WordPress, Expression Engine, and Drupal have become the de facto tools we use to build many web-based projects these days.

Blogging software and content management systems (CMS) not only empower our clients to maintain their own sites, but also increase search engine rankings and simplify the process by which they integrate the Web into daily business routines.

Whit and Tai both started using jQuery for many projects in ‘08, including the standards-friendly overhaul we gave the Mightybytes portfolio. Whit likes jQuery because its lightweight, cross-browser libraries give him more control over Ajax interactions and animation as well as many other DOM-related tasks.

Though it’s only 1.0 software, Tim and Travis both agree that Arkaos’ Grand VJ software is a big step forward in the evolution of VJ products.

Whit put Blacktree’s Quicksilver application for Mac OS X on his list because of the ease with which it has streamlined his ability to open applications, find files, send emails, play songs, and so on with just a few keystrokes.

An online app that analyzes your site based on its marketing feasibility, Tim and James have found that Hubspot’s Website Grader has proven invaluable to help explain the importance of standards-based development and marketing-savvy technology tools to apprehensive clients.