Semi-pro Web Dev questions thread

[skelstar]

I am not a professional web developer but do a fair bit (too much) in my spare time.

I spend an inexhorbanant amount of time planning my website at work. Most of it is spent on the layout of my pages which has a fair bit of data integrated into it.

Question: what do you real webdev guys use to plan the look of your sites? I suppose you could call it 'storyboarding'?

I use Excel. Its not too bad, but theres a lot of stuffing around with borders and limited colours available. Im tempted to download an HTML editor but I havent got a webserver installed on my PC (Windows 2000), nor do I want to install one as my IT dept would have kittens.

At home I use an Apple eMac (I know), with an awesome HTML/PHP editor called skedit. Totally awesome Mac-app.

[Biohazard]

When i've built webbies in the past i have always use the tried and tested method of pen on paper via the storyboard layout..its easier to build an idea that way...have always mixed the web-build with Dreamweaver MX and Cinema 4D, depending on the level of content.

Thats how I do anyway...or if not, design ya template in DW then add/alter as ya go on.

[Karma]

Pen and paper dude...

[WRT]

I'm assuming you're talking about your own websites, not something you would like to present to a customer for signoff.

I've always used pen/paper, unless its a brain storming type thing then whiteboards come in handy (especially the ones that can print off what you've drawn). I know its backwards in this day and age, but its the most efficient way I have come across. Unless someone wants to give me a tablet PC?

[TerminalAddict]

I'm must be the uberist geek then.

I use the ol' brain, and vi to develop

haven't done anything spectacular in a few years tho'

I'm a firm believer in organic grow ...

[Big Dave]

Question[/B]: what do you real webdev guys use to plan the look of your sites? I suppose you could call it 'storyboarding'?




Nuffink. I tell the customer what I am going to do and then do it (if they agree to the fee). All in my melon.

Looks like you have done more work there than there is in actually building the site.

[GR81]

download a template? haha

[skelstar]

Yeah, I didnt mean for a customer, just for me. Its more about colours and style. I do a LOT of css in my pages.

I suppose pen and paper is the quick way, but to actually see the colour interaction (ie the tabs colours etc) helps for me. Would rather not spend hours changing the style at home. Would rather do that at work :).

[Flyingpony]

By following the first principles: Pen & paper followed by a simple text editor.
It's all about keeping the throttle twisted right around.

[mikey]

cool, i need a web geek type.

im having problems with my myspace......or would it be im having problems with myspace, who knows

really struggling, can a geek help me line up some pics please. its css

[juzzer]

meh :zzzz:

[Big Dave]

meh :zzzz:


Can I have a refund?

[juzzer]

n0pe. will send you my bank account for payment

[juzzer]

meh :zzzz:

to clarify, sounds like a lot of unnecessary work. just do what i do and when it turns to shit keep it together with sticky tape :wait:

[Big Dave]

cool, i need a web geek type.

im having problems with my myspace......or would it be im having problems with myspace, who knows

really struggling, can a geek help me line up some pics please. its css


No luck at shareware.com or one of the DL sites?

[cowpoos]

n0pe. will send you my bank account for payment
fuck your still alive!!

[Biff]

Dreamweaver MX - no planning, just run some ideas by the customer, and if they like them I try them out.

Not that I earn a decent living from web design mind you as it's an evening n weekend kinda thing for me.

[skelstar]

Not a huge fan of DW. I hand code everything (code completion is ok). It cracks me up when I have a look at the source for serious websites and find its full of tables with width='56' and width='3' f-ing EVERYWHERE. You can always tell if its a good coder/designer.

[skelstar]

btw - not meaning to offend. Im a html snob :).

[Badcat]

I am not a professional web developer but do a fair bit (too much) in my spare time.

I spend an inexhorbanant amount of time planning my website at work. Most of it is spent on the layout of my pages which has a fair bit of data integrated into it.

Question: what do you real webdev guys use to plan the look of your sites? I suppose you could call it 'storyboarding'?

I use Excel. Its not too bad, but theres a lot of stuffing around with borders and limited colours available. Im tempted to download an HTML editor but I havent got a webserver installed on my PC (Windows 2000), nor do I want to install one as my IT dept would have kittens.

At home I use an Apple eMac (I know), with an awesome HTML/PHP editor called skedit. Totally awesome Mac-app.

i know this is gonna sound like a joke...
but i came from a web dev background.
(anyone remember webmedia in auckland?)
but MS visio is the best i've used for visualising and site mapping.
not availble for the mac -= i run it under virtual PC.

ken

[skelstar]

Was wondering if another drawing type package would be better. Have often heard of visio being used in web dev.

[Badcat]

Was wondering if another drawing type package would be better. Have often heard of visio being used in web dev.

Omnigraffle is the closest in mac apps to visio i hear:

http://the.taoofmac.com/space/Applications/OmniGraffle

Ken

[Badcat]

Was wondering if another drawing type package would be better. Have often heard of visio being used in web dev.

here's another - concept draw!

http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/cd5/ap_visio_cd5.php

[Big Dave]

Not a huge fan of DW. I hand code everything (code completion is ok). It cracks me up when I have a look at the source for serious websites and find its full of tables with width='56' and width='3' f-ing EVERYWHERE. You can always tell if its a good coder/designer.


If it all works what difference does it make if the code is not neat?
It's invisible untidiness.
I used to write it all by hand - but gave up that fight 7 years ago. It's only web geeks who care.

[skelstar]

If you want the site to behave predictably on all platforms and browsers then I would imagine it would be better to have it done by a human (not always the best solution granted).

Besides I have a high PHP content on my pages. I dont think DW helps...nor does having ugly code - in my example anyway.

[Big Dave]

If you want the site to behave predictably on all platforms and browsers then I would imagine it would be better to have it done by a human (not always the best solution granted).

Besides I have a high PHP content on my pages. I dont think DW helps...nor does having ugly code - in my example anyway.

hmmm - I don't do any php so it's faster and easier to use a wsiwig app and then tidy it up 'by hand'.

i'm liking css more with every one I build too

[skelstar]

css is brilliant. I think I spend as much time tailoring my style-sheet as I do writing the html/php.

[TerminalAddict]

I've got a bunch of guys working for me that use DW exclusively.
They have it integrated with local php versions, and phpdbg

I just can't be arsed .. and don't run winblows.
So a local version of php, apache, mysql, postgres, and vim gets me by ;)

Can do some magic stuff with css/css2

... I played with xslt for a while .. very cool for delivering the same content to different devices, but in the end, browser don't play nice, so I now I use a different style sheet for each media.
I'd love media="print" to be standard in every website ... that'd be cool