Tool for building good looking basic websites

welshdragon · 4 Sep 2016 at 17:19

Hi all,

I've discussed Pinegrow on here before and I am currently off learning html/css.

However while I learn the intricacies one thing has become clear, I learn better actually building something or starting with something and learning by modifying it to suit me.

I also have a need to pull together some good looking 1 or 2 page sites fairly swiftly.

With that in mind would Pinegrow be a good tool for knocking together some sites fairly easily? I am keen on their new 'bootstrap blocks' tool which seems ideal?

What are peoples thoughts (other than text editor code being the only way forward)

PaulB · 4 Sep 2016 at 20:01

Can't comment on Pinegrow as I don't have any experience of it, but if you're learning HTML & CSS, the best way would be to get stuck into hand coding the pages you want - download a decent editor like Atom, Brackets or something similar and get typing

Also, won't cost you anything - looking at Pinegrow, there's a cost involved.

welshdragon · 7 Sep 2016 at 14:03

I struggle with imagination and creativity to a degree but you are right. I think I may throw myself back into an online learning system as they appear to have matured somewhat.

welshdragon · 11 Sep 2016 at 15:49

Howardg said:
I am a beginner in web design, and I read a lot of info on MonserPost blog. Maybe you guys will find it useful for you too. I guess, it is worth reading

Can you link me to it?

Gibbs · 19 Sep 2016 at 15:25

Thanks for acttauly shraeing the http://pinegrow.com/ stuff, looks like a perfect tool for those who need to do smaller edits to pages on demand. Something I have a need for in the near future in a new project,

For larger scale projects and sites, its better to stick to the code and learn it. I have been working as QA engineer for 13 years, moving into dev this year, and worked with many developers, and found one recurring theme among 95% of them. Its all an unknown until they start writing code and seeing where it takes them.

Very few devs can just sit down and start coding and those that can, mostly stick to one language. I have only come across one dev that can spout multiple languages out in seconds.

welshdragon · 24 Sep 2016 at 21:47

Thank you, sorry for my delay in replying. Just finding it difficult, easiest so far for learning for me has been treehouse/codeacademy but what turned me off is that I would rather just work on a project to learn than bits in isolation. I think I need to revisit them though as some have gone down the project orientated learning route but all are switching to a py model (which isnt bad).

I did try some udemy learning, a Brad Hussey course, hated that if I'm honest

Deleted member 77746 · 26 Sep 2016 at 08:35

You could just purchase templates and edit the code. There's a vast amount out there now.

welshdragon · 27 Sep 2016 at 20:42

Indeed. I've been having a look on themeforest. anyone recommend some reputable template sites?

Deleted member 77746 · 29 Sep 2016 at 08:59

Theme forest is the main one because of the vast amount of templates online or usually I just Google them.

LongBridge · 20 Oct 2016 at 12:57

By the way Perl is still a using programming tool for building interactive websites! you can use it to make forms etc and even to programme your own bulletin board. https://www.perl.org/about.html

Tamber · 24 Oct 2016 at 08:59

Wordpress is open ,i like it ,can use many templates

welshdragon · 25 Oct 2016 at 17:07

Yeah I've been toying between building form scratch or just jumping into WP with templates.

Hyburnate · 25 Oct 2016 at 21:36

welshdragon said:
Yeah I've been toying between building form scratch or just jumping into WP with templates.

Depends on the website type. If you're going to want easy/often updates go for a CMS like Wordpress.

welshdragon · 26 Oct 2016 at 12:43

Fair point. Assuming I know some minor code would working with/editing wp themes be a doddle or is there some sort of programme for editing wp themes along the lines of dreamweaver.

Hyburnate · 26 Oct 2016 at 13:18

welshdragon said:
Fair point. Assuming I know some minor code would working with/editing wp themes be a doddle or is there some sort of programme for editing wp themes along the lines of dreamweaver.

Most aspects of Wordpress are editable within the GUI, there is a visual editor for content and certain styling. If you were to make hard coded tweaks you'd want to create what's called a child theme else you'll overwrite your changes with theme updates.