What web dev tools are people using?

I am using but dislike FrontPage. Dreamweaver is expensive and HoTMetaL buggy.

I'm managing sites in my spare time so need something that will manage pages and update navigation bars as pages are created or moved around.

PHP support would be good too.

Are there any Linux tools?

We use Dreamweaver for gui based design, Homesite for when we need to really get under the hood. Go with the Dreamweaver/Fireworks combo as it allows for some decent syncing of nav bars, etc. Yes its a bit pricy, but it's a very expandable tool and worth every $ IMHO.

For graphics work, we use Fireworks, Photoshop, and Lightwave. Lightwaves about $3k, has a learning curve like you wouldnt believe and sometimes is like going squirel hunting with a nuke. :)

As far as I know, there isn't currently any GUI PHP tools available, but Dreamweaver UltraDev does ASP fairly well.

On the Linux tools, I'm looking too. The ones I found weren't worth bothering with yet.

I use Adobe GoLive. Works well w/ Photoshop and Indesign!!

TY Kaith: I'm doing work w/ ASP and I'm going to try UltraDev!!

Aloha
we use
Ultradev
once in a while homesite or CFStudio
and starting flash in the near future
also have but do not use anymore GoLive

topstyle for CSS editing
textpad for editing conf files etc...
have puters set up to test browsers adn color depth etc...

Originally posted by Honu

also have but do not use anymore GoLive


Just wondering why? Just a decison to go w/ UltraDev?

Mainly the interface I did not like as much as ultradev/dreamweaver
also there are so many developers that develop cool extensions for ultradev as oposed to golive which most developers try to sell

the biggest reason is that ultradev does not butcher the code up and put in its own code.
also had problems with golive on very large sites.

I wanted to use it for its dynamic features with quicktime etc.. but not sure if I ever will
I can sellya my old copy cheap if ya want ;)=

so that is why I ue ultradev it just seems to be much much better
I love the tear apart panels it hsa to develop with
I use 2 19" monitors both at 1600x1200 so have plenty of room to move the palates around with.

I am also using fireworks more and more now
although PS6 is still teh best at manipulating photos

let me know if ya ever have any more specific thougths I can help with ;)

Dogma,
I am an absolute beginner when it comes to ASP/VBS/SQL programming, yet with the help of a few 'Dummies' books, alot o cramming and some of the excellent add-ons for UltraDev, managed to get a rather 'special' ordering system done in under a week. It takes a little figuring out, but makes alot of stuff easier, I think. If I'd had to hand code it, we'd still be doing the 1st agent screen. ;)

I wish there was something like it for PHP, as I'd rather have coded this project that way. (client req said otherwise)

I've found golive to have alot of the 'user friendlyness' of Frontpage, combined with Dreamweavers superior site handling, but still not quite in the league of DW. I just wish they'd port the thing to Linux. :D

Actually ... there is an application specially made for PHP made by Zend. I'm using it .. and I think it's awesome. The Application name is Zend IDE .. and I think that's the only PHP debugger right now.

Check it out
http://www.zend.com/store/products/ide-test-drive.php


Hope that'll help... :)

drhonk

Thank you Kaith and Chad. I think I will pick up UltraDev. I have connections w/ the local university for CHEAP software for educational purposes. I would use it to learn ASP, etc....... ;) ;)

Thanks for your thoughts.

Looks like I'll have to shell out for DW then.

I'll wait a bit though - DW5 MUST be in the works now, and they MUST surely support PHP in the next release?

you won't go wrong with Dreamweaver. I've been using it since version 1.8 and it gets better and better with each release. Macromedia have a strange habit of actually listening to the feedback they're given so the new additions are usually actually useful ones. version 5 may be a while away yet as 4 has only come out a while ago. I use ver 3 and find it does everything I need it too. I'm pretty keen on upgrading though.

Graphics:
Photoshop all the way :) I do use Fireworks for image optimising though.. It's great at crunching.. I also have paintshop pro ver 6, but never did get around to using it much.

Greg Moore

Another worth while note is that ver 5 will be mixing more with CF studio in the future.
since CF is going heavy into JavaBean I am sure ver 5 will have some of this involved
one thing if ya work with CF do not install the cf extension made by Allaire it will screw up ultradev big time use all the other cf stuff by Massimo and others.
there was something in the tech area on this
but I worked on a site for a year and a half all CF with a backend developer (team of 4 people) large app adn the extensions rewrote stuff and replicated code etc... took it out and no prob
just some other thoughts
I am sure the ver 5 will be out at end of year it seems they are good about every year releasing a new ver
and as akashik said they listen and it is always way better