Drop, charge, and lose the cords
Entered CNET Catalog: 11/01/2001
SKU: HSW050D000
Manufacturer: Adobe Systems
Manufacturer description
Macromedia HomeSite 5 is a powerful, efficient solution for Web developers seeking a flexible approach for hand-coding Web pages. HomeSite 5 delivers advanced code validation and XHTML support and is part of an integrated workflow when combined with Macromedia Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver UltraDev, and Fireworks. Macromedia HomeSite 5 introduces an industry-leading approach to integrated XHTML support. XHTML brings more structure and creativity to displaying HTML, and will play an increasingly important role in delivering Web content to various devices and platforms. The coding features in HomeSite 5, such as tag editors, tag insight, and color-coding, all support the XHTML specification. HomeSite 5 also includes improved file management, code validation, project deployment, extensibility, and double-byte character support. Code validation verifies the syntax of the code, and a Codesweeper ensures it is formatted to user-configurable preferences. HomeSite can also manage complex Web applications using physical, virtual, auto-inclusive folders, as well as through integration with leading source control software. The product can also be easily automated and customized to increase user productivity. In addition to XHTML support and code validation, HomeSite 5 will improve developers' workflow through integration with Macromedia Fireworks. HomeSite users can select an image file and launch Fireworks from within HomeSite to edit the graphic.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/22/2001
Growing with the times
HomeSite's first asset has always been its editing window, with myriad options that can be as helpful or as nonintrusive as the user prefers. In keeping with the expanding Web, HomeSite 5.0 extends color-coding, tag help, validation, and code optimization to support still more languages beyond HTML. It recognizes XHTML documents by their and validates and edits tags accordingly. Visual Tools Markup Language (VTML) lets you create tag support for new document types such as custom XML DTDs. The editor also now has a double-byte mode that supports Unicode and other international character sets.
Another HomeSite strength is its file-handling interface, which has convenient devices for editing and managing several documents at once. This version adds a Secondary File panel that lets you work with content from two locations at a time. A smart FTP manager, integrated with Windows Explorer, transparently handles FTP connections and transactions for you. And the new Auto-Backup feature regularly saves works in progress to a backup folder, so the user can selectively retrieve earlier versions after an unwanted save, a system outage, or a change of heart.
Other new features aim at the developer who manages an entire site or also works with graphics and design. A new project-deployment system automates rule-based file publishing to one or several remote servers. It has a steep learning curve but can be scripted, and it is quite a time-saver once you get it going. HomeSite 5.0 also introduces nominal integration with other Macromedia products: a button lets users switch to editing in Dreamweaver, and a menu command opens any image in Fireworks, which attempts to find the original source file.
Stronger, with minor scratches
The stability and performance are much improved over previous versions, handling complex file systems and large open documents with speed and grace. HomeSite is still fragile on the edges: dragging the wrong panel icon or attempting a misconfigured deployment gets you a long pause or a cryptic error message. But in our most abusive tests, the program didn't once crash or freeze.
Some of the new features are not as well integrated as they could be. The project-deployment interface doesn't make it clear that you can use servers that you already entered in the FTP manager. And after you designate a document as XHTML, HomeSite still won't validate it as such unless you tell the program to do so in the Options menu. Still, these are inconveniences that you'll have to deal with only once.
Weapon of choice
Most of your experience with HomeSite 5.0 will be churning out quality code and managing your site's files with ease and convenience. Macromedia has successfully updated this editor to keep up with a maturing Web. For current HomeSite users who don't run Windows 95, the $29 upgrade is an outstanding value, but any Web developer who creates and manages volumes of code and other Web content should strongly consider HomeSite 5.0.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
Just uninstall Notepad, use this!
Pros: everything you could possibly need to edit html.
Cons: nothing really, besides a few imperfections
User Rating: 
1/10
TRASH THIS! GET DREAMWEAVER
Pros: NONE, TRUST ME!!!
Cons: Not very advanced features, most people can write that kind of HTML from memory!
MUCH MORE ADVANCED, MUCH MORE USER-FRIENDLY, MUCH EASIER TO USE, MUCH MORE USEFUL.
User Rating: 9/10
Very very friendly!!
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User Rating: 
7/10
All it's missing is JavaScript
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User Rating: 
8/10
The best code editor around
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3/10
still gpfs
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10/10
Still the best hand coder out there
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User Rating: 8/10
Great for pure HTML editing!
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User Rating: 10/10
Great, Easy to use product
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User Rating: 10/10
Fantastic HTML editor
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4/10
If you have Homsite 4.x, do not upgrade to 5.0
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User Rating: 7/10
The best tool for code-centric development.
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User Rating: 8/10
Does it all quickly and cleanly
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User Rating: 10/10
No Competition
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User Rating: 9/10
Just keeps getting better!
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User Rating: 10/10
Excellent HTML Editor for all skill levels
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2/10
A few steps up from Notepad...
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User Rating: 10/10
Best TextEditor ever.
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Everything is SO easy - I even rate it higher than Dreamweaver.
User Rating: 10/10
A real programmer's HTML editor.
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User Rating: 10/10
Best HTML Tool Ever!
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User Rating: 10/10
The best HTML editor on the market.
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User Rating: 10/10
The best HTML editor
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User Rating: 4/10
Potentially good, but far too dangerous
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