51 Web Apps for Designers and Developers

In this article, Linda lays out 51 Web apps that you may be able to use for your home or independent design and development business.

Communication

20. Campfire: Campfire is instant messaging for groups to share text, files and code in real time. You also can save the transcripts.
21. DimDim: I would be remiss in excluding this tool for collaboration, as it is one of the best platforms for Web conferencing that doesn't require a download.
22. Followbase: This service scans Twitter and collects customer ideas, problems, questions and mentions of your company so you can share what people are saying and respond.
23. Grapevine: Grapevine is a full-blown platform upon which you can build your very own Grapevine-powered applications for communication.
24. Heap CRM: Heap CRM keeps all or your contacts, messages, e-mails, files, events, tasks and much more all together.
25. SnailMailr: Use this online app to send a snail mail letter when needed – even overseas. Attach your logo and take advantage of high quality colour laser printing with this quick and inexpensive tool.
26. Tw'er: Want to spread the word about some activities or offers anonymously? Do it with this easy-to-use online Twitter app.

Web Business

27. Adobe Browserlab: Although I prefer BrowserCam, this free app is, by definition, less expensive for cross-browser testing.
28. Domainr: Search for domain names by word and get instant availability results and creative suggestions. View additional links for registrars, TLD and tools like WHOIS.
29. Highrise: Use this online tool to track leads, contacts and deals. This is a simple contact management system. The "Basic" plan contains 5,000 contacts and 5gb space for about $25 per month.
30. Montastic: Use this tool to monitor client Web sites. Montastic sends email alerts to you when a site goes down or back up.
31. OpenDNS: Add a new layer of intelligence to your home network that makes navigating the Internet a more secure, more controlled experience.
32. PX to EM: Do you have to prove to yourself that you're smart? Great – then save some time on conversions with this Web app that provides a full set of EM conversions based on a specified body font size.
33. SerFISH: Get full access to an SSH client from the Web. Also features the abilities to get around firewall and proxy restrictions, connect anonymously (no IP reporting) etc.
34. Net2FTP: Get full-featured access to your FTP server of choice with this online app. You can host a version of this app on your own server, too.
35. Pingdom Tools: What more can you get for free? Try this tool to test page load time, ping and traceroute testing and to monitor Web site performance and uptime.

Office Tools

36. drop.io: I like this file-sharing tool, as they charge by the GB used for uploads, conversion, storage and delivery of large rich media files. If you do not need to use a file-sharing tool often, this could work for you.
37. eSign-iT: An easy to use e-signature application that allows you to gain legally binding approvals for your requests.
38. Google Apps: If you already are using Google Apps, then you know you have access to free web apps covering email, document editing, RSS, calendar, 3D model builder and a lot more.
39. Harvest: Track time, log expenses, invoice clients, keep track of account receivables and revenue, all in one easy-to-use Web app.
40. iSendr: Free Web service iSendr will instantaneously transfer a file directly from you to a client, employee or coworker, no server or software required.
41. Myows: This is an easy-to-use app dedicated to providing a full suite of copyright solutions, from registration to management.
42. Springpad: This Web app not only captures things and organizes them for later (like Evernote); it also figures out what you're saving and tries to put it into context and help you use it.

43.Write.fm: Write.fm, originally built to help the Task.fm team move code snippets around, is based on simplicity and yours to use for the same concept.