Dreamweaver.. ARGH!!

[DrkFusion]

Originally Posted by Dean C

I think you'll find many people can also code as quickly by hand as they can within dreamweaver ((X)HTML that is)

I think many people use Dreamweaver because you get an idea of how its going to look, without having to save the file, then preview it with a browser (which you should always do by the way).

[Brad]

At the end of the day all that matters is getting the job done, if dreamweaver helps you shave a few hours off total development time then defentaly use it. But as far as merly modifying a php file, who needs all that extra overhead?

As far as coding by hand vr. dreamweaver gose, I can see a advanage to begin able to preview on the fly, I just can't stand de-bugging the code that programs like that output. At the end of the day, for me at least, I can code quicker by just doing it by hand, saving to my dev box, then de-bugging my own code.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Tigga

I've worked for some rather large web development companies in the past and worked with clients for them such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Chick-Fil-A, and Tensar Corp

Interesting. I take it you are saying all these hard code and don't use Dreamweaver or other tool.

[Natch]

He's saying that HE hardcodes and that the developers he's seen in action also do so.

I've been developing only a few years (maybe 5) and I can see a use for Dreamweaver (just don't mention the "f" word!) - but I also find that I can code up a site in about half the time by hand than it would take to gen up a layout in DW then tidy it up so it validates ...

This war has been fought before ... let's let it be said - NEVER try to modify vB code files in DW unless you are very good at debugging screwups.

[Michael Morris]

In the interest of getting my thread back from being a debate about the merits of Dreamweaver I'll reiterate my question - HOW DO I TURN OFF THE AUTOCORRECTOR??

I didn't mean to touch off a merits of Dreamweaver and other editors.

[Michael Morris]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Interesting. I take it you are saying all these hard code and don't use Dreamweaver or other tool.

Somebody's using it for Macromedia to be able to charge $150 / copy for it.

[Velocd]

In terms of design, if I owned a web development firm I would never hire somebody who's never (or rarely) coded out of a WYSIWYG editor. I work currently at a programming job for a company, with 3 others, and deal with MySQL/PHP/design stuff. I've been web designing for about 4 years now, and have always used a text editor of somesort (last 2 years in textpad). Two of my coworkers, who are master students in Computer Science, have always used dreamweaver, and while their code in terms of functionality is ok, in terms of complying with standards or readability, it isn't. I've never known a good web designer who makes extremely code-clean, standard-complying, and visually appealing web pages in a WYSIWYG editors.

As far as doing server side programming, it's not bad with all the tag and function references, but seems too cluttered for my taste. Textpad is simple, extremely effective, and makes the work flow fast.

Dreamweaver seems most popular among older web developers, perhaps because it's of a well known and accomplished company. There are other lesser known companies though that make good editors.

[DrkFusion]

Originally Posted by Velocd

In terms of design, if I owned a web development firm I would never hire somebody who's never (or rarely) coded out of a WYSIWYG editor. I work currently at a programming job for a company, with 3 others, and deal with MySQL/PHP/design stuff. I've been web designing for about 4 years now, and have always used a text editor of somesort (last 2 years in textpad). Two of my coworkers, who are master students in Computer Science, have always used dreamweaver, and while their code in terms of functionality is ok, in terms of complying with standards or readability, it isn't. I've never known a good web designer who makes extremely code-clean, standard-complying, and visually appealing web pages in a WYSIWYG editors.

As far as doing server side programming, it's not bad with all the tag and function references, but seems too cluttered for my taste. Textpad is simple, extremely effective, and makes the work flow fast.

Dreamweaver seems most popular among older web developers, perhaps because it's of a well known and accomplished company. There are other lesser known companies though that make good editors.

Is textpad just a markup editor with syntax coloring or is it a WYSIWYG editor?

[Zachery]

Originally Posted by DrkFusion

Is textpad just a markup editor with syntax coloring or is it a WYSIWYG editor?

IIRC its the first

[Smitty]

I'm a Mac person who has authored and kept up my own minor league web site since January 1996. I'm not a 'professional'.

Originally I 'hard' (hand) coded the entire site. Currently I use Dreamweaver a lot and use BBEdit for cleanup and for files where I 'can't afford a mistake' such as server config files which aren't in my Dreamweaver site files anyway. Dreamweaver has not, however, ever caused me a problem with a web site edit whether php file or simple html or xhtml files were concerned. My powerbook is also my testbed. When it's OK here it's an upload to my site.

Yes - this 'battle' has been fought many times and I am sure will continue to attract controversy. If one doesn't understand what a program like Dreamweaver can and does do, I'm not convinced that a straight ASCI editor will profit them. They have some learning to do. I agree that an asci editor is the best way for someone to really 'get in there' and understand every space, every line, in a file and understand what it is doing.

None the less - Dreamweaver and other 'User Friendly' editors have their place. In fact, using Dreamweaver has taught me a lot.

Have several tools at ready and use the one that best suits the job at hand. But remember - If you have a tool but don't know how to use it or the concepts involved it is useless...