I use Wordpress for my blog, but most of my CMS sites are custom built.

 

I personally would use a ready built CMS if I could find time to play around with them a bit more!!

I use osCommerce and other variations for ecom sites so it's the same principle really.

 

However, I don't like it when people are not straight with clients. I have had web design companies offer me their complete redesign and development services all done on their own bespoke platform, which when you look at the favicons, reveals them to be Joomla! sites. Be straight and tell your customers. After all, if the platform already exists, their money will go on the extras that they want - more value for money!

I use Dreamweaver. Am I a cheat?

 

No. I only use code view and type all my code myself. I like the syntax highlighting and the built in FTP program which automatically uploads files once I save them.

 

You can't just generically say anyone using Dreamweaver is a cheat, I don't use the WYSIWYG editor so I don't appreciate your labelling.

 

 

I didn't mean just because you use it means you are letting it be the brains while you use the WYSIWYG and table maker etc etc.

 

I mean using it to its fullest potential is cool if you want to use a program like that then.. I just personally don't like calling myself a web designer when I am using Front Page or Dream Weaver for everything without coding it myself.. using the "code editor" aspect is a little differently obviously.

Mr.BigDog.

 

What a snob! I don't mean anything personal by that but what a snob! CMS is the way to go. Wordpress is not a cop-out at all. It's a great blogging platform and can be good for small sites. Joomla though is HORRIBLE it's all table based and the backend is so confusing. Try Drupal on for size. It's great but as a rule stay away from Table layouts all together.

Mr.BigDog.

 

What a snob! I don't mean anything personal by that but what a snob! CMS is the way to go. Wordpress is not a cop-out at all. It's a great blogging platform and can be good for small sites. Joomla though is HORRIBLE it's all table based and the backend is so confusing. Try Drupal on for size. It's great but as a rule stay away from Table layouts all together.

Joomla could be modified to use DIVs within the templates and I think Joomla 1.5 is purely DIVs.

I use Dreamweaver. Am I a cheat?

 

Not at all! Dreamweaver is simply a rapid design tool. Its Design View/Code View split mode is ideal for seeing how code influences your design. Even more so if you are doing WordPress theme development (see ThemeDreamer.com extension for Dreamweaver).

 

I love the way you can just click in Design View and instantly see 'what code does what'. Dreamweaver's Design View mode is an interesting animal with its own rendering nuances, but it sure does beat the heck out of what I call 'trial and error design' (the tedious editing/saving/uploading/browsing/refreshing cycle). Design View can give a good 'approximation' for instant changes in realtime. Is your time valuable to you? Its certainly NOT a cheat to use Dreamweaver (esspecially now that it works with WordPress)!

 

:-)