These are my recommendations on different Software, Services, and Providers that I have experience with. If it’s in this list, I use it!
- Browsers
- Communication
- Finances
- Hosting Providers
- Utilities
- Web Development
- WordPress Plugins
- WordPress Themes / Theme Frameworks
Browsers
Google Chrome
Used Since: 2008
My primary browser, keeps my bookmarks synced between computers and my web looking it's best!
Mozilla Firefox
Used Since: 2003
I use Firefox to debug and test sites when things go wrong or I need to investigate things without Cookies.
Communication
Basecamp
Used Since: 2007
Crucial to keeping organized amongst many people on a project, keeps you on track!
Dropbox
Used Since: 2009
Share files, back them up, and sync them between computers.
Gmail
Used Since: 2004
Great service, integrated into Google Apps for domain-level e-mail service.
Google Calendar
Used Since: 2006
I sync up between my iPhone, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Web to keep organized on the go.
Google Docs
Used Since: 2006
Collaborate on documents, and keep track of my budget with this baby!
Google Voice
Used Since: 2006
Never leave home without it! Well, I don't, it's the number I give out to everyone and it rings me on whatever phone I'm closest to. Robust features, and more on the way!
Mozilla Thunderbird
Used Since: 2007
I use this for managing all of my e-mail and RSS feeds in one place.
Trillian Astra
Used Since: 2002
My all in one IM client, I thoroughly have enjoyed Trillian Astra, and have used Trillian for years.
TweetDeck
Used Since: 2009
Perfect for managin multiple Twitter accounts at once, and keeping track of multiple timelines.
Yuuguu
Used Since: 2009
I share my screen with this usually when I do my Pods walkthroughs.
Finances
Freshbooks
Used Since: 2008
I use this to bill my clients, it does exactly what I need it to, and makes sense to my clients.
Mint
Used Since: 2008
Helps me keep track of all of my bank accounts, investments, and credit cards. With API access to most of the popular banks, this is great to look at when I want to know if I'm feeling blue :)
PayPal
Used Since: 2003
Online Payment Processing, what's more to say? It's PayPal.
Hosting Providers
HostGator
Used Since: 2003
Simple, cheap, and largely reliable shared hosting. Great for just about any site.
Liquid Web
Used Since: 2010
Awesome support - Enterprise level hosting to handle whatever you throw at it!
Rackspace Cloud
Used Since: 2009
Scalable cloud hosting options for Files, Sites, and Servers. The cloud is great for many sites, but if you are planning on running a server-intensive site you may want to look at getting a Dedicated server from Liquid Web.
Utilities
Beyond Compare
Used Since: 2004
A necessity for comparing two files, when outside SVN.
FileZilla
Used Since: 2007
Very light-weight FTP client, for when you just need to manage files.
Pingdom
Used Since: 2007
This service keeps an eye on my sites when I don't have time to. It helps me know when there's a problem before someone else does - which is ALWAYS good (despite having the problem at all).
SyncBackSE
Used Since: 2008
I backup my files and folders to my secondary drive, and then to my external hard drive. This program automatically schedules those backups and keeps the files in sync so I can sleep at night knowing I'm covered.
Web Development
Adobe Creative Suite
Used Since: 2001
You can't say Web without Adobe. Well, you can, but then does it look good? Does it work good? Maybe, but this would make it even better!
Beanstalk
Used Since: 2010
Automated FTP Deployment is a killer feature! You've got to use this if you want a phenomenal SVN provider!
Firebug Add-on for Mozilla Firefox
Used Since: 2007
When I debug and test with Firefox, this is the Firebug that burns away all the bad bugs!
Komodo IDE
Used Since: 2010
I'm loving Komodo IDE, but when I first came to it I had no idea how to utilize it's power. It took a bit of time with other IDE's to truly grow as a developer and reach the point in which it made sense to move up in the IDE world.
Navicat MySQL
Used Since: 2005
The ONLY MySQL tool you'll need, when managing a database externally. I use this exclusively to manage databases, develop queries, and design database structures.
Pivotal Tracker
Used Since: 2009
We've been using this for the Pods CMS plugin, so far it's been working out pretty good, but it feels like it does a lot more than we utilize it for.
WordPress Plugins
Adminimize
Used Since: 2009
Great plugin that lets you hide menu items in WordPress. I use it often for handing off the backend of WP to clients and keeping it uncluttered for their needs.
Gravity Forms
Used Since: 2009
Gravity Forms is a powerful premium plugin for giving your Clients access to Contact Forms, and not being afraid to let them manage the form itself.
Members
Used Since: 2009
Create / Manage WordPress User Roles and Capabilities easily using this plugin, and even more functionality like restricting access to content. This plugin is required on all my project sites -- it's just that useful.
Pods CMS
Used Since: 2008
I use this plugin in every project of mine, not because I'm one of the developers, but because it's insanely useful.
Pods UI
Used Since: 2009
An additional plugin that I built which is the new testing ground for all of the UI changes coming in Pods 2.0
WordPress Themes / Theme Frameworks
LightWord
Used Since: 2008
I like this theme, it used to be my site's theme until I had it redesigned. I use this theme to create test sites to make them look less simple.
