I don't generally do a lot of HTML coding - a bit here and there for my blog, but other than that, not much. However, I've been working with a client on some custom Facebook page tabs and have found myself doing a little more coding that I would like, especially since I generally do it all by hand in TextEdit.
So, I thought it was time to get myself an HTML editor for the Mac. I haven't used an HTML editor since probably about 2002. I was on a PC then and I used to use HoTMetaL PRO (I worked for SoftQuad, its creators, for a while and was totally hooked on the interface; it was originally created in 1994). So now, I'm just looking for something that can create good structured markup. Essentially, it should allow me to type something, and then when I highlight it and click the "B" button (or use Command-B) it puts <strong></strong> tags around that text. It should do intelligent lists. And maybe a little table layout. I don't need much.
And it doesn't need to be WYSIWYG - I like seeing the HTML code. I just don't want to have to type all the tags out.
But WOW all the "HTML editors" I've looked at recently are really these hard core development web development suites. Are there no lightweight HTML editors anymore?
Here's what I'm considering and/or in the process of trying:
Komodo Edit 6 - looks very powerful, but when I start it up I have no clue what to do. This is likely too techie for me. But I like the Open Source and cross-platform aspect of it.
Flux - recommended by a couple of people. Watched the intro video. Seems like it could work. Again, probably about 75% more tool than I will need, but I do like the tag interface and the way the inline CSS inspector works.
Coda - trying this now. It seems fine, but isn't doing what I want to do. There is a "code snippet" feature that would allow me to put in frequently used tags, but that seems like a lot of work. I can do that in something like TaskPaper - no editor needed.
Freeway Express - pretty. WYSIWYG. Free. Oh, has a specific template editor for Blogger blogs. This is kind of cool - if I were on blogspot, this might be something to consider.
RapidWeaver - I don't know about this whole add-on thing. Seems like the price of your HTML editor is going to get out of hand. Seems like a really powerful suite - comes with lots of themes, publishing across multiple sites.
Espresso - might do the trick - looks a little more lightweight (not a bad thing) than some of the others. I actually got a license for this as part of a MacHeist bundle.
If you're a Mac type, what are you using to edit HTML? Or is there no such thing as just a plain Jane HTML editor anymore. It's either a web dev suite or hand coding? Your thoughts and advice are appreciated!
Update: Thanks to my buddies Dethe and Daniel for some of these recs!
Update 2:
- @leehorrocks recommends Textmate along with the Zen Coding plugin
- @alan_schietzsch likes Espresso's code folding feature
- @sbouchard likes Taco HTML Edit
- @sprilmains likes TextWrangler and Vormplus Web Tools; and
- McCormick likes BBEdit
I've started using TextMate - I really like some of the shortcuts.
Photo Credit: laihiuyeung ryanne