Spark is a Java micro framework for creating web applications with minimal effort.

Spark is similar to Sinatra in terms of structure, but is instead meant for developers who want to develop in pure Java. (Sinatra runs on Ruby.)

Spark, unlike many similar frameworks, doesn’t require XML configuration, and altogether tries to provide a framework for rapid app development in a clean environment.

The framework has a basic routing system and offers a number of useful methods (that are rather common in other frameworks, too) for building RESTful web applications.

• Website: http://www.sparkjava.com/

Filer.js is a wrapper library for the HTML5 Filesystem API.

The application, unlike other file management libraries, allows the app to write and access folders on the user’s computer, which could, in the long term, change the way we think about HTML5 apps.

The library is currently supported solely by Chrome, and implementation in other browsers will most likely remain on the level of a distant hope for a good while.

• Website: http://ericbidelman.tumblr.com/post/14866798359/introducing-filer-js
• Demo: http://html5-demos.appspot.com/static/filesystem/filer.js/demos/index.html

Etherpad is an open source web service that allows multi-user collaboration on a single document.

Etherpad is hosted on a number of public sites used daily for private (piratepad) and public document sharing.

The service offers a full-geared GUI for document editing, viewing their history, and sharing them.

Etherpad is particularly advantageous for cryptic people, as it’s a safe, non-Google way of sharing documents.

• Website: http://etherpad.org/

Zimplit is a Content Management System for websites that don’t require a lot of thought but do require editing (for websites that aren’t static).

Zimplit doesn’t require a database, as all pages are updated with a file manager.

The CMS is used by more than 100,000 websites, and thus has a number of juicy templates available (and templating isn’t hard at all).

Altogether, Zimplit offers the non-developing user an easy solution for creating simple websites.

• Website: http://www.zimplit.com
• Demo: http://www.zimplit.com/demo/zimplit.php

Stalactite is a jQuery plugin for lazily packing contents of an element.

Stalactite offers a rather curious way of displaying elements: rather than caching and making them appear at once, the plugin makes the user aware of the browser’s decisions.

The sorting is done manually — i.e., by you.

Stalactite is perfect for artsy portfolios and general photography/media goodness.

• Website: http://jonobr1.github.com/stalactite/

Phrozn is a static site generator written in PHP.

Phrozn is a PHP alternative to many Ruby/Python static site generators. (For example, Jekyll or Hyde.)

The idea behind this library is simple: you provide content and style, but Phrozn will “freeze” it into a whole.

Phrozn is great for generating simpler pages, and, besides static websites, it can be used in applications a-la GitHub where page generation needs to be safe, fast, and effective.

• Website: http://www.phrozn.info/