Web development is not an easy career path to follow- there’s so much competition around for jobs and the industry is advancing all the time. If you want to stay ahead of the pack, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the latest and greatest tools- tools which will save you time and improve the appearance and usability of the sites you build.

Of course, with so many web development tools out there, getting to grips with all of them would leave little or no time at all for actually working to make money, which I assume is the object of the exercise for most people reading this article.

With this in mind, I’ve drawn up a list of the essential Windows based tools that everyone should try. They perform a range of functions, from writing and editing code to checking for errors, running local servers to testing speeds, but all will make you and your web sites more efficient.

1. Firebug (free)

Firebug is a tool that all web developers should have in their arsenal. It’s incredibly useful. It integrates with Firefox, letting you edit, debug and monitor, CSS, HTML and JavaScript while you browse. Use Firebug’s CSS tabs to make changes and see them take effect instantly.

2. SeoQuake (free)

This Firefox add-on is ideal for those that deal with SEO and promotion of web sites. It lets you estimate the effectiveness of your SEO efforts in seconds, saving this information for later if necessary. You also get an extra toolbar which analyses the SEO competitiveness of any page you have open at the time.

3. FileZilla Portable (free)

If you’re a web developer, chances are you’ll know and probably have used FileZilla. Well, this is the portable version, which at 4.2MB, you can fit on a USB stick. Portable versions of WinSCP, SmartFTP and CyberDuck FTP are also available.

4. PuTTY Portable (free)

As you might expect, PuTTY Portable is a lightweight version of PuTTY telnet and SSH client. Carry it around on your USB stick, iPod, external hard drive or a good old-fashioned CD to connect in to your systems wherever you are without leaving personal info behind.

5. MeasureIt (free)

This Firefox extension is a simple but useful tool that web developers can use on their own websites and those of others. It lets you draw a ruler across any web page to measure width, height and alignment.

6. Web Developer (free)

Web Developer is an invaluable Firefox add-on, which gives web developers a menu and toolbar full of useful tools, including view CSS, edit CSS and view style information.

7. Browser Window Resizer (free)

This great tool enables you to see how the site you’re working on will appear on screens of different sizes (640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×1024 and 1600×1200.) It works on both Firefox and Internet Explorer.

8. CSS Frame Generator (free)

Simply enter your XHTML code into the box on this great web page for it to be magically turned into a corresponding CSS frame. Free to use and it couldn’t be easier.

9. Format CSS (free)

Format CSS is great for those web developers who code with little or no structure but want to present neat and tidy code to their clients. Enter your own code into the box on the left, choose how you want your code to appear and press “Format” to tighten things up.

10. CSS Compressor (free)

Use this tool to compress your CSS, improving loading speed and saving on bandwidth in the process. Choose from three compression settings, balancing compression against CSS legibility. Simply enter your CSS code into the box and press “Compress It”.

11. Yahoo! YSlow (free)

The best speed optimisation tool around, YSlow analyses your web pages, suggesting ways to make your pages load faster. This Firefox add-on, which is integrated with Firebug, also provides web developers with a summary of each page’s components and in-depth speed statistics.

12. CSS Validation Service (free)

Supported by HP, the CSS Validation Service checks CSS and XHTML with style sheets for any errors, pinpointing potential problem areas. Simply enter the URL of the site you want to validate and let it go to work.

13. Link Checker (free)

Link Checker is another vital but oh-so-easy-to-use tool from W3C. Simply enter a URL and it will instantly check to make sure that all the links on that site are valid and working properly.

14. Postable (free)

This tool’s bound to make any web developer’s life easier. Tired of having to change “<” and “>” signs in your code to “<” and “>” and having to write “&” every time you want to include an ampersand? Well fret no more, Postable does all of this for you.

15. Browsercam (from $39.95 for 3 months)

Browsercam lets you view your site on any browser on any operating system. Check JavaScripts, DHTML, forms and more on any platform. Once you’ve captured a screen shot, you can email it to a colleague or customer. Broswercam is also available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile.

About The Author

Tom is a writer and designer who works with a UK based supplier of Epson printer ink, toner, paper and other printing accessories. You can read more of his writing about the arts and design on their blog.