[NitzJaaron]

Hope everyone had a Happy Holiday week.

So, I've been using a PC for 13 years, and I'm finally switching to an iBook 900MHzG3/128MB/40GB/COMBO/E/56K/12.1TFT. I've been doing web development since 1994, so I'm pretty set in my PC ways.

I'm primarily a designer (HTML/CSS/Graphic Design), but I'm also an ASP and PHP developer. I use (on PC) Homesite for the HTML/CSS/ASP/PHP, and Photoshop for graphics. I also use LeechFTP, a very simple, fast, and powerful FTP utility.

So, basically, what I'm asking is for opinions on the best software to go with for my new iBook to continue doing what I do.

I know that Photoshop is a must. It's the best graphics program out there. I've heard good things about BBEdit and Dreamweaver for Mac, but I dislike Dreamweaver because of some of it's bad habits, such as re-writing code it doesn't find valid (when in truth it's w3c valid), and I also hate WYSIWYG's (hence I used Homesite for all these years).

Whew. Sorry. I'm talking to much. I just want your opinions on the best:

- HTML/CSS/PHP/ASP coding software
- FTP utility
- Good free firewall (something like ZoneAlarm)?
- Any other programs that might be useful to me

Thanks for the help, and not for trashing a newbie.

-Nitz

[Angus_D]

For HTML/PHP/CSS/whatever, take a look at SubEthaEdit which is free and has nice collaboration features if you're into that sort of thing, and BBEdit for the long-time market leader in this area on the Mac.

For FTP, there's no beating Transmit.

OS X has a built-in firewall, not that it really needs one unless make yourself vulnerable (by default there are no compromiseable services running). See System Preferences->Sharing->Firewall. There are several cheap products if you want more control, but I've never used them.

Oh, and for rapid site prototyping and/or whatever, take a look at Freeway! (Disclaimer: I have ties to Softpress).

[James L]

I use BBEdit for ALL of my coding, and Photoshop/Imageready for all of my graphic work. I use Fetch for my FTP, but for some reason I think BBEDit has it built in????

BBEdit and Adobe makes your Mac web development life complete (unless you also need Flash of course)!

Cheers!

[James L]

Oh, and with regards to your new machine (the same one I use)... max out the ram dude!

OSX is a ram pig, as is Photoshop as I am sure you well know. When you get your Mac, or if you have it, the very next thing you should do is go to crucial or another ram place and dump in a 512 Meg Simm for a total of 640 Megs... it'll make your life MUCH easier!

[si_lance]

Just FYI, OS X has a firewall built-in. Goto System Preferences, then choose the Sharing icon, and then the Firewall tab. You just simply check what you want to let in and start. Simple. Good choice to "switch".

[madmacgames]

Here's what I use:

graphics: Adobe Photoshop/Imageready - the stanards

ftp: transmit

coding (html, css, php): I use DreamweaverMX (not MX2004 though) because I really like its syntax coloring. makes it very easy on the eyes when skimming over the code for errors. I tried BBEdit and to be honest was very disappointed. The syntax coloring for PHP was poor at best. I also like how Dreamweaver gives coding hints for PHP. I only use it in code view and it does not re-write the code. I'll sometimes switch over to WYSIWYG view just to see something, but unless you actually use and input things into the WYSIWYG view, it will not re-write your code. I strictly use it in code view as a code editor.

[si_lance]

Originally posted by madmacgames:
I strictly use it [DreamweaverMX] in code view as a code editor.

isn't that pretty expensive for just a editor? I'd rather use that kind of money for Zend's PHP IDE known as Zend Studio which has remote debugging, code completion, and profiler to name a few.

http://www.zend.com/store/products/zend-studio.php
click the colored boxes to see a demo.

And best of all a Native OS X GUI!

oh, it's $195

[madmacgames]

Originally posted by si_lance:
isn't [dreamweaverMX] pretty expensive for just a editor?

not really. You can pick up the entire Studio MX 2004 for $99 on educational discount. I wouldn't recommend dreamweaverMX 2004 because the demo was a slow dog and many others have reported the full version is just as slow. You can pick up Dreamweaver MX v6 pretty cheap on eBay or other places that sell older generation software. Just the same now that Photoshop CS has been out for awhile, you can pickup a new copy of Photoshop 7 for very little money.

[si_lance]

madmac,
I stand corrected. Use of older gen software (often better due to less bloating *cough* like any M$ product *cough*), is often very inexpensive indeed.

[nica]

Another advantage of using Dreamweaver is that it has the FTP built in and makes changes quick (one link site wide).

Download the trial give it a try then decide.

[NitzJaaron]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone. I've got a copy of Dreamweaver MX that I'm going to use, and also I want to try SubEthaEdit. Haven't decided about an external ftp application yet, but I'm going to try Fetch and Transmit.

Thanks again!

[Sharky K.]

CSSEdit is a very(!) nice program
http://www.macrabbit.com/cssedit/

[yeabil]

hi

here are some freeware products that allow graphical sftp file transfer. I used Fugu in my online course on webpage construction and never had problems with it. Fugu

Another is Cyperduck which I have but never used. Cyperduck


Agree with ohters here that subethaedit is great and is the main tool I use for making webpages. Here is another free editor called Taco HTML editor

[insha]

Originally posted by Sharky K.:
CSSEdit is a very(!) nice program
http://www.macrabbit.com/cssedit/

Sharky thanks for the link. I love this little aplication. Ever since I switched (last year) I had been looking (apparently not hard enough ) for a decent CSS editor for the Mac that would even come close to TopStyle Pro on the Windoze.

I use DW MX, BBEdit and Photoshop 7 (and now CSSEdit ) on my TiBook 550 (Panther) for my web development. I'm getting a bit tired of DW as it is the slowest application out of the three and it's code editor navigation keys are mapped for windoze unlike BBEdit . I don't think I will upgrade to DW 2004 since it's bloatware *cough* like eveything else on Windoze *cough*.

[si_lance]

[si_lance]

I just found this little gem:
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~deutschj/HyperEdit/

[Mooga2]

I just found a really great program for PHP development called PageSpinner. With PageSpinner and PHP installed on OSX, you can have dynamic previews of page content without ever leaving the program. Very fast and productive.

Since a screenshot is worth a thousand words, here are a thousands words!



For CSS - you cannot beat CSSEdit, as mentioned before.

For everything else, such as page setup and old-style HTML, Dreamweaver is still a solid bet. Although slow, it should get you on your feet.

For FTP Uploading: Transmit.

Good luck!
- Moo!

[m a d r a]

another for CSSedit. one of the 'hidden gems' of OSX apps.

if you're doing mySQL with your PHP, you might also want to check out cocoamysql. maybe not as full-featured as phpmyadmin, but it's got a nice cocoa interface... and it's free!

[robinpow]

For ftp I have to suggest Fetch. Simple, cheap and works. However I don't suggest GoLive, Bought it, tried it, hate it, dumped it. As matter of fact was thinking of checking out DW myself, however after reading other people's thoughts... going back to the old rule... If it aint broke, don't fix it.

[Cincojoe]

if your going to be doing any serious photoshop work, I would add more ram. 128mb isn't going to cut it.

[vsurfer]

Originally posted by yeabil:
hi

here are some freeware products that allow graphical sftp file transfer. ....

Another is Cyperduck which I have but never used. Cyperduck

Another vote here for Cyberduck -- I love it.

If you're feeling like experimenting during a coffee break with a linux type interface, there are also X11 options such as Bluefish which can be installed using apt-get intall via the terminal.

I found it a little slow, and complex. The keying was also mapped to Ctrl- instead of Cmd. But it has been very useful once or twice for my needs.