Best HTML5 editor that costs nothing?

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Level 10

84,049 points

Best HTML5 editor that costs nothing?

Well my webhost used to use cpanel and how now moved to Stackcp. Unfortunately in the process they have removed their wonderful HTML5 webpage editor that left all code as I wrote it, and allowed me to manage individual HTML files both in editing as source and editing while working in the preview mode. Can anyone recommend something free that can open my .html documents and do the same thing without signing up for anything, or a paywall? I am running Monterey if that makes a difference.

I've Tried Nicepage, and SubEtha, and BBEdit, but none seamlessly let me edit HTML files stored directly on my Mac and allowed me to see the Preview as I change it.

I miss Adobe Pagemill.

Posted on Sep 28, 2024 12:34 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 1, 2024 2:30 PM in response to a brody

What I do is use a purchased version of Sublime Text 4 which has Emmet support and is HTML/CSS3 aware. The trial version of Sublime Text 4 is an open-ended trial that will ask you to purchase periodically, but does not limit your use of the application. You open the web page in your favorite browser, and as you make changes to the web page in the editor, you refresh the browser page to see those updates.

Another programmer's editor that is not free is Textastic, which is also HTML/CSS3 syntax aware and has Emmet support built into it. One can get a free trial from the developer's website.

I have owned Sublime Text and Textastic for years and they are worth every penny or time that you trial them.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

177,778 points

Sep 28, 2024 2:24 PM in response to a brody

Visual Studio seems to be one that gets a number of recommendations:

https://code.visualstudio.com/

I haven't used it so I can't comment. I doubt you'll find anything for free, or perhaps even for money, that gave the sort of capabilities that PageMill and Dreamweaver did.

Regards.

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Answer 3

a brody Author

Level 10

84,049 points

Sep 29, 2024 4:24 PM in response to varjak paw

Well I see the source editing, but no live preview editing.

That's what I really need. Take my HTML document and render it as it would appear on a web browser, and allow me to edit the rendered version inserting code pieces as needed.

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Answer 4

a brody Author

Level 10

84,049 points

Oct 13, 2024 4:16 PM in response to VikingOSX

SublimeText while it does have nice HTML tag coloring, so does BBEdit. I'd like to be able to edit the HTML rendered page without having to modify the tags per se, and move around linked text without having to select the tags.

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Answer 5

a brody Author

Level 10

84,049 points

Oct 13, 2024 4:08 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the feedback, I'll check it out.

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Answer 6

Oct 13, 2024 4:36 PM in response to a brody

Seamonkey Composer, among others.

Not free: Sparkle.

Not an editor: Ghost.

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Answer 7

a brody Author

Level 10

84,049 points

Oct 13, 2024 7:06 PM in response to MrHoffman

Seamonkey Composer is perfect, thank you.

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Answer 8

g_wolfman

Level 4

2,110 points

Oct 14, 2024 9:22 AM in response to a brody

Always tickles me to know that Netscape lives on.

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Answer 9

a brody Author

Level 10

84,049 points

Oct 14, 2024 7:38 PM in response to g_wolfman

Yep. Firefox is my primary browser. Mainly because I don't like how easy hackers can change Chrome policy, and the limitations on Safari's updates as I can't afford newer hardware.

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