Most popular web design software?

[SteveH]

Hi All

Can you give me a general idea of what software most people use to design their websites. In particualr which software a novice should use and what the Pro's use.

Thanks

[wyrickj]

Hi I can give you an exact answer to your question as I am a designer and I'll based it on what industry uses and also me.

I am sure most industry professionals use what's called Dreamweaver from Macromedia. I rate it the best WYSIWYG HTML Software. I use it also.

2nd for new people to web design I'd recommend Microsoft Frontpage. Lots of easy to use wizards and good enough to help start with HTML. Be for warn though that Frontpage as far as version XP does generate a lot of useless code. More so then Dreamweaver. However with Frontpage 2003 I have not done any kind of test with it and I can tell you it has been improved as I read about it directly from microsoft.com.

[jlknauff]

I would suggest using one of those two programs, then learning how to clean up your code ;)

[starbug]

Dreaweaver & Fireworks (both Macromedia) for designing and making the pages.

I use an old double pack of those two programs I bought about 4 years ago - And I have never felt the need to upgrade :)

[palespyder]

*In an old Grizzled Voice!*

Har! ye be wantin Notepad! "pimp"

Seriously, since I have learned HTML I have mostly used a text editor, it lets me control what goes in. I use UltraEdit for the moment, but HTMLGate is pretty cool for a free program. Dreamweaver and Frontpage will set you back a few bucks.


PaleSpyder

[Scribbller]

I also prefer notepad gives me more control but I learnt webdesigning on Dream Weaver 3.0 about 4 years back.

[SteveH]

Thanks for all your input. Think I'll start with Dreamweaver before moving on to editing HTML directly.

As you say Dreamweaver is not cheap and I've seen it advertised with add ons.

Additional questions -
1) Would you recommend buying an older second hand version of Dreamweaver, has it improved greatly over the last few years?
2) What add ons would you recommend I look for, I think it is available with additional graphics software?
3) Any other tips on what to look for?

Thanks for your input.

[eleven80]

[QUOTE=wyrickj]However with Frontpage 2003 I have not done any kind of test with it[/QUOTE]

i agree about the code problems with XP, but as far as i can tell so far, all of these problems have been fixed in FP2003. it appears to be a dreamweaver clone if anything ;)

my recommendation lies with dreamweaver MX 2004, as it has greatly improved since the first installment. opting for an older 2nd hand copy isnt the way to go if you want to create sites compliant with today's high-standards. :useforce:

[eCommando]

yep, agree with dreamweaver and fireworks

[seo guy]

everyone in my office uses dreamweaver MX, macromedia flash, and adobe photoshop although I bust out fireworks as well from time to time.

As far as general design, I think DW is a MUST - using notepad is great once you know code, but starting out most people tend to fair better with a WYSIWYG

DW mx 2004 all the way!

[relaxzoolander]

my advice to beginners is to stay far away as possible from front page.
i think it makes nasty code.
the method i use and recommend is to learn hand-coding from looking at the code of actual web pages
...and tutorial sites like w3schools (http://www.w3schools.com/).
that site has everything you need.
dreamweaver is my software of choice.
but i dont use it a lot to self-generate code.
i still hand-code with it.
i often open a document in notepad too for quick stuff.
you should get comfortable hand-coding if you want to be good at it.
dont rely too much on software to write code...
..especially if you dont understand why it works.
.

[eleven80]

[QUOTE=relaxzoolander]i often open a document in notepad too for quick stuff.
you should get comfortable hand-coding if you want to be good at it.
dont rely too much on software to write code...[/QUOTE]

i don't see the big deal with using software to aid the coding process. as a web developer, i create a site in the least amount of time possible, using the tools i need for the job. i don't think writing code in notepad makes you any more of a professional than a developer who uses development software created specifically to speed up the development process.

by all means, 'start out' with dreamweaver, because it gives you tons of advantages by making code clearer by color-coding it, pointing out your errors and you can learn the code from its own components, but don't think you have to migrate to notepad once you know code.. after finding this great piece of software and learning how to utilize it.. why bother with notepad?

[TechEvangelist]

There is no comparison between the cleanliness of the code with Dreamweaver versus FrontPage. Dreamweaver wins the test every time.

Although FrontPage has cleaned up its act in recent years, it still tends to do things the Microsoft way. I started with FrontPage 98. To call it junk would have been praise. FrontPage 2003 and newer versions tend to be better, but if you want the best tool, it isn't a Microsoft tool. Go with Dreamweaver.

I spend a lot of time reworking pages developed by others using FrontPage. It's pretty easy to identify a Web page developed with FrontPage.

I no longer use WYSIWYG tools and hand-code everything using HomeSite. Macromedia bought HomeSite from Allaire a few years ago and I believe that HomeSite is the editor included with newer versions of Dreamweaver. HomeSite is a great code editor with lots of useful tools.

[eleven80]

[QUOTE=TechEvangelist]HomeSite is a great code editor with lots of useful tools.[/QUOTE]

seconded.

[palespyder]

Thirded on Homesite, great tool for the price.

[SEO Jason]

I don't think relaxzoolander was saying that the person should switch to notepad when they know a lot. He says himself that his preferred software is Dreamweaver. Looks to me like what he was saying was to try not to use design views and that because you'll be a better coder if you learn how the code works and why it works that way. If you can write well in notepad then obviously you'll be able to in a program like dreamweaver as well.

[btaz]

I use Dreamweaver, however you can't design everything you want in the "Design" mode alone i.e. this is a layout mode. This can get especially annoying when Dreamweaver doesn't display your HTML code correctly. I have found that in order to create certain designs or effects, you always have to learn how to hand code HTML. However having a tool like Dreamweaver saves you time and I do recommend it.

Just my two cents.

[l3vi]

Yep DW MX 04 is the winner over here as well. I do all the server side coding with it. The speed that you can type out tags, and the colors rock. I stay in code view most of the time...