What software should I use to develop a web 2.0 application?

Acutally, Web 2.0 is not just the new Web browsers, it's about a move toward social networking and collaborative information / communities.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0





Any old language works fine. Most beginners prefer PHP, because it tends to be more forgiving of coding errors, easier to code, easier to get support and, best of all, free.

What software should I use to develop a web 2.0 application?
Web 2.0 is just a buzz word, it really just encompasses the latest browser technologies (IE 6+, FF 1.0+, Safari) , and makes use of their newer features. There are many choices the most popular break down like this:





PlatForms:


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Open Source


LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySql PHP) this is the easiest (and least expensive way)/


Linux + Apache : Most web hosting companies support and have this setup


MySql: Is the standard when it comes to Open Source Database(s)


PHP: Is the de facto programming language to tie everything together, very well supported and extensive community.





Commerical.


Microsoft's .NET Platform (ASP.NET etc) or ColdFusion CFM





Development Software:


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Dreamweaver and or MX Studio, that encompasses everything. Pricey yes, but for something you use everyday , worth it. Check eBay for older versions and save a few bucks.





Browser Libraries:


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After you decide the platform and development tools, then you need to focus on Client side libraries to perform cool browser effects (aka. Web 2.0 effects), and use AJAX.. Here are some popular ones are: jquery.com, moo.fx , Flash





Don't forget to test all this stuff on IE 6, 7 , FireFox , Opera and on a MAC...





Also look to oswd.org or cssbeauty.com for WEb 2.0 designs and sites