This document provides information on some of the leading software tools for creating Web pages.

So, you've decided to develop a Web site for your organization, and have begun to plan the content and design. You're ready to start building your site. Terrific! But who wants to write line after line of HTML? Aren't there any good software tools for creating and editing Web pages?

Of course there are! Web authoring tools have improved tremendously over the past twelve months.  Although we recommend knowing some html basics, the latest generation of Web authoring software enables the creation of effective sites with very little knowledge of HTML.  However, a clear understanding of what you want your site to accomplish, and a basic grasp of the principles of good design are still essential.

Here is a brief rundown on some of the more popular Web authoring tools. For more in-depth reviews of major Web editing tools, check out the excellent article published by CNET .

Mac

Layout-based

Adobe GoLive 5.0 ($300)

GoLive is a powerful, cross-platform Web editor that scales low enough for beginners, yet has the functionality required by experts.  Adobe's donation program makes GoLive a favorite for Mac nonprofits.

 

Macromedia Dreamweaver 3 ($300 or $400 with Fireworks Studio 3)

Dreamweaver is more of a professional's tool, but nonetheless is a very good product and, like GoLive, is cross-platform.

HTML-based

BBEdit 6.0 ($120/$40 upgrade)

BBEdit is the power tool for Mac HTML-heads. It's a very powerful and flexible text-based HTML editor, but requires that you have a solid understanding of HTML in order to use it. If you know what you're doing and want a tool to do it faster, this is it.

Layout-based

FrontPage 2000 ($150)

FrontPage is Microsoft's highly-regarded graphical Web editor. It combines high-end power with novice user-friendliness. It integrates well with Office 2000, and is distinguished by its ability to easily publish to local and remote servers that support FrontPage extensions. FrontPage has good pre-made themes and site-management tools.

Adobe GoLive 5.0 ($300)

GoLive is a powerful, cross-platform Web editor that scales low enough for beginners, yet has the functionality required by experts.  Adobe's donation program makes GoLive a favorite for Mac nonprofits.

 

Macromedia Dreamweaver 3 ($300 or $400 with Fireworks Studio 3)

Dreamweaver is more of a professional's tool, but nonetheless is a very good product and, like GoLive, is cross-platform.

HTML-based

Allaire HomeSite 4.5 ($90)

Award winning HTML editing tool. Requires knowledge of HTML.

For more information

CNET's Reivew of Graphical Web Editors
<http://builder.cnet.com/Authoring/WysiComparo/ >

CNet's Web building resource page
<http://www.cnet.com/webbuilding/0-3881.html?tag=st.bl.3880.dir.3881 >

Adobe GoLive 5.0
<http://www.adobe.com/products/golive >

Macromedia Dreamweaver 3
<http://ww.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver >

BBEdit 5.0
<http://www.bbedit.com/ >

Microsoft FrontPage 2000
<http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/ >

Allaire HomeSite 4.0
<http://www.allaire.com/products/homesite/index.cfm >

06/29/01

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