Is Web Page Design and Development Software Necessary?
There are many rumors in Web Development about what software you need to have to be a great developer. Some of these rumor might be true, but most of them are wrong. There is a lot of talk about what web page design software is the best and which ones you need. I will admit that having the proper software or "tool" does make a difference. But it doesn’t change from having a bad site to a good site. Or becoming a bad developer to a good developer. What makes the difference is the guy/girl sitting behind the computer.
Commercial Web Page Development Software
There are many softwares on the market today. Most likely you have heard of a company called Adobe. Adobe has all the software you would ever need. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash are probably the most used development software.
These are the best of the best softwares and I would recommend all three. But what comes into play are the prices. Adobe offers them individually or you can get the Adobe Development Software Package for about $1,000!!
Adobe Photoshop for Graphic Design
Adobe Photoshop is a imaged based software. You can edit, create or draw different graphics. One of the best features Photoshop has to offer is that it has an image optimization to compress your web images. Resulting in small file size, which equals quicker loading time for your site. Photoshop is very hard to use for your first time. But becomes easier each time you use it.
Adobe Dreamweaver for Web Coding
Adobe Dreamweaver is a coding/designing software. It is used as a coding software, which will color your text to the different tags and attributes to your code. Or it is used as a web design tool. Where you can drop images or create text and it will make your coding for you. If you use the design feature I would recommend learning some code. Dreamweaver will write the code for you, but usually uses unnecessary coding techniques.
Adobe Flash for Vector Animation
Adobe Flash is a vector based software that is used for animation. It has really taken over things in the web world. It is mostly used for marketing advertising. But developers have created games, applications and complete sites. Flash is becoming more and more standard in development. It has limitless possibilities.
Open Source = Free
Second option if you can't afford Adobe is to free some open source applications. Open source applications are completely free for use. There is always pros and cons with open source. Pros is that it is free, where cons are buggy and no support.
Similar Adobe Like Applications
For Graphic and Design there is Gimp. Gimp is a Photoshop look alike. It has almost the same features and feel to it. For your coding application Notepad ++ is similar to the coding side of Dreamweaver. It will color coordinate your different attributes and tags. For a Flash alternate, there is Swish. It is the closest application you're going to get for Flash. For FTP protocol there is WinSCP. WinSCP is very good and stable for connecting to FTP and SFTP servers.
Recommendation of commercial and Open Source applications
These are some recommendation of commercial and open source applications. These applications are very good. Everyone has their own wants and desires, these might work for you, they might not. All of these application have a free trial version for a period of time. Try they out before you buy.
Applications are only Tools
Either way you go, just remember that the applications are only tools. They do not increase your talent. As a developer you have to develop your own style and techniques. These applications will only help you get there. Remember they are only tools. What makes you better from the rest is the developer himself.
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