What's the best web-design software?

[SpongeBob]

Alright my work just nominated me to make a website for us, so what is the best software to use. Keep in mind that I have NO experience whatsoever with web design so I would need something without a big learning curve.

 

[Bluga]

Start with Dreamweaver 4. Very easy to use.

 

[Imported]

Get an HTML book, or find some tutorials on the web and use Notepad for a while. After you're good using Notepad, I'd step up to Dreamweaver.

 

[Czar]

what illkid said

 

[IamDavid]

Dreamwaever is the easiest to figue out IMO.

 

[Rogue]

Allaire Homesite.

 

[Tauren]

I taught myself using on-line tutorials.

 

[denali]

use a text editor, I use vi.

 

[Namuna]

Macromedia DreamWeaver NO DOUBT!

ESPECIALLY since you just said you're coming from no experience. Dreamweaver is COMPLETELY graphical (you've got the options to utilize the HTML editor parts too), so you just stick the pictures and text on the page and Dreamweaver will code it into HTML for you.

There's also Microsoft Frontpage, which actually is well supported by many Webpage Hosting Sites. Also graphical.

DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY get an 'HTML for Dummies' or equivalent book too. Putting things together in the graphical sense is easy, but when you run into trouble (believe me, you WILL), having at least a basic understand of the actual code WILL HELP YOU!

HEY! We just gave you some good advice, make sure you post your work so we can have a look!

 

[SpongeBob]

It's lookin like dreamweaver is what I'm gonna go with. Now will the regular dreamweaver 4.0 be good enough, I don't have enough of a budget for the Dreamweaver UltraDev 4.0(unless I can find a retailer with government rates that are low enough)? By the way I appreciate everyone's help with this

 

[Elledan]

I second DreamWeaver 4.

I'm using DW UltraDev 4 myself and it's by far the best HTML editor.

BTW if you want to get down and dirty with the HTML (or ASP, PHP, C/C++, Java etc.) code, try EditPlus (available at Download.com).

PS: I strongly suggest against using FrontPage. It will create incompatibility issues with Netscape, Opera and other browsers if you don't watch out.

 

[Namuna]

Square pants.

Woh doggy, don't try and get too big for yur britches! Stick with the Dreamweaver WITHOUT UltraDev...That's for down the road, MAYBE.

Don't forget, you STILL NEED a good Graphics Editor! I'm not going to bother saying which is good, cause WE ALL KNOW Photoshop 6.0 is, but then again if you broke the bank on Dreamweaver...You sure as hell ain't gonna be able to get Photoshop. Soooooo...

Perhaps a combo...
Dreamweaver AND Fireworks Combo

 

[Yzzim]

yeah, don't go cheap with graphics editing software...it's just as important as a good web design program

 

[SpongeBob]

Yeah I've already got photoshop 5.5 and illustrator 8.0 so I don't need to buy them. I'm gonna play around with the trial version of dreamweaver 4 this afternoon.

 

[BoberFett]

Homesite. I tried Dreamweaver but couldn't stand it.

 

[bolomite]

Being a cheapskate, I like Hot Dog Professional 5.5 from Sausage Software. Cost: $0. Not the absolute best, but good enough.

 

[dcpsoguy]

<<Hot Dog Professional 5.5 from Sausage Software>>

I wonder what Sausage Softwares executives look like :Q

 

[SpongeBob]

No offense to anyone in IS but the stupid fvcks in my IS department are trying to tell me that I HAVE to use Frontpage. I tried to tell them I was going to use Dreamweaver and they told me it wouldn't work. Can someone disprove/verify this for me please?

 

[Prodigy^]

notepad.exe owns all

 

[Philosopher]

Frontpage 2000 actually isn't that bad.:Q

 

[Elledan]

<< No offense to anyone in IS but the stupid fvcks in my IS department are trying to tell me that I HAVE to use Frontpage. I tried to tell them I was going to use Dreamweaver and they told me it wouldn't work. Can someone disprove/verify this for me please? >>

For reasons why you shouldn't use FrontPage I invite you to take a look at the below forum:

Sitepoint Forums

Do a search for Frontpage and have fun reading

I can give you one reason to not use FP: FP doesn't have the option to use Templates, only Shared Borders, which is an extremely unreliable function.

On the forum I just provided a link to I've discussed the topic 'Frontpage vs. DreamWeaver' many times with the other members and although we never reached an agreement it was clear that most preferred to either use DreamWeaver or Hotdog/Homesite.

 

[jyrixx]

another one for dreamweaver 4


although, notepad is still the best webdesign tool

 

[Elledan]

<<although, notepad is still the best webdesign tool>>

Nope, that's absolutely not true:

>NotePad has a maximum file size, so that you can't open big scripts/pages
>NotePad doesn't have syntax highlighting, which is crucial while coding

Instead of NotePad, use a program like EditPlus.

SpongeBob I got a nice review about DreamWeaver UltraDev 4 for ya:

http://www.webmasterbase.com/article.php?aid=317

Since DW UD is nearly the same as DW you'll have to ignore the passages about the ASP, JSP possibilities etc. and it's a review about DW 4.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Dreamweaver

 

[stev0]

as far as editors go, DreamweaverMX... IMO, get yourself a html book and textpad and go wild. it's a really easly language to learn.