Asking for the name of the best HTML editor is pretty much like asking for the name of the best word processor or the best CAD package. The best one is the one that works best for the user's particular needs and methods of working. My all-time favorite is
Arachnolphilia, freeware by Peter Lutus. A long time ago I developed a symbiosis with that program that lets me use it to develop sites quickly and efficiently. Once you get that comfortable with an editor, it's darned hard to even conceive of using something else, so I probably won't change until I have to do something that I can't do with my old pal. I'm sure the people who use NoteTab variations and EditPlus feel the same way.
1stPage looks very versatile, especially for a freebie. FrontPage used to produce just awful-looking code, but the 2002 version (if used with judicious choices to limit the product's more egregious behaviors) does a nice job of preparing sites and pages. I just can't use it because I get a creepy feeling from it doing all that stuff behind the scenes. But I had to look at it and give it a fair appraisal because my wife got tired of me making fun of her for using it. It has come a long way since FrontPage 97. HomePage has long been a favorite of a lot of excellent site builders, and I would think DreamWeaver would be pretty useful to someone who has to do a lot of work with large e-business sites.
Everything but the simplest editors makes me squeamish, though. I like to roll my own where tools are concerned. Arachnophilia lets me do that, then I don't have to worry my old head about where the heck in the vast menu system to find the doomaflotchy to embed the gigamawhirly.
- Collin
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