Web authoring tools, pros cons etc.

[newmate]

I would like to get some feedback from forum members on what web authoring and code related tools people use and the pros and cons of each. Also suggestions for complementary tools the fully equipped web builder should have and any other advice concerning the use of tools and web authoring in general. I currently use FrontPage 2002 and my personal host supports FP extensions.

[bassleader]

I use Macromedia (formerly Allaire) Homesite, and absolutely swear by it. It's quite reasonably priced (about US$150 or 90 UK squids), and really helpful if you're learning to code, rather than cut and paste into a WYSIWYG editor. Also, I understand Homesite is included with Dreamweaver (which I've not used) these days. Dreamweaver is quite widely used by the pros so if you're hoping to become one of them it may help.

[jkd]

In Windows, I always use a text-editor called Ultraedit (http://www.ultraedit.com).

It generally makes coding easier somehow - I prefer it over ALL alternatives.

In Linux, I just use Vi. Tried and true, it is good enough.

[Alex Vincent]

My primary web page editor is Amaya. It's from the W3C, so it's fairly good at following the standards...

After I draft an XHTML page, I fire up WordPad to add in PHP and JS scripting.

I found a rather nice free XML/XSLT editor called Cooktop... too bad the program didn't have a link back to the host page.

[boxer_1]

For coding I use HTML-kit, Eversoft 1st page, CuteHTML, Hackman, and notepad (CuteHTML is probably the one I use most often). Basically anything that allows complete control over the source code .

For FTPing I use WS_FTP. For graphics I use Fireworks primarily, and Photoshop occasionally. A nice little free graphics program is Irfanview.

There are a lot of tools available for various aspect of web development. I guess the trick is to find the ones you feel comfortable with that are also within a price range to fit your budget. It's too easy to over do it...even with free programs. Before you know it your HD will be filled with programs, some of which you haven't used in so long it's hard to remember exactly what they do. Just equip yourself with the basics and add to it as your needs grow .

[QuackHead]

Coding/HTML Layout&Design: EditPlus 2, Notepad on occasion

Graphics: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Flash, Adobe ImageReady

FTP: CuteFTP

~Quack

[whackaxe]

i would swear by homesite as bassleader saidbut only version 4.5.2, version 5 keeps on crashing and has maybe to many new features. i personaly dont like frontpage because my dad asked me to remake his web site that he had done with FP and i spent 2hours looking for the actual page in all the mess that FP left behind. for example for various reasons, FP makes a rollover script for every rollover instead of making a nice rollover function with arguments. if all else fails you always have notepad....