• Registered: 2007-08-05
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

I know I will probably get flamed but....
I just installed 'instant rails' today and also just learnt about it today.
It seems to be running fine. My question is, I've been building applications on dreamweaver pretty easy and fast with php and mysql (yep, you guessed it, I can't program for crap) though I have to be a quick study.
Thing is, I have MANAGED to build applications without any indepth knowledge of programming while using dreamweaver. I've become very adept at modifying most php and javascript snippets.
Will I be able to do the same with ruby on rails or is this one of those languages and platforms that those who know how to use will simply turn their noses at everyone else?
I believe this is a fair question so please compare developing under dreamweaver and ROR for me, since I can't seem to find comparisons online.
I need to know if to bother investing tutorial time on ROR or just stick to dreamweaver.
Like, I said, I just got it today and already been through more than 30 articles that don't seem to tell me anything.

  • From: Sydney
  • Registered: 2006-11-28
  • Posts: 111

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

There's nothing to stop you using dreamweaver but it doesn't have syntax highlighting for ruby or code completion and all the nice little extras that speed up your coding in an IDE geared towards coding in rails.  I've got Dreamweaver as well but I wouldn't personally use it for rails development. Try Aptana for a free open source IDE which is available on Linux, Mac and Windows.  If your on a Mac you might just want textmate like 90% of other mac users.

Last edited by sydneyfx (2007-08-05 23:13:45)

sydneyfx's Website

  • Registered: 2007-07-23
  • Posts: 9

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

It really depends on what you want to build your sites for. There's nothing wrong with Dreamweaver + PHP if you have a lot of experience with it and are comfortable with it -- but they have their limitations (Well, not PHP if your PHP-fu is good -- but it seems a lot harder to do some things in PHP then in Rails). The rails community as far as I can tell is pretty strong and supportive, and I assume it will get better as the Rails PR machine doesn't look like it's slowing anytime soon (plus Ruby and the Rails framework are just really fun, IMO). That being said, you might find something like Hobo ( http://hobocentral.net/ ) more up your alley. It's a plugin to rails to make fairly advanced sites with minimal knowledge of code. I'd reccomend checking out it's screencasts ( http://hobocentral.net/screencasts.php ) see if the functionality you get would be useful to the sites you're designing.

  • Registered: 2007-08-05
  • Posts: 4

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

I've just gotten through building my first app with the "Rolling with Ruby on Rails" by by Bill Walton and Curt Hibbs.
I am getting this horribly sneaky feeling that I may just have been a little too smug with my Dreamweaver/php interface.
Gosh, I even wrote an article in a local daily about why nothing could be better than PHP.
See, I had read a little Ruby but missed Ruby On Rails (Dont ask how).
All the same guys:
Most of the example apps I have seen, I can build in dreamweaver just about as fast though granted, I don't really have fun. But I dont have to code either.

randyp wrote:

That being said, you might find something like Hobo ( http://hobocentral.net/ ) more up your alley

sydneyfx wrote:

Try Aptana for a free open source IDE which is available on Linux, Mac and Windows

I guess I have a bunch of apps to download and try in conjuction with ROR.
Meanwhile, more feedback please.

  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • Registered: 2007-04-23
  • Posts: 3

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

I used to use Dreamweaver with an extension called Rubyweaver. You can check it out at http://rubyweaver.gilluminate.com/. It gives you syntax highlighting for Ruby in Dreamweaver. Now I use Aptana + Rad Rails. aptana.com. Hope that helps you out.

  • From: Sydney
  • Registered: 2006-11-28
  • Posts: 111

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

jdpace wrote:

I used to use Dreamweaver with an extension called Rubyweaver. You can check it out at http://rubyweaver.gilluminate.com/. It gives you syntax highlighting for Ruby in Dreamweaver. Now I use Aptana + Rad Rails. aptana.com. Hope that helps you out.

I hadn't heard of Rubyweaver so I might have to check it out just to see what it's like.

sydneyfx's Website

  • From: New York
  • Registered: 2007-05-11
  • Posts: 128

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

Try the e-texteditor which gives you the power of TextMate on Windows:
http://www.e-texteditor.com/

Last edited by shajused (2007-08-07 04:14:53)

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Sam G.
  • Registered: 2007-08-05
  • Posts: 4

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

Thanks guys.
Ive finally settled on eclipse for rails (v 3.2.2) which also comes with RadRails.
I also downloaded Aptana I dont know why yet but I seem  inclined to eclipse.
I guess I'll know soon if I made the right choice.

Download Link

  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2006-09-28
  • Posts: 29

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

If you don't wanna stick with dreamweaver and you need an IDE for all the development processes I highly recommend you Visual Studio with Ruby In Steel. It is an extension for Visual Studio to support Ruby and Rails applications.

I've been using it for a while and what can I say? It is awesome.
I've also wrote yesterday a post about it in our tech blog.
See what you have to know and why I say it is far away the best choice for Rails development on Windows platforms.
Give it a try:
http://www.eclips3media.com/workshop/?p=8

http://liquid.webforce.hu
http://www.eclips3media.com

liquid's Website

  • Registered: 2010-03-30
  • Posts: 3

Re: Should I just stick with dreamweaver??

kenyan wrote:

Thanks guys.
Ive finally settled on eclipse for rails (v 3.2.2) which also comes with RadRails.
I also downloaded Aptana I dont know why yet but I seem  inclined to eclipse.
I guess I'll know soon if I made the right choice.

Download Link

Good choice.

I personally prefer Vim. If you ever decide to make the jump to Vim, there are extensions to integrate it to Eclipse so you don't lose the IDE functionality.