Web Development : Publishing (FTP & Testing) - Part 2

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Choosing an FTP method

After the pages are finalized, tested, and validated, it’s time to begin the file transfer process. We use an FTP tool to copy the files from our local hard drives to the web servers where they will be made available to everyone browsing the web.

There are a variety of FTP options available. The one you use will depend primarily on your operating system, the company hosting your web site, and your personal preference.

Desktop-based FTP

The first group of options we’ll look at all run on your personal computer, desktop or laptop. After downloading such a tool, use your internet connection to login to the web server where the files will be stored. After logging in, you essentially copy and paste the files from your local hard drive to another computer (server).

You can use an FTP tool that is built into the web development app such as Dreamweaver, or a stand-alone tool. There are literally hundreds of options in this category, so we’ll just list a few of the most popular we’ve encountered.

• FileZilla (Mac/Windows/Linux)
– http://filezilla-project.org/
• FTP Voyager (Windows)
– http://www.ftpvoyager.com
• CoffeeCup (Windows)
– http://www.coffeecup.com
• YummyFTP (Mac)
– http://www.yummysoftware.com
• Fetch
– http://www.fetchsoftworks.com

Browser-based FTP

Your host company may offer a browser-based FTP tool for its customers. Because it removes the need to download and install another app, it can be an efficient option for many of us. Check your host company’s website to find out if they offer this option.

Even if your host company doesn’t offer a browser-based FTP option, you have another.

FireFTP (http://fireftp.mozdev.org/) is a free Firefox add-on that gives you a browser-based, platform-independent FTP tool.

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