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Dreamweaver CS3 Implements New Web Technologies
I am really impressed by how Adobe has adopted Dreamweaver, added some cutting-edge technologies, then made it easier for everyone to create great websites. (…)
I am really impressed by how Adobe has adopted Dreamweaver, added some cutting-edge technologies, then made it easier for everyone to create great websites.
Isn’t it ironic that, when Adobe bought Macromedia, it suddenly had two competing web design applications on its hands—Dreamweaver and its very own GoLive? There was a lot of speculation what might happen, and for awhile it seemed GoLive might stick around as some sort of web design app for hobbyists and novices. Now we know that GoLive has gone the way of LiveMotion and Dreamweaver is the application Adobe will champion for web designers. I haven’t had a chance to see a Dreamweaver CS3 demo other than what’s been on the webcast, but I do have the latest information on the new application—and I’m dying to get my hands on it.
A COUPLE FOUR-LETTER WORDS
Those four-letter words are “Spry” and “AJAX”. AJAX, for those who don’t know, is Asynchronous JavaScript And XML—a technology that leverages JavaScript and XML to achieve near-Flash level interactivity without Flash or any plug-in technology. Moreover, JavaScript can send and call for data from server-side scripts anytime (hence the “asynchronous”) and no refreshing of the browser is needed. Consider it something like a “smart” webpage. Adobe responded to the promise of AJAX with Spry, an Adobe Labs initiative. Spry is a library of JavaScripts that allow easy creation of AJAX-based user interfaces, and the cool thing about it is that almost all the code is HTML—accessible to everyone who has some web experience.
Dreamweaver CS3 is equipped with a library of Spry widgets and Spry effects, both AJAX-based. Spry widgets are user interface components that allow dynamic, XML-driven lists and tables, tabbed interfaces, validation-capable interfaces and more. Spry effects create visual transitions such as fades, and can be applied to almost any HTML element—and they don’t require server-side scripts or logic, so it works without refreshing the page.
Judging by the screenshots I have seen, there may not be that many Spry widgets and effects available quite yet. In the spirit of Macromedia’s old Extensions Manager, I would love to see Spry effects and widgets developed outside of Adobe and able to be imported into Dreamweaver. Other CS3 apps are bringing user input to the applications (notably Illustrator CS3 and its kuler palette) so maybe we will see a similar thing happen with Dreamweaver and its Spry framework.
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I agree that this is a very minor refresh update (spry was already there in DW8 as was CSS-though now improved slightly).
I’m somewhat dissapointed with the lack of new features to call this version CS3. Drag and drop images from PS seems to be the only real new feature? (PLUS maybe browser compatability/bugs list on the adobe wesbite AND some more templates thrown in).
I look forward to when they upgrade the IDE UI and actually sit down and code what THE CUSTOMERS were asking for (quickly!-before they swith IDE).
Are you sure DW8 has the Spry capabilities? I use DW8 myself and there’s nothing like that included with it. It’s possible Adobe included some Spry elements after they purchased Macromedia (I bought Studio 8 before the merger).
I won’t be passing judgment until I start working with DWCS3 and get a feel for what it improves upon.
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BTW, I got to talk a bit with Kenneth Berger, Dreamweaver product manager, and I learned some news:
• Spry was not included with DW8,
• Validation tools have not changed from DW8 to DWCS3
The last one is a relatively minor thing—DW8 and DWCS3 validates pages pretty well. What drives me crazy is when my sites validate in DWCS3 but they don’t with the W3C validator. I don’t like having to validate twice.
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I think dreamweaver is a night mare! Far too complicated and difficult to time consuming to learn. I have used Golive off and on for a number of years with reasonable success. Building sites is not my life but something that I am required to do from time to time. Golive does not require you to be an “expert.” Sites are very easy to make and change, especially if you don’t have much time, and I am sure there are many others like me with other talents and interests. It takes more or less twice the amount of work, for example, to build a button, inserting in line frames or tables is a snap. It is not easy to for a secretary to manage minor changes in text pages. Take a look at http://WWW.LingualInstitute.com. I took me a day once I had done the graphics. It is very easy to alter…
I agree that Dreamweaver is not “easy”—it’s a complicated application and difficult to master. However, I would sooner blame the nature of web design than the application itself: web design involves complicated code work and the inevitably futile process of trying to get everything to display accurately on all browsers. Technology is getting closer but it’s still a bear, and Dreamweaver does a decent job of making it all easier.
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