What Web Development Tools Do You Use?

May 17, 2004 | 2 Comments

Summary: Recently (re-)learning web design/web standards skills (started working on web in late 1993 - ran web management company until 1999 but have not done any hands on work for 5 years) I have been reading your site for the past 2 months and it has provided a great deal of guidance, as well as direction to many other excellent resources. My question - what tools do you rely upon for (X)HTML and CSS? (ie homesite, topstyle etc). Recently picked up a copy of DreamweaverMX but find it unecessarily complex. Thank you.

From Charlie Bouthot

This is a very good question Charlie! Before I answer it I want to stress the importance of not relying on a single too or suite of tools for any Web development. It’s very important to actually understand (X)HTML and CSS, for example, rather than using WYSIWYG editors to write it for you.

Now to answer your question.

On my PC at work I use Homesite for the majority of my CSS and (X)HTML editing. Frankly I really wish there was a Mac version. In fact while I was in SXSW I asked Nick Bradbury about that and, of course, he has no say as it’s owned by Macromedia now.

I do use Dreamweaver MX on occasion as I do like how it handles styles a bit now. It just depends on the job and what I need to do.

On my Mac I use BBedit, which I don’t like all that much, CSSEdit and again Dreamweaver at times.

Hope that helps!

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