http://polaris.umuc.edu/~flazarus/
Tools for Programming with JavaScript
Though you are free to use whatever tools you wish,
below are some recommendations.
Text Editors for Scripting
A simple text editor for writing code is an essential tool.
The choice here is nearly infinite. If you do not have a favorite try
TextPad by Helios. You can use
Word and the like to write scripts, provided you save the files created
as text, however it is not recommended. It is sort of like using a
bulldozer to pick up a spoon of salt.
HTML Text Editors
The next step up in editors is represented by HomeSite.
HomeSite by
Macromedia is used by the vast majority of professionals. When coupled
with TopStyle by
BradSoft, a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) editor, you have a
combination of tools that let you have direct access to the code but
which also provide extensive help and flexibility.
Telnet
Telnet applications enable PC control of remote computers, typically
servers. NetTerm, a telnet application by
NeoSoft
is inexpensive and very versatile. It makes server access,
up/down loading files, reading UNIX based mail, accessing URLs, editing
files on line, and such tasks easy. For the specific task of up/down
loading files a File Transfer Protocol (ftp) utility also works well.
FTP
Many ftp programs are available. You can access an
array of ftp programs at Tucows. Several of these are free.
Browsers
You will need a copy of IE 6.x, Netscape 4.8, and Mozilla FireFox 0.x
to test your creations. Different browsers render Web pages differently.
Software Virus Scanners & Fire Walls
Your choice.
AVG
offers a free virus scanner. If you use a DSL or cable internet
connection you should consider a hardware firewall.
Authoring Tools
Authoring tools such as, Dreamweaver or FrontPage are not recommended
for use when writing scripts. HTML was designed for the
efficient transfer of data. The design was based on protocols that use
a minimum communication channel bandwidth. This approach left much of the
formatting of a Web page dependent on the viewers browser. For example,
if you specify a font that is not on the viewers machine
it will not render. The absence of formatting constructs in the
language poses a difficult task for What You See Is What You Get
(WYSIWYG) authoring tools. As a result the code produced, even by the
better high end tools such as Dreamweaver, is not very efficient.
Maintenance of this code is quite difficult. Some of the lower end
products, such as FrontPage, have included proprietary constructs to
deal with formatting problems making the code even more difficult to
maintain. When you add the complexity of JavaScript effects you
are left with a problem that is yet to be solved. It is true that some
common effects, such as rollovers, are dealt with but the repertoire is
limited. In addition, authoring tools try to isolate you from the code
which of course is counter productive to the task of learning to code.
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