Programming HTML pages n00b question

[G19]

With most good HTML software(Fireworks,Dreamweaver...)providing adequete plug-in features, moddable by regular interface, where does the edge lie in the need for HTML programming for your basic enthusist who wants to simply provide a half decent layout with regular interface?

[Tekime]

Understanding the technology behind web development and design is going to make you a better coder. If you don't care much about the technology, and are just looking for a point and click method of building a site then there is no huge benefit.

HTML is, of course, free and you can find a million free text editors out there too; so you can save yourself the money by learning HTML.

[pwain]

I once used a wysiwyg editor, but then I started using notepad and never went back

[daftness101]

Have you ever used Crimson Editor (http://www.crimsoneditor.com)? It's pretty good for a free text editor with syntax highlighting for a lot of languages, with more downloadable from the site. Just thought I would mention that, since I use it a lot for coding HTML. I used to use Notepad, but I got tired of its blandness.

-Daft

[yoshi273]

in my opinion, VIM is the best editor out there. Im starting to like Dreamweaver MX's new editor tho too... its much easier to use than the old Dreamweaver editor.

[G19]

Thanks for the input people, especially some of the alternative suggestions like Crimson editor. The Macromedia MX is a genious package, but the other innovative programs may provide just enough to keep me satisfied. I'll check them out and see. I have worked with an older Dreamweaver edition, and without tutorial, pretty well lost.

[Tekime]

If you want to try a very powerful editor, HTML-Kit (http://www.chami.com/html-kit/) is awesome. It's pretty ugly, but it's free and very versatile.