Im curious as to what tools everyone prefers using when they make websites. I have been teaching myself html and css, which i have a fairly good understanding of now. PhP i have started teaching myself and im sure i will pursue other web languages as well.

It seems that for the time being, website developing will stress the knowledge and use of many tools, languages, and skill sets to make dynamic and professional looking sites.

I currently use MS Expression Web 2 to work on my ebay templates which are just html/css pages, nothing fancy. In this situation the WYSIWYG environment is helpful since most of the work i do on these pages is repetative and requires changing 1 line of text here or one picture there. Doing this visually simplifies the process.

However on my website, which is a modified phpbb3 forum, i do most of my editing in notepad. I do this partially because its a good learning experience, but i also do it out of ignorance. Currently i work with the text in a basic editor and then use wamp to text the outcome (to get a visual of what i have done).

I have not built a whole site from the ground up yet, but its on the horizon. To do this id like to use a more advanced editor i think, but then the problem is options.

I currently have CS3 with Dreamweaver and i have MS Expression Web 2. Im most comfortbale in EW2 since i have been using it, but my guess is DW can be more powerful and robust.

Of course with CS3 i have many tools to my disposal including photoshop, flash, fireworks etc...most of which i do not currently know how to use (PS i am ok in). It turns out that MS has a suite too, called Expression Studio. It appears to contain programs for advanced graphics editing (akin to PS and fireworks), program for silverlight, EW2 of course...

So, am i better off sticking to CS3 and learning all of those aps, or am i better of picking MS Expression Studio and learning its aps?

I would say CS3. I've used most of the programs of a Adobe CS3 and they are all pretty good. I love Adobe photoshop and dreamweaver is good for coding.

Photoshop & illustrator are very good for designing graphics for your website(s).

Eclipse with Pydev and PHPEclipse

There's plenty of good web development text-editors (I've been using Aptana lately, which is just a souped up Eclipse), but when it comes to other tools, like the Photoshop realm of applications, nothing comes close to original Adobe products.

I use some OG editor called Notepad. Photoshop CS3 for graphics, Notepad for coding, that's how it goes kids. I don't like programs like dream weaver messing up my coding. Ground up.

I use Photoshop CS3 and Paint.NET for graphics.

I don't like programs like dream weaver messing up my coding. Ground up.

John, might I suggest something like Editplus? It has syntax highlighting, a built-in browser, and it does not mess up your code.

- Steve

For those who like using notepad, try the free visual web developer 2008 express edition. It doesn't mess up your code too much.

I use and trust any product that Adobe makes. I use software such as Adobe Photoshop CS2 / CS3, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive, ect. I use the stand notepad on your computer. I've also been known to use Dreamweaver which I don't care for alot.