What to use?

mrvistahater · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 08:17 AM

If any of you guys or girls were to make a website, and made it with some sort of program like dreamweaver for example. What do you guys thinks about using a program to build a site? Do most of use code your own sites or do most of you use a web design program to help with the construction of you site?

**Ash** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 10:01 AM

I just use a web design program that lets me switch to source view quickly

Web design apps are great for doing a website [particularly things like tables] quickly and visually, but sometimes it's just quicker to do something in the source code.

**Thaylok** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 05:15 PM

Nvu works in a similar manner to Dreamweaver. It is an IDE Integrated Development Environment, however NvU is FREE. Nvu includes a text editor, a WYSIWYG editor, upload capability and a few other features. Nvu is available for Windows as well.

For a while, Mandriva came with an IDE I liked, Quanta (plus).

Quanta Plus Home
The current version shows to be 3.5.8

Additional resources: The Javascript Source has a lot of readily available scripts. Some don't work in Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape (are set for Internet exploiter), but most of those are marked. JavaScript Source: Free JavaScripts, Tutorials, Example Code, Reference, Resources, And Help

As ash says, You can have cleaner code if you use a text editor, and save/reload your browser window. That works Nicely!!

Edit number 2...

IDE's are nice for forcing a standard template (consistency) across a whole site. But if you know the code, I like to go at it by hand.

**blueparukia** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 07:17 AM

I use Notepad++. I am a stickler for standards, so don't use an Visual editor - just manually code

BP

narutohendrix · #5 (**permalink**) 12-25-2007, 01:39 AM

I'm currently doing some freelance work I got from school. I'm using Dreamweaver CS3 to update the site and find it really easy. I know code, learned before I learned Dreamweaver, and often use code within Dreamweaver. That said, it all comes down to preference. I find coding to be a tad bit faster for inserting images and links, but at the same time, if you make a mistake, you might spend hours trying to find it. Dreamweaver and other such programs have a wealth of features, like a built in FTP client, easy website organization, easy CSS creation, the ability to see your page as you make it, and many more. But with these wealth of features, certain things, like inserting images within the graphical interface, takes much longer than it would take if you were to code it.

That said, I use Dreamweaver CS3 in the Split view for work. I often go up to the code window for simple tasks whislt I use the graphical interface for the creation of tables, rollovers, etc.

**blueparukia** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-25-2007, 04:09 AM

Quote:

I use the graphical interface for the creation of tables, rollovers, etc

For tables that is OK, but for rollovers? That is what CSS is for, not crappy 1997 javascript. Use something like

Code:

 <a href="link" class="something">Link Text</a>

Coupled with CSS:

Code:

.something
{
height:??px;
width:??px;
background:#000 url(image/url.png) no-repeat;
display:block;
}

.something:hover
{
background:#000 url(image/hover_url.png) no-repeat;
}

Makes a very effective rollover, that saves seconds of load time for users, as well as reduces time spent handshaking.

BP

mrvistahater · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 05:40 AM

I am not the best at coding myself, so I need programs like dreamweaver for some things.

jennifer.goldson · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 04:51 PM

I am also not very good at coding, but I am trying to learn. I think that it is the better way to go if you are skilled at it.

mud_afuka · #9 (**permalink**) 01-13-2008, 10:08 PM

Hacking a blank page into an advanced site is both challenging and rewarding.

What reward do owe ourselves by using a piece of software (dreamweaver, eg.) someone else has designed? None! Squat! Zero! Zip! Zilch!

On the other hand, open up NotePad++ and hack until your heart's content. Then when you open up that first .html page, feel your heart skip a beat as a smile creeps across your face with joy and amazement. Pride! Coding is joyful!!! Coding is cool!!!

Yo!

View Poll Results: How do you prefer building websites?
Use some sort of web design program?	6	60.00%
Or is coding the whole thing from scratch better?	4	40.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

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