Overview

Adobe Dreamweaver is a professional Web development application used for designing and maintaining websites. It provides an integrated development environment (IDE) for creating standards-based Web pages and Web applications. Dreamweaver includes a visual "WYSIWYG" editing interface that automatically generates HTML, but also allows users to manually write HTML code. The program supports advanced coding features and syntax highlighting for several languages, including HTML, PHP, ASP, XML, CSS, ActionScript, and JavaScript.

User Interface

The Dreamweaver workspace allows users to switch between editing perspectives when designing Web pages. Each perspective is made up of a customized layout of toolbars, windows, and panels. While a coder’s perspective might include a text editor with syntax highlighting, a designer’s perspective may display the visual HTML editor. A publisher’s perspective may include Dreamweaver’s Live View, which allows the designer to preview the site before publishing it to the Web.

Capabilities

Website developers can leverage several Dreamweaver features to save time when developing Web pages. Code generation and code compliance features ensure that websites display the same across different Web browsers without having to manipulate code directly. Syntax highlighting and code hinting help developers write code faster and catch bugs before publishing the pages. The Live View interface gives developers a quick website preview without having to view the pages in a Web browser. Integration with version control systems, such as Subversion, allows concurrent development of websites between multiple developers.

Dreamweaver helps Web developers create and organize websites by compiling site resources into individual site profiles. When a user loads a site profile, all site files and site settings are loaded together. This allows users to easily switch between websites without needing to load multiple files. Dreamweaver's site view allows developers to preview the site structure and publish an entire site as a coherent, finished product.

User Community

Dreamweaver users are primarily website professionals, although smaller pockets of personal users also exist. The program allows both types of users to create websites without worrying about coding standards or language syntax. Many Dreamweaver users also use other Adobe products, such as Photoshop, Fireworks, and Flash, to create content for the Web.

Screenshots:

Welcome	New Document	Code Assist
Live View	Open File Types	Preferences
Site Setup	CSS Editing	Workspace Layouts

Features:

• Standards-based, visual (WYSIWYG) Web development
• Perspective-based workspace environment
• Syntax highlighting and advanced coding features for multiple languages
• Site management and FTP/SFTP publishing
• Live View pre-publishing perspective
• Version control system integration
• Integration with other Adobe software

System Requirements:

Mac OS

• Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later
• Multicore Intel processor
• 512MB RAM
• 1.8GB free disk space
• 1280x800 display with 16-bit video card
• DVD-ROM drive
• Broadband Internet connection for online services

Windows

• Windows XP w/ SP2, Vista, or 7
• Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 1GB free disk space
• 1280x800 display with 16-bit video card
• DVD-ROM drive
• Broadband Internet connection for online services