In this post, I’ve planned to write about a application which I’m using almost in a daily basis. The application is WinSCP and it’s a windows based, open source FTP/SFTP client. And what more, it’s free too!! When I started my website a year back, the hosting provider asked me to buy a FTP application for transmitting my web site files. I forgot the name of that commerical FTP application, but instead I googled to see if there is any open source, free alternative for FTPing files. And, my search landed in the WinSCP’s website .
After downloading and using WinSCP, I was really impressed with this nifty tool then. It provided me just what I wanted. Soon after, I started using WinSCP for my office works too. Now, WinSCP has earned a place in my development tools @ home list .
Here are some ‘nice’ things about WinSCP
- It provides a Graphical Interface. So no more fighting with FTP commands. Just drag and drop the files and they will be copied to server.
- Split Screen view enables you to view your local files at one panel and your server at the other panel. This way, you can drag-and-drop files from anyside to transfer them.
- If you are designing,re-designing, re-re-designing websites like me, then you would like to transfer the files back and forth to your server and local machine. In such scenarios, WinSCP’s directory synchronization feature can be effectively used to keep the files in synch.
- You can create multiple FTP accounts, and can log-in to any FTP accounting just by double clicking on it (Of course, you need to provide the access credentials!)
- Comes with a built-in text editor – but when compared, Notepad is feature-rich.
If you are in need of a FTP tool, then WinSCP would be great choice for you! WinSCP can be downloaded from here .
If you are planning for hosting your own site in an external server, then WinSCP is a must tool for you to have it in your system. And, there are also a lot of reviews about excellent windows hosting in the net which you might find useful.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Downloaded, will check it
this tool will definitely be useful to you!
I usually use FireFTP, works inside my firefox.
I’ve tried it sometimes. When you are in restricted environment, such as office computers and don’t have authority to install applications such as WinSCP, a firefox FTP plug-in is a great choice then.
Hello. Thank you for this great info! Keep up the good job!