newbie: Dreamweaver vs. First Page, etc.

[rdlaing]

Hi all,

I've been learning web development using two excellent editor tools, First Page and Top Style (for CSS). This is basically write the raw code, see how it looks, tweak the code, etc etc. A few shortcuts but nothing fancy. And of course I am working on a PC.

I just downloaded Dreamweaver MX as a trial and started to try to use it. I have some mixed feelings about it -- so much is done 'behind your back,' and it is a big investment to learn in and of itself, beyond learning code. As I was working with all the Dreamweaver features I felt like I was moving away from the code itself, and I didn't like it.

I am wondering --

How much of an 'industry standard' for pro web design is Dreamweaver? I mean, if you intend to be a professional web designer, is that pretty much what you have to go with?

Will Dreamweaver really save me significant time in the long run? Is it worth the learning curve? Will it enhance my understanding of code or will it be something that I end up relying on as a crutch instead of learning code? Does it REALLY save all that much time compared to the line by line work I am doing now (helped out a lot by the editor shortcuts).

And am I setting myself up for problems later if I rely on working on a PC? As much as I love the PC's versatility and power (and don't like Mac's hand-holding, high price and insularity), are Macs the industry standard for pro web design? I've noticed I can make nicer desktop publishing design when I borrow Quark on the Mac at my job, and I have heard that pro artists, including web designers, almost always use Macs.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the help!

-- RD

[mike breck]

Well I'm not a professional Web Designer - I just do it as a hobby and for the occassional paid project - but I'll give you my views on it.

Dreamweaver has become a standard web design program; so if you really want to become a competent designer, then you should get to grips with it. Not only for HTML but for it's tight integration with Macromedia's other products e.g Flash.

Although many old die-hards will say that you should design Web pages in pure HTML, I and many others would suggest that you use a parallel approach. In other words, continue to learn your HTML code and use the standard WYSIWYG programs at the same time.

In that manner, you will learn the strengths and weaknesses of programs like Dreamweaver and Frontpage and be able to correct, adapt, or improve the raw code with ease.

I believe a holistic approach is useful and allows you to use the best features of many programs. For example, I find it easier and more flexible to design my tables with Frontpage and then I can do other work in Dreamweaver. But that's just my personal preference.

I certainly find it quicker to use a WYSIWYG program to sketch basic layouts when I'm looking for creative ideas. Rather like a painter making some preliminary stokes on the canvas. When I get something I like, I know I can always go back and fine-tune the code.

But then, I am initially interested in how the page will "look" and is it fit for the purpose for which it is intended. I don't get hung up on techinical issues at the early stages.

Also you must consider all the third-party addons for these programs which have been developed to improve or add more functions of these programs. They do save you time and add functions that you couldn't possibly do yourself - unless you study programming and code "everything" yourself.

As to your question about whether to use a Mac or a PC - obviously that is a loaded question on a PC forum. Most will say PCs.

However, the last time I saw a survey about what "professional" web designers (by that I mean, people who do it for a living - not a hobby) were using - about 50% were using Mac and 50% were using PCs.

That could be due to the fact that a lot of people who now "design" Web pages come from a graphic design background - where, of course, Macs are traditionally more popular.

However, I think the bottom line is you can use either - but if you seek perfection - be sure to test your designs on a Mac browser at some point.

HTH

[SputnikSweethrt]

The only reason I use Dreamweaver when I code is because it saves me time when working with tables. It also integrates very well with Flash. I pesonally love the new interface for Dreamweaver MX - how I can go back and forth between different files using the tabs on the bottom... (I really wish they'd do the same with FlashMX.. but that's besides the point)

Dreamweaver would be a problem only for someone that doesn't know any html to start with. Working solely off the graphical end would result in very messy code indeed!

That said, if you're more comfortable hand-coding everything from scratch, I don't see why you shouldn't continue to do so. Even though Dreamweaver IS an industry-standard program, it is only just a tool. It's not like Flash where you have to learn actionscripting or anything... I suggest you use your 30 days of free use to get familiar with the basic functionalities. If you find that the program saves you a significant amount of time, then you can consider downloading....err...buying it.

As for the MAC/PC issue... tough call.
I'm a PC user because I'm still a poor student and it's impossible to find *cheap* programs for MACs. I'm also a gamer which puts another big X in the MAC column.

I feel PCs have much, much better value for the buck. I also find that learning to use a MAC is not too big of a deal (I'm forced to use them at school sometimes for video editing) so if my job was to require me to use a MAC it wouldn't be much of a problem.

[mairving]

It is the best of the WYSIWYG editors. I have personally never really liked it all that much, mostly because I use Homesite, which IMO is the best if you want to hand-code.

DW not only integrates well with Flash but also with Fireworks. Top Style is a great program for CSS. I am not too crazy about First Page as it writes some overly bulky code. Which is the other good thing about Dreamweaver, it writes relatively good, clean code.

You won't have any problems working on a PC. Even if you did switch to a MAC, you could still use DW and it would be mostly the same. MAC's are not as strong in Web Development as they are in some of the other areas like DTP.

[rdlaing]

mike breck, SputnikSweethrt, mairving --

thanks for the thoughtful advice. Very helpful!

And mairving, is there a Homesite freeware version like there is with 1st Page? Being free is one of the reasons I'm satisfied with 1st Page, but if people think that Homesite might be better, I'd like to check it out.

-- RD

[mairving]

Originally posted by rdlaing mike breck, SputnikSweethrt, mairving -- thanks for the thoughtful advice. Very helpful! And mairving, is there a Homesite freeware version like there is with 1st Page? Being free is one of the reasons I'm satisfied with 1st Page, but if people think that Homesite might be better, I'd like to check it out. -- RD

There is a trial version but not a freeware version.