What tools do you use for developing?

Hello guys,

What tools (editors, optimizers, validators, whatever else..) do you use for developing html/php/css pages?


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On my Mac I use TextWrangler (http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/) (the free version of BBEdit) to write code. I used TextMate (http://macromates.com/) for a while and like the folder view but didn't like the line controls, besides it's not free.

I use Fetch (http://fetchsoftworks.com/) to upload my files.

I use Photoshop and Illustrator for design.

For validation I just use the online validator (http://validator.w3.org/).

For designs I use Photoshop CS2 running under WINE.
For coding I use any normal text editor such as kwrite (the Linux equivalent to Notepad).
For uploading I use Filezilla FTP client.
For validating I use:
W3.org CSS Validator (http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator)
W3.org Markup Validator (http://validator.w3.org)

and I use some other tools occasionally such as:
Clean CSS (http://www.cleancss.com/)
Google Webmaster Tools (https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/)

php/css/html/JS - Active State Komodo IDE 4 (not cheap, but good)
Web development/Validation Firefox addons - Web Developer, Firebug, Colorzilla, YSlow (freebies)
Image Editing - poor man version of photoshop called PhotoImpact (not bad though, does the job and then some)
FTP - FileZilla (free) http://filezilla-project.org/
IE 5.5, 6, 7, 8 beta Simulator in one app - IETester (free, very useful to see how IE is screwing things up without a multiple IE install) http://www.my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage
Multiple install of Firefox 2 & 3
Sitemap Tool when needed: GSiteCrawler (free) to create sitemaps easily and automatically updating with Google and Yahoo http://gsitecrawler.com/
Vulnerability Scanner (Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner - FREE edition) - http://www.acunetix.com
Other browser check - http://browsershots.org/

Maybe better placed in the web building forum. But here are some of what I use that haven't already been mentioned.

Aptana (http://www.aptana.com/studio) editor (the free version).
VMWare for cross-browser (read: old IE) testing.
Mindterm (http://www.appgate.com/index/products/mindterm/) for FTP tunneling over SSH (uploading from Aptana).

Yeah wow, I just overhauled my coding platform. I was finding some

Coding:
HTML/CSS/XML: Dreamweaver, sometimes Eclipse if its a project with PHP, sometimes Notepad to feel 1996
PHP: EasyEclipse for PHP (Apthana Also)

Design:
Pencil and Paper (I like graph paper the best for this stuff)
Fireworks
Photoshop
Illustrator
Flash

Utilities:
FTP: Filezilla
Testing Server: XAMMP
Version Control: Subversion

Testing:
IE: IETester, have also used Multiple IE
FF: FF3 install, FF 1.5 as a portable app install, Web Developer Toolbar is paramount
For other browsers I can't test: browsershots.org

Once in a while I pull up Notepad++, and even grab an old disc of FrontPage when I get nostalgic, just to sulk in memories of the olden days.

HTML, CSS & PHP: Microsoft Expression Web 2
Graphics: Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator (CS3)
Rarely use Flash, but the installation is there.

Develop in IE8b2, test in Firefox 3, Safari 3.1 and whatever the latest version of Opera is.
Keep two virtual hard disks, one XP/IE7, one XP/IE6 + Firefox 1.5.

FTP's nasty with my server, so I rely on the cPanel backend. *shudder*

Coding: I write all my code (HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript) in TextPad, with correct syntax highlighting for all of them.

Images: I make all my images in Paint Shop Pro.

Validation: Just use online validation.

FTP: Filezilla

Testing: I test in IE7 and Firefox 3, but have access to a computer with IE6 and Firefox 1.5. I then use browsershots.org for other browsers.

I write basically all my coding in Dreamweaver.

Fireworks (sometimes Photoshop/Illustrator if I’m getting such graphics to convert and Fireworks doesn’t do the job)
Dreamweaver, sometimes Textwrangler if it’s just a quick change
Transmit for FTP (great program, allows to edit remote files with whichever editor you like)
Firebug/Web developer toolbar (Firefox add-ons)

I don’t use a validator because I know the code I write is valid (except maybe IE specific code which I put in conditional comments anyway to keep it out of sight).

I use PSPad:
http://www.pspad.com/

And Photoshop for graphic stuff :)

Filezilla for an ftp client when needed

Firefox and an onslaught of addons:
firebug - firecookie - firephp
measureit - colorzilla

I swear by Textpad (http://www.textpad.com).

It's the only editor I ever use for any sort of web developing outside of Flash (in which case I obviously use Flash).

And of course, the ever-loved Firebug is always an excellent asset (though recently I've noticed some annoying errors where it doesn't catch all client-side added material).

Between those two and google.com, you can make anything! ;)

Coding:
Notepad! :)

Design:
Flash CS3 Professional
Adobe CS3 Extended
Fireworks

Browsers:
IE 7, Firefox, Safari (don't use IE6)

For those that have CS3 and actually paid for it... is it worth it? Let me see your best graphic made with photoshop... contest anyone (need theme)?

edit://idea for 1st theme: politics, my submission (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3829/policeph9.gif)

Everything you can do in Photoshop you can do with GIMP. GIMP just has an extremely high learning curve.

I use CS3 simply because my job has CS3 installed on all computers (and I obviously need Flash for Flash projects). For image editing I use Photoshop mainly at work and Fireworks more at home (for more webbish images - ie not so much for photos).

Coding:
Notepad! :)

Doesn't the fact that it doesn't support tabbing get really annoying? (Like if you are tabbed over and hit enter to go to the next line it doesn't automatically maintain the same indentation) Not to mention syntax highlighting can be nice.

Everything you can do in Photoshop you can do with GIMP. GIMP just has an extremely high learning curve.


Your kidding right? I used to use GIMP and it is great for being free but it doesnt even come close to the power of photoshop. One of the biggies, vector support. Photoshop has awesome vector support and tools, GIMP vector tools and support barely exist.

To the OP, I use:
Adobe Master Suite CS3
Coda for code editing
Firebug

Thats it really :)

Regards,

Drew

Well honestly, if I were dealing with vectors (logos or print) I wouldn't be satisfied with Photoshop's tools either, Illustrator is really the best way to go for that.

Well honestly, if I were dealing with vectors (logos or print) I wouldn't be satisfied with Photoshop's tools either, Illustrator is really the best way to go for that.

I agree, that was just one example. As I said I love GIMP and used to use it, but in its current state its just no where near Phtoshop IMO.

Regards,

Drew

I use HTML-Kit for hand coding and "Tidying" (X)HTML, CSS, XML, RDF, PHP, JS

I check page function (at various screen resolutions) in:

MSIE 6.0
MSIE 7.0
Firefox 3.x
Opera 9.x
Chrome (beta)
Lynx (textual)
TextAloud (audio screen reader)

I check my pages for accessibility compliance in:

Cynthia Web Content Accessibilty checker (http://www.contentquality.com/) - W3C WCAG checklist based

I validate all of my (X)HTML, CSS, XML/RDF & RSS Feed coding in the W3C Validators

I View HTTP Request and Response Header (http://web-sniffer.net/) for pages after load-up (for content-type and encoding verification for content-negotiation pages)

I use the W3C Semantic Data Extractor (http://www.w3.org/2003/12/semantic-extractor.html) to check semantic information

I process and load up all of my photographs using Pentax ACDsee

I scan and load up all of my calligraphic exemplars using Lexmark X6100

James

Also, if you like Photoshop, and GIMP, but find Photoshop easier to use:
Try GIMPshop (http://www.gimpshop.com).

It replicates the feel of Photoshop.
But free...

The new GIMP is single windowed. The windowing was the highest learning curve for me, this is now fixed. The next highest learning curve is animations. Still doable.
For vectors try Inkscape. I don't deal with vectors...

Is no one going to challenge me in a graphics contest. If Photoshop is so great so should your graphics.

Is no one going to challenge me in a graphics contest. If Photoshop is so great so should your graphics.
That image is really good, but I think it would look better if the man were in front of the barbed wire.

Or on top of it. :D

then submit your own image.

Ok...
http://i36.tinypic.com/2qjx5at.png
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended

I suggest a new thread is started for this photo war, its hijacking the thread.

guys please don't post off topic

thanks everybody who has already replied.

let's see what others will write :)

photowar: http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?p=745288#post745288

PHP/HTML/JAVASCRIPT - PHP Designer 2008 version 6.1.1
HTML - Microsoft FrontPage 2003 / SiteSpinner V2.70c
CSS - TopStyle Pro 3.5.0.9
IMAGES - Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 / Easy GIF Animator
PHP TESTING - VertrigoServ
Browser - Opera 9.62 (IE sux)

PHP/HTML/JAVASCRIPT - PHP Designer 2008 version 6.1.1
HTML - Microsoft FrontPage 2003 / SiteSpinner V2.70c
CSS - TopStyle Pro 3.5.0.9
IMAGES - Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 / Easy GIF Animator
PHP TESTING - VertrigoServ
Browser - Opera 9.62 (IE sux)
Do you use FrontPage to WRITE your pages or DESIGN them?
And do you test in any other browser? I thought Opera has the least market share out of the major rendering engines.

actually i only use Frontpage for table design, :( and i use IE6 (BOO) to test my pages also. and i only use sitespinner if i have to.

PHP Designer 2008 is what i mainly use

i only use frontpage for tables, because i dont really know how to use code to put things in different places, I only know how to use tables within tables with no border to place things where i want em.

I know this isnt the best way to do that, but the only way i know :(