What do you use to write your CSS?
* 1/8/2008 — 136 Comments *
I promise I won’t go poll crazy, but since we had so much fun with the CSS Skill Level poll I thought I’d open up a new one. This one asks for your CSS editor of choice.
If I have omitted anything major, let me know quick and I’ll add it to the poll before too many responses come in. Cast your vote in the sidebar. Sorry (again) for RSS readers, you’ll have to make the jump to vote.
Loading ...
My editor of choice is text mate…
All the best, Oli
(graphic designer and web developer from germany…)
Coda.
On Windows I use Notepad++ or Microsoft Web Expression.
On OSX I use BBedit or Textmate.
Mostly e-text editor but sometimes Dreamweaver
I use a combination of Dreamweaver and the Web Developer extension for Firefox.
I used to use Dreamweaver only, for the syntax highlighting and autocomplete, but lately I’ve switched to Notepad++. Like Daryn, I also use the web developer toolbar for firefox, and the web developer toolbar for IE. I also use the Aardvark plugin for Firefox too, it’s not really a CSS editor, but you can use it to highlight different blocks and see if you forgot to close any tags, etc.
By “highlighting” do you mean syntax coloring? VIM? I can’t be the only one…
i use notepad++ and recently FreeCssToolbox
intype!
Dreamweaver is easy to use especially when doing coding for all other documents within the same pane. Trying to keep it simple.
TextMate and occasionally CSSEdit
CSSEdit rules.
I use Coda for writing my (X)HTML, but I always thought CSSEdit was a bit nicer to use for the CSS end. Saving milestones to turn back the code to previous versions, built in validation, and a nice DOM inspector make it nice. (albeit, CODA has a few of those things).
I use VI.
OK, yes, I know. Old habits are hard to kill.
I have started using Bluefish more, but I just cannot seem to break away from VI.
Notepad always has and always will be the best for me. So much control over what you do.
Nowadays I use Programmer’s Notepad, however, but only because it has tabs. So you can work on many files in the same place. I use it with Autocomplete turned off, and CSS doesn’t even have syntax highlighting.
I use Notepad++ for the most part. But I also use Dreamweaver, once in a while, for it’s autocomplete functionality. I also use Firebug for figuring out what’s wrong in my page, in real time.
I’ll have to check out FreeCssToolbox.
I forgot NVU!
… and PSPad and AlleyCode
If I start a design I use TopStyle because I can have IE and Firefox preview and the when It’s time to code I use e – Text Editor even for CSS, TopStyle it’s only to start.
I use Coda… since I use it for my HTML writing, I find it easier to stay within the same program to work on my CSS as well. I just use the text editing functionality for my CSS because I find the WYSIWYG CSS editor in Coda confusing… maybe it’s just me.
On Windows : Notepad++
On Linux : Nedit
On Mac : CSSEdit
but i think i will try Coda soonly ;)
Homesite… really. I’m usually editing js or html at the same time so why open another editor?
Top Style. I do the xhtml-coding in Top Style too.
UltraEdit for everything
I write out all of my CSS in hex using pen and paper (in the dark of course!), then transfer to punch cards.
Seriously though, I used to use Textmate and then switched to CSS Edit a few months ago. Both are great options, but I really like the live-preview features of CSS Edit–enough to ditch the tight transmit integration and ability to handle multiple levels of tabbing that TM affords me.
I’ll use vim or pico if i’m making a quick-fix and I’m already SSH’d into my server, but beyond that I think that anybody still using notepad and the like should consider the immense productivity boost that tailor-made products can give you.
Notepad++
im a Coda guy. I really dig codas features.
Dreamweaver w/ Firebug in FF.
I use dreamweaver but I do all my coding by hand. I use dreamweaver bc of the color coding, the customizing of colors and so that i can see the updates to my page in dreamweaver. I like using the files menu and having all my sites organized that way. helps do any updates, image changes and cuts down on trouble shooting later. plus the browser compatibility test takes the cake.
CSSEdit, I really really love it.
I tried to get into Coda for CSS, but CSSEdit just kicks ass so much.
I like to have one editor for everything.
That’s just one reason why I use Textmate for CSS, too.
Greets, Ingo
E – Texteditor and Intype
Dreamweaver all the way. I hand code only and it handles all files well (.aspx, .asp, .php, .html, .txt, .ini, etc.), color codes, autofills and can be customized to exactly the way I want. Bonus – saves to hard drive and ftp simultaneously and checks to see which is more current so you don’t accidentally overwrite your work. One beautiful program that multi-tasks like a pro.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Visual Studio 2005/2008 — surprising awesome. I’ve used a lot listed above, but I alway come back to VS. It’s very fast, has great intellisense and does solid formatting.
I started with Dreamweaver (which I sometimes still use at home); then switched to Expression Web when I began work as a Web Designer. I sometimes use Notepad too, if it’s a single file.
For CSS editing only, CSS Edit is the way to go. The live preview, tabs, and auto-complete save me so much time.
always NotePad :)
NotePad standard all the way!
I use CSSEdit and Textmate in combination with ZopeEditManager for live editing on our CMS.
I use HTMLKit with integrated Top Style Lite.
homesite and firebug
I use Top Style Lite and Notepad++
I love my Notepad++. I work for a professional web development company, and all I use is Notepad++.
Really, the only reason I love it so much is because there isn’t any bullshit. The interface is clean, there’s no distractions, the syntax highlighting works as you would expect it to, and it’s lightning fast.
Aptana
Aptana, Dreamweaver, Notepad…….
Textmate and Firebug, no question!
I use Coda for my CSS-Stuff
Notepad / EditPad Lite
Textmate of course.
Normal Notepad!!!
Will one day move over to Notepad ++ but at moment I like no hassle and ability to control everything myself :)
CODA !! It rocks..
PS: If only they had a function to display “Live Changes” (when we save) on different browser views. So that we can code and preview seamlessly…
(Windows) I used to use Topstyle, but now use Notepad++. As I develop some sites using WordPress, I’ll also occasionally tweak a style sheet using the built-in theme editor.
mostly Textmate
aptana or notepad++
WeBuilder 2007 (great Code-Editor!!), Firebug and Webdeveloper in Firefox
Dreamweaver, but in the Code View makes it faster to type in a few characters and then enter, move on to the next.
Aptana and PSPad
I always use Dreamweaver. (html, css, php, js) I like the color highlightning.
I Use TopStyle
I use Komodo IDE, earlier used Aptana.
I use GoLive from Adobe. It is far superior to any other CSS-editor I’ve ever tried, with full preview and pre-written syntax. Tried Coda and think it has potential, but lacks autocompletion and other stuff that makes your work faster and more acurate…
I use EmEditor, it is a no-nonsense tekst-editor with code-highlighting for a lot of different languages.
i use UltraEdit for CSS, xHTML, PHP,XML and XSLT.
Dreamweaver, again because of the code colouring, and also because of the auto complete – I haven’t had to manually close a tag for ages :-)
I use Komodo Edit for xHTML and CSS
On Windows : Notepad++
CSS edit, the best by far :)
Dreamweaver, Intype, Visual Studio .Net 2005 (for asp.net projects)
Notepade & Adobe/Macromedia Homesite
Either Notepad 2 or Microsoft Expression Web
1. TopStyle 2. Aptana 3. Notepad++
Notepad++, Dreamweaver
Notepad++ on Win, gedit on Linux.
PSPad on Win.
I like Rapid CSS and use it along with Dreamweaver
I’m a hand coder in Dreamweaver (maybe with a couple of clicks on the auto-complete dropdowns!)
I’ve not used any of the other packages, so I’ve no ideas on pros and cons but having all my files open in one software package makes things simple.
Chris
I use a combination of Dreamweaver and Aptana.
I used to use Dreamweaver, but moved over to Aptana, its just a much cleaner environment, and of course along with an assortment of FF extensions.
Skedit.
I use Dreamweaver
I use E-TextEditor (similar to TextMate from Mac)
I cant use anything else.
I use Notepad++ and Microsoft Expressions
Eclipse.
Other wise anything from VI to Notepad to TextWrangler to PSPad to GEdit…whatever text editor I have around.
I use…
* TopStyle Lite
- Great syntax highlighting, built-in preview, supports 3rd party intergration, nothing useless.
* Notepad++
- Nice syntax highlighting (customizable).
TS Lite is my primary CSS-editor. Notepad++ is for everything else.
PS. I am just a learner.
on PC: TopStyle Pro
on Mac: Coda
I hace used Aptana, but it works slow.
UltraEdit, nuf said!
On Windows XP, I’m using Notepad++ (sometimes TopStyle)
And on Linux, I use Geany
Komodo! Use Dreamweaver at work (all the sites managed in it), but komodo at home. Its really been growing on me.
quanta almost all the time, or for fast opening krusader’s embeded editor, sometimes mc :)
I like Notepad++ and jEdit
skedit is do bomb !
Textmate (for quick edits)
CSSEdit (for fun)
Dreamweaver (for development)
Check it out E-Texteditor (for all ye windows users) it rocks!
I just started a new job and we use Vim–what a learning curve. I use Dreamweaver at home, though.
I use dreamweaver because thats what I have on windows, but on a side note, isn’t it sad how the CS3 icon looks so ugly next to the others?
EditPlus; been using it for years. Tried many others (including most of those mentioned above, such as Notepad++ UltraEdit) but always keep coming back.
Topstyle for CSS/XHTML/ASP/XSL
firebug/webdeveloper toolbar for tweaking
VS for .Net
CSSEdit
AceHTML Pro
InType here.
mainly Coda – coupled with CSSEdit at times
FireBug with Coda.. I like Coda for the built in Transmit. I like CSSedit too for the wysiwyg. Sometimes I catch my self using Coda and CSSedit… But I always have FireBug on.
I hand code into Dreamweaver (I just like the layout of the program), and debug with FireBug.
Notepad++ :)
TopStyle Pro!!!
I’ll second the Editplus comment. I’ve used it now for about 4 or 5 years and it’s excellent. Lightweight, fast, supports RegEX, and the underlying files are user editable.
WOW.
Thanks everyone very much for participating in this. The number of responses blows me away. I’ll be compiling of this information and sharing soon.
For the record, I’m about 80% Coda (I’m all about going commando), 19% TextMate (I actually prefer TextMate above all else), and 1% Dreamweaver (Once and a while I use some really specific feature I know it does a good job with).
I have used pretty much all these tools at one time or another – either through testing or just using it for a while to get a feel for it. Some of the things people have mentioned I’ve never heard of though, especially the obscure windows ones.
“ULTRAEDIT”
It’s the best.
Coda or Dreamweaver on a mac depending on the project. On a pc I use notepad.
I use the Web Developer and Firebug plugins on FF and Xylescope for cascade highlighting, etc.
:)
Notpad until now but after reading all these responses, I will be test-driving some others starting with Notepad++.
Looking forward to the compiled results.
Coda & BBedit on Mac
PSPad on PC
sheesh your comment entry is very borked in netnewswire
Coda or gEdit in linux
Don’t forget kate/kwrite.
Rapidphp (webuilder, rapidcss, rapidphp are just variants)
Great product
Since I met Coda and CSSEdit, I don’t need annything else.
Coda for complete sites and rough styling, CSSEdit for CSS only, templating and retocuhing.
Dreamweaver
I use telepathy.
Wordpad
dreamweaver and nothing but dreamweaver so help me god :D
Dreamweaver. What else?
I use Aptana and used to use Dreamweaver
Aptana studio (because its free and almost as good as dreamweaver) at work, dreamweaver at home (i get free licences for personal use :) ).
I use intype!
Win – Webuilder, Top Style, EmEditor.
Linux – BlueFish, gedit.
MacOS – I don’t use it )
TextMate + Transmit + Terminal. Also, just got CSSEdit as part of MacHeist II, so I will give that a whirl too.
I tried and really liked Coda, but already purchased TextMate & Transmit so couldn’t justify spending more money just to have all that functionality in one app. I’m keeping an eye on it though.
Firebug…. ok well that and the Aptana plugin in Eclipse when needed.
I always use plain oldé Notepad. (Which is what I use for HTML, PHP, CSS, etc…)
Dale…
You’re doing yourself an AMAZING disservice by using Notepad. Notepad offers NOTHING in the way of productiving improvements such as line numbering, syntax highlighting, autocomplete, etc.
HTMLKit is free, Eclipse (and Aptana) is free, there are many other free, or cheap editors out there. Do yourself a favor and try one of them.
I’d have to say that you can’t be a professional and use Notepad as your primary editor. Note that there’s nothing wrong with using Notepad occasionally, or when nothing else is available, but seriously…
I have to partly disagree – notepad is very useful for quick editing on a Windows desktop/server. You can easily find lines by using ctrl+g and autocomplete can become an annoyance. Sevel HTML editors chuck in un-needed code too. The only thing missing is syntax highlighting as you mention.
You’re actually arguing that the “only thing missing” from Notepad is “syntax highlighting”? That’s amusing. As I mentioned, there are times for using Notepad, quick edits directly on the server would be one of those times, as would editing code on another user’s machine in a pinch. However Notepad is nothing more than an utterly basic tool. If you’re really wanting to see what it’s missing:
Find & replace
Regex support
Syntax highlighting
Templates
Macros
Toggles
Project Management
Split windows
Tabbed interface (mutiple files open within one window instance)
Markers
Do I need to continue? I said it before…Notepad is good for very basic editing, or emergency situations. But to use it as your primary editor is just foolish.
I use Dreamweaver CS3.
VIM – for almost everything; I find it very rewarding to code from scratch and often gives me the feeling of writing [not so] great poetry/prose.