Microsoft launched free Web publishing tools today in a new software suite called WebMatrix.

The software is targeted at Web developers who may be using free open-source software to build websites. WebMatrix includes tools for running a website, including a Web server, database and Web frameworks. It also includes a tool for running search-engine optimization reports to help developers make their sites more prominent in Web searches. It's available in nine languages.

The WebMatrix tools work with free Web publishing platforms such as WordPress, Joomla!, DotNetNuke and Umbraco.

"The target audience for WebMatrix is the universe of web developers that aren’t already hard-core .NET and ASP developers," said Jon Rooney, senior product manager with the Web platform team. He said the tool is powerful enough for Web designers working at agencies to use.

"There’s a whole market out there for people who are using various open-source products who want to do things like blogging. They are looking for inexpensive. free tools," said Al Hilwa, an analyst who covers application development software at IDC, a research firm in Framingham, Mass. "WebMatrix hits the spot for that kind of thing. It’s a way for Microsoft to reach what's typically not its core base of developers."

Hilwa compares it to Microsoft's FrontPage software. "A long time ago Microsoft had a thing called FrontPage. It was a very different tool but hit at a similar market, people who want to do quick and dirty websites who are not programmers."

Here is where you can download the free WebMatrix software.

Also, Microsoft has made some video tutorials you can watch.