I like KompoZer for layout work. It's free and opensource version of the old Netscape Composer with major updates. It also picks off where deveoplment of the NVU editor left off. Oh and it works on *IUX, Mac, and windows.

For coding I like Text Wrangler on the Mac, sometimes BBedit but I find BBedit to be over kill on most productions.

On WIndows I typically just use Notepad, but trying Notepad++ at the moment. Would be nice to have color coded tags.

I use Dreamweaver 8 even though I rarely use the Design Mode. While the syntax higlighting and tabbed interface features are provided by a lot of lightweight tools, I stick to dreamweaver for its ability to manage the site files quite effificiently. Adding new pages is very simple & logical once you have made/customized your own template. FTP upload is rather slow as multiple connections are not supported. I stick to the open source FileZilla for that. Apart from that, Notepad++ comes handy when I have to edit something real fast. Plain old Notepad to me is pretty difficult to work with, especially without syntax highlighting and indentation aid.

I refuse to use any Microsoft product when it comes to making web sites . Frontpage and Word are the worst programs for making webpages because they use their own kind of HTML ... they don't follow the W3C rules, they make their own and implement those rules in IE so it only works in IE.
I've used to use Dreamweaver, but when I started to learn HTML I dedided to use Notepad++, it's a lot faster . Must say tough that most of my webpages aren't very complex, that's why they're possible to be made in Notepad++.

I tend just to use the code view in dreamweaver then have the page open in a browser refreshing every time I add some code to see if it looks fine. I test all my sites in IE3-7, Firefox, Netscape, Safari and all are valid XHTML & CSS.

Like many around here, I'm a bit old school, meaning I prefer to visually layout a page AND have direct access to (mostly) clean code. I've been using DW5 for years and it's gotten behind the times, imo. So, For the last week I've been testing the "modern day" webpage/site editors. And there are tons of then!

First, I'll tell you the one I landed on; Namo WebEditor Pro
1st Runner up is... WYSIWYG WebBuilder 5
and for pure HTML editing ala Homesite, 1st Page 2000 which is FREE! Note: the free version is not available for download at the developers site.


The others I tested, in no particular order...

DreamWeaver CS3 ... a pig! 285MB download. 10 minutes to install, 20 minutes to uninstall. IMO, the only thing DW has going for it is the large installed user-base.

NetObjects Fusion 10 ... proprietary code, terrible docs, minimal support. Good for a large site or intranet where design consistency is a must. A FREE NetObjects alternative, still with all the negatives of NOF10, is NetObjects Fusion Essential.

Site Spinner 2.7 ... proprietary code, antiquated UI. It is easy to use though and runs on any version of Windows.

Web Studio 4.0 ... proprietary code, antiquated UI, no built-in table support. As far as I can tell support is very good, but selling templates is the goal.

Site Studio Pro 6 ... Uses XHTML 1.0 strict and CSS. Very clean-looking pages, but at this time, over my head. Too prim and proper for my needs.

Others not worth comments IMO, again in no particular order...
CoffeeCup HTML Editor
Antenna Web Design Studio
BestAddress HTML Editor
Abdio HTML Editor

Maybe someone will find this info useful.

This post has been edited by tiddlywinks: Dec 31 2007, 04:49 AM

I recently started using PHP Designer 2007 Personal Edition and I must say I kinda like it . It doesn't offer anything more compared to Notepad++, but the program just feels better (and more professional) to work with .
I remember using FirstPage2000 a loooooong time ago, but I can't remember what it was like . I still have the installer, so if anyone is interested

just wondering, why are people only talking about firstpage 2000? I've had firstpage 2006 installed for like 1 and a half years or more. its ok, i used to use it, infact i like it better then dreamweaver, but the editor is laggy.

anyway, im happy enought with notepad++

im downloading php designer at the moment, the personal one. it looks nicer than notepad++, ill just give it a go.

I have and will continue to use Dreamweaver. I guess for the moment I am using MX. As far as Frontpage was concerned, I used it for quite some time until I started using Firefox, found Firefox fantastic, and at the same time got upset that I just couldn't use Frontpage with Firefox. I had Frontpage as a part of Microsoft Office XP. So I really don't know how the newer Frontpage goes... I am sure it has all of the features updated and I am sure it works with Firefox now.

I began TrelixWeb and used Notepad here and there, but I started to get lazy and began to use Frontpage and then had geocities... It all worked very well for me. Then as I began creating more and more pages my preferences began to change, too. When I went back to school into the Programming side, I began to really get into Dreamweaver.... and learned how to use it well... As before, I learned a lot on my own.

So as long as I am able to keep up with Dreamweaver and its' many extensions, I am happy with the product. But, to each his/her own. Just keep up with what you know... But also realize that it never hurts to experiment, that's what makes an artist.

- skedad -

I have used many web editor softwares before, but nothing comes close to dreamweaver as a web editor application. People say it is a tool for beginners and not real developers, but that is not true. It is used for professionals because it gives a array of options and features that allow them to manipulate their design with ease. There are advanced features in dreamweaver that only a real web developer can understand how to use. Such as the options between when to use the wysiwyg, and when not to. I perferbaly use the wysiwyg when I am trying to create simple things like font adjustments and such for a certain specific page. The ability to edit your code and see the design in split mode is a nifty feature to see on the fly edits. Dreamweaver also offers users direct connection to their hosting site server, so when they are ready to upload their files to the server they can do it with a simple button. Not only does it allow you to be directly connected to your server host, but allows you to put multiply options for connecting to the host in their simple user interface layout. Currently I am using Dreamweaver 8 and have stuck with it, I have tried CS3 but notice no difference in features but the change in user interface.

Yeah, you have to admit it's quite impractical to use anything that's not WYSIWYG... As far as efficiency... Although it would be very possible to code things entirely in notepad and then upload them to a server to test, this would be quite impractical given the high rate of speed at which things move on the net.. especially business...

I guess it also depends on whether you just want a business card type placement on the net, or something with new features all the time to re-attract traffic...

For a hobbyist, there's nothing wrong with coding your html and php in "kate" and testing on your apache server using whatever browser you please...

Although for a business, you'd almost certainly have to stick with something that's efficient and timely... even if you're just creating for a business...