First time learn php, i used dreamweaver, since it slow find something faster. Found HAPEdit, havent change since then, now hv been 3 yrs using it
I haven't tried Dreamweaver yet. But using Frontpage will insert a lot of unwanted code in your page. It have heard somewhere that search engines hate such pages.
ZEND IDE is also good .. I tried its evolution version .. finally i am using Scite the only reason its light, FREE and i can carry it in 1.44" floppy also
I'm using Eclipse with the php plugin.Don't ask me where I've found it because I don't remember anymore. On www eclipse org they are developing another php plugin, maybe now it's already working. Other than that, I use Notepad2 wich is really a substitute of the old Notepad. All other are just too "bloated"..Notepad2 is just a bit better than the simple Notepad.
I use Hapedit. It supports CSS, Javascript, PHP, HTML with context sensitive autocompletep (very handy for PHP functions) and context sensitive colour coding. You can have multiple tabs with different programs.
Notepad works fine for me or even good old "vi" (linux/unix editor) if I am editing the code directly on the server itself.
I was surprised to find that Eclipse is actually decent for PHP development. I tend to use Textpad most of the time though.
Do you have to carry a floppy drive around with you as well? I use DW simply because I'm fond of its syntax highlighting and intellisense. I've been looking for something leaner though, as I don't use any built in features - not to mention the FTP support is horrid in DW.
i also you crimson editor for all coding. It has syntax highlightening for basically ALL programming languages