Adobe Dreamweaver CC

Adobe Dreamweaver is a very powerful web design program that is developed by Adobe Systems. Initially, Dreamweaver was created by Macromedia but was later acquired by Adobe Systems in 2005. Since then, Adobe Systems has made this program available for users on OS X and Windows machines. Recent versions of Dreamweaver have made huge improvements over the original by offering supports for Web elements such as Javascript, CSS, and a multitude of server-side scripting languages and frameworks that include but are not limited to ASP, Coldfusion, PHP, and Scriptlet.

Dreamweaver is very good, intuitive web development program even for those who are not very well-versed with web programming because it uses a combined approach. This program is able to combine a visual design canvas called Line View with a code editor. This code editor has many standard features such as code completion and syntax highlighting. This allows users to visually move elements around the field and place them exactly where they want them. The code will then automatically generate. Individual elements within the code can be edited directly in the code editor. All of these elements allow Dreamweaver greater versatility and flexibility.

As one would expect, Dreamweaver does come with a number of ready-made HTML and CSS templates. Like all templates; however, there are massive limitations, so users will inevitably find that the best way to use Dreamweaver is to have some basic understanding of programming. This is one of the reasons why this is considered software for professions only. There are many ways to learn web programming; however, so new users should not find the learning curve to be too daunting. Though the templates are limited, Dreamweaver projects are fully integrated with all of the other programs in the Adobe Creative Suite. Unfortunately, this does exclude some very popular and widely used programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

Newer versions of Dreamweaver have many new updates. Users will now be able to use the Element Quick View in order to examine the markup of a document via an interactive HTML tree that lists all static and dynamic content. Users will also be able to preview any changes that were made in real time using a new tool called Live Insert.

Even though there are many tools available to help users learn how to make the most out of Dreamweaver, it is very obvious that this is software for professionals almost exclusively. Those who do not bother to learn will quickly become frustrated. One additional thing that could cause frustration to novices and professionals alike is that Dreamweaver, as with all of the other Creative Cloud Suite programs, does requite an ongoing subscription to the Creative Cloud service. Those without a subscription will not be able to use the program. The advantage to this is that users are able to work on their projects no matter where they are. The biggest disadvantage to this is that unlike previous versions of Dreamweaver, users are locked in the subscription model.

PROS:

• Very powerful software.
• What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get methodology.

CONS:

• Software for professionals only.
• Users are forced into Adobe's subscription model.