and add AJAX.
  • Prototype JS - Provides class-style Object Oriented and AJAX, freely distributable under the terms of an MIT-style license.
    
  • Mootools - a super lightweight web2.0 javascript framework

PHP

• Codecademy: PHP
• PHP: The Right Way - A lot of information regarding PHP on the web is outdated, and often follows unsafe practises. Start learning PHP the right way!
• PHP.net - Your ultimate reference guide to PHP functions and their usage. Use it wisely.
• Awesome PHP Libraries
• PHP Frameworks:
  • A list of Full-Stack and Micro Frameworks
  • CakePHP
  • Kohona
  • Laravel
  • Zend - What RPGfix's software, XenForo, and custom game directory is built upon.

Python

• Codecademy: Python