Seeking advice on Templates: editor to use, and general advice

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by Josh Inno, Dec 4, 2006.

  1. #1
    First of all, I would like to apologize if this is not the right place for this topic. Placing it here was my best guess.

    I am brand new to templates, and am going to be working with them for web development soon. I do not yet have Dream Weaver, but will soon have it available to work with. I have never used it before, but it is the program that my boss is most familiar with. I will also have gVIM available, as it is free ware, and this is the coding software I am most familiar with. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the strengths and weaknesses of one verses the other.

    Also, any general advice with using templates would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Josh Inno, Dec 4, 2006 IP
  2. kk5st

    kk5st Prominent Member

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    #2
    If you're going to be using skeletal (static) templates, server side includes server side language includes will do the job. If you like gVim/Vim, fine. It's the second best editor available. Dreamweaver is overkill in cost and complexity for an editor. In design mode, or whatever it's called, it's worthless to the serious web developer. It is a nice collection of site management tools, but the serious coder can or will have put together his own toolset.

    If you'll be building dynamic templates, you'd be better off with Smarty, PHP and PEAR, all open source, free tools. Again, gVim or Vim is the editor to use if you don't want to step up to Emacs. :)

    cheers,

    gary
     
    kk5st, Dec 4, 2006 IP
  3. Josh Inno

    Josh Inno Guest

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    #3
    ^_^ Thanks, glad to know that my C++ prof and my coder friends haven't been just blowing smoke. I still have quite a bit of learning to do on style sheets, but hopefully I will be clacking away with gVIM with the best of them soon enough.
     
    Josh Inno, Dec 4, 2006 IP
  4. Erind

    Erind Peon

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    #4
    Well, there are tons.

    When I started out, I used Frontpage Express (FP Express), since it comes with all PCs for free. Then I moved up to Microsoft Frontpage 2003 or something. Once you get the hang of coding, you will need something like PHP Designer just for the color coding of different predefined strings/tags. There won't be a need for the visual help that the other editors give you.

    Then eventually you will get into Notepad. Easy, Free, Free, Easy. haha
     
    Erind, Dec 4, 2006 IP
  5. Josh Inno

    Josh Inno Guest

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    #5
    Any time someone tells me to whip out notepad, I automatically whip out gVIM due to it basically being notepad with highlighting, additional editing tools for easier C&P, and it also being free to use.
     
    Josh Inno, Dec 5, 2006 IP
  6. kk5st

    kk5st Prominent Member

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    #6
    I would not be so kind. Vim is to Notepad as Ferrari is to Yugo. I cannot imagine being nearly as productive in Notepad.

    cheers,

    gary
     
    kk5st, Dec 5, 2006 IP
  7. Josh Inno

    Josh Inno Guest

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    #7
    Well, I do generaly try to be kind, maybe more than some other folks. :p
     
    Josh Inno, Dec 5, 2006 IP
  8. AntelopeSalad

    AntelopeSalad Peon

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    #8
    I've always been fond of UltraEdit for creating code that doesn't get compiled.

    I won't parrot their feature list, but I think it's quite useful. Not only for syntax highlighting but for the things you can do easily.
     
    AntelopeSalad, Dec 6, 2006 IP
  9. Josh Inno

    Josh Inno Guest

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    #9
    I haven't heard of them yet. Syntax highlighting is always one of my favorite features, but what are some of these things that are so easy to do in this particular editor?
     
    Josh Inno, Dec 6, 2006 IP