Why learn to code?

http://www.hostultra.com/~qskrayzie/Grizz/2/main.html

Here's the first site I tried to build using nothing but PS and ImageReady. I rushed to upload it so forgive me if some things are missing or whatever. I know it's extremely ugly, and the code (to you guys cause I don't know any better) will probably look horrible. BUT my point is...I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted to do using these two programs alone. It slices everything up and exports the html, so what do you mean it doesn't output any html?

Now don't get me wrong. I know that you guys know way more than I do about this stuff. I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about. I'm just trying to get things straight for myself. You all are telling me this and that can't be done in PS and ImageReady, but I've done it and other people say they have done it.

Do me a favor. Rip that page apart. Point out the faults. Criticism is welcomed. Why would building that same page (if possible) by code have made it better?

I am assuming this was done by using an export to web wizard in photoshop.

Basically, this is using Photoshop as an html editor. Just like other wysiwyg editors it will have the benefit of being all simple, whilst having many limitations. Further, photoshop was never designed for this - the export facility is a bonus add-on, a gimmick. This means that you will be even more limited than if using Frontpage.

A couple of years ago, an IT teacher set my class an assignment, which was this:
We were to produce the following documents:
A letter all properly laid out etc
An Invoice, which calculated the sum of all of the items, added VAT and postage costs using a couple of calculations
A power-point-style presentation

Each document was to be produced in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

obviously each document was easy to produce in the correct application. Try making an invoice that auto-calculates in Word (just about possible) or Powerpoint (not so possible)

Basically what this shows is that every application has its purpose, its strengths and it's weaknesses. You can design websites in word, but it isn't advisable. You can design websites in photoshop, but again, not advisable.


Sorry but this made me laugh. You believe that not learning how to do things is somehow super-useful? HTML Will not magically dissappear in the next four years. It will evolve, as it has done for the last seven years (or however long it has been). Slowly and surely it will evolve and improve. So you keep track of the changes. If you want to get into a business in IT or technology then you have to be prepared for change.

If you are scared of keeping up with the changes then I advise you to go and find a business that doesn't require you to think.

BTW if you do want anything really useful for a site (you mentioned forums, eCommerce, etc.) you need to learn server-side scripting. I doubt anyone here would advise you to learn server side scripting before you even know any markup.

Final Point: you will get back from this what you are willing to put in. If you put in a lot of effort to learning stuff (and there is a lot of stuff to learn) you will get good and be able to really excel. If you can't be bothered to learn even the basics, then you will never be any good. laziness just won't pay off.

Thanks for f*in highjacking my browser! Geez! How many pop-ups was that? And then one of them wouldn't close?

You NEED to learn coding if you plan on having any kind of a future in web development. Period. That's the straight truth. If you don't want to learn coding, perhaps try your hand at farming.

I was going to type a nice message in response, but that pop-up attack just ticked me off!

also when you do a concept in photoshop you decide the best way to cut it up, how you want the nav, text to include the background image, whether to use transparent gifs, etc etc. when photoshop/fireworks cuts up a page it tends to look at the image in a 2 dimensional way and just cut up what you can see. i love pshop (hate fireworks) but i think you decide the best way to cut up a page rather than the software.

to the average joe its probably not a big issue but making sure the page is accessible to visually impared, usable to everyone, works on all browsers etc etc.. thats the difference between the average web designer/developer and a good one, its the small things (detail).

then again i have had a bit of alcohol and this could be a bit of a ramble

Makes sense. But then again, I've had a few drinks as well. LOL.

I didn't realize there were alot of popups. Norton must have blocked them from my computer. So sorry....but you can save the *plum*.

Thanks to the rest of you though. I think I'll continue learning to code.

No one really ripped this apart, so here I go. And sorry if you're not looking for responses anymore, but maybe this could be a lesson to everyone:

-Not everyone has broadband. Too many graphics overload these connections. Be considerate of the dial-up and DSL users. Yes, in most places, DSL is still slower than broadband. Please shut up.

-The image ends abruptly on the right side! It just goes to white! This is what code is for...not only does it add interactive elements, it's structuring, too! This is not aesthetically pleasing at all, not even the image itself.

-Your pages need to be much simpler. Yes, they can be very beautiful with being light on the graphics side. Check out the resources at http://websoup.org. Websoup itself has a great layout!

-What is this page about? I have nooo idea!

-Psh. I got a bunch of 404s, so even if I WANTED to know what this was about, which I really don't by the looks of it, I couldn't find out!

-Photoshop is NOT an HTML editor. Yes, it exports code. But at this point, Word is a better HTML editor than PS. Why is yout HTML all is caps??? That makes it so hard to read! If you end up going onto XHTML and XML, they only tolerate lowercase, which is why a crappy editor like FrontPage Express or PS or whatever sucks so bad.

If you need help at any time with anything, anyone here who knows what they're talking about will be more than glad to help you. But please, it is a grave mistake to think that you don't need to learn any of this.

Read from "You NEED to learn coding... onword to farming". If you consider that to be BS then you're a lost cause.

Anyway, it's not just pop-ups that ticked me off. One of the popups actually opened into a full-size window without a close box, disallowed right clicking, and would not close on alt-f4. That's what pissed me off. You've got pop-ups on your site that mimic tactics used by those who market porn in spam email.

I apologize. That's not were I would host a whole site. I was just trying to upload that page somewhere real quick. Just to give you guys an example. But like I said, I had no idea there were alot of pop-ups. I just opened it again and I got two. So I guess it is probably loaded with ads if I disable my firewall. But last night I didn't notice any pop-ups because I was in a hurry and I always have multiple windows open.

Sorry to you guys who experienced the pop-ups. And gsv, I said save the bs because you came off yelling, using profanity, and making sarcastic remarks. I know this is just the internet, but I was trying to get some help and I felt you were being quite rude. But it's all over with now so...whatever.

Now give me a hug.

Thank you for disregarding my comments. Le sigh.

I didn't upload the whole site. That's why you're getting the 404s. There is nothing to link to.

I already know that PS is not an HTML editor.

I didn't code any of that myself so don't ask me why it's in all caps. I'd never code anything in all caps. I DO know that much.

I see what you mean about all of the images needing to load. That's bad. You're right.

Websoup looks like a nice site. I'll be sure to check it out when I get some time. Thanks.

It was *masked* profanity. I didn't actually spell anything out the way you did. But anyway, I was in an aggressive mood yesterday so I appologize.

But, you need to learn to code. You'll enjoy it too. If you need any help, let me know. But get away from using Photoshop as a web-dev tool as soon as possible.

I think your homepage caught me at a bad moment.

LOL! Nothing like a Friday to make ammends. Er, at least it's Friday in Japan. Not sure about where you folk are.

Sorry, I think you got caught in our cross-fire. Good post though.

Yes, definately move on to php, i hate using any programs that create code for you, thats why i tried learning by typing it all out myself in notepad, and i have done so ever since, you learn quicker and it gives you a buzz knowing you created something yourself!