I just heard about AMPPS from Softaculous and decided to give it a try. It is basically everything you need to set up and deploy over 259 of the best free and open source software. It runs with the Apache Web Server, MySQL, PHP, Perl and Python, but all you have to do is run the easy installer and pick what you want.
There are multiple options for everything from Blogs and Forums to Database Tools and E-Commerce. It is just as simple to install a WordPress site or set up a new ERP or Social Networking site. There are so many categories of applications that are included that you can find at least one that suits your needs.
If nothing else, it is good to see the list of open source software that is available for people to use. I found a few that I had never heard of that I am looking forward to trying out.
Here is an interesting video discussing cognitive surplus, that is, extra time devoted to creativity. It talks about creative contribution from open source projects and wikipedia to lolcats.
Google Drawings looks like a nice alternative to Visio or other programs for making diagrams and drawings. Best of all, you don’t have to copy the file or email it since it is stored in your Google Docs account.
One great use for Google Drawings would be to make wireframes for websites. These are used to help visualize how the page will look and function before all the details are worked out. Morten Just has created some templates that you could use to get started.
I heard about Grooveshark the other day and gave it a try. It looks like a cool way to listen to music online any time. I recently tried RadioTuna for radio broadcasts, but this seems much better. I am impressed that it allows you to even listen to specific songs without capping the number of times they are played or charging a price for them.
It looks like you can configure playlists and there is also a radio option as well. I think it is worth giving a try. http://www.grooveshark.com
When working with complex web applications, an administrative section or backend is critical for providing an easy to use interface for managing the content and settings that control the site. Here is a great list of 34 Outstanding Admin Panels for Your Web Applications that will be useful for some design inspiration.
