How to choose between FrontPage and Dreamweaver

When you were going to create a web site of even going to edit a simple web page, did this question cross your mind? Well, to me, hundreds of times. Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Dreamweaver (formerly Macromedia’s) has got some definite advantages over each other. So this is my code of choosing between the applications.

1. The experience level.

First and foremost, you have to figure out the expertise you have on the field. If you’re relatively less-experienced, FrontPage is the tool for you. It’s ultra simple and you don’t have to write even one line of code to get the most complicated thing done. You don’t even need to know what CSS means and you don’t have to remeber the syntax.

On the other hand, if you use Dreamweaver, it is relatively complicated. But you get amazing control over what you are doing. You can perfect your work down to the last pixel with the CSS knowledge you posses. You can easily jump around the design and the code and with it’s WYSIWYG tools, it’s really less time consuming.

2. The nature of the job.

Even if you’re the most experienced web designer, to get a simple 5 minute job done, FrontPage is the tool. Other than manually specifying everything with CSS in Dreamweaver, just click and go.

But if it’s a complicated job., well, then you can use either. If you want to make a more informed decision, go doen to the next point.

3. Involvement of Scripts

If your job requires scripts, applets and so on and so forth, choose Dreamwever! It has a lot of support for the scripting languages including ASP, PHP, CGI, Javascript and etc.

Using Frontpage for scripting is acceptable. But it doesn’t have much support for languages at all. Now that’s one of the major disadvantages of using FrontPage. Dreamweaver is extremely intelligent in helping you out with the scripts. FrontPage? No where near.

4. Working with Flash? Fireworks??

Yes! You guessed it right. Then it should be Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver has extensive support for it’s own native software. FrontPage is accenptable. But Dreamweaver can make your live more easier and more enjoyable with it.

If you have CS3 tools, then you’re probably getting the best out of it.

So this is my line of code. Care to tell me what’s yours?