Pros and Cons of WYSIWYG Editors
WYSIWYG editors are “What you see is what you get” programs that allow designers to see their design as they build it, rather than relying strictly on code they type by hand. As you place elements on the screen or change colors, the WYSIWYG builds the code for you. There are several different WYSIWYG editors, some free and others that require a purchase. These programs do a great deal of good, but as with anything, there are cons regarding their use too. With that, let us take a look at some of the pros and cons of using a WYSIWYG program to design and build your website.
Pros
- They are easy to use, so even people who have no knowledge of HTML can use them to create their websites.
- Gives you more creative control as you get to focus more on what the design looks like instead of what the HTML code looks like.
- You will save time because a lot of things that take long time to hand code in HTML are quickly and easily done with a few clicks of a mouse.
Cons
- Most WYSIWYG include HTML code that is hard to read that usually doesn’t comply with Web coding standards set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium, also known as the W3C.
- Usually the codes are very specific to the product you are using to generate them, which may create issues with their viewing, or editing.
- It will be harder to market yourself to employers who want you to know HTML, not a specific WYSIWIG editor. You won’t be able do well if you are used to one particular program and are forced to go to using organic HTML with notepad.
- You will not be able to control the elements on the page as precisely as you can with straight HTML coding. While you will likely still be able to edit all of your alt tags, you will probably have to go through leaps and bounds to get to them.
- You will have to use your mouse a lot, which could cause what is known as a Repetitive Stress Injury and cause pain in your wrists or shoulders.
So, what’s the answer?
It generally comes down to personal preference. If you know HTML, you can use the WYSIWYG editors in conjunction with a notepad editor so that you can take the control you general lose with the WYSIWYG. If not, you are likely just doing web design as a hobby and should not really worry about it.
If you’re looking for a good WYSIWYG program, you may want to try Adobe’s Dreamweaver. Though it will run you about $399 for the upcoming CS4 release, it is most definitely an excellent program for web designers as it integrates well with all the other Adobe programs web designers use such as Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and Director. With plenty of help files and a very user friendly interface, you’ll be able to start using Dreamweaver right away.
Dreamweaver is an expensive program for many of us, so here are some open source HTML editors which are completely free to use and easy to install. These are all linked to the locations where you will be able to download them so you can learn more before you decide to start using them.
- Amaya Web Browsing and Authoring: Not only can you create web pages, you can browse through them too. There is support for multiple file types which you can have open at the same time.
- Trellian WebPAGE: Using a colored HTML editor and support for many Photoshop Plugins, you’ll have the flexibility and precision you need when you use this program.
- Bluefish: Offers focus and support for many coding languages and designing interactive web sites.
If you’re looking for a good text editor, then check out Finding the Right Editor for You by Thord Daniel Hedengren, as he will guide you through everything you need to know about choosing the text editor that will best fit your needs.
What do you use when you design your websites? How do you feel about WYSIWIG editors? Share your thoughts below.
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If “writing” a website in a WYSIWYG (not WYSIWIG as you’ve spelled it throughout the article) gives you RSI, you probably shouldn’t be designing websites in the first place; assuming that this is targeted towards web designers who don’t know how to write markup.
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If you don’t know HTML markup… you aren’t a web developer, period. Depending on a WYSIWYG editor is a crutch. It generates bad code, fat code and non-standards compliant code. If you are serious about webdesign/development, get yourself a good text editor and dig in.
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Why I personally write all my code in a text editor (Coda is my choice), there are a surprisingly large amount of web designers using Dreamweaver in particular. Hence, this post.
And Chris, I wish it was that simple. In reality, you’ll get issues after working with something for long periods of time, so that means you could be a kickass designer and suddenly get problems. The decision to swap tools might follow, for instance, I’ve got a colleague using a trackball to spare the elbow.
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Cons in WYSIWIG HTML editors???? Are you serious?
http://www.livbit.com
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Personally I prefer a text editor generally I use Homesite (the old Allaire editor bought out by Macromedia). Since this product is no longer available I always tell my friends to look at Alleycode , although there are plenty of other good free alternatives.
I agree with FlyboyArt’s comments on WYSWYGs, but for those who insist on WYSWYG Pagebreeze and Bluevoda are worth looking at.
Unfortunately learning a skill - HTML/CSS does n’t sit well with the ‘I want it now with no effort’ mentality, and I cant see that changing any time soon - their loss.
Harry
ps thanks for this great resource by the way.
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WYSIWYG is a good place to start, and also a good way to learn the rudiments of HTML - by seeing how what you do in design mode impacts upon what is displayed on the page. Providing you keep checking the source code, and also look at XHTML compliance (I’m bad at this even now I use notepad for most stuff!) as often as possible, they offer a great way to get your teeth straight into writing websites.
I started designing using some very basic WYSIWYG programs, and have ended up using php, javascript, jquery etc as well as HTML - all in notepad. I wouldn’t have made that leap straight off the bat - its too daunting, and too slow!
A good start, but those using them should understand the drawbacks and try to get away from them as far as possible. I hardly ever open Dreamweaver any more!
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I only use Dreamweaver because its file management capabilities are second to none. I know it’s a waste of a WYSIWYG editor, but I love to hand code my sites. Also, hand coding is easier in Dreamweaver for me, probably because I’m so used to it by now.
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More often than not at work I hand code in Dreamweaver. Why? Convenience mostly. I know there are editors that have the same capabilities, but seeing the code in color and having code and css property cues/auto-completion saves me a lot of time.
I’ve never used any of the design tools or help files in Dreamweaver and started out my career in notepad, but as Patrick mentioned, the file management capabilities of Dreamweaver have kept me from using something else. At home I run a setup that is similar to what I have at work, except that my home PC is setup as a test server. This is an area where Dreamweaver has come in handy for me.
Really, who cares what you use to get the job done? As long as it’s done right and on time the tools you use to get there shouldn’t matter.
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@Thord: My point was that you’re also using your mouse for hours to mock up a design in Photoshop or Fireworks if you’re a designer.