I was wondering what graphics and HTML software programs other web developers use when creating their sites?

 

My own toolbox must-haves/basics include:

 

Graphics: Macromedia/Adobe Fireworks, Serif's DrawPlus, Adobe Photoshop and Micrografx Picture Publisher.

 

Of the above, I'll bet most people are unfamiliar with DrawPlus and Picture Publisher. They're both inexpensive and somewhat outdated programs, but they're the software I've used for years and I still find myself going back to utilize their familiar, helpful tools. DrawPlus specializes in vector graphics; Picture Publisher (which I think is now called iGrafx?) is bitmap only. Of course Fireworks does both vector and bitmap, so it's the best of both worlds. It also does a great job integrating with Dreamweaver, which is the HTML editor I use most often. And speaking of which...

 

HTML/Coding: Macromedia/Adobe Dreamweaver, MS Frontpage, JGSoft's EditPadLite.

 

Dreamweaver's been my favorite HTML editor for many years now, and with each new version it improves its capabilities manifold. What I love about it is the seamless way you can go from easy WYSIWYG layout editing to hands-on source code work. The extensions provided by the Dreamweaver community let the program do everything but jump through hoops for you. I also love that unlike Frontpage, Dreamweaver is pretty darn strict about adding unnecessary tags and code to your source.

 

Frontpage isn't my "go-to" program by any means, but with one client I don't have a choice: his site was developed with FP and now can't be updated (not even FTP works) with anything but FP. One of the many charming proprietary features Microsoft specializes in. (And no, I'm not an MS-basher; I rather like many of its programs. But Frontpage drives me nuts the way it takes over a website!) On the plus side, sometimes it's useful to be able to edit the pages directly on the website. On the downside, sometimes it's dangerous to edit pages directly on a website! Woe be unto you if you make an erroneous change on the server but don't have an original backup on your harddrive somewhere.

 

Finally, when dealing with scripting or quick code refining, a solid, no-nonsense text editor is what you wanna go with. Notepad'll do in a pinch, but it's often too simple and can mess up code at times. That's why I love EditPadLite, a free program that offers tons of features useful to a hand-coder, such as accurate source line numbers, a robust Search/Replace, tabbed files, and pristine code retention.

 

I use some other products, such as Flash and other animation programs, but these are definitely the tools I work with most often. What about everyone else?

Great post... well written, with pros and cons. A pleasure to read it, really Choie!

You talk mostly about design and coding there... but web developers also use software to correct codes, optimize, promote etc. Should we also list those?

 

I work with various tools, depending on what my clients need: Firstpage is my favorite. For graphics I use Adobe Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, Corel Draw and that's it. I'll not start explaining why and how, etc... Let's just say it's a matter of habit.

Hmm right now, the timing is not that great, so I have GIMP on graphic side, and as far as other tools, I do not have any webpage apps, and am more focused on Visual Studio.

I personally use 3 programs, Photoshop, Flash MX, and Dreamweaver MX. These are my favorite programs and the ones that I am the most familiar with. I just downloaded GIMP, so I haven’t had a chance to try it and see what it can do, but either way, I’ll most likely just stick with my top 3. I believe they are the best programs to use.

 

The web designer’s freelance toolbox has a list of free programs that can help with all aspects of web development.

I am learning Dreamweaver, but it's kind of difficult. I use photoshop and Roxio photosuite regularly, but sometimes I play with Ulead.

I personally use 3 programs, Photoshop, Flash MX, and Dreamweaver MX. These are my favorite programs and the ones that I am the most familiar with. I just downloaded GIMP, so I haven’t had a chance to try it and see what it can do, but either way, I’ll most likely just stick with my top 3. I believe they are the best programs to use.

 

The web designer’s freelance toolbox has a list of free programs that can help with all aspects of web development.

 

Thanks for the link. It's great.

I use dreamweaver, frontpage, visual studio to HTML/Coding and photoshop, illustrator, coral draw to create graphics.

I have Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign and Imageready as my main graphics editors. I also have Flash but I never/hardly use it.

I also have Corel Painter, but again I hardly use it-photoshop and illustrator seem my tools of choice for almost everything.

 

For coding I use a combination of notepad and dreamweaver depending what I am doing.

 

For ftp I use WS_FTP a really really old version (from oldeversion.com) only because it was free and reliable and I was sick of "trial" ones expiring. I also have Bulletproof FTP which is good but not so reliable sometimes it never opens at all.

 

Anyone have a free ftp suggestion?

I use WeBuilder (www.blumentals.com)for my xhtml/css coding. It's not free (35euro). But it's the dog's boll*cks.

 

I'm also learning photoshop (slowly).

 

for my ftp program it's Cute ftp all the way.

Adobe illustrator and dreamweaver for me. cute ftp for upload!

Photoshop , Illustrator (occasionally), Notepad++, wampserver

I use Photoshop/Fireworks and Notepad++. Can't say I've ever needed anything else. Oddly, I've never been a fan of Dreamweaver, I stopped using WYSIWYG editors when I stopped using tables for layouts

Pretty much just use the Adobe combo, Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks (occassionally), Flash, Dreamweaves

• GIMP
  
• gedit
  
• gftp
  

Notepad++

 

I occasionally have to use Photoshop to slice up designs given to me but for the most part I'm staring at Courier New all day

Notepad, but Notepad++ when I have to start combining languages...

 

As for graphics? Pfft, who uses graphics?

Agreed. Graphics are so last year. I'm starting to move away from text as well.

Whitespace ftw.

Notepad for coding. Photoshop for graphics. CuteFTP for upload.

 

I tried GIMP a few months back but couldn't get into it, relearning how to do simple things done my nut in. Added the GIMP Photoshop-thingy plugin to make it 'act' like Photoshop...supposedly...but it doesn't really.

 

Bobbi-lee - I used to use FTP Surfer - http://www.whispertech.com/surfer/index.htm - which is a free ftp program and was half decent.

Thanks for the link, I will check it out.

Web apps:

Notepad++ for coding

FF and IE web developer toolbars, Firebug for closer inspection. Colorzilla and Measureit are also handy plugins

Browsershots.org for last ditch browser testing

Wampserver for PHP/SQL

 

Graphics Apps:

Photoshop, 3DS Max, Roadkill UV editor, Mudbox, After Effects

I really like dreameavers auto-complete, i've not found one which works as well, which will give you the different options for that 'function' eg postition: (it will give me the options of absolute, relative etc). I often use notepad++ though, mainly at home. Other than that, its fireworks all the way.

O'yeah, web developer toolbar is great.

 

I also use Multiple IE's - http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE - which allow you to install different versions of IE on the one machine. I use it for IE6 (as well as my ordinarily installed IE7). I used to cast an over IE5.5 but the extra headaches it caused meant my hatred for it overwhelmed my otherwise good intentions.

Dreamweaver for coding and of course notepad for quick fixes. Xara Xtreme for graphics, sometimes Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 and all the way Paint Brush ))). Although i have Adobe Design Premium X3 and Corel draw graphics Suite X4, what's all the hubbub about them anyway? Wtv. FARmanager for upload (quick as hell). Thats it^^