Which website design software should I learn?

[richardxjr]

It's time I learned a new skill. I wrote the odd website back in the late 90s using MSPublisher, they were allright too, back then. I also used Lotus Approach to build a database in 1998 - I still use this as my main piece of software today.
Apart from Office docs, that's about it. I don't use any design software at all.

I've got a lot of business ideas buzzing around my little head right now and they will all come to nought unless I get them tidily and cheaply out there on the internet. So it would be for my own use primarily.

I'm happy with my design and creative abilities, just need to be able to get them up on t'web. Something better than the web builder stuff that 1&1 etc sell.

So, what's fairly easy and cheap to learn over a few months then?

[durbster]

Dreamweaver is the go-to answer but it ain't cheap or particularly good, although it has a WYSIWYG editor which is handy for learning. Personally I use Netbeans and/or Notepad++. A lot of developers I know use Sublime Text.

The software isn't that important though so just concentrate on learning HTML and CSS. You can then find the software that suits you best. Ideally you want something that provides code-hints because HTML and CSS are often unpredictable and idiosyncratic.

Also, you will want to become good friends with in-browser inspectors (press F12 in any browser). They all have built-in features but I prefer to use the Firebug add-on for Firefox most of the time.

[neverearly]

If you want to learn the basics, read HTML and CSS: Design and Build Web Sites by Jon Duckett. It's number 1 on Amazon in their web design section and explains things in a very accessible way.

[jammy_basturd]

Use a text editor like Notepad++ or my fav, Sublime Text 3.

Start with Wordpress - it's one of the best solutions for messing around with online based business ideas. Hacking around with different themes and plugins to make them do what you require will teach you a fair bit of PHP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript/jQuery.

From there you'll be able to start writing your own little bits of website from scratch.

[richardxjr]

Thanks for the replies, I'll follow these suggestions up.

[jammy_basturd]

Also look at the online code learning sites like Codecademy.

[andy-xr]

What do you want to do with these business ideas? eCommerce? Lemonstand for you. Get them out there? Joomla/Wordpress/whatever cms. Be cool and beardy? Hack up Ruby on Rails

Depends what you need to use it for

[richardxjr]

Just get them out there really, no e-commerce, I'm thinking of online brochure/shopfront sort of thing. Even blog style will work, just don't want anything generic and crap looking like 1&1 etc. Wordpress looks popular.