For web development:
- JQuery: This is indeed the best new tool for web-development. If you're tired to write javascript and want to give iteractivity to your website with one or two lines of code, you should use this. It is cross browser, css3 compilant, and free to use with GPL and MIT licenses.
- JSon: Say goodbye to XML which is kind of terrible and old-fashioned these days, and say hello to JSON. This works with a class notation like, to create objects to be sent. Instead of the amount of tags generated in XML, in here it looks like a really simple class of variables.
- Processing: It's a new way to draw javascript generated images on your web-page. It just turned into version 1.0, it is cross browser. You can do a ton of cool stuff with it, including programming OpenGL to be executed on a web browser. Uses a LGPL license, meaning you can use it freely. Note: Processing is actualy made in/for java, but there is a javascript port for it so you can use it with almost the same code :) It's also object oriented and it's very nice to use.
These three are really very good and in my opinion should used for everything that involves making good web pages. I suggest you all to try them, they are quite fun to use.
