Downloads

Here you'll find links to download some of the products that we regularly use when writing software. However, the internet is probably rich in excellent products that we haven't got round to using yet, so this page also provides links to sites that we'd think of going to when looking for a new development tool, a handy code snippet, or just a freebie piece of software to play with.

Related links on the internet

Examdiff

Superb program for comparing text files. Lots of configuration options (ignore whitespace, ignore case, etc.) and a user interface in which the files are compared side by side with the differences highlighted. Runs on Windows 95 and later. Freeware.

Apache Software Foundation

Home of the Apache HTTP server, the most popular web server on the internet. Unless all the employers and ISPs you ever encounter are locked into the ways of Microsoft, there's a pretty good chance that you'll encounter Apache at some point, so download a free copy here. Apache can do some pretty cool things (e.g. Virtual Hosts) that aren't supported by IIS, but typically Apache is configured via a .conf file whose syntax can be a bit daunting to those of us who've lost touch with our inner Network Administrator.

ConTEXT

Very good free programmer's editor, with built in syntax highlighting for C/C++, Delphi/Pascal, Java, JavaScript, VB, Perl, HTML, SQL, FoxPro, 80x86 assembler, Python, PHP and Tcl/Tk. You can also add custom syntax highlighting and integrate ConTEXT with command-line compilers and utilities. Runs on Windows95 or later.

1st Page 2000 2.0

A free and feature-rich web page editor. Includes syntax highlighting, context sensitive help, spell checker, code templates, code snippets and a highly configurable interface. For everyone from the HTML novice to the advanced DHTML and CGI author.

LCC-Win32

A free C compiler for Win32 systems by Jacob Navia. Includes IDE (with integrated debugger and resource editor), user manual, FORTRAN compiler, Windows API documentation and a C tutorial.

ASP.NET Downloads Section

Here you can download the latest version of ASP.NET to enable your IIS server to support Microsoft's latest server side scripting solution. Or, if you're really in a party mood, why not download the latest .NET Framework SDK and start developing fully fledged ASP and Windows applications using the command line compilers for VB.NET or C# and the graphical debugger for the common language runtime (CLR).

Programmer's File Editor

One of the all time great text editors for Windows. Sadly, though, all development on it has now ceased, so the features that could have made this product almost perfect (syntax highlighting, facility to use .chm as well as .hlp files to provide context sensitive help, etc.) will be absent forever. Nevertheless, it's well worth a look.

SharpDevelop

A free, open source, editor for C# and VB.NET. Requires the Microsoft .NET framework to run, which can be downloaded here.

IBasic

IDE and debugger for a variation of the BASIC programming language that can be used to write console or windowed applications on Windows95 or later. A version of IBasic that compiles stand-alone executables is available for a small charge, after which upgrades are free. A fine product that is continually being improved.

The Free Country

A great resource for developers, produced by Christopher S L Heng. Contains links to freeware tools for developing in C/C++, Basic, Pascal, Fortran, Perl and several other languages, and tools for web development. In addition, there are several articles by the site's author, in which he shares his experiences of, and opinions on, the choices facing web developers.

C|Net Web Developer

The web development section of C|Net's download.com site. It's good to keep this in mind if you're looking for a HTML, Java, JavaScript or other web development tool. It scores over many similar sites by allowing you to filter and order its enormous list of downloads to help you pinpoint the download you want.

C|Net Software Developer

The software developer section of C|Net's download.com site. It's good to keep this in mind if you're looking for an IDE, bug tracker, debugger, database or other general development tool. It scores over many similar sites by allowing you to filter and order its enormous list of downloads to help you pinpoint the download you want.

MSDN Online

Microsoft's repository of development knowledge. A vast library coupled with a large downloads section featuring many free products.

Hot Scripts

Code snippets and complete programs written in C/C++, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Perl, Python and more. A particularly large number of PHP and Perl scripts can be found here. Many of the scripts are user rated and the site has its own search engine to help you find what you're looking for.

Microsoft Research Downloads

Tools, software and papers from Microsoft's research scientists. Interesting fare for dedicated bleeding edge developers.