Wireframing is one of the most valuable parts of any web design project. It can save a designer tons of time by hashing out the details of a site’s architecture, functionality, and content prior to actually starting a visual design. But if done inefficiently, it can end up costing more time and can even create bigger headaches for both the client and the designer.

1. Wireframing Articles

Here are more than twenty wireframing articles, guides, and tutorials to help you improve your wireframing process. There’s information on everything from paper wireframing techniques to using programs like Adobe Illustrator for the wireframing stage of your designs.

Wireframes Magazine
This site offers tons of resources and articles about wireframing. They include wireframe samples, UI tools, and job listings, as well as a place for designers to share their wireframes and wireframing tips. Popular articles have covered prototyping with the 960.gs grid system, graph paper sketch layouts, and wireframe moodboards.

Wire Frame Your Site

A great introduction to the benefits of wireframing from Sitepoint. It offers a three-step approach to wireframing in addition to expounding on the benefits of using wireframes, including their ability to let you foresee potential problems before you get into the nitty-gritty of designing.

Ajax Wireframing Approaches
A post in a series from Particletree about prototyping Ajax, this covers wireframing techniques. This article covers three excellent methods of wireframing dynamic content: Keyframing, stacking and TOP (Turn On Possibilities), as well as outlining the benefits and drawbacks of each.

The Importance of Wireframes in Web Design and 9 Tools to Create Wireframes
A great overview of why wireframing is a good idea, along with tools for creating your own. This is a really comprehensive article that covers everything from creating wireframes to working with clients during the wireframing process to the benefits of wireframing over visual design in the early stages of a website design.

20 Steps to Better Wireframing
An awesome collection of twenty tips for creating better wireframes. Some of the objectives covered include being clear about your objectives, getting everyone involved and avoiding over-designing your wireframe. Added up, these tips should make anyone’s wireframing process easier and more efficient. Read more…

• Top 500 Open Source Applications List

Open source Applications are available for Windows as well - and today I’ve got a list of my top 500 favorites.

None of these cost a dime to download and use, but do donate whatever and whenever you can to the projects that benefit you the most.

 Mozilla Firefox (Web browser)

Crikey, another Firefox plug! Yeah, we love the ‘fox, and we’ll keep talking about it until EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU USES IT. It really just doesn’t get any better when it comes to a cross-platform, open source web browser.

 Mozilla Thunderbird (Email client)

Firefox’s much less celebrated little brother is one helluva email client. We especially like its customizable message filters, built-in adaptive Junk mail filter and ability to install useful add-ons (like Firefox).

 Open Office (Office suite)

Used to be that anyone who wanted to open a Word document had to drop a few Benjamins on Microsoft Office or risk pirating it. No more - Open Office is a free alternative to M$ Office for students, freelancers and poor people just wanting to save their spreadsheet as an .xls.

Gaim (Instant messenger)

Chat on any service you’d like - AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, Jabber, ICQ - with this multi-platform, tabbed IM client.

 ClamWin (Antivirus)

Norton bugging you again to break out the credit card and subscribe? Uninstall! ClamWin is free anti-virus software with automatic updates and scheduled scans, no credit card required.

 VLC Media Player (Audio/video player)

Got a video or audio file Windows Media Player or Quicktime can’t play? Betcha VLC can.

 KeePass (Password manager)

Another app you really don’t hear a lot about, but for anyone with more than 6 different passwords, KeePass is indispensable. Check out my previous feature, Securely track your passwords for more on using KeePass.

 Cygwin (Unix command line emulator)

That DOS command line just doesn’t cut it. Wanna turn into a CLI ninja on your PC? You need Cygwin. (For more on using Cygwin, check out these previously-posted Cygwin tutorials part 1, part 2 and part 3.)

Project Management

Achievo - Easy to use and customize open source web-based project management application for business environments.

AgileTrack - Java based application for monitoring and tracking activities in a software development environment.

ASTS - A set of web based management tools for recording project activities and tasks.

Read more…

• Top Wireframing Web Applications List
• Useful Open Source Apps for Web Designers