| Any aspiring web designer seeking help from a forum | | | | very bad code, FrontPage, for instance, but this is |
| about the "best" web design software will | | | | mostly a relic.Novices are welcome to ignore these |
| immediately be greeted by two very different | | | | weak arguments and find a WYSIWYG program with |
| responses. One will either be told to use a large, | | | | which they are comfortable. One of the key benefits |
| expensive, purpose-built design program such as | | | | of a good WYSIWYG program is the ability to learn |
| Dreamweaver or to use something they most likely | | | | the code while using the program. Making changes in |
| already have- Notepad. These are very disparate | | | | a "preview" mode and watching how the underlying |
| responses, and this article will explore some of the | | | | code changes is a useful way to discover HTML. As a |
| general reasons this rift occurred.The Two Sides | | | | designer who started out using Notepad, I moved on |
| "Dreamweaver" and "Notepad" are the classic | | | | to Dreamweaver for another important reason, |
| examples usually provided, though they are not | | | | convenience. Knowing the underlying code, I was able |
| exhaustive. The central conflict is generally between | | | | to quickly make changes in the "design" mode with a |
| those who advocate the use of "WYSIWYG" | | | | good knowledge of what those changes did to the |
| programs and "text editors". WYSIWYG is an only | | | | code. I could also work in the "code" mode and see |
| slightly more efficient way to say "What You See Is | | | | what the results might look like without having to |
| What You Get." WYSIWYG programs employ a user | | | | upload them or preview in a browser. Most modern |
| interface designed to provide an accurate or nearly | | | | WYSIWYG design programs have strong underlying |
| accurate preview of the end output while the | | | | code editing systems, providing those who wish to |
| content is being created. WYSIWYG web design | | | | use them with a "Notepad" like experience should |
| programs endeavor to allow a user to edit their site | | | | they wish to use it. Modern WYSIWYG design |
| information as it might appear in a browser when | | | | programs also provide additional convenience of site |
| published to the web."Text editors" are simply that, | | | | management, re-useable code, custom templates, |
| small programs designed to edit text documents, of | | | | and a personal favorite of mine, spell |
| which most web pages are actually built on a "nuts | | | | check.Conclusions |
| and bolts" level. Very briefly, the web pages seen in | | | | Don't be shamed into trying to learn HTML via a |
| a browser are simply lines of text with "markup," the | | | | text editor if that's not right for you. Web design is a |
| "M" in "HTML." Markup is the series of tags that tell | | | | learning process and WYSIWYG software can |
| the browser what the document is, how to order it, | | | | provide an excellent learning platform. The only thing |
| and in many cases, how to display it. In order to edit | | | | to be afraid of is, perhaps, the price tag of most |
| a web page using a text editor, one has to know | | | | WYSIWYG software. Notepad and similar text |
| HTML. This is where the 2 web design camps | | | | editors are certainly economical. There is some |
| diverge. WYSIWYG programs are basically designed | | | | "middle ground" in the debate. Some "advanced" text |
| to bring editing to those who do not know | | | | editors do exist that are built with web design in mind |
| HTML."Controversy" | | | | and provide some basic luxuries. There is also a wide |
| Many web designers take the view that one must | | | | variety of online site builders that automate the |
| learn HTML in order to design, and that WYSIWYG | | | | design process beyond even that capable by |
| programs are, to quote a few common complaints, | | | | expensive WYSIWYG software. There is no "best" |
| bloated, unnecessary, and produce poor code. Using | | | | web design program, only the best program for an |
| Notepad, or any of a similar crop of basic text editing | | | | individual designer.Mr. Lester has served for 4 years |
| programs, seems to be a kind of "street cred" | | | | as the webmaster for and previously worked in the |
| among those designers that value this knowledge. | | | | IT industry an additional 5 years, acquiring knowledge |
| Although the ever increasing feature set ("bloat") of | | | | of hosting, design, and search engine optimization. |
| many WYSIWYG programs cannot be denied, I | | | | Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce |
| found having more tools available is generally not a | | | | hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a |
| bad thing. Further, anyone who levels the "bad code" | | | | wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo |
| charge has probably not used modern WYSIWYG | | | | prides itself on the highest levels of customer |
| programs like Dreamweaver 8. In the past there | | | | support. |
| have been WYSIWYG programs guilty of producing | | | | |