Freeware for compressing/decompressing uploads and downloads Aladdin Software, which makes Stuffit, the standard for the Mac, offers some freeware lite versions. And there's also one for Windows PC's, so you can deal with those .hqx (binhexed) and .sit (stuffed) files Mac users posted, as well as ZIPped ones (the PC standard). This is must-have software, and why not buy the full- version and get the manuals for it? Support software publishers who give away nice things.

Best (current) PC shareware HTML-writer software downloadable from its author's (Kris Nosack) home page. PC's only, sorry, Macs, don't download it.) Kris has pointers to many manuals and resources (for Macs too) on HTML writing you all should get. PC's: read all Kris's software HELP files (and print them as a manual). If you wind up using his software, send him $10 too,

HTML Grinder -- This looks like a very interesting software for Macs "Wheels" is a metaphor for filters that produce all sorts of special effects. Demo (shareware) is downloadable.

Alchemy Mindworks Graphics Workshop -- Programmer has paint software, GIF construction ware, for Windows (started as a Mac programmer). Interesting page layout and design. This guy doesn't ask you to pay for his wares, he wants you to buy one of his books (on Celtic mysticism--some chapters are on line). The Paint program's recommended.

SHAREWARE: A history of what it is (and why if you like it you should pay the author) by Jim Knopf one of the 2 fathers (Andrew Fluegelman is dead) of shareware. Native programmers: shareware is a way to get started, making a reputation that will later get you a good job at a big software company. A rep is far more important than schooling. Nobody cares what classes you took. What programs have you written?.

BOB ALLISON'S WebMaster Pages -- Bob has gathered links to just about every kind of knowledge, and has a lot of tips of his own. There's lots more than links to software sources here.

• Allison's Tips for Web Spinners -- Lighter weight than the webmaster pages

-- Web Developer's Virtual Library-- This is better organized and a prettier layout than Allison's, another collection of everything a web page developer should know. This one collects quite a few server programming resources, don't mess with those without cooperation from someone running your server.

The World Famous Guestbook and CGI Shop -- In addition to server software (CGI), these folks operate a guestbook server, so you can put up an interactive guestbook, like my CONTACT BOOK. They do the programming that runs it from their server. You create the formpage it's on.

See also Graphics Page here for some downloadable sharewares.

Adobe: Big daddy of graphics -- many samples, downloadables, big professional softwares. For web design, there's Adobe's PageMill, for both PC's and Macs (about $100); supposed to make web layouts as easy as PageMaker (Adobe bought Aldus last year). Adobe PhotoShop is the premiere pro paint and image manipulation program, very expensive, needs lots of RAM and speed. Download Adobe Acrobat PDF page reader and configure it for Netscape to see Adobe's web page design tips and tricks.

MetaTools -- makers of KPT the gtreat special effects tool for PhotoShop, Convolver (special graphics effects stand-alone) and Bryce (scenery generator), info, freebies, backgrounds.

Kai's Power Tricks and Tools -- help and tips for using KPT (MetaTools) graphics manipulator tools. Downloadable backgrounds and other small freebies made by people using them for special effects. WebMaster is a nerd who boasts his graphic capabilities. He stole the little graphic fuzzy stars background I created for my Aboriginal Astronomy pages to use on his MIT weather page. So I wonder what else he stole. Funny, with all that fancy hardware and software he boasts of having, he would steal my fuzzy, defective little stars. No talent, maybe, just money. He puts copyright all over his stuff, but it sure never bothered him, stealing mine.

Image Soup Monthly web graphics magazine that gives advice and tips on using PhotoShop and other big pro graphics software tools.

Internet Font Archives -- All about typographical design, fonts on-line -- freebies and links to commercial type foundries

Galt Shareware and Software, Shareware Shareware Shareware -- A giant mart of links to shareware authors and download sources, visited by 22,000 people a day intent on the latest freebies. So much stuff here novices may be lost. The pro area of shareware distribution.