Web Developer’s Toolkit

For me, half the battle of learning a new language is knowing which tools to use and getting a basic introduction to them.  There is always information available on the language itself and the syntax, but the first step before you can begin coding is installing the proper software you will be using.  I’d like to help you to understand the tools and software that will help you get started developing web pages.  These tools will allow you to develop great sites, complete with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and even PHP.  Once you have the proper tools installed you are free to experiment and gain a better understanding of the languages themselves.

The main tool you will be using to write your web pages is Notepad++.  There are many other text editors available that will work, but I’ve always liked working with this application.  It’s a free, open-source editor that is very powerful and robust.  If you’ve done any web development you’ve probably already used it to write your HTML.  Using it to write your JavaScript or PHP files is no different.  One of the program’s best features is the ability to have multiple text files open on different tabs.  The tabs make it easy to switch between all of your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP files.

Since PHP scripts are designed to be executed on a server prior to being sent to the client, they won’t do you any good running locally unless you’ve installed some form of virtual server environment.  Simply opening the files with a web browser won’t allow you to test your code the way you can with HTML or JavaScript.  WampServer is one of the most popular web development environments that will allow you to test your code.  It has the ability to process server scripts before opening the files in a web browser, all without needing an internet connection. While you don’t technically need this software to test your code, it’s easier than the alternative of publishing your scripts on a web server every time you make a change.

Once your pages are written, you’ll probably want to publish them on a server.  One of the most popular tools for transferring your files to a server is FileZilla.  Like Notepad++, FileZilla is free and open-source.  FileZilla has the ability to save your login credentials, allowing you to quickly access the directory on the server.  A drag-and-drop interface will transfer the files via FTP and allow you to instantly test them from the live web server.  Once they’re on the web server the pages are available for all the world to see!

NetBeans isn't a required tool, but it could be considered as an alternative to Notepad++.  NetBeans is primarily used to develop other software applications like those written in Java, but it does have some nice web developer features.  Perhaps the biggest advantage is NetBeans’ ability to log in to your web server and update files.  By setting up the proper login credentials and file path, you can edit your web pages in NetBeans.  One click will allow you to transfer the new updated file to the web server, replace the old version, and open the updated page over the internet using your favorite web browser. 

If you're looking to get into web development these programs will allow you to get started creating content.  The best part about using these tools is that they are all free!  Anyone willing to try is able to download these programs and get started within a matter of minutes.

Hopefully this guide will help you to get a better understanding of what applications you can use to begin creating web pages.  What are your thoughts on these applications?  Have you used these tool before?  Perhaps you prefer to use something else?  Leave your comments below, I’d love to hear your feedback.

Review of TED Talks Video on Bringing Public Data to the 21st Century

I came across TED Talks for the first time and thought I would write about a video I watched regarding big data.  Data scientist Ben Wellington presents on the ways that public data can be better utilized and how it can be used to help make our world a better place.

The overall message that Ben is trying to get across is that public data should be much more available than it is today.  We live in an ever-changing technological world, yet most public records are only available in formats such as PDF.  Data such as this can be very difficult to analyze, requiring either manual transfer or custom software to pull out the data sets.  It is also inconsistent, with data being stored differently between organizations.  Once the data is pulled out and sorted, however, it can be mined and analyzed.

 

The examples Ben uses all come from New York City, and he uses graphs, maps, and data plots to showcase the results.  For example, by plotting the locations of bicycle accidents it is possible to create a map showing the most dangerous intersections in New York City for cyclists.  He shares a similar map showing the locations of the dirtiest waterways around the city.  Perhaps the most interesting example is when he shows a map which portrays which fire hydrants generate the highest number of parking tickets.  The top two hydrants in the city combined generated over $58,000 per year!  It was discovered that the parking near these hydrants was very confusing to motorists, and once the issue was brought to the city, the problem was fixed shortly after.

Ben uses humor and great examples to clearly present his argument for better, more accessible public data.  By harnessing the power of crowd sourcing, we will be able to find answers to questions we didn’t even know existed.  I think he presents his argument very well and I agree with what he has to say.  Providing data only in printer-friendly formats is outdated.  The field of data science has exploded in recent years, and allowing the public to work with the data will raise questions that would never have been asked. 

By standardizing the way agencies and organizations store data and releasing data in its raw format along with PDFs, we can unlock the passion and abilities of citizens to harness open data and make our cities better.

Link to TED Talks video: How we found the worst place to park in New York City - using big data