HTML/CSS editor recommendations?
ronk (58 points) | Wed, 2008-12-03 17:10Hello Guys (and Girls),
Can anyone suggest a decent free HTML/CSS editor, that highlights syntax in a similar way to TextPad does on the other box (pc)?
Going to have to take the plunge and learn hand coding properly, before the developers have a heart attack with all this dodgy Dreamweaver code.
Have just downloaded BBEdit Lite, but the syntax doesn't seem to be highlighted.
Any suggestions welcome =)
Cheers,
Ronk
Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
I just got SeaMonkey and it's quite good. It's not split view but you have Preview, HTML and even a preview mode that shows tags. It's from the Mozilla foundation, makers of Firefox (and Netscape before that):
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/
I just started using it today, but so far it's a great great app for free. :)
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
is great. I'm using it all the time on Mac. As browser, email client and IRC client :)
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
I use Coda (http://www.panic.com/coda/) for all my Mac-based coding needs. I'd heartily recommend it just for the text editing and file transfer options. It's $99, but you can download a trial version.
That's not exactly free. :)
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
...but it pays for itself by being a joy to use ;)
And how long does that take? :)
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
The integration of a text editor, a css editor, terminal access and an ftp client into one window, with tabs, editable syntax highlighting, and a nice interface... I was infatuated in under 10 minutes.
So it probably took an hour of billable time to pay for itself. :)
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
I mean do your page in Illustrator and then publish it without having to hard code? Is it still Dreamweaver?
"Try not, Do! or do not, there is no try."
-Yoda
But I'm pretty sure Dreamweaver is still the 'professional' choice
"Serious Developers" didn't ever need WYSIWYG in the first place since they do code specifically.
Even so, Dreamweaver isn't the pro choice, it's the choice mainly for mac designers who don't want to code. That's the target market I see, anyway.
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
What it comes down to is: Once you know proper coding, you know when it's preferable to edit in WYSIWYG, and when it's better to edit the code
"...and mamma cried: Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow" - Frank Zappa
http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/
I used this editor for a long time until I kicked down and got TextMate.
You beat me to it - TextWrangler was my preferred choice until I switched to the (non freee :) ) Coda.
Thanks for your suggestions, I'll certainly look in to the apps mentioned.
Cheers from the dark and cold UK =)
Ronk
It's the best for me. But the latest version works only with Leopard.
http://tuppis.com/smultron/
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
is the best as well but for PC :)
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
I'll have to give this a try - I've used Komodo Edit as my standard editor when pushed to use PC: http://www.activestate.com/Products/komodo_ide/komodo_edit.mhtml
Thanks. Looks nice. I just don't see how to change the encoding format with Komodo. Between ANSI and UTF-8. Other things looks nice.
Here is one open-source IDE which is really good and works with all OS.
http://www.netbeans.org/
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
I use a combination of BBedit and CSSEdit. Probably a ton of other solutions out there, but it works fine for me. Transmit for FTP.
TextWrangler is another good option, though no WYSIWYG that I'm aware of it highlights different operators very nicely for easy coding.
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust
TextWrangler is also great. I used it for some time after they stopped releasing Smultron for Tiger.
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
Its not free but after trying the demo it seems pretty decent.
"Try not, Do! or do not, there is no try."
-Yoda
What's wrong with Dreamweaver then?
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
It puts in lots of unnecessary code, which can push developers to the edge =)
And, in fact, from what I've heard the CS4 version is great for rapid prototyping.
Which tool is correct depends on what you are doing and what your skill-set is. Most web developers I know (myself included) prefer a text editor as it is transparent. What you type is what you get. This relies on (and helps you gain) a thorough understanding of the 'languages' you are coding in.
I've seen Dreamweaver and other WYSIWYG applications used brilliantly to rapidly prototype applications or provide quick user-testable sites. I have seen phenomenal websites produced using these tools too. However, I have also seen Dreamweaver far too often used as an excuse to never get to know the 'languages' underlying the web.
It's depends of the user.
In the beginning, when I was still learning HTML, CSS, etc. I used text editors only. Never WYSIVYG or anything alike that. And I still need text editors but sometimes Dw is just saving me a lot of time.
"However, I have also seen Dreamweaver far too often used as an excuse to never get to know the 'languages' underlying the web."
:) I can't imagine people making website without knowing HTML and CSS.
fedora FREEDOM. FRIENDS. FEATURES. FIRST.
fedoraproject.org
Believe me, I've seen it. Some nights I still wake up screaming! :)
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
----
Dirt and Rust