Validating Code
To check your code you can use the W3C HTML Validator, this will be added to the resource section.
What this validator does is takes a look at the DTD at the top of your page and takes the version of (X)HTML and checks that against a list of standards and rules. What the validator then does is flag up any issues so that they can be fixed.
Creating valid (X)HTML is a great routine to get into. So its worth popping over to the validator and bookmarking it for later use.
The Resource List
Its been a while but things will start to come together now, I’ve introduced a Resource List section to the site so that once we have discussed a great resource on the blog we can add a link to it in the resource list, this way when the list grows bigger and bigger it will be easier to find them (it’ll beat scrolling through old pages on the blog) and it will also give other resources on the same topic near by.
Hope you like the idea and if you have anything you feel should definitely be in the list, feel free to comment below.
How to add an external stylesheet
With stylesheets becoming the norm in web layout and design, the best way to attach these to your site it externally. This means totally splitting the html from the css. To do this we need 1 link of code that is placed in the head tag <head>, this tag is:
<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”style.css” type=”text/css”/>
All you have to do is use the same code as above and either name your stylesheet to style.css or change the href value to the name of your stylesheet.
I want to build a web site - what do I need?
Web Site Design
Domain Name - your domain name is a great marketing tool to if you are looking at starting up a business or want to add a personal site which you want to be taken seriously then purchasing a domain name which is relevant is essential. Once you have a domain name you will need to host this somewhere, usually you can do both jobs at the same time as most domain registrars offer hosting and vice versa. Again, your hosting requirements should be assessed, you do not want to pay too much but then again you do need to make sure that it is adequate.
Free hosting is also available which usually lets you use a free sub-domain, although these are getting better and better there are limitations and the fact that you are never in full control of your site is always a major factor.
Once you have a domain name and some web hosting, you will need to create your web page or web site. This can be done in a variety of ways from coding the site yourself using HTML editors or GUI programs. There is also the option to purchase a web site template that you can amend to suit your needs.
So, you’ve got a web site, and a domain name and some hosting. What next?
Next you will need a way of getting your web site files to the web host, this is commonly done through a protocol called FTP (File Transfer Protocol). There are plenty of free FTP tools available, the most commons ones include FileZilla, CoreFTP and PuTTY.
So there you go, all the items you need to get a site live on the web.
Free HTML Editors
If you are new to web design it can be difficult when you are starting out to choose the right tools. The first tool you will need to get your hands on is an HTML editor, these range from very basic to ones that have more functionality. The important thing to remember is your site depends on the code you write and not which program it has been put together in. So here we go.
For starters here are a few you can choose from Notepad, Notetab Light, HAPedit, PSPad, and Bluefish. These are just a few of the many HTML editors that can be found out there.
Notepad is a free editor that comes bundled with every version of Microsoft Windows and can be found in the All Programs > Accessories folder. This is a very basic text editor that can be used to code HTML and is the one I started with. You will have to remember when saving documents to actually time the .html extension on the end otherwise you will end up with a text document rather than web page.
Notetab Light is very similar to editor to Notepad, but it has a few added bonuses. You can open multiple documents at the same time, and used the tabbed layout to help you flick between files. It also has a quite handy auto correct function.
HAPedit is a slightly more advanced editor that is short for HTML ASP PHP Editor. This is a editor that is not just aimed at HTML but also the other development languages. One of the best functions in this editor is the syntax highlighting that will point out any coding mistakes making it easier to correct the code.
PSPad is very much similar to HAPedit in its functionality, if offers syntax highlighting for multiple languages which is great for helping out new coders.
Bluefish is another great programmer/web developer editor aimed at people running Mac or Linux systems, it does work on Windows too but support is limited.
The best thing about all these editors is that they are free to download and use, so have a browse though and find one that you like the look and feel of.
Advantages of Coding in HTML
HTML Code
If you are looking to learn how to code and create a websites you will eventually need to learn the HTML language. How well you learn this language will depend on whether you like to code or prefer the option to use a GUI (Graphical User Interface). There are many advantages to learning to code in html.
By learning to code in HTML you will be able to go beyond what a WYSIWYG or GUI program will be able to give you. If you are only using programs that assist you in creating your webpages you will be pinning down your expansion as a web designer or web developer. If you are unable to look at a piece of HTML code and tell whats wrong with it you will never be able to fully understand how to operate and run your own website much less for others. By learning to hand code HTML you will be able to control unneeded or extraneous code that may be applied by programs.
HTML gives you the freedom to create a single webpage or a complete website with a bit of coding. You will have the ability to understand and grasp the concept of what your doing when an idea pops into your head or if a client asks you to create a website for them. You will understand the functions and what it will take to complete the task at hand. Without having real knowledge of HTML you will be unable to fully design what may be needed and even if you are able to do so how will you fix something that is broken or needs the actual coding edited to repair an error?
Do you prefer to write code or do you prefer to use a graphical interface?
Why Code Monkey?
When I tell people I much prefer to open notepad and start typing code rather than using a tool such as Dreamweaver I often get a very bizzare look. I do see the benefits of using Dreamweaver or other GUI design tools but I seem to get much more satisfaction knowing all the code, layout of the code and content is my own. Its not that this is not true from sites created in Dreamweaver type software, it just feels different. I am still at an early age of my web design career and Dreamweaver will probably end up being my tool of choice further down the line, saying that I will spend most of my time in the code only view. I think an inspiration for my wanting to code comes from being a bit of a geek and can think of nothing cooler than being able to hack a computer at command link (just like in the movies). That and the inspiration this video give me.
The video is a song by Jonathan Coulton, once upon a time a software programmer and now muscian and Internet Superstar. Seen as I don”t have a musical bone in my body I guess I best learn to code faster.
Welcome to HTML Users
Just got this blog up today so thought I’d edit the traditional Hello World post before calling it a day.
The site is going to be aimed at wannabe and budding designers hoping to break into the web design market either as freelancers or as part of a larger organisation. I hope to give some insightful knowledge and also hear what your approach to certain situations maybe.
Thanks for checking by guys, I’ll also work on getting some traffic here so we’re not alone.