Why WYSIWYG editor is bad for beginner?

Author: Dexter Zafra Posted: March 15 2005 Word Count: 479 words Read 10109 Rating:

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Too often today, webmasters/designers find themselves depend on WYSIWYG editor, like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. These development tools are not bad, but they can be detrimental if you do not know how to do what you are doing without the WYSIWYG editor!Why is this bad? Well, let's say that one time you don't have your WYSIWYG editor, and something goes wrong? You're up the creek! Or perhaps your WYSIWYG editor of choice cannot cut the mustard for a particular thing you need done. If you've become so reliant on the tool, you would not know how to accomplish the more advance task ahead.WYSIWYG editors make it easy for beginner webmasters/designers to design a web site that contains JavaScript, fancy DHTML, and other interactive elements without knowing how to read or write basic HTML. In the beginners mind think using WYSIWYG is great. Yes, it is great seeing those page transition effects goes from left to right. But wait until there is a problem that requires them to edit the actual code. Oh my god! Where do I start editing this spaghetti code? This is the difference between knowing how to drive a car and how to repair one. Nobody expects you to be able to rebuild your own engine, but you should at least recognize major engine components when you open the hood.There's absolutely nothing wrong with using WYSIWYG editors to create Web pages. Most experienced webmasters/designers like the webmaster of this site use them because they make it easier to code and quickly find errors. Remember,hand-coding knowledge makes your life much easier when building a complex site such as "www.Ex-designz.net". It also give you the pride and right of saying that you're a "real mccoy" html programmer, rather than a button clicker. Troubleshooting your sites tends to be much easier, since you know the code and what does what.Let me make this point clear: for people who are only going to make one or two Websites, it may not be worth their time to learn HTML (not to the extent to be able to code complicated layouts). For these people, using an editor is probably the better choice. However, for those who are in the business of creating Websites, if you hand code, you will be better off than, and have an advantage over the people who use WYSIWYG editors to write their code. You really don't feel the full benefits of learning HTML until you are comfortable coding complicated layouts and have spent a considerable amount of time working with code. This means it takes more time to get started making sites. It's always been my opinion that beginning webmasters/designers should stay as far away from WYSIWYG editor until they have the basics mastered. That means use Notepad! If you have any questions regarding HTML and CSS problem, feel free to contact me.Author: Dexter Zafra webmaster @ www.ex-designz.net

Author/Poster Website: http://www.ex-designz.net

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