By Jessica Hupp

Microformats are small formatting pieces designed to make your data easier to read by both users and software. Although their use is not widespread, it’s important that every web developer becomes familiar with them, as they’re sure to be an integral part of the web’s future. Because of this, there are a number of articles and resources out there devoted to microformats. We’ve compiled more than 100 of the best here.

Introduction

If you’ve never heard of microformats before, this is the place to start.

1. Microformat: This article from Wikipedia will give you a quick idea of how microformats work.
2. Microformats.org: On this site, you’ll get an overview and the latest information on microformats.
3. Introduction to Microformats: This introduction explains microformats in friendly, easy to understand language.
4. What are Microformats?: Get a quick look at microformats in this introduction.
5. Microformats: What They Are and How to Use Them: See how microformats have come about, and how you can take advantage of them.
6. What You Can Do With Microformats: Check out this article to see what’s possible.
7. Microformats: Check out this MozillaWiki article to find out more about microformats, and how they’re used with Firefox.
8. An Introduction to Microformats: Find out how you can put microformats to work with this introduction.
9. Microformats Primer: Find examples, standards, and more information about microformats in this primer.
10. Intro to Microformats: See why microformats are important, and get a walkthrough on tagging and more.

Implementations

See how a handful of sites have put microformats to work.

11. Blinksale: This invoicing platform makes use of the hCard standard.
12. Blogmarks: Blogmarks publishes user bookmarks with xfolk/rel-tag.
13. Cork’d: This wine review site uses hCard for user profiles and hReview for wine reviews, as well as rel-tag for tagging wines.
14. Digg: Digg supports hCards in profiles as well as rel-me for identities.
15. Eventful: Eventful uses hCalendar for event listings and hCard for venues.
16. LinkedIn: LinkedIn makes use of hCard and XFN, hResume, and hReview.
17. Ma.gnolia: This bookmark site uses loads of different microformats, specifically rel-tag, hReview, and hCard.
18. Technorati: Technorati is full of microformats usage, including hCards, hCalendar, and hReview.
19. Twitter: Twitter makes use of hAtom, hCard, and XFN.
20. Yahoo!: In a number of different uses, Yahoo! takes advantage of rel-license, hCard, hCalendar, hReview, and more.

Articles & Presentations

Here you can read about a number of different issues with microformats, and what you can expect from them in the future.

21. Where Microformats Might Take Us: Find out what microformats can make possible.
22. Microformats: The Fine Art of Markup: Check out this series to learn about how you can enhance your content with microformats.
23. The Big Picture on Microformats: Find out how microformats are currently used, and what we can expect to see in the future.
24. The Awesome Power of Microformats: In this presentation, you’ll see how awesomely microformats can harness data.
25. How YOU Can Make the Web More Structured: In this article ReadWriteWeb sells microformats as a way to structure the web.
26. The Progress and Promise of Microformats: Learn more about the microformats movement, and some of the issues we’ll see in the future.
27. Microformats for RDF Fans: This wiki article discusses what RDF users should know about microformats, and why they should switch.
28. hAccessibility: This article discusses why and how microformats can make the web a more accessible and usable tool.
29. Microformats: Tomorrow’s Web Today: This article takes a look at the practical applications of microformats.
30. Mozilla Does Microformats: Firefox 3 as Information Broker: This article discusses the possibilities that occur when Web browsers associate semantically marked up data with applications in your system and online.
31. WSG Microformats Talk: See how microformats mean the web will serve people first, and make it easy to only write once.
32. Microcontent Design, Part 1: Explore microcontent design in this article that discusses data sources and formats, structured blogging, and lots more.
33. Microcontent Design, Part 2: BBC Case Study: See how BBC is using microcontent on their BBC Backstage site.
34. Microcontent Design, Part 3: Mightv, a BBV TV listings app: Go beyond BBC Backstage, and see how the BBC Backstage environment is being used to create the application Mightyv.
35. Microformats and Web 2.0: See how microformats are being used in Web 2.0 applications, and how they’ll influence the growing web.
36. Microformats and the Decentralized Future of Online Marketing: Read this article to think about microformats in the browser, and what that means for the online experience, particularly marketing.
37. Microformats in Context: Take a look at microformats as a hot new Web 2.0 technology.
38. Microformats in Web Browsers: Check out this concept in browser-based microformats discovery.
39. Discussion of Microformats: Get an introduction, history, and overview of microformats here.
40. Microcontent Aggregators: 43Things: Get an introduction to microcontent aggregators in this post.
41. Microformats Are More than RSS: Get a look at some of the popular microformats online today, as well as ones we can expect in the future.
42. Microformats: Tomorrow’s Web Today: Understand the semantic web and microformats, as well as how you can get started with microformats in this article.
43. Compound Microformats: This presentation discusses combining blocks of HTML to create compound microformats.
44. W3C Looks to GRDDL For Semantic Web Sense: See how Semantic Web developers will use GRDDL to use microformats data.
45. Why Microformats: Learn why microformats are important, how they work, and more.

Tools

Use these developer tools to make using and creating microformats easier.

46. hCalendar creator: With this creator, you can preview and copy code for your very own calendar.
47. hAtom transcoder: Output hAtom to Atom 1.0 and RSS 2.0 with this tool.
48. best-guess: Use the best-guess algorithm on ambiguous name components.
49. Buttons: Support microformats by displaying one of these buttons.
50. Safari Microformats Plugin: Use this plugin, and you’ll be alerted any time you visit a site with published microformats.
51. Greasemonkey: Use this Firefox customization tool to make use of microformats.
52. hResume Creator: Fill out this form, and you’ll have a microformatted resume.
53. hKit parser: Create plain text, JavaScript, and PHP outputs of the hKit microformat with this tool.
54. Structured Blogging: Use this tool to create microformats in your blog.
55. Icons: Use these icons to indicate microformats information.
56. Dreamweaver Microformats Extension: This extension will add a few microformats Insert bar tools to Dreamweaver.
57. rel-lint: Use this lint tool to make use of the rel attribute of links.
58. Tails Export: This Firefox extension shows and exports microformats.
59. Spell checking: Add this list of words to your spell check dictionary to make coding microformats easier.
60. hCard creator: Use this tool to quickly and easily generate microformats code for an hCard.
61. Textpattern Microformats Plugin: This plugin adds a number of different microformats tags that can be used with Textpattern.
62. hReview creator: The hReview creator makes it easy to create review code.
63. Microformats Bookmarklet: Use this bookmarklet to select and save individual contacts or events.
64. Operator: This Firefox plugin detects microformat content and offers relevant options and tools.
65. Pingerati: This site connects publishers with microformat index services.

Tutorials

Get step-by-step walkthroughs for creating various microformats here.

66. Using Microformats in Your Blog Software: Learn how to add more structure to your blog content with this tutorial.
67. Tutorials on Microformats: Get help in microformats with these tutorials.
68. Highlight Microformats with CSS: In this tutorial, you’ll see how you can highlight microformats using CSS, with examples.
69. Pairing Wine and Microformats: Check out this tutorial to see how microformats can be put to work on a wine review site.
70. Creating microformat hCalendar events with PHP: Get a detailed look at how you can use the hCalendar microformat in PHP.
71. Add Microformats Magic to Your Site: Find out how to use microformats for your site, complete with code.
72. Microformats: Web of Data: See how to use different microformats on your site to facilitate movement of data online.
73. Understanding Elemental Microformats: In this guide, you’ll learn how to manage link spam, Creative Commons, and much more.
74. Using Microformats in WordPress: Get step by step instructions for using microformats such as hCalendar, hCard, and hResume in your WordPress blog.
75. Microformats: Managing Personal and Event Data: See how flexible microformats can be by checking out this guide.
76. Microformats and WordPress Themes: Find out how to make your WordPress pages more readable using microformats.
77. Tutorial: Using hCalendar Microformats: Get a real-world example of using hCalendar microformats in this tutorial.
78. Microformats: Converting XHTML to vCards and iCalendars: This tutorial will show you how to use microformats to embed data in XHTML.
79. Separate Data and Formatting with Microformats: Find out how to read and write microformats for the web with this article.
80. Microformats: More Meaning from Your Markup: This tutorial offers an in-depth look at microformats for people and events.
81. Unobtrustively Mapping Microformats with jQuery: This tutorial will show you how to create a microformat-enabled map with jQuery.
82. Using Microformats in WordPress: Check out this tutorial to learn how to implement microformats in your WordPress blog.

Cheat sheets

Use these cheat sheets for quick reference to all things microformat.

83. Microformats Cheat Sheet: Check out this cheat sheet for quick microformats references.
84. cheat-sheet: Check out this wiki directory to find lots of different microformats cheat sheets.
85. Microformats Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet from ILoveJackDaniels has great information for a number of different cheat sheets.
86. pocket-cheat-sheet: Carry this handy little cheat sheet around in your pocket for quick reference.

Code

Here you’ll find lots of sample code that you can use when creating microformats.

87. pydataportability: This collection of tools includes support for microformats in Python.
88. django-microformats: Use this application to create microformats in the Django framework.
89. microformats.css: Use this CSS-based template with existing microformats.
90. Microformats from the Ground Up: Find loads of code and other resources in this presentation.
91. hatom-sparkle: Add hAtom support to Sparkle with this code.
92. filtered-column-hcard-macro: Use this macro to filter columns in Rails.
93. CSS: Check out this code to learn how to deal with objects, abbr, and more.
94. ufperl: ufperl will extract microformats in Perl.
95. python-microformats: Use this library to use and validate microformats in Python.

Information sources

For even more information about microformats, check out these books, forums and blogs

96. Microformatique: Get the latest information on microformats through this blog.
97. Using Microformats: Check out this PDF guide from O’Reilly to learn how to use microformats.
98. All in the Head: Drew McLellan’s blog has a lot to say about microformats.
99. reblg Yahoo! Group: Check out this group to discuss reblogging, microformats, portable content, and more.
100. Tantek: View the blog of Tantek Celik to see what an expert has to say about microformats.
101. Microformats Implementation Wiki: See how microformats are being used in applications and more.
102. Official Microformats.org Blog: Get the latest news, developments, and more from this blog.
103. Planet Microformats: This site offers a meta-feed of microformats information from all over the web.
104. Microformats Forums: Here you’ll find general discussion, announcements, developments, and lots more.
105. Microformats: Empowering Your Markup for Web 2.0: Check out this book to learn the why and how of microformats.

For many businesses, open source VoIP programs and apps offer a great way to save thousands of dollars every year in telephony costs. Better yet, open source programs are fully customizable to a business’ specific needs, making them a popular solution that often just can’t be beat. This popularity hasn’t just helped business, but has also driven many open source programs to the forefront of their industry. In fact, it has been speculated that open source VoIP solutions could surpass the popularity of the ubiquitous desktop solution Linux. Here are a few of the open source programs and developers out there that have had loads of success as VoIP and open source solutions for it become more and more common in businesses around the world.

SIP Proxies

SIP Proxies enable service providers to build scalable and reliable VoIP networks that are based on the Session Initiation Protocol. This allows a full array of call routing capabilities that make the most of network performance. Here are some of the most popular and successful SIP proxies on the market.

1. OpenSer: OpenSER has been described as a “mature and flexible” SIP server so it’s no surprise that it’s popular among users. OpenSER development began with FhG FOKUS SIP Express Router, but then diverged into its own feature-laden software package that was released in 2005. Since then it’s been exhibited around the world, and makes a great addition to Linux systems looking to employ VoIP technology.
2. VOCAL: Open source VoIP developers can benefit from the software and tools found in VOCAL. Developed through the Cisco sponsored labs at Vovida, VOCAL is fully customizable to business needs and can provide call routing, billing information, call control and more in an easy to control and maintain Linux based system. It’s been successful due largely in part to its immense capability for adaptation and scalability, and likely will only see further integration into business systems in the future.
3. partySIP: Developed back when VoIP was just starting to take off, partySIP can still be a relevant solution for businesses looking for VoIP today. This lies largely in the modular construction of partySIP, which relies on various plugins to add or remove capabilities. This flexibility allows its users to disable useless functions and enable new ones with very little development, making it easy to use and customize, which is likely the reason for users’ continued interest in the product.
4. SIP Express Router: This high performance SIP product can act as registrar, proxy or redirect server depending on your needs. It’s been widely successful in the VoIP market due to its ability to deal easily with operational problems like broken network components. Another reason it’s loved is its scalability from small office environments to acting as a PBX replacement and can in many cases act as a replacement for the very popular Asterisk system.
5. MjServer: One of the things that makes MjServer so important to the VoIP market is that it works on a variety of platforms, not just Linux, so those who aren’t quite ready to take the fully fledged open source route can ease into it. MjServer is a Java based application that is easily configurable and can act as a registrar, redirect or proxy in your VoIP setup, making it a versatile and useful tool for implementation.
6. OpenSBC: OpenSBC has been in use for over 7 years in both low and high volume applications. In this way, it’s a very reliable system, but also still employs a great deal of possibility for expansion and modification based on personal needs for the program. In fact, like most open source VoIP applications, the developers actively encourage the changing and development of the program to make it better for all users.
7. sipX: Developed by SIPFoundry, sipX is designed to be an incredibly feature rich and standards compliant infrastructure for businesses who want to employ VoIP technology. It is, in fact, one of the most widely used and well respected open source developments out there and feature wise is very similar to Asterisk.

SIP Clients

Session Initiation Protocol is a signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence, events notification and instant messaging, and is fast becoming one of the more popular protocols for VoIP in businesses and homes alike. Here are a few programs that have helped bring SIP to the forefront of the market.

8. Linphone: Linphone is promoted as a solution to help users communicate more freely over the Internet using voice, video and text messaging. Recent updates to the program have made it even better, solving many compilation issues while adding improved interoperability and new features. While currently only stable on Linux systems, development is under way for a Windows version as well.
9. PhoneGaim: If you haven’t heard of PhoneGaim you’ve likely heard of its proprietary counterpart Gizmo Project. While it doesn’t have the instant name recognition of its VoIP cousin Gizmo, PhoneGaim is still a product to take note of. Developed in an attempt to challenge Skype, the program is loaded with integrated features that help make the VoIP experience rewarding, even for those just using the software at home.
10. OpenWengo: Started and developed by the French company, Wengo, OpenWengo is a great, and popular, open source choice for anyone looking for simple and easy-to-use VoIP software. This softphone program allows users to call between computers and phones, and has additional instant messaging and contact management capabilities. The recent development of a Firefox plugin that allows users to make calls quickly and simply from their browsers is just one example of the continued innovation and popularity of this multi-featured program.
11. Cockatoo: Users of Thunderbird have Cockatoo to thank for simple VoIP integration with their email. The program allows users to make a call simply by clicking on entries in their address book. It’s simplicity and aim to make VoIP more fully integrated into business systems has made it a popular addition to business and personal computers.
12. Minisip: Minsip is an Internet based phone that can be used to make phone calls, instant message and video call to anyone connected to the same SIP network. Developed by PhD and masters students at Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Minisip is a simple by highly functional VoIP phone. Users can even make calls from PDAs or pocket PCs running Windows or Linux, making VoIP on the road easy and cheap.
13. OpenZoep: Developed by Voipster, OpenZoep is a popular client-side VoIP choice, providing the ability to both make calls and send and receive instant messages. Since its release, developers have continually added new features, especially from users in Europe, where the product was first developed. Continued changes and a responsive market have made OpenZoep a popular solution both here and abroad.
14. Shtoom: Shtoom is a open-source, cross-platform VoIP softphone, implemented in Python which also includes an application called doug which can be used to write and modify VoIP applications. This built-in framework for modification encourages customization, one of the reasons open source software is so popular.
15. Twinkle: Linux users have embraced the softphone Twinkle for making VoIP calls through an SIP protocol. Twinkle is a great solution for many users as it provides many, if not more, of the features found in regular telephony including custom ring tones, voice mail, conference calling, and multiple lines. These features, in addition to its open source usability, make Twinkle a popular choice among Linux users.
16. YeaPhone: YeaPhone is unique among open source VoIP systems in that it hopes to take the computer monitor and keyboard completely out of the picture when making VoIP calls, opting instead to use the Yealink USB headset. This makes it more similar to many commercially available phone systems, and a popular choice among users searching for an open source alternative to those systems.

H.323 Clients

H.323 is the traditional protocol for most VoIP systems which has been continually refined with new elements to help improve voice and video quality. These popular VoIP clients make the most of what H.323 is capable of.

17. YATE: The YATE system relies on its ability to adapt to the conditions in which it’s being used. A flexible routing engine allows communications to be made efficiently and cheaply, both often big concerns to businesses when choosing VoIP platforms. It’s easily combined and expanded with other services making it an incredible versatile and successful tool in the VoIP market.
18. FreeSWITCH: FreeSWITCH is “an open source telephony platform designed to facilitate the creation of voice and chat driven products scaling from a soft-phone up to a soft-switch.” This ability to work both as a soft phone and a soft switch depending on the needs of the users makes it an attractive and intriguing option for many searching for VoIP technology. It’s even been touted as a viable alternative to using Asterisk, as many plugins and modules are available that don’t require reworking the main program code.
19. Eikga: Formerly known as GnomeMeeting, Ekiga is an open source VoIP and video conferencing program that was developed for the Linux GNOME platform. It has a relatively simple interface, but gains one major advantage with users in that it works with both the H.323 protocol as well as with SIP, giving it double the functionality for users.
20. OpenPhone: The original goal of OpenPhone was to enable every computer on the planet with phone capabilities. While this lofty goal may still be a ways off from completion, the OpenPhone software is still making strides in that direction. With an active development community, OpenPhone is a great place to find open source inspiration and functionality.
21. XMeeting: Mac users need not despair, there are great open source alternatives for you as well, like XMeeting. XMeeting is the first H.323 compatible video conferencing client for Mac OS X, and not only supports H.323 but SIP as well. This functional versatility has made it a great solution for businesses primarily using Macs but also wanting to make the most of VoIP technology.

IAX Clients

IAX stands for inter-Asterisk exchange and programs using this protocol are used to enable VoIP connections between servers as well as to facilitate client-server communication. Here are a few of the most popular of these applications.

22. IAXComm: IAXComm is a multi-platform softphone that works with Asterisk to allow users to place and receive VoIP calls. With features like music on hold and speakerphone, it is a great addition to an Asterisk system for businesses looking for VoIP technology.
23. Kiax: Kiax relies on the IAX protocol to help it make it friendlier to users behind a NAT, or a router system that rewrites the source and/or destination IP addresses of IP packets as they pass through. Kiax maintains a simple interface that allows users to make calls to an Asterisk server quickly and easily, helping speed the spread of VoIP implementation both in homes and businesses.
24. YakaPhone: YakaPhone is a simple and skinnable softphone. It is often a great solution for businesses looking for VoIP technology that is relatively simple but also easy to customize and use for day to day business. Businesses can even customize the phone skins to reflect company logos and branding, making it a more personalized experience.
25. SFLPhone: For those with busy or especially large offices, SFLPhone is often one of the best IAX options as it was designed to handle high loads of daily phone calls. New partnerships should take it even further into the enterprise sector, as it has been announced that video conferencing is in the works.

PBX and IVR Platforms

PBX, or private branch exchange refers to a the telephone operating systems of a business or office, rather than those established for public use. Part of those systems might include Interactive Voice Response, which allows the computer to detect voice and touch tones to route phone calls to the appropriate menus or locations. These VoIP programs have taken the lead in those technologies.

26. Asterisk: Asterisk is perhaps the greatest open source VoIP success story of them all. It is the leading open source telephony engine and tool kit and is used in thousands of servers and VoIP setups all over the world. What makes it so great? The standard system supports many features available in proprietary PBX system like voice mail, conference calling, interactive voice response, and automatic call distribution but also has the versatility to be adapted and personalized based on business or individual needs.
27. OpenPBX: Developed by Australian company Voicetronix, OpenPBX is a popular solution both with small offices and with large call centers. With features like unlimited voicemail, auto-attendant, automatic call distribution, music on hold and call parking it’s easy to see why. It also has the advantage of highly compact Perl code, meaning it’s very easy to customize and extend.
28. GNU Bayonne: An integral part of GNU telephony, Bayonne offers users technology that is not only free but scalable and customizable as well. Working with the complete suite of GNU enterprise solutions, Bayonne can be an easy way for users to integrate with telephony and provides a great VoIP solution for many.
29. CT Server: CT Server is based on the ccscript language developed by David Sugar for the IVR server Bayonne as well as Perl for other tasks like database lookup. CT Server has been great resource for developers looking for framework for customizing or creating their own PBX quickly and creatively.
30. sipX PBX: One of the main competitors to Asterisk, the sipX PBX and Asterisk are often compared. In contrast with Asterisk’s complete open source approach, sipX has a bit more of a commercial flair, as additional support and plugins can be purchased from the developers website. But sipX, once installed on your system, can provide much of the same functionality and in some cases might even be easier to use.
31. Trixbox: Fast becoming one of the most popular Asterisk based PBX phone systems, Trixbox has seen loads of success in the past few years from businesses and enterprises searching for a VoIP solution. Designed for businesses with anywhere from 2 to 500 employees, the product comes in a few different versions.
32. Evolution PBX: Evolution is another, more commercial application based on the open source server Asterisk. Basic editions of the software are free, however, and can be downloaded from the developers site. Evolution has been instrumental in helping solve one of the major obstacles to many businesses implementing VoIP as it makes integrating existing phone systems with newer VoIP systems easier, making the change much more cost effective for businesses, a key selling point for any VoIP product.
33. CallWeaver: Originally derived from Asterisk, CallWeaver works on many different platforms and with new versions being released regularly it has a growing list of features. CallWeaver was developed as an alternative form of Asterisk that encourages community involvement and employs multiple vendors who drive the project rather than just one working for a single interest. This open-minded approach to open source VoIP has won the program many fans who believe that it’s already better than other versions of Asterisk.

Stacks and Libraries

Stacks and libraries are an integral part of what makes open source such powerful technology. Using these resources, businesses or individuals can develop and refine VoIP systems that work best for their business. These are just a few of these such resources that have had a big impact on VoIP development.

34. OpenSIPStack: OpenSIPStack provides developers with a platform agnostic stack implementation of RFC 3261 so that development can be done in Linux, Solaris, BSD, Darwin and Windows. This versatility has made it an ideal choice for developers wanting to work in a variety of platforms.
35. The GNU oSIP Library: Developers wanting to work with SIP have found just about everything they need in this library. Described as having the aim to “provide multimedia and telecom software developers an easy and powerful interface to initiate and control SIP based sessions in their applications” the GNU oSIP Library can do just that as it includes not only a library but examples of programs that use the oSIP protocol to operate.
36. Twisted: Twisted comes from Twisted Matrix Laboratories and is an “event driven networking engine written in Python.” It supports a variety of protocols ((including HTTP, NNTP, IMAP, SSH, IRC, and FTP) and also has support for SIP, making it ideal for VoIP development.
37. Verona: The Verona Project is an open source VoIP toolkit based on a phone API called Phapi and a minimal user agent called aptly miniua. It is similar to the toolset used in the highly successful OpenWengo software but is modified to reduce dependence on certain libraries, allowing users reliable building blocks for constructing their own VoIP programs.
38. PJSIP: Written in C, PJSIP is an open source protocol stack for SIP. Due to its small footprint, high portability, customizability, and loads of other features its become a popular choice among SIP developers.
39. eXosip: The eXosip library is a common choice among those who want to take the complexity of using the SIP protocol for multimedia session establishment down a notch. eXosip hides it, and makes implementing SIP easier whether you’re using it for VoIP or for something like multiplayer gaming.
40. Vovida SIP: Vovida is a hugely popular place to get VoIP software both to use as is and like this protocol stack, to be used more commonly in further development of VoIP programs. This SIP stack is popular with Linux based developers wanting to embrace this protocol.
41. reSIProcate: Part of SIPFoundry, reSIProcate works in a variety of operating systems including Unix, Windows, Mac OS X and more. The application is well suited and widely used in companies wishing to implement phones, softphones, gateways, proxies, or instant messaging.

Developers

While anyone is able to edit and create parts of open source software, the original programming has to come from somewhere. These are a few developers that have had great success in creating and releasing many of the most popular and widely used VoIP technologies in the open source field today.

42. SIPFoundry: SIPFoundry is a not for profit open source community that aims to support the development and adoption of the SIP protocol. It’s also the home of much of the development of the sipX PBX for Linux, an award winning open source PBX program. The success of the sipX project as well as the increasing popularity of SIP have brought the SIPFoundry to the forefront of the VoIP community.
43. Pingtel: Pingtel’s unique approach to the VoIP market may have a lot to do with their success. Using a system that runs using Linux and the sipX, Pingtel hopes to give business more control over how VoIP is built and used within their communications, something that proprietary software often can’t offer. The company also prides itself on providing reliable support and service for their products, making many business more willing to use them as there is less risk if something goes wrong.
44. Vovida: Vovida is home to numerous SIP protocol stacks to help developers create and innovate new VoIP technologies and programs. Acquired in late 2000 by Cisco systems, this company’s work is well funded and its VOCAL tools and software have helped push VoIP development forward.
45. Sangoma: Sangoma is a Canadian based company that develops both hardware and software based on the open source model, especially that having to do with telephony. While popular in North America, Sangoma is capitalizing on the hotbed of tech activity in Asia by forming a partnership with Vietnamese telephone distributor Dinh Quang. Their extension of open source VoIP software into new and widely used markets made them one of the most successful VoIP open source developers of 2007.
46. Digium: With over a million downloads, Digium is one of the leading providers of Asterisk’s open source PBX software and has been the recipient of several awards for best open source software. With continued growth, and the acquisition of smaller VoIP players like Switchvox, Digium continues to add to its VoIP arsenal and likely will remain at the forefront of VoIP developers in years to come.

Miscellaneous

VoIP provides an opportunity for many different types of open source development to improve and refine systems. Here are a few miscellaneous programs that aren’t directly providing VoIP service, but are having an impact on the technologynonetheless.

47. SIP Thor: SIP Thor is based on P2PSIP technology, and is built so that there is no single point of failure despite a large amount of scalability. With these features as well as quick disaster recovery and reliable service, those looking to start a VoIP reselling venture have found SIP Thor to be a great choice.
48. MobiCents: MobiCents is billed as “the most popular Open Source Service Logic Execution Environment (JSLEE) and SIP Application Server for the Java platform.” MobiCents facilitates the creation of new services, enabling the development of a market oriented and cost effective platform, all the while encouraging developers to continue coming up with new and better ideas.
49. Aradial: For business needing a means to bill minutes used with VoIP Aradial provides a viable open source solution. It’s easy to use servers are highly scalable and feature a plug-in architecture for quicker upgrades. Its low cost and easy adaptability make profit margins higher for businesses reselling VoIP and make it a popular solution.
50. Lintad: Lintad is helping to make VoIP more than just a voice technology. The program provides both fax and voicemail support for VoIP phone systems. While voicemail is nothing new, the fax capabilities are nice addition and one that makes switching to VoIP much less painful for businesses.

By Christina Laun

It shouldn’t be any surprise to those used to the easy and flexible functionality of Google’s products that Google Maps is good for a lot more than mapping the quickest route on your next road trip. Some uses of the technology are just for fun, but there are also many practical, real-life applications that can make your life on and off the Internet easier. From finding a place to park at the airport to mapping your latest family photos, here are a few unusual ways to use Google Maps.

Travel Information

Google Maps is great for getting directions to just about anywhere, but it can also be used to get all kinds of travel information on distances, travel times, and where to stop for gas.

1. Check time anywhere in the world. If you’re traveling across multiple time zones on your next trip you can find out the time in your destination with this Google Maps tool called Qlock. Mouse over the map or enter a location to find out the time of any city in the world.
2. Find airport parking. Find out where to leave your car on your next long trip. Enter your departure airport and find out where you’ll be able to leave your car, how far from the airport the lot is, and how much it will cost you a day.
3. Avoid traffic jams. Help make your daily commute or road trip smoother and less stressful by checking out the traffic situation before you depart. Enter your city and you’ll be able to see what highways are backed up and which are clear so you can adjust your route accordingly.
4. Find red light cameras. Speed demons can help prevent getting a hefty ticket with this online application. Simply select a regional map and the program will give you the locations of all the red light cameras in your area so you can know where to keep your speed in check.
5. Get the cheapest gas. Similar to popular gas finders like GasBuddy, this Google Maps powered program takes your address and gives you the locations of the cheapest gas in your area so you can save a bundle on commuter and travel costs.
6. Convert currency. This mapping program allows you to click on a location and get the conversion rate of that country’s currency with that of other large countries. You’ll also be able to get the local time and basic information about the location.
7. Find a ski resort. If you’re looking to find the perfect snowy destination for your next getaway look no further than this handy map-based tool called Ski Bonk. You can see what ski resorts are located in certain areas, if they’re open and what the conditions and snow situation is like for each.
8. Track a flight. Whether you’re tracking the flight of a relative or friend you’re waiting to arrive or making sure your own flight will be on time you can find the information you need with this Google Maps tool called FlightStats. Just enter your flight information into the tool and get started tracking.
9. Calculate cab fare. Input your starting and ending points and you can get an estimate on taxi fare including tip for several major cities in the US and Canada. It can be a great way to get an estimate for vacation expenses or to know how much to take out of the ATM for a night out.
10. Get flight status information. Get up to date travel information with this tool from Orbitz. Use the map to select your city and get information on delays for arrivals and departures. Users can also sign up to get updates sent directly to their phones.
11. Find information on your destination. This application combines the power of Google Maps with the information of wikis. Find loads of information on locations all over the world so you can make the most of your next trip whether it’s down the block or around the world.

Just for Fun

Here are a few fun ways you can experiment with using Google Maps.

12. Make a map out of any photo. Have an aerial photo of a battle site or a scan of an ancient map? Turn them into interactive digital maps with this program. You’ll be able to add markers that will give viewers important information, be able to zoom in and out, and embed the photos into many other webpages.
13. Add your photos to a map. Panaramio allows users to add their photos to a map of a location they’ve been to. Users can attach photos of their last family trip to a map of that destination to add perspective to the trip and share them with people all over the world.
14. Check out the other side of the world. Ever wonder if you’d be able to reach China if you started digging in your backyard? Now you can find out just what lies on the other side of the earth with this mapping application.
15. See the world at night. Maps of the world can be just as interesting at night as users will learn from this mapping application. Check out the lights from the densely populated areas of the world or the intense darkness of the desert and antarctic regions.
16. Look at the clouds over earth. Looking at clouds isn’t just for lazy afternoons. Now you can check out the cloud cover any time of the day with this mapping tool.
17. Map out movie filming locations. Cinephiles will enjoy this map-based tool. With Moviemappr, users will be able to see what movies were filmed in their city and even where certain scenes were shot.
18. Explore biblical locations. Even nonreligious types can appreciate this tool, which can help map up present day locations with historical places in the Bible. Users just select a section from the Bible and any applicable locations will be laid out on the map so you can see how they relate.
19. Pinpoint the world’s tallest buildings. Love architecture? Take a trip around the world to see some of the biggest buildings in the world. From the Petronas Towers in Malaysia to the Sears Tower in Chicago, this map covers the big ten.
20. Learn about the 7 Wonders of the World. Explore the world through this map, which lists and maps many different types of seven wonders. From the traditional 7 ancient wonders to the 7 underwater wonders users will be able to see the biggest and most beautiful places in the world.
21. See where UFOs have been sighted. Think you saw an alien visit in your own backyard? Check out this map to see where other sightings have been and even add your own to the mix. Users can also access the program from Google Earth for worldwide coverage on UFO sightings.

Daily Life

Want to streamline your daily routines or find the best location for just about anything? Try out these tips using Google Maps.

22. Measure your walking or running route. Find out how far you’re going on your daily jog with this handy online tool. Enter your path and the program will give you your distance, how many calories you’ve burned, and even saves your path for you.
23. Find a job. Whether you’re looking for a job in your current city or hoping to relocate, this mapping application can help you find employment no matter where you are. Enter the field you’re interested in as well the location and you’ll get a list of job openings in your area.
24. Rent an apartment. Have a neighborhood you’d like to move to but not sure what’s available? Find apartment listings with this Google Maps-based tool. Enter your city and price-range and you’ll get hundreds of listings at your fingertips.
25. Locate a nearby mailbox. Next time you need to mail something out, use this handy mapping tool to help you find out where the closest post office box is in relation to where you live.
26. Find a WiFi hotspot. It can be incredibly frustrating to not be able to connect to the Internet when you need to use it. With this convenient mapping app you’ll be able to figure out the best locations to connect anywhere you’ll be.
27. Align your satellite dish. You didn’t pay for that satellite dish to get crappy reception. This online tool can help make sure your dish is pointed in the right direction for maximum reception no matter where you live.
28. Track a package. Follow the route of packages you have coming to you from DHL, UPS, the USPS, and Fed Ex. Simply enter your tracking number and you can watch as your purchases get closer to your doorstep.
29. Shop for real estate on eBay. Find a great deal on your next home through this Real Estate Auctions and Google Maps based site. Choose a city or a state to get available properties in your area of interest.
30. Get the latest news on your area. Want to know what’s going on in your neighborhood? Enter your zip code and you can instantly get weather, traffic, news and even movie times for your area.
31. Find a mid-point to meet up. Everyone has struggled to find a mid-point to meet up with a friend at one time or another. With this map tool you can enter your and your friend’s location to find an acceptable place to meet up.

Entertainment

If you’re tired of the same old places to eat or play golf, try using Google Maps to help you find new and exciting locales.

32. Find a brewery anywhere in the world. You can find fresh brew locations in 8 countries with this Google Maps based tool. You’ll also find city maps for several large cities so you can find a beer just about anywhere.
33. Get information on concerts. Lovers of live music will appreciate this Google Maps tool called gruvr. Users can pinpoint shows and concerts in their area within the next few days and click to get more information about the artists and venues. It’s also possible to follow the route of your favorite band or artist all over the world.
34. Check out your neighborhood. Find out the “walkscore” of your apartment or house with this mapping tool. Put in your address and you can find out what restaurants, grocery stores, bars, libraries, gyms, parks and more are within walking distance of your location. You may discover new places you never noticed before.
35. Grab some fast food. Find the quickest food in your neighborhood or work area with this mapping tool. Simply select a state and city and you can find the locations of over ten different fast food chains.
36. Locate wineries in the US. If you like to spend your weekends sipping wine in a countryside vineyard you can find the closest ones to your home or where you’ll be spending your vacation with this mapping tool. You’ll be able to find locations, events, and even set up your own tour.
37. Figure out where to do extreme sports. For the adrenaline junkies out there, this mapping application can be the ideal way to find out where to go. Maps locate places to skate, snowboard and bike all over the world.
38. Find a restaurant. Find a new place to have dinner or lunch with this mapping tool called toEat. Enter your location and the type or name of the restaurant and you’ll find loads of listings in your area.
39. Golf on a new course. Break out of your golfing rut and find a new course with this tool from Golf Bonk. Enter your location and you’ll get listings of the courses nearest to you.

Miscellaneous

Whether you’re exploring your city or just like messing around on the Internet, here are a few more ways you can use Google Maps that you may not have thought of.

40. Look up a U.S. zip code. Ever wonder where the zip code boundaries lie? You can find out with this easy-to-use mapping tool. You’ll see where your area lies and what zip codes surround it.
41. Map your blog and website visitors. You can find out where visitors to your website are coming from with this useful application using Google Maps. Called Satisfy, the program will allow you to map your visitors after registering and inputting the address of your site.
42. Measure area on a map. If for some reason you need to measure the area of any geographic area, you can with this tool. Enter the boundaries of the area you want to measure and the mapping program will do the rest.
43. Find out your elevation. If you’re curious about the elevation of your location you can find out with this Google-powered tool.
44. Map out your wedding. Afraid guests will get lost driving from your ceremony to your reception? Use Wedding Mapper to create a guide for your guests or even to find wedding resources in your area.
45. Plan and map a conference call. Make scheduling an international conference call easier than ever with EasyTZ. Choose your locations, schedule a time, and see what the time will be in each location.
46. Find out where it’s daylight. Want to know where in the world it’s night or day? Use this tool to see where the sun is up or where it’s still time to curl up under the covers.
47. Track terrorism and suspicious events. Keep up on world events with this mapping tool. You’ll see icons on locations around the world letting you know about incdents like bomb threats, suicide bombings, and even pirate activity.
48. Map presidential campaign contributions. Political junkies can track the financial situations of their favorite candidates with this map-based tool. Choose a city to see how much money it’s generated from each candidate or run a search for a particular contributor.
49. Link up Wikipedia articles with their location. Combine your love of Wikipedia and Google Maps with Placeopedia. Users can link wikis with their corresponding locations on the map, see already linked articles, and even get random articles to read.
50. Make your own map. So you think these tools are useful but have some great ideas for Google Maps of your own? This tool can help you create interactive maps of your own to use and share with others.

Email marketing isn’t an easy communication method to master. You have to worry about spam, strategic timing, and finding the perfect pitch to resonate with readers. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of advice and tools specifically designed for email marketers, and we’ve compiled some of the best here. From design to deliverability, these resources have got you covered.

Email Marketing Packages

These packages offer an all-in-one solution for email marketing needs.

1. Mail Chimp: Send simple, professional HTML emails will full tracking and other great tools using Mail Chimp.
2. Campaigner: Launch a permission-based marketing email campaign using Campaigner, and you’ll get access to a great dashboard, free seminars, and more.
3. iContact: Create and manage email letters, blogs, feeds, autoresponders and more with iContact.
4. Blue Sky Factory: Blue Sky Factory manages email campaigns from design and copywriting to delivery and analytics.

Testing

Identify problems and stay on top of the way your design renders with these tools.

5. Inbox Inspector: Use this tool from Mail Chimp to seek out problems in any email you’ve sent.
6. EmailAdvisor: Get a snapshot of what your email looks like in a number of different email clients.
7. Email Marketing Benchmark Guide 2008: This independent metrics report covers heatmaps, deliverability, and more.
8. Campaign Monitor: With this service, you can test your email against different displays and spam filters.
9. EmailStatCenter: Check out the metrics at EmailStatCenter to get the lowdown on frequency, conversions, and more.
10. eDesign Optimizer: Test our your email in different programs and validate your HTML with eDesign Optimizer.
11. Post Campaign Checklist: Reflect on your email campaign and learn for next time using this checklist.
12. Internet Retailer Survey: A Missed Message: Find out why email marketing these days isn’t hitting home and what you can do to improve it.
13. How to Optimize Your Email Marketing Campaigns Through Testing: This tutorial walks you through testing for optimization.
14. Habeas: Habeas uses a rendering tool to make sure your email design holds up against services and readers.
15. Litmus: With Litmus, you can take a look at how your email will look in a number of different mail services.
16. Return Path: Test your design with services and readers using Return Path.

Analytics & Evaluation

With these resources, you’ll learn how to perfect your methods for measuring email marketing success.

17. Email Open Rates Guide: Learn how to evaluate your email open rates with this guide.
18. Integrating Email Marketing and Web Analytics: Take a look at what can be achieved when you combine website metrics with email campaigns.
19. Misinterpreting Email Marketing Statistics: Don’t let your statistics fool you-get set straight with this article.
20. Email Marketing: What to Measure: This tutorial runs down some of the numbers you should be looking into.
21. Email Chickens and Eggs: Heed this warning to be careful about comparing subscribers and non-subscribers.
22. Looking Beyond Open Rates: Look past just open rates to measure your success, and find out what else you should be concerned with in this article.
23. Grow Your Own Case Study: This tutorial runs down methods for creating your own benchmarks, testing, and more.
24. Ideas for Measuring Email Newsletter Success: Check out this post for great ideas on measuring reach and open rates.
25. Email Marketing Formulas: Take a look at the indicators for email success and learn how to calculate them with this guide.
26. Beyond the Open Rate: Metrics That Matter: Make sure you’re covering these key metrics.

Deliverability & Reputation

Use these services to stay on top of the various reasons why your emails aren’t going through.

27. Accucast Deliverability Services: Predict and correct problems with design, filtering, and blocking with this service.
28. Blacklisted IP: Stay on top of your IP addresses and find out when your IP lands on a blacklist or blocklist.
29. MX Toolbox Blacklist Check: Use this check to test your mail server IP address against 147 email blacklists.
30. Your E-Mail Is Blacklisted. Now What?: This tutorial runs down the steps you should take to get off of blacklists.
31. Between “Bounced” and “Delivered”: Learn why you should expand the definition of your delivery rates in this article.
32. How to Deliver Mail to AOL: Take these steps to make sure your email to AOL customers goes through.
33. RepCheck: This email blacklist monitoring service stays on top of the reputation of your email server and site domain.
34. Blacklist.ie: This search offers an easy way to check if your IP address is on any Irish blacklists.
35. Designing B2B Email for Deliverability: Get tips on coding, design, and testing in this article.
36. Delivery Monitor: Find out if your email is getting delivered, and keep an eye on blacklists with Delivery Monitor.

Design

Check out these tools and best practices to optimize the design of your email campaigns.

37. Image Links Versus Text Links: Consider whether you should use text, image, or HTML links.
38. Great Tips on Email Creative: Learn about best practices in email design, including results from eye tracking studies, in this blog post.
39. Email Design Insights From David Grenier: Get tips, mistakes, and easy ways to amp up your design in this interview.
40. Sometimes Less Can Be More Effective: This article takes a look at design guidelines and simplification.
41. Outlook 2007 and HTML Design: Get the lowdown on HTML emails in the new Outlook from this blog post.
42. But How Will It Look On My BlackBerry?: Learn how to design for handhelds with this article.
43. Seven Steps to a Better Template: Use these tips to redesign your template and avoid getting blocked, blacklisted, and bounced.
44. Designing Text Emails: Follow these basic rules to make sure your text emails display properly.
45. Email Creative Critical Analysis: Learn how to critically analyze email design with this advice.
46. Who Cares About Plain Text?: Read this article to find out why it’s important not to skimp on a plain text version of your email.
47. URL Design: Take a look at the details of your URLs to get better email responses.
48. Don’t Design-or Redesign-Your Email Without Reading This: This guide offers a quick and effective checklist for email campaign design.

Spam

Avoid being branded as a spammer and learn how to work with spam filters with these resources.

49. Don’t Be An Accidental Spammer: Read this guide to learn what steps you should take to avoid becoming an accidental spammer.
50. How Spam Filters Work (and how to avoid them): Learn how to get around spam filters with this guide.
51. Avoid the Spam Filter: Follow these tips to make sure your legitimate email isn’t stopped by a spam filter.
52. Consumer Attitudes to Spam: Read this report to find out what people think of spam and understand how it affects their perception of your messages.
53. Prevent False Spam Complaints: Follow these tips for avoiding false spam complaints.
54. ContentChecker: This anti-spam utility alerts you to spam red flags before you send your message.

Mailing Lists

Get advice for building and perfecting your communication base here.

55. Mailing Lists: Why Bigger Isn’t Necessarily Better: Read this blog post to consider the benefits of pruning your email list.
56. Dos and Don’ts of Opt-in List Building: Read this article to learn about 5 things you should do and 5 things you should avoid.
57. 28 Ways to Build Permission-Based Email Lists: Use these strategies to boost up your email lists.
58. To Double Opt-In Or Not: Consider the advantages and disadvantages of offering double opt-in on your lists.
59. 9 Things to Go in a List Welcome Message: Take a look at this article to understand what needs to be in your list welcome message.
60. Email or Name Squeeze Pages-Conversion Rate Analysis: Find out whether or not a “name squeeze” strategy works for email list building.
61. Customer Email List Segmentation: In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to send campaigns to targeted subgroups of your email list.
62. Building a Quality Email List: Follow these steps to build your own high-quality email list.

Subject Line

Learn how to create a subject line readers will pay attention to, and thoughfully consider the impact this important piece of communication has on your campaign.

63. Subject Lines: What’s The Story?: In this article, you’ll get an introduction to subject lines and understand the reactions they create.
64. Study: Best and Worst Subject Lines by Open Rate: This study compares over 40 million email subject lines and ranks 20 of the best and 20 of the worst.
65. Is There a Best Email Subject Line or Send Time?: This article recommends lots of testing to get subjects and timing right.
66. How Do You Build Urgency?: In this article, you’ll learn how to build urgency through your email’s subject line.
67. Email Subject Lines: 15 Rules to Write Them Right: For advice on the best fifty characters for your campaign, check out this resource.
68. Best Practices in Writing Email Subject Lines: Learn about three words to avoid in your subject line, and more great tips in this advice article.
69. 6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing Subject Lines For Your Emails: Get a checklist and tips for writing a good subject line in this report.
70. How Spammy Subject Lines Hurt Delivery: This article considers the consequences of a spammy subject line.
71. Email Subject Lines That Work: This article runs down a number of factors and considers whether they scream spam or not.
72. Targeted Email Marketing: Put a Colon in Your Subject: Use this strategy to put the most important keywords in the front of your subject line.
73. 7 Tips for Writing Better Email Subject Lines: Improve your subject lines with this helpful resource.

Timing & Frequency

Find the sweet spot for timing your emails with the advice and tools here.

74. Frequency Caps Are Critical: Avoid customer email fatigue by limiting the amount of emails they receive from different sectors of your organization.
75. Nearly 1/3 of Opens Occur in First Hour: Learn all about best practices in timing with this guide.
76. How Much Email is Too Much?: Go beyond simple timing and consider the frequency of your emails with this resource.
77. ListMailPRO: Managed timed emails and responses with this list management tool.
78. Individual Recipient Send Timing: Take a look at the advantage of sending messages on individual timers in this post.
79. Wondering Which Day to Send Your Emails On?: This article discusses a few thoughts on the subject of timing.
80. The Quick and the Dead: Learn why it’s important to avoid delaying emails after a subscriber’s initial signup.
81. Three Strategies to Find the Right Frequency: Read this article to get guidance on building a good frequency strategy.
82. Insights on the Worst-Day-to-Send: Find out what one email marketer learned by sending out an email on New Year’s Day.
83. The Right Time to Send Email Marketing: This article highlights the factors you should look for in timing your messages.

Conversion

Get advice for increasing the effectiveness of your email campaign here.

84. Improving Your Email Open Rate: Make your email campaign more effective by using these tips and tricks for getting people to open your email.
85. Use Email to Close the Conversion Loop: Learn how to use email as a way to seal the deal with potential customers.
86. Five Ways to Use Email to Close the Sale: Use this article for a step-by-step guide to closing the sale with email marketing.
87. Increase Email Conversion Rates: Follow these 3 tips to get better conversion rates from your email campaigns.
88. Sending Surveys in HTML Emails: This tutorial covers the best way to get customers active and engaged in email surveys.
89. Net-a-Porter Ups Conversion Rate After Cutting Email Activity: Read this article to understand why sometimes less is more when it comes to getting conversions.
90. A/B Split Testing: In this article, you’ll learn how to use A/B split testing to increase conversion rates.

Tips & Advice

Get marketing advice and learn what not to do with the advice from these resources.

91. Email Marketing Etiquette: Avoid making an email marketing faux pas with this advice.
92. 50 Email Marketing Tips: These tips apply to a wide variety of email marketers.
93. Stupid HTML Email Mistakes: In this post, you’ll learn about important things to avoid when designing HTML emails.
94. Some Things to Think About Before You Launch Your Next Email Campaign: Avoid brand speak and get down to person-to-person communication with this advice.
95. The Eight Deadly Sins of Email Marketing: Take a look at email mistakes and learn what not to do.
96. Effective Use of Personalization in Email Marketing: Use these techniques to use personalization effectively.
97. Sender Policy Framework (SPF) Trick of the Day: Find out how you can get around the 255-character limit with this trick.

Information Sources

Refer to these resources to find even more ongoing advice for optimizing email campaigns.

98. The Email Experience Council: Subscriber to this site have immediate access to the latest thinking, best practices and strategies in email and digital marketing.
99. Online Marketing Search Engine: This search engine serves up hand-picked and trusted sources for email marketing.
100. Email Marketing Roundtable: This invite-only discussion group talks about what works and what doesn’t.
101. Email Marketer’s Club: Share ideas and experiences with other email marketers in this group.

By Jessica Hupp

With the vast array of web development knowledge available on the Internet, there’s certainly no shortage of cheat sheets to be found. However, finding a way to wrangle them all into one place isn’t quite as easy. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best cheat sheet collections out there. That’s right: this is your newest cheat sheet for cheat sheeting.

Client Side

These cheat sheet lists cover information in CSS, HTML, and more.

1. Action Script Cheat Sheet: Download cheat sheets for ActionScript here.
2. Apollo Cheat Sheets: You’ll find cheaters for lots of different controls and events here.
3. Ajax Cheat Sheets: Get guides from Amy Hoy, Microsoft, and more.
4. Top 8 CSS Cheat Sheets: Find various levels of CSS cheat sheet with this resource.
5. CSS References: Deitel lists references, including cheat sheets, for CSS here.
6. CSS Cheat Sheets: Here you’ll find a shorthand guide, color chart, help sheet, and more.
7. Cheat Sheets and Sites for Cascading Style Sheets: Here you’ll find some helpful CSS cheat sheets.
8. Cool CSS Cheat Sheets on the Web: This resource has compiled 5 really nice CSS cheat sheets.
9. Javascript Cheat Sheets: Get cheaters for Prototype, jQuery, Script.aculo.us, and more here.
10. CSS Cheat Sheets: Learn about CSS basics, layouts, and more with these cheat sheets.
11. HTML Cheat Sheets: Here you’ll find basic help sheets, microformats, and characters.
12. Microsoft AJAX Library Cheat Sheets: Find a few Ajax cheat sheets here.

Server-Side

Here you’ll find gems for PHP, Python, and Ruby, to name a few.

13. Ultimate Server-Side Web Development Cheat Sheets: This list focuses on server-side web development technologies like PHP, MySQL, and Ruby.
14. .NET Cheat Sheets: Find quick references, common events, and more here.
15. Apache Cheat Sheets: In this list, you’ll find cheaters for .htaccess, mod_rewite, and more.
16. Java Cheat Sheets: These reference sheets highlight Groovy, syntax, and more.
17. VBScript Cheat Sheets: Get syntax, functions, collections, and lots more for ASP and VBScript.
18. MySQL Reference Sites: Here you’ll find MySQL cheat sheets and more.
19. Perl Cheat Sheets: On this list of cheat sheets, you’ll find useful references for variables, regular expressions, and string functions.
20. Ruby on Rails Handbook: In this handbook, you’ll find a collection of cheat sheets covering everything from command lines to migration.
21. $ command line ruby cheat sheets: Get access to lots of Ruby cheat sheets here.
22. Ruby Cheat Sheets: In these Ruby cheaters, you’ll see highlights from Capistrano, TextMate, and more.
23. PHP Cheat Sheets: On this list you’ll find template engine sheets, quick reference and more.
24. Symfony Cheat Sheets: Find a number of helpful cheat sheets for symfony here.
25. Python Cheat Sheets: These useful references cover general Python as well as Django.
26. Dotnet Cheat Sheets: These cheat sheets have regular expressions, basics, and plenty more.
27. .NET Cheat Sheets: Get .net cheat sheets and more with this resource.

Blogging

Get quick access to all of the blogger tools you need with these lists.

28. Blogging Cheatsheets for Blogger, TypePad, WordPress and Movable Type: Make sense of some of the most popular blogging platforms with these cheatsheets.
29. WordPress Cheatsheets Summarized: Here you’ll find cheat sheets for administration, options, and more.
30. Blog Cheat Sheets: Get references for templates, Expression Engine, and WordPress here.
31. Cheat Sheets for CSS and HTML: These cheat sheets are designed for TypePad bloggers.

General

The vast majority of the great cheat sheet lists out there attempt to cover just about everything, so you can go big with this collection.

32. A Web Developer’s Cheat Sheet List: Find cheat sheets from HTML to Dojo in this list.
33. RefCards: Find Apache, CSS, Python, and more with RefCards.
34. Ultimate Web Development Cheat Sheet Guide: Use this guide to get cheat sheets for just about everything out there.
35. The 50 Most Popular Web Design Blog Posts, Resources & Cheat Sheets of 2007: Find cheat sheets and more in this resource.
36. Our Favorite Cheat Sheets: Get some of the best cheat sheets out there through this list.
37. IT Cheat Sheets: Check out this resource for links to more cheat sheet lists as well as cheat sheets for Mozilla products, Google, and more.
38. The Developer Cheat Sheet Compilation: These cheat sheets cover databases, programming, and more.
39. Stephen Flynn: Cheat Sheets: This resource offers a handful of useful cheat sheets.
40. Cheat Sheet: On this site, you can find cheat sheets for microformats, regular expressions, and more.
41. Cheat Sheets & Assorter Others: Get a handle on HTML entities, PHP, and more with this list.
42. Cheat Sheets: No Sheep has compiled a list of “Cliff Notes” for technology here.
43. Developer (and other) Cheat Sheets: Here you’ll find cheat sheets for everything from Ajax to the Wii Remote API.
44. Cheat Sheets: This Squidoo Lens covers Firefox, Scriptaculous, and more.
45. JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and More Cheat Sheets: Ajaxian offers a number of cheat sheets for HTML, JavaScript, CSS and more.
46. Web Technology Cheat Sheets: This reference offers a handful of useful cheat sheets.
47. Great Cheat Sheets: On this blog you’ll find a few cheat sheets, including HTML and CSS.
48. Best Programming Cheat Sheets: Get some great quick reference guides here.
49. Programmer Downloads, Tools, Resources, and 100 Cheat Sheets: With this resource, you’ll find just about any cheat sheet you might need.
50. Handy Cheat Sheets: Check out these cheat sheets for character codes, SQL, and more.
51. GotAPI: GotAPI offers an easy search for developer documentation, particularly cheat sheets.
52. The Big Cheat Sheet List: David Sanchez offers some favorites in JavaScript, PHP, and more.
53. W3Schools: In addition to other learning tools, W3Schools provides reference sheets for languages including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
54. Cheat Sheets: Utility for Web Designers and Developers: This resources covers a few cheat sheets for languages, blogging, and more.
55. Learn and Thrive: On this site, you’ll find cheat sheets for development basics.
56. CheatSheet Ultra Collection: In this collection, you’ll find more than 400 cheat sheets.
57. IT Cheat Sheets For All: This resource lists a number of cheat sheets, including HTML. Registration required.
58. 250+ Tools and Resources for Coding the Web: In addition to lots of other great resources, you’ll find a number of cheat sheets and quick references in this piece.
59. My Personal Collection of Cheat Sheets: This simple list points to HTML, CSS, and Google, to name a few.
60. Bravenet Quick References: Bravenet offers a few quick reference sheets for popular web development functions.
61. Progenic.com Cheat Sheets: Get cheat sheets for CSS, Ajax, and more here.
62. Cheat Sheets for Geeks: Check out the web development cheat sheets and resources compiled in this list.
63. VisiBone: On this site, you’ll find cheat sheets for color, fonts, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and MySQL.
64. Advanced CSS/XHTML Explained: Cheat Sheets: Get these PDF cheat sheets for Photoshop, XHTML, CSS, and WordPress.
65. I Love Jack Daniels: Dave Child has created some of the most popular cheat sheets on the web, and you can find them all here.
66. Silicon.com: Cheat Sheets: The cheat sheets in this list are a little different than the rest, covering encryption, blade servers, and even CRM.
67. Top 119 Cheat Sheets: Find cheat sheets for lots of popular web development topics here.
68. I Heart Cheatsheets: Conding Horror takes a look at a number of different cheat sheets here.
69. WhatIs.com’s Favorite IT Cheat Sheets: These cheat sheets range from HTML to internet slang.
70. Cheat Sheets for PHP, AJAX, JavaScript, CSS, MySQL, Perl, Google: This list has cheat sheets for a number of programming languages.
71. References!: Here you’ll find a number of references as well as links to other reference guides.
72. Over 30 Cheatsheets for Developers: This roundup covers databases, languages, and more.
73. Lifehacker Cheat Sheets: Find cheat sheets for web development and daily life at Lifehacker.
74. edocr: This site has it all, from Perl to eMacs.
75. The Developer Cheat Sheet Compilation: This list covers Cold Fusion, CSS, and more.
76. HTML, CSS, PHP, and More Cheat Sheets: These cheat sheets are ideal for developers who want to tweak WordPress.
77. Randompage Cheat Sheets: Be sure to check out this collection of useful cheat sheets.
78. Cheat Sheet Roundup: Get cheat sheets for Photoshop, JavaScript, and more here.
79. Quick Reference Cards, Cheatsheets & Cribsheets: These quick reference cards can be printed back to back on single sheets of paper.
80. Cheat Sheet Round-Up: Ajax, CSS< LaTeX, Ruby…: Smashing Magazine offers an extensive list of cheat sheets here.
81. Cheat Sheets: Here, you’ll get cheat sheets for HTML entities, ASCII character codes, and even emoticons.
82. Technacular Quick Reference Guides: This collection has CSS, Apache, and more.
83. DevGuru Quick References: DevGuru shares some of their best quick references here.
84. Programming Reference Sheets: This list links to cheat sheets for PHP, Visual Basic, and more.
85. Cheatsheets Roundup: These cheatsheets featured here include Photoshop, JavaScript, and Ruby.
86. Quick Reference Cards: This resource offers an excellent compilation of web development resources, categorized and commented upon.
87. Cheat Sheet: Here, you’ll have access to an aggregation of nearly every cheat sheet and reference guide out there.
88. Selected Microsoft and Code Cheat Sheets: Get cheat sheets for CSS, Java, PHP, and HTML.
89. Stuff You Can Download: Amy Hoy lists some of her favorite cheat sheets here.
90. Scribd: Scribd has a special section devoted just to cheat sheets.
91. 100 Essential Resources for Web Developers: This list shares a number of cheat sheets as well as many other useful resources for web developers.
92. NoteBind: NoteBind custom prints many of the popular cheat sheets out there. You can find a list of them here.
93. ZVON Cheatsheets: Get lots of quick references here.
94. Cheatsheets Galore!: These cheatsheets include both design and development.

Other

Find even more shortcuts with these cheat sheets.

95. Google Cheat Sheets: Learn keyboard shortcuts, SEO, and references with the cheat sheets featured here.
96. Yahoo! User Interface Library Cheatsheets: Here, you’ll get cheat sheets for YUI utilities, controls, and the YUI CSS foundation.
97. Agile Work Resources: This list has cheat sheets for agile work.
98. Firefox Cheat Sheets: Get one page cheaters and brochures for Firefox and Thunderbird here.
99. Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts: This reference lists cheat sheets for a number of different Photoshop versions.
100. Search Engine Cheat Sheets: Learn how to become a power searcher with these cheat sheets.

Your new website may look sleek, and stylish but it won’t get you too far if it won’t load, has errors in coding, or isn’t accessible to those with disabilities. Great web design isn’t just about looking cool, it’s also about bringing your product and information to everyone, regardless of what browser they’re using or their physical limitations. Luckily, there are numerous free programs out there that can help you to check your accessibility before you fully launch your site. Here are 25 free programs and online accessibility checkers to run your new website through to make sure everyone can enjoy your content.

General Checkers

Check several elements of your site at once with these great accessibility checkers.

1. Watchfire WebXACT: This free online checker lets you test several aspects of your website including quality, accessibility and privacy. It comes with a number of keyboard shortcuts as well as an online help section to give you some additional assistance in understand the results of your scan.
2. Total Validator: This checker is the total package, just like the name suggests. Test your webpage’s spelling, accessibility, HTML coding, and links. It also comes with a screen shot checker that will allow you to see what your site looks like in a variety of browsers and a Firefox plugin making it extra easy and convenient to use.
3. Truwex Online: Truwex is another multi-purpose checker. With this tool, you’ll be able to check not only for accessibility but for privacy, quality and compliance with a variety of Web standards of your choosing as well.
4. UITest.com: Want to avoid running your site through a variety of different online accessibility checkers. Simply use this one easy form instead. It runs your content through dozens of sites to check everything from quality to your Google PageRank.
5. Webnauts: Webnauts provides a variety of accessibility checkers and validators on this site. You’ll find tools for analyzing your HTML, accessibility standards and even your SEO.
6. Accessibility Wizard: Make sure your site is designed so that anyone can use it, after all, you don’t want to send away potential business just because you needed to make a few changes in your design. This site lets you choose your involvement in the project (everything from content manager to interface designer) and have those elements of your site analyzed.
7. TAW3: Based on the Web Accessibility Guidelines, this site will give you an accessibility ranking for your site. You can also add it to Firefox to check yours or anyone else’s site that you might visit.
8. ATRC Web Accessibility Checker: This open source tool from the University of Toronto will help you to locate and correct any known and probable issues with accessibility on your site.
9. Functional Accessibility Evaluator: This evaluator comes from the University of Illinois, and allows users to check the functional accessibility of any URL. Sign up for a free account and you’ll also be able to generate and save reports about your site and analyze it all at once instead of one page at a time.
10. Hera: Hera will check your page for any accessibility issues and highlight them for you to make them easy to find, analyze and fix if necessary.

Disability Checkers

Make sure your site is accessible to everyone, no matter their disabilities, with these online checkers.

11. WAVE 3.5: This tool, developed by Temple University Institute on Disabilities, allows you to run your webpages URL through a series of checks to let you know how accessible it is to users with disabilities.
12. Accessibility Valet: Here you’ll find a free online tool for analyzing your HTML markup for accessibility. Errors and places where there could be potential problems are highlighted allowing you to go through step-by-step and make any necessary changes.
13. Color Blindness Simulator: Color blindness is an incredibly common phenomenon so it’s something you definitely need to consider when designing a new website. This site will simulate color blindness for you so you can see what parts of your design work with and what parts you need to tweak.
14. Flicker Rate Test: Photos that flicker and flash on your website can be dangerous for those with photosensitive epilepsy and distracting for other users. Use this site to check to see if your images and text conform.
15. A-Prompt: If you want to ensure that everyone will be able to access your site, run it through this downloadable program. Check webpages online or off for issues that would make them difficult to use for those with disabilities.
16. GrayBit: Check the contrast on your webpage with this online tool. Put in your URL and it will render a grayscale version of your page so that you can see the true visual contrast of your site, without the influence of color.