Do You Think Using Templates is Cheating?

I am a novice when it comes to coding, I have tried coding sites from scratch and I have spent days on designs that do not look nearly as good as some of the templates I have found for free.

Do you guys think that if I was to use a template, and modify it for my useage, it would be "cheating" in a sense because I am not really learning anything?

I do not wish to become a coder, I prefer to run the site once it's up, market it, and optimize for search engines, the coding part is my least favorite.

All I am looking to do is get 2-3 sites up and running, and then go from there.

 

Hello PhxKarma,

It's not really called cheating, if the website gives you permission to use the free website template,

That's why there are websites, that offers free website templates, lol. ( So that webmasters can use them without having to do more work creating it themselves )

 

I think thats not cheating, even those other scripts and templates are good to start learning... its quicker to see some one else approach rather than making your own by hit and trial...

 

Most of the time I end up tearing apart the template and redesigning it, but it seems easer to have a starting point>?

 

I feel that you can use the free template and modify it as per your need. Some templates will have license to retain the designer credits, etc. which you need to follow.

 

If developer offer a template for free to use, including edit the design and coding as you need then you are not cheating.

And yes you might not be able to learn 100% but still you'll learn something while customizing the template as per your need and don't you think one doesn't learn everything at a go and learn bit by bit, and you might be doing so. However try going through sites like W3Schools and other tutorials which helps a lot. And then if you have queries or stuck you can always post here, surely somebody will show you the right way.

 

developers even use themes to base off and don't code from scratch, it'd be a waste of time...

 

This is not at all cheating because website providing the facility to use their templates and you can easily use that templates. It's not copyrighted. So, there is no problem.

 

I dont think it is cheating at all to be honest.
There are jobs for Programmers and Designers, If you try doing it yourself this removes our market and our income
Leave it to the pros to do what we are best at.

Not to only that but there is a right way and a wrong way to do something, If you're trying to run a business or start a business website, never go cheap, and If you're coding/ design skills aren't best, then you want the best for the website and the best choice would be to pay someone to make one for you, or use a template. And not necessarily a "Free" one either.

- Alex

 

Why do you think it is cheating? If they think it is cheating why would leading Blogger sites like Blogspot.com will allow you to edit the template....

 

It's not cheating, if the website gives you permission, and if you are buliding a website why not use a template that you like with out having to build from scratch. Some template let you modify to suit your needs.

 

HTML is Human readable for a reason

Cheating is taking ripping someone's site line by line. Using a free template (or even browsing someone-elses source for idea's) is perfectly fine - it's basic copyright law.

Best bet though is to spend some time looking for PSD - XHTML tutorials. There are some really nice ones just a Google away...

 

It`s not cheating if it`s a free template. It depends on every people.
I sometimes use template, but I usually edit them a lot to be really different

 

I can make some decent designs in PSD, never really tried converting them over to XHTL, thanks for the reply.

 

Hi PhxKarma.

It's not 'cheating' at all.

What's important is that you realized what you do and do not like. Since you don't like coding or design. Don't do it. Get someone else to design the site and code it for you. Or use templates.

Do what you like to do and the money will follow.

Michael Swartz
MJS Web Solutions

 

Ok, you have recieved the right answer so it is not necessary to keep talking about this thread anymore

 

What makes you think you can decided when I am done posting?

 

It's not cheating. For instance, for my website I use a simple blue-to-white gradient design template. It makes it look a lot better than it would have with my coding skills x). Beside, using templates that fit your niche isn't cheating. As long as your website has a purpose, no one would care if you used a templat or not

 

I can see where you are coming from. I've had my qualms about this as well.
Programming is my game, designing is not. Over the years I've contributed so much source code that designers have used in their templates that I don't feel bad about using their designs.

The end result usually looks nothing like the original template anyway.
Nothing is unique, it's all just recycled ideas with more stuff bolted on.

 

I used to feel that way. Probably most graphic designers who start off have that sense of wanting to diy. Now? I could care less.