Links to very interesting and useful sites that will help inspire, teach, and inform.
Design:
Smashing Magazine – User Interface concepts: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
Zen Garden – examples of how CSS can be beautiful: http://www.csszengarden.com/
Design and Development:
SitePoint - amazing JavaScript and CSS references : http://www.sitepoint.com/
Development:
Tizag - PHP, Java, Javascript, tutorials in easy to follow format: http://www.tizag.com/
W3Schools - PHP, JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS tutorials – great quick and easy guides to simple to moderately complex topics: http://www.w3schools.com/
Tools
Eclipse IDE – The standard for Java developers can be useful for PHP developers also – with the optional PHP extension pack.
PHPDesigner7 - a comprehensive PHP, Python, JavaScript IDE that contains project as well as file management tools. Very customizable. Lightweight (as compared to Eclipse).
Language Downloads
WAMP Server – Windows, Apache2, MySQL, PHP – for Windows XP/Server platforms. FAST install for a robust development environment. Will make testing using Eclipse or PHPDesigner7 very effective.
Python - the language base for the powerful and intuitive Python language.
