Is HTML the best for website design?

[rubyfruit]

Hi,

I'm new to this site. I've played around with Netscape Composer & fiddled with the HTML it produces. I want to go further, and was wondering if it is worth putting in the time to properly learn HTML or if there is another language I should learn instead.

Also I can't afford new software, eg £150 for Dreamweaver, so I am thinking that if I simply code rather than use a package I may be able to create some half decent webpages without having to invest first. Can I continue to code in Netscape to enter my code into, or will it adulterate my coding due to its wysiwyg feautres?

Yours Bewildered,

Ruby

[Rob]

HTML is the only thing that browsers speak, however there are some higher level interfaces to HTML, such as server side scripting.

ASP, PHP and others allow dynamic, on the fly pages to be built up as and when the pages are requested... they may take into account the time of day, the part of the world the visitor is from, access databases, or just about anything else is possible.

Although server side scripting languages are programming languages in themselves, they all return standard HTML to the browser.... so a thourogh and complete knowledge of HTML is required before progressing onto other languages.

HTML can be styled with CSS.

As a beginner, I would personally get to grips with both HTML and CSS at the same time..... dont move onto anything else until you have mastered CSS and HTML.

Learn to do raw coding.... dont use crappy tools like dreamweaver UNTIL you know exactly how code works..... if you do, then you wont learn a thing.

[snow]

I'm not very keen on WYSIWYG products. In my opinion they produce sloppy code and they don't afford me the control of writing my own. I have to admit I'm entirely sad and - when not using asp.net - love to use notepad - my favourite website development tool

Everything (right down to hosting the page) can be done for free if you have a PC with internet connection, so costs shouldn't be too much of a worry for you

If you don't use any of the WYSIWIG features your environment provides, then you're code can be as minimalistic as the next persons

[rubyfruit]

Thank you for the info. I feel much more confident now that I have a starting point.

Ruby

[Rob]

I love notepad too..... make notepad your best friend until you know how to code in your sleep.

[rubyfruit]

Snow - thank you - I get annoyed that I create a page that looks good on netscape composer & on my computer, but when I use a different computer the images are in diffierent locations. Hence I want the knowledge so I can finely control how my website will look to most people, without the hit & miss of wysiwyg.

I've just opened up asp.net & am having a look. Really want somethign that I can just prohramme into and then click a button so that I can preview the page.

Sorry for being such a newby, but do I need to be concerned with XHTML, the asp.net site is mentioning it and I have seen books claimign it it the future.

Thanks. R

[rubyfruit]

Sorry to be so green, but which Notepad do you mean?

[Rob]

XHTML is pretty much the same as HTML, just a pretty picky version.

Definitly dont reccomend learning ASP.NET until you know HTML a little more..... but obviously it's your call.

[Rob]

notepad..... the standard build in windows editor....

notepad.exe

[snow]

I really wouldn't worry about asp.net for now! It would be a bit like trying to get a Michelin Star when you've never seen a saucepan.

Stick to learning the fundamentals of XHTML (basically the same as HTML from your point of view), and CSS.

Find some good tutorials and get started with notepad. (it's much easier to get a page running in notepad than it is in any WYSIWIG editor I've seen.)

Snow

[rubyfruit]

Thanks for your time & info.

Most def have notepad.exe and will put your advice into action. I've borrowed several books on HTML, so think I will just keep reading & practicing until I understand how to do things & why they are happening. Will also hunt out some more info on CSS.

Many many thanks both of you.

Ruby

[Rob]

Most welcome!

Let us know how you get on.

[rubyfruit]

Will do. Thank you.

[moojoo]

There are plenty of good free software apps out there. I suggest you take a peak at www.souroceforge.net and www.versiontracker.com. Lots of good stuff.