Useful tools
Working and creating websites with the sNews CMS is kind of like messing around with radio-controlled boats, cars or planes. Having the right tools makes the job easier. The nice part about these tools is that many are available free. It’s just a matter of downloading and configuring them to run on our computers. The list below is not exhaustive, and serves as a starting point only.
A good text editor
A good text editor is an essential tool for any code editing. Always look for a text editor that is designed for text or code only. Any other type of editor may place proprietry elements into the code which will prevent expected code operation. This results in site errors that can be difficult to trace.
Windows, various versions
- Notepad (bundled)
- Emacs
- Notepad++ (OS)
- Crimson (OS)
- SciTE (OS)
- PHP Designer (Payware)
Mac OS X, 10.2.8 and up
- TextEdit (bundled)
- BBEdit (Payware)
- TextWrangler (Freeware)
- skEdit (Payware)
- Smultron (OS)
- SubEthaEdit (Payware/Freeware)
Linux, various versions
An FTP Client
An ftp client is used to transfer files from your computer directly to the account on your webhost. Although many webhosts provide file uploads via a web interface, they are rarely as fast or as flexible as a dedicated ftp client. It must also be noted that some WYSIWYG editors also include an ftp client as part of the package.
Windows, various versions
Mac OS X, 10.2.8 and up
More Browsers
When working with CSS stylesheets, your templates are not likely to display the same way in all popular browsers so it is important to view your work in several browsers rather than just one. In addition to Internet Explorer (IE6 or IE7), two of the more popular browsers free to download and install are latest versions of Firefox and Opera.
A good Code Merging tool
There will be times when you will want to compare the code in one file with the code in a modded file (by the same name) so you can see which lines have been changed in comparison with the other.
Windows, various versions
Mac OS X, 10.2.8 and up
- Guiffy (S/Ware)
- BBEdit (text editor above) has merge ability.
Linux, various
WYSIWYG editors
A decent WYSIWYG editor is extremely useful in producing a site layout relatively quickly. Over the years, they have improved dramatically, and generally produce standards or near standards compliant layout code.
Windows, various versions
- Adobe/Macromedia Dreamweaver (Pay)
- Adobe GoLive (Pay)
- Nvu (OS)
- Net Objects Fusion (Pay)
- MS Frontpage (Pay)
Mac OS X, 10.2.8 and up
- Adobe/Macromedia Dreamweaver (Pay)
- Adobe GoLive (Pay)
- Apple iWeb (Pay, bundle)
- Karelia Sandvox (Pay)
- Nvu (OS)
- Softpress Freeway Pro/Express (Pay)
- RapidWeaver (Pay)
Linux, various
- Nvu (OS)
- Quanta Plus (OS) [KDE]
* Note: WYSIWYG or object model editors are not suited for editing script code like snews.php, but can be used for editing the index.php file. The best way to use WYSIWYG editors with snews is as creative tools to build the site template, then use a text editor for actual code manipulation.
Word processors, keynote or presentation apps and purely graphical editors/plugins are not recommended at all.