Web Tool Features
There are a number of tools for creating, editing, and managing web sites. These tools typically include the following capabilities:
 | Content management - keeping track of web pages, graphics, and other files (often correlating local to web-based file sets). |
| Web page editing - typically WYSIWYG style. |
| Navigation design and support - automating the creation and management of local site links (between pages). |
| Tools to support stylesheets, scripting, graphics, image maps, etc. |
| Integration with graphics/multimedia tools (for editing images, creating buttons, backgrounds, banners, creating/editing sound clips etc.). |
These tools, as they have improved over the past few years, also include support for:
| HTML compatibility |
| Browser version compatibility (IE v. Netscape, numbered versions). |
| Extensive samples and templates with good practices. |
| Integration with browser viewers. |
| Integration with server tools (e.g., databases, etc.). |
Typically these tools have been upgraded to new versions on 12-24 month cycles.
Other Tools
In addition to commercial web development tools, there are a number of traditional applications that support web page creation:
| Word Processors (e.g., MS Word, WordPerfect) |
| Database management systems |
| Desktop publishing |
While these tools can create web pages that often look exactly like the original document in the tool (e.g., Word), the pages are often "over-cooked" to the point where the page may include vendor specific features (e.g., XML and Internet Explorer-only tags for Word generated documents).
Commercial Tools
Web site development tools include:
| FrontPage - Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/ |
| HomeSite - Allaire/Macromedia - http://www.macromedia.com/v1/products/homesite/ |
| Fusion - NetObjects - http://www.netobjects.com |
| Dreamweaver - Macromedia - http://macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/ |
These tools are best suited for:
| Static web sites ranging from a few to hundreds of pages. |
| Development of dynamic sites (e.g., pages are generated via server databases). |
There are also a number of other tools (HoTMetal, BBEdit, etc.) with a variety of reputations (both good and bad--justified and unjustified).
"Web Application Development" Tools
There is also a class of tools that support advanced features including databases and server side technologies (Active Server Pages, etc.). Generally, these tools support architectural technologies (Java, JavaScript, VBScript, ActiveX, ASP, etc.); other features:
| Client side scripting (creating/editing JavaScript, VBScript) |
| Server side scripting (creating/editing Perl, ASP, Java) |
| Database integration (form support, tables for output, database connection management, recordset management) |
| Page/site creation, editing |
| Navigation support |
Commercial "advanced" tools include:
| InterDev - Microsoft |
| Cold Fusion - Allaire |
| tools from vendors such as Oracle and IBM |
Selecting and Using Tools
Tools are often selected by chance (we already have this, so let's use it) or vendor familiarity (we have MS Office, let's get FrontPage).
Criteria for selecting the tool should include:
| Suitability for the anticipated client environment. |
| Support for the server environment (including scripting and databases). |
| Platform support (Intel, Mac, etc.). |
| Developer experience. |
| Availability of training. |
| Technical support for the tool. |
Common reasons for tool failure:
| Personnel fail to learn the proper use of the tool. |
| Tool is buggy or inadequate for the task. |
| Personnel are not trained properly |
Related Web Development Support Tools
Some of the more common tools include:
Special purpose web tools for...
| Stylesheets |
| Image maps |
| Hex code color pickers |
These tools often complement other tools and are often very low cost or free as shareware.
Graphics - key issues: image capture/creation/editing; color/image manipulation capabilities; integration with scanners/cameras, etc..; JPG/GIF support; Animated GIF support;
| PhotoShop (Adobe) - professional state-of-the-art package; full-featured; lengthy learning curve; expensive; |
| Fireworks (Macromedia) - well integrated with other Macromedia products |
| PaintShop (Jasc, Inc.) - many useful features; easy-to-use; low cost |
Animation
| Director/Authorware for Shockwave (Macromedia) - most popular of the plug-in/ActiveX tools; expensive tool for development; lengthy learning curve |
| Flash (Macromedia) - also a plug-in/ActiveX; easier to develop; more limited than Shockwave |
Digital Audio/Video
| Premier (Adobe) - best product for video/sound capture/editing |
| SoundEdit 16 (Macromedia) - very good tool |
| Quicktime (Apple) - best tools for Quicktime based video |