HTML 5 Introduction

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Task Navigation 

Install an HTML Text Editor

Learning Objectives

  • Identify desirable features in an HTML editor.
  • Compare two or more HTML editors.
  • Report your comparison to other participants of this class
  • Select an HTML editor for your personal use
  • Summarize the reason(s) that led you to choose your specific editor
  • Use your editor to produce a simple HTML page

Task Materials

For this course we need an HTML editing tool. There are many to choose from. We do not need many advanced features for this basic course so pick a simple text editor with syntax highlighting.

Online HTML editors

There are several HTML editors that you can use in your web browser:

  • Mozilla Thimble - Recommended to use on this course. Provides direct visual feedback, syntax highlighting, and easy publishing.
  • HTML Pad (Mozilla online HTML editor)
  • JS Fiddle (JavaScript, CSS, and HTML editor online)

Free/Open Source Text Editors

The following text editors have syntax highlighting and are Free/Open Source tools:

  • Bluefish (GNU/Linux, Mac OSX, Microsoft Windows)
  • Geany (GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows)
  • gEdit (GNU/Linux, Mac OSX, Microsoft Windows)
  • jEdit (GNU/Linux, Mac OSX,Microsoft Windows)
  • Notepad++ (Microsoft Windows)

Advanced Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

Task Discussion


  • g33kgurrl   Nov. 15, 2011, 9:27 a.m.

    I have a number of tools I can use, but I'm going the basic route with Notepad ++

  • nzeribe   Nov. 14, 2011, 2:15 p.m.

    Espresso. It's awesome.

  • alcinoe   Nov. 14, 2011, 8:42 p.m.
    In Reply To:   nzeribe   Nov. 14, 2011, 2:15 p.m.

    I don't have a mac, but Espresso looks great just for its easy coding of some of the new elements of CSS3 that need to be individualized for each browser. Hand coding cross-browser CSS3 gradients, etc is a major pain. 

  • alcinoe   Nov. 13, 2011, 1:39 a.m.

    TED Notepad

  • Anonym   Nov. 12, 2011, 10:37 a.m.

    I use Bluefish.  It supports HTML, CSS, PHP, C, Java, JavaScript, SQL, Python and more.  I think it's an awesome editor.smiley

  • Anonym   Nov. 7, 2011, 11:01 a.m.

    I've got Notepad++

  • learner   Oct. 30, 2011, 8:39 a.m.

    I have a bunch of them from Notepad, old Homesite, a few free ones, NoteTab pro, TextPad, etc.

  • Jo Meyertons   Oct. 27, 2011, 1:24 p.m.

    Blue Griffon works reasonably well but gets a little squirrely at times, not sure why. I find it's useful to start with a Blue Griffon template and then continue in Notepad++, which is very clean. I've ordered Dreamweaver CS5.5 too so I'll be able to try it's features out soon.

  • Jo Meyertons   Oct. 27, 2011, 1:20 p.m.

    Blue Griffon works reasonably well but gets a little squirrely at times, not sure why. I find it's useful to start with a Blue Griffon template and then continue in Notepad++, which is very clean. I've ordered Dreamweaver CS5.5 too so I'll be able to try it's features out soon.

  • Amel Almgdmi   Oct. 25, 2011, 5:16 p.m.

    i use for html5 E text editor on win, textmate & coda on mac 

    sometimes dreamwaver for big projects , don't forget to download server on your machine to start  playing with html5 canvas.

  • joe palmer   Oct. 25, 2011, 4:36 p.m.

    Sorry about the wait on the sign ups, I have not been getting email notifications and just dropped in!

  • mosson   Oct. 25, 2011, 9:58 p.m.
    In Reply To:   joe palmer   Oct. 25, 2011, 4:36 p.m.

    hi, you know when  begin the course?

  • joe palmer   Oct. 28, 2011, 1:45 p.m.
    In Reply To:   mosson   Oct. 25, 2011, 9:58 p.m.

    Go to tasks and just start, this is a self paced course.

  • aphixe   Oct. 20, 2011, 8:52 p.m.

    using any number of editors I got on my system.. Notepad++, Microsoft Expression Web, or Aptana Studio 3. personally i will use whatever seems to work the best.

  • Derek   Oct. 19, 2011, 10:09 a.m.

    I'm using kompozer. I don't know much about it but it seems to offer quite a few options.

  • Mike   Oct. 11, 2011, 9:58 p.m.

    Using Coda and MAMP for local development.

  • Anonym   Oct. 10, 2011, 2:21 a.m.

    Try geany 0.21, for both win and linux, i use at home with ubuntu and at work with win7

  • Alberto   Oct. 9, 2011, 8:12 p.m.

    I've been using the same combination, netbeans + gedit or bluefish

  • Stavros   Oct. 9, 2011, 12:25 p.m.

    I have installed ConTEXT, notepad++ (also portable on my usb stick) and I also have installed netbeans.