In several projects I have required the use of regular expressions, so I decided to search for tools to help make the process of creating regular expressions easier. I came across a number of free and licensed tools. Since I am not using regex continuously, I did not feel it was necessary to purchase software which would be overkill for what I required. I have chosen to review three tools I used with different projects in this entry. With regular expressions, there are a number of website resources for help, Regular Expression Cheat Sheet (.NET) is one of these references. With regex tools, it can never hurt to have a regex resource availible.

The Regex Coach
This Perl-compatible regular expressions application can be used with Linux or Windows. I found this tool to strait-forward and easy to use. What I like most about it is how it immediately highlights the correct output of a regular expression. There are not too many options to confuse users which can be good and bad. In my case, it was good because the implementation was quick and I could discover regular expressions immediately. When I installed this application, I had other work to accomplish beyond regular expressions so I did not want to waste time learning new software.
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Rad Software Regular Expression Designer
This is a .NET tool for working with regular expressions which is more robust than any of the other free tools I use. Its interface is intuitive but its help is lacking the documentation I desire. I like this application because it provides a list of language elements which may be encountered frequently when dealing with regular expressions. A simple mouse click inserts the language elements into the regular expression. The match results are different than the Regex Coach, but after getting used to them I do not mind how Rad Software handled this. Matching the expression is not real-time which I would prefer, but other features not found in the Regex Coach add to its appeal.
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RegexDesigner.NET
This application, written for .NET, allows the integration of the regular expressions into your C# or VB.NET code and assemblies. It is easy to install and use, and the full source is provided at GotDotNet's RegexDesigner .NET: Workspace Home. With similar features to the previous apps, there really is not much more to this one. Matching the expression is not real-time which I would prefer. It works well, and the support for it is great.
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If I had to choose one over the others, I like the Regex Coach the best. However, when I feel like I need the added support of regex syntax options, I will use Rad Software's Regular Expression Designer. I think I may have to order a RegEx t-shirt for myself.