vB Hacking Article v1.5

[Revan]

To everyone that agreed with DW not being recommended:
Im not here to be an ass and start a huge fight about the compatability of DW, but I would just like to say this.
The time it takes for an user to turn off Code Rewriting in Dreamweaver (MX 2004), or at least exclude .php and .php3, is considerably less than the time it takes for a beginner to spot a syntax error without syntax highlighting.
And yes I know, other clients on that list has the highlighting

Is it not the point for a guide to teach a beginner something new?
I would remove Dreamweaver from the Not recommended, and instead put a new section above with something like this:
"But I use Dreamweaver! Is that a bad thing?
No, Dreamweaver works great for PHP code editing and writing. It supports an extension that enables you to add the entire php.net documentation and user notes to it, which really helps if you are wondering what a specific PHP integrated function does.
BUT, you should enter 'Preferences' from the 'Edit' menu, and under the 'Code Rewriting' section, either turn Code Rewriting OFF, or check the 'Never rewrite code: In files with extensions' and put .php and .php3 in the input field."


If you tell your readers this, it will have the same effect as telling them not to use DW.
Because. Let us draw up a hypothesis:
A DW user reads your guide, and is determined to read and follow every comma of your guide, no matter if it reads "Throwing yourself infront of a bus is the only way to resolve that error".
Now this user is having trouble with DW code rewriting, and he wonders wether or not to change php editors.

Outcome #1:
He reads "Dont use DW", and ditches it for another editor with syntax highlighting. 2 years later, this user is a more experienced coder, and often finds himself on php.net to search for a function.
His coding never rewrites itself again.

Outcome #2:
He reads "Turn off code rewriting and/or include .php and .php3 to the exclusions", and continues to use DW. 2 years later, this user is a more experienced coder, and discovers the extension that allows php.net's manual to be downloaded and included into DW. This saves him lots of hassle as he wont have to go online all the time.
His coding never rewrites itself again.


See my point?

Again I say I dont want to sound like an ass, so stop me if Im becoming unserious here

[Oblivion Knight]

Originally Posted by Revan

Is it not the point for a guide to teach a beginner something new?
I would remove Dreamweaver from the Not recommended, and instead put a new section above with something like this:
"But I use Dreamweaver! Is that a bad thing?
No, Dreamweaver works great for PHP code editing and writing. It supports an extension that enables you to add the entire php.net documentation and user notes to it, which really helps if you are wondering what a specific PHP integrated function does.
BUT, you should enter 'Preferences' from the 'Edit' menu, and under the 'Code Rewriting' section, either turn Code Rewriting OFF, or check the 'Never rewrite code: In files with extensions' and put .php and .php3 in the input field."

I'm going to leave it in the not recommended section, simply because I don't recommend it and as I've mentioned, I'm only recommending plain-text editors as they are 99.99% guranteed to work for anyone when it comes to editing vBulletin files.

I may however, add the section about Dreamweaver that you suggested at a later date..