PSCC Libraries: Web Design & Technology: Design Tools

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Design Tools

Platforms
Software

What is a website platform?

It is the underlying structure or software used to create and support a web page or website. Depending on the purpose of your website, and the resources at your disposal, there are several types of platform to use:

Development platforms are language-based. Examples include ASP or PHP. If you're not familiar with any of these, just know that they're all languages you can use to develop websites.

Content Management Systems are a really popular platform for building websites. They give you ways to get a website online and easy tools to manage your content. Examples include WordPress or Joomla!®

Templated website builders are platforms developed by a company that typically incorporate hosting and design into one product. Most often, they use a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) designer that makes designing your site easy, and integrate publishing your site to the Internet.

The following articles list and explain these options and debate the pros and cons of popular website platforms:

There are many types of software available to web designers for: designing web pages, editing HTML text, tranferring files to your website, and even manging content online. The following are example lists of the tools available, with download links to free and easy-to-use software:

List of HTML Editors

FTP Client Software

Content Management Systems

Books @ PSTCC

HTML5and CSS3 All-in-One for Dummies® by Andy Harris
ISBN: 9781118289389
Publication Date: 2014-01-07
A new edition of a bestseller covers the latest advances in web development! HTML5 and CSS3 are essential tools for creating dynamic websites and boast updates and enhanced features that can make your websites even more effective and unique.
Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Your Website by Jon Rognerud
ISBN: 9781613082577
Publication Date: 2014-01-20
Written for beginners, author Jon Rognerud offers every tip, trick, and secret from keyword research and competitive analysis, to marketing and messaging, content development, link building, and conversions and tracking of search engine positions.
Flash by Anastasia Salter; John Murray
ISBN: 9780262028028
Publication Date: 2014-08-29
Adobe Flash began as a simple animation tool and grew into a multimedia platform that offered a generation of creators and innovators an astonishing range of opportunities to develop and distribute new kinds of digital content. For the better part of a decade, Flash was the de facto standard for dynamic online media, empowering amateur and professional developers to shape the future of the interactive Web.
Developing Mobile Websites with HTML5 by David Karlins
ISBN: 9781305090538
Publication Date: 2014-06-11
Whatever your level of expertise with web development, this book will give you the hands-on help you need to learn how to create dynamic mobile websites that work equally well on laptops and desktops using HTML5.

Learn to Code HTML and CSS by Shay Howe
Call Number: QA76.76.H94 H69 2014
ISBN: 9780321940520
Publication Date: 2014-05-06
HTML and CSS can be a little daunting at first but fear not. This book, based on Shay Howe's popular workshop covers the basics and breaks down the barrier to entry, showing readers how they can start using HTML and CSS through practical techniques today.
Color for Web Design by Cameron Chapman
Call Number: TK5105.888 .C43 2014
ISBN: 9781138025349
Publication Date: 2014-06-23
Color for Web Design is the definitive guide to crafting a unique and appropriate color palette for any website design project.