The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best (Inexpensive or Free) Website Development Software?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by HTWingNut, Feb 17, 2009.

  1. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Can anyone recommend an inexpensive (preferably free), and easy to use website development software?

    I can code HTML and CSS by hand in notepad, but it's a pain in the butt to get pages set up. It's much nicer to do it by WYSIWYG. I have Office XP (2000?) with Front Page, but it just puts garbage in the HTML that I have to edit out all the time.

    Thanks.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 17, 2009
    #1
  2. Alienized

    Alienized Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    257
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have in the past used php-phpnuke and a few others, most host providers offer "fantastcio" (spelling been awhile) under your control panel to set these up along with some other nice web setups. Good Luck :)
     
    Alienized, Feb 17, 2009
    #2
  3. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I had you right up until you went WYSIWYG on me.

    That greatly reduces the options.

    Try googling

    Komposer
    I heard that Netfussion Essentials is good.
    You also may still be able to find "NVU"
     
    gerryf19, Feb 17, 2009
    #3
  4. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Ok, doesn't necessarily have to be WYSIWYG. Just reduce typing (and errors), and be able to see my layout quickly and correctly.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 17, 2009
    #4
  5. Koshinn

    Koshinn Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    171
    Messages:
    1,146
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Dreamweaver CS4 is what your looking for, except the price part.

    It uses webkit, the engine behind Safari and Google Chrome, to render test pages immediately. The wysiwyg portion creates clean code. Basically it's awesome.

    And $400 retail.
     
    Koshinn, Feb 17, 2009
    #5
  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Looks like I'll have to look for one at student cost. What about CS3? Should it even be considered?
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 18, 2009
    #6
  7. lenardg

    lenardg Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    331
    Messages:
    513
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You could take a look at Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition. Although intended as an ASP.NET development tool, you can still create simple HTML pages with it, you can write it by hand, use it visually or both. It also has great CSS tools built in. And it is completely free - so you can try it and either keep it or throw it away, no risks.

    If you are looking at creating more complex pages you can also debug JavaScript with this one.

    You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/express/vwd/
     
    lenardg, Feb 18, 2009
    #7
  8. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Great, thanks lenardg. Will give that a try. I'm not the biggest fan of MS apps, but they have made some good stuff in the past.

    I just can't afford an expensive software package at the moment.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 18, 2009
    #8
  9. lenardg

    lenardg Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    331
    Messages:
    513
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Let us know how you liked it.

    MS development products have always been very good, even if other things they make are not so good.
     
    lenardg, Feb 18, 2009
    #9
  10. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    1st page 2000 is a wonderful program
     
    gerryf19, Feb 18, 2009
    #10
  11. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

    Reputations:
    2,071
    Messages:
    5,234
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Mozilla Seamonkey is free and has an WYSIWYG HTML editor... I'm not really sure how good it is though.
     
    swarmer, Feb 18, 2009
    #11