WebMatrix v2 hits the shelves yesterday so run out and download it now!. There are many additions to WebMatrix in this launch and I would like to take the time to describe a few of the things that may shock and excite you.
If you aren’t familiar with WebMatrix here is a quick blurb from the product page:
WebMatrix is a free and lightweight web development tool.
Create, publish, and maintain your website with ease.
What is new in WebMatrix 2?
It’s incredible how many features they can plug into WebMatrix and still have it be very lightweight and simple to use. Let’s take a look at some of the newly supported features of WebMatrix 2.
Intelli-Sense & Syntax Highlighting
Ok, so this might not necessarily be *new* to WebMatrix, but it has definitely been expanded. Many of you may be asking, what the $#@! is Intelli-sense? Intelli-sense is autocomplete on steriods, not only does it list the options for what you are currently typing, but it provides information around if what you’re typing is a method, constant or other variable type, it will also provide you with the method signature or additional information about the particular item you have selected in the list. There is intelli-sense and syntax highlighting support for the following languages/frameworks:
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HTML5
CSS3
Node.js
PHP
ASP.NET MVC
Javascript
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Yeah, WordPress, Drupal and Joomla! support, WebMatrix is making it easier to extend your favourite Open Source CMS by providing a quick reference to the built in methods of these framework applications.
Community Oriented
Now for something everyone can enjoy!
Web Gallery
Install a wide variety of Open Source projects directly from the Web Gallery including WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal and phpBB. New items are added to this list on a regular basis, so it could also be a great tool to discover new Open Source Projects.
Extension Gallery
Another cool community aspect of WebMatrix is the extension gallery, which allows you to build custom extensions to WebMatrix. The extension gallery is already chalked full of great extensions including Git for WebMatrix, iPhone, iPad & Windows Phone Simulator.
Mobile Friendly
Mobile is all the rage right now, so having a tool not only helps you test on mobile device emulators, but actually gets you started with Mobile Friendly Templates and has auto completion for jQuery mobile, it’s like a match made in heaven.
Cloud Friendly
Last but definitely not least, the one thing you most likely come to my blog for, THE CLOUD! WebMatrix allows you to deploy to Windows Azure right out of the box. Of course this isn’t the only deployment option, but quite frankly, it’s the only deployment option I’ll be using. Within a few steps you can be publishing an existing site from your hard drive to Windows Azure Web Sites, or pull down that WordPress site you installed using the Windows Azure Gallery for a few quick changes.
To Learn more about the cloud features, read Announcing WebMatrix 2 by Jonathan Guerin.
