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  • Newbie Question!

    #1
    Hey guys I'll get right into it.

    I am just getting started with web design and I do not know much yet. I have worked with Dreamweaver a bit and created my first website...I am getting comfortable with Dreamweaver and a few things like padding, margins etc. I want to design my portfolio website but do not know where to begin...

    My Question:

    What program should I be using to design websites? Where should I begin? I am aware that Dreamweaver is somewhat frowned upon when one actually becomes a working web designer out in the "real world".

    Basically, I do not want to get used to Dreamweaver if I am going to have to learn a new way to go about designing websites. I want to get used to using the "standard" method for designing websites instead of "cheating" myself out of it with the ease of Dreamweaver.

    Any recommendations for where I should begin?



    Much thanks,

    KB
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Welcome To GDF!!!

    Pull up a chair and enjoy some sparkly bacon!





    When you get settled please read this as well as these very important threads. They will give you all the info you need on how the forum runs, the rules and regs, and give you some background info on our long running, inside jokes

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by KrispyBeatz View Post
      What program should I be using to design websites?
      Since websites are built with plain old code and images, a text editor for the code and Photoshop for the images will do.

      You'll need a basic text or code editor that doesn't format the words. You don't want to use MS Word, for example. I'm on a Macintosh, and I used a code editor called BBEdit. Similar editors are available for Windows. You can even use something as simple as Notepad.

      What I'd recommend first is just getting a good book on HTML and CSS, then starting there.

      Comment

      • #4
        I use notepad ++ for windows. It's specifically built for programming in common web programming languages and will help with auto completion, color coding of tags ect.

        Comment

        • #5
          I do not see why you can not carry on using Dreamweaver... Its a good place to learn...

          You will need to learn HTML and CSS as Dreamweaver puts out bloated code in many cases, Once your use to html and css you can use Dreamweaver even to a more better standard of sites you create.

          I agree hand coding is the best way of creating a site, but carry on with Dreamweaver untill your educated enough. You will at least get used to seeing the code and css it produces and be able to modify it, and learn quicker.

          For learning go HERE

          Comment

          • #6
            Good for you – kill that bad habit in its tracks and become much more valuable along the way.

            Comment

            • #7
              I think now Dreamweaver is very easiest software for design..........

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Danish01 View Post
                I think now Dreamweaver is very easiest software for design..........
                Don't say bad things like this!!!

                DW is great, if you understand what it is doing to you. If you don't...it's the worst program on the planet. DW adds bloated code to your site if you are not careful...and don't even get me started about the SPry junk. You'll do much better with just textedit, BBedit, vi, vim, notepad++...The list goes on.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Use Notepad++ for code editing and Photoshop for the images

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Dreamweaver is fine as a code editor.

                    As long as you hand code everything, it is very useful in this regard - autocompletes HTML and CSS tags and selectors for you, popping up file browse dialogs when you link to something, and so on. Its also much more intuitive to edit tables visually than in code.

                    But whatever you do, dont let it code for you.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Paj View Post
                      But whatever you do, dont let it code for you.
                      Quoted for emphasis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                      Bad habits come from letting it do your job. THat's why I suggest you stay away from it until you are very sure what you are doing. You can end up using it as a crutch if you are not careful.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Engineers don't take people who use Dreamweaver seriously. So if you ever want to work with a team on medium, large to enterprise level projects ditch it and use a text editor or IDE.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Love notepad++, definitely one of my favorite code editors out there.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Thanks for your input everyone.

                            Originally posted by tZ View Post
                            Engineers don't take people who use Dreamweaver seriously. So if you ever want to work with a team on medium, large to enterprise level projects ditch it and use a text editor or IDE.
                            This is exactly the mindset I had when deciding how I should begin my training. A friend of mine who is a web developer/designer uses Coda, and absolutely loves it. I checked out the link you posted earlier regarding that book "Build Your Own Website The Right Way" and am about to read the sample PDF right now...looks promising.

                            There's just so much to learn right now, it can get overwhelming. I just need to practice I guess. I really would like to get my portfolio site up and running, that should give me some experience for the time being.


                            Nonetheless, thanks for your advice guys.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Just start small!! My first page was a "Hello World". Nothing fancy, just those words on the screen in black type with a white background. I then started playing around with that and formatting it, changing the type, background color, etc, etc. Then, I started adding stuff. Before you know it...you'll have a lot of informaiton on various pages with links and everything. LOL Take the time and learn CSS, HTML....those are your basic building blocks. Things move from there.

                              Comment

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