Text Editors:
-- Coda (by far my favorite, probably the best known Mac editor. It isn't WYSIWYG like Dreamweaver though. It allows you to do a variety of web design tasks all in one interface, including the coding, css editing, previewing and FTP.) http://www.panic.com/coda/
-- Textmate (Another popular coding app. Quite powerful. Code only, no WYSIWYG)
-- free code-only options are Smultron and TextWrangler

WYSIWYG Editors:
-- Dreamweaver (obviously)
-- Rapidweaver (based primarily on templates, so if you do the coding yourself, this may not be the way you want to go) http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/
-- Freeway is another WYSIWYG tool, though it seems on the expensive side. http://www.softpress.com/
-- Sandvox http://www.karelia.com/sandvox/

Misc programs:
-- Cyberduck (FTP, Free)
-- ForkLift (FTP, about $20, my favorite FTP app)
-- MAMP (Apache server, PHP, PHPMyAdmin - let's you work with databases and use the PHP programming language)
I've only personally tried the code editors and dreamweaver -- I tend to stay away from WYSIQYG editors, since I'm not confident they'll generate clean, quality code for me. They can often create good looking websites, but are limited to certain styles and/or the code isn't good quality/has issues displaying across different browsers. As far as I know, all of the tools above have free trials, so make sure you try the apps out and make sure you like them before you buy.

If I didn't include the URL, a quick web search should turn it up.

Thanks everyone,

Susie..........Well I am jealous, of the great work you do!!! Now that I have a mac, I better get better at web designing (well that is what my husband said).

I do hand code even when I use dreamweaver, i just use dreamweaver to preview quickley (I know it does not show things perfectly but is good for a quick look).

I will look at coda....does this allow you to preview in a browser easily?  Also with coda should I still get a FTP like forklift or does it have a good FTP program?.

I did buy VMware but have not installed it yet, I was looking at buying XP first and then I will have to figure out how to install it.

Do you have any recommendation on where to buy the windows XP on line?

Thanks Ben and Virtual for taking the time to answer my questions!!!!

Corinne

Last edited by Corinne (2009-10-02 12:13:17)

As Ben said Amazon or Ebay for XP.

I only hand code in DW and I find it great for uploading, all the files are right there in front of you. The snippets are great for storing bits of code, and makes it really easy to insert either in your CSS file or your HTML file.