Website development programs, tools

getting started

[Kristofer]

Quite some time ago I did a little website ditty using HotMetalPro on a 486-66. Nothing fancy, but my links did work! :)
What do some of the folks around here use? I hear about FrontPage. Does it do e-commerce, WebStores, databases, etc.? What other pgms/tools are suitable in a beginner's arsenal? Other sources?
My goal is not to webmaster as a living, but to develop a base for a series of products (exercise/fitness related)I make as a machinist. I would eventually farm out the work, but I feel there is so much trial and error in the beginning that it would behoove me to learn it and roughly develop it, which would also likely help in working with whomever continues the work.
Just need a concrete place from which to begin.
Thanks,
Kris.

[ogletree]

I'm not much of a developer and I try to stay away from it but in the past when I needed something and I did not have any help I used Macromedia UltraDev and I have used Front Page. There is so much out there that you don't actually need to know how to code.

[robert adams]

Well, Front Page is certainly an option. Dont use it myself because it creates terrible code, plus it is not free.
DreamWeaver is probably regarded as the best, it also is not free.
If you want to write code you of course can do it with any text editor. I use 1st Page, it is a text editor with lots of features for automating html and a real time preview of your page. I also use Netscape Composer for some things. The older 4.x version writes pretty clean code, but is not as stable as the newer 7.x version.

Mo opinion is that whatever you use create correctly coded pages and all browsers will display them properly. If you use something (like FP or MSWord) that creates bad code it will only work correctly in the browser it was written for (IE).
This is not intended to start a war about IE versus the world.

Lots of choices.
luck,
robert

[photon]

HTML-Kit. Many amazing features, and it is free!

[snookie]

ye, Mozilla Composer is free. It will do basic things and should create clean code. The other that I think is cool is texturizer [http://www.texturizer.net/]. If you've got any money to spend Homesite 4.5 is good.

snookie

[Kristofer]

Would you consider HotMetalPro 4.0 to be obsolete? Useful for anything? I would imagine it would be more useful than MSWord.:)

[bill]

Front Page is certainly an option. Dont use it myself because it creates terrible code

This is not really an issue anymore with FP2003. I'd suggest it over a lot of other things like DW if you're just starting out and are comfortable with MS products. It's a familiar interface, and easy to use.

[txbakers]

I laughed at a new FrontPage2003 ad where they actually acknowledged how bad the previous editions were!

I haven't seen the new one, never used it because it was so bad, but at least they're trying.

[JamesR]

Hi Kristofer,

Give a browse through the WYSIWYG and Text Code Editors forum [webmasterworld.com], you will find many discussions on the positives and negatives of many programs there.

[divaone]

Honestly? Judging by your statements I've gathered you really don't care to get deep into coding or learn a program with much of a learning curve, but would rather simply get a decent website up at get back to your true purpose. This close?

If so, I would recommend something I don't usually... use a template. Search for 'free website templates' and you'll get lots of results. Find one that suites you and comes with comments in the coding to help you place your content.

Usually the templates are simple enough that transferring the workload to someone new wouldn't be such a big deal.

hth

[mack]

Hi Kristofer,

I use Frontpage quite a lot and find it pretty easy to use. I think it all comes down to what you want to get from the software. In terms of what is the best... This really comes down to personal preference. Each to their own.

Mack.

[traffik daddy]

Yup,

Each to their own. I can honestly say that you are still going to struggle if you don't know deep coding with an editor. Like you said, its all trial and error and no editor is perfect, although Dreamweaver is very near the borderline.

If you use an editor and it does something you don't want it to do and you do not know how to fix it is where a little bit of HTML knowledge will come in handy.

I use Dreamweaver due to the fact that all of Macromedias programs are compatible with each other and there are many great extensions for it. I use Dreamweaver MX alongside their graphics package Macromedia Fireworks MX and the two integrate almost perfectly.

I cannot honestly comment on FrontPage as I have never used it, I stick to one source and learn it the best I can, which I think is the best way. Yet I started writing HTML using Notepad three years ago and I'm glad now that I have background knowledge of how the script works. I can read it like a book now and can troubleshoot where neccessary.

Terry

[daedalus]

acehtml pro
code based editor, very clean code and comes with a "help" bar on the side which is customizable. you can view java, html, asp and php glossaries while working. No need to switch windows. Very simple to use, might help you .........

[JazHaz]

Hi all!

Well I actually like 1st Page 2000 (text editor). And it is free!

Whilst I'm here, can anyone recommend (with a URL) a photo editor and a paint program that can handle the usual gif, jpg and png graphics files? It needs to be freeware though as I don't have much money to send on software! :-/

Cheers,

James

My latest site: Enfield District Scout Band [edsb.org.uk]

[robert adams]

Hi all!

Well I actually like 1st Page 2000 (text editor). And it is free!

Whilst I'm here, can anyone recommend (with a URL) a photo editor and a paint program that can handle the usual gif, jpg and png graphics files? It needs to be freeware though as I don't have much money to send on software! :-/

Cheers,

James

For graphics try [irfanview.com ]
it is free and highly recommended.
You should be able to use it for photos and all.
As far as a paint program I don't have any experience with those.

luck,
robert