see also News Sharing | Knowledge Mapping | Information Presentation

There are many excellent resources to support web development. Initially, this page is emphasizing open source topics. The case for this can be has been summarized as follows: "Open source promotes software reliability and quality by supporting independent peer review and rapid evolution of source code."

Open Source Software

The Case for (and Against) Open Source
This is an interesting story on CNN.com about the joys and pains of using Open Source software for tricky system integration tasks. The focus here is the business world, but anyone dealing with complex network integration tasks may find this article insightful. Also worth a look, if this area interests you, is Performance and security in Open Source OSs: Linux vs. the BSDs from IDG.net.

Release 1.0 Special Issue
Still thought-provoking 18 months later, this is a series of articles dissecting the Open Source boom as it emerged in the public eye in 1998.

SourceForge
VA Linux started this site at the beginning of the year to offer high-end resources to support complex open source software projects ("a CVS repository, mailing lists, bug tracking, message forums, task management software, web site hosting, permanent file archival, full backups, and total web-based administration"). They now host over 4000 projects. VA Linux benefits from this, among other reasons, because many of those projects will expand Linux's functionality and credibility. If there are major tools to be developed in environmental informatics, this might be a place to do it.

The O'Reilly Network
This hub site is a good first stop for developers using Unix and/or Open Source software.
     Linux FAQ | Open Source book chapters | Apache Devcenter | Meercat Wire Service

For Environmental Portals: EIONET Open Source Software
The European Environment Information and Observation NETwork (EIONET) is making available open source software to promote the development of other websites, including their Portal Toolkit

General Web Development

Useractive.com
Useractive has an innovative set of online tutorials that let you practice your coding skills in everything from HTML and Perl to C++ and Java. For some of these there is a fee.

Webmonkey
This popular site has a wide range of tutorials and resources.

Conferencing Software for the Web
An extensive listing of both commercial and free conferencing and collaboration software for website use.