Which Software is best for editing?

[Zadris]

Hello, can someone be so kind to tell me which software is best for editing Zen-Cart?

I would like to be able to make the correct changes and then view it in my browser. I don't mean notepad of anything like that. I have been editing Zen-Cart with a very basic program but I need a program that also corrects any errors I may make.

Thank you.

[gjh42]

I like Notepad++ combined with a local (XAMPP) installation of Zen Cart (all free), so as soon as a file is edited, I refresh and see the effects in my browser. Notepad++ has syntax highlighting so certain kinds of errors show up instantly. Anything that detects more subtle logic errors would probably be on the order of artificial intelligence, extremely sophisticated.
There are fancier ways of doing it - I understand Dreamweaver is now capable of handling PHP sites - but you don't have to buy an expensive program.

[DrByte]

Agreed. Notepad++ (http://notepad-plus.sf.net) is my recommendation too, for windows pcs anyway.

http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Useful_Tools

[frank18]

If you predominantly run Linux (as I use mainly Ubuntu) my preference is for Bluefish Editor.

For Windoze I agree with Glenn and DrByte: Notepad++ is the go

[honey]

I like Notepad++ combined with a local (XAMPP) installation of Zen Cart (all free), so as soon as a file is edited, I refresh and see the effects in my browser. Notepad++ has syntax highlighting so certain kinds of errors show up instantly. Anything that detects more subtle logic errors would probably be on the order of artificial intelligence, extremely sophisticated.
There are fancier ways of doing it - I understand Dreamweaver is now capable of handling PHP sites - but you don't have to buy an expensive program.

Well, the Notepad++ is nice, but the Dreamweaver works well too if you don't care about the price.

[torvista]

My preferred method (Windows) setup is

1) Develop everything locally with Xampp

2) Use Dreamweaver for file edits: not for WYSIWYG editing as its preview is not faithful anyway but because CS5 does real-time php syntax checking.
I hardly ever get a white screen of death due to minor coding errors.
Eclipse does the same job for free. While these may be considered "expert" tools, its the novices that need them most.

3) Preview with FFox + HTML validator plugin which spots any html errors I've introduced. As as result my entire site has only three validation errors (all due to Facebook code).

4) Keep an eye on javascript errors with FFox + Web developer plugin/Firebug and IE developer tools, which sometimes pick fault when FFox does not.

5) Tweak CSS with FFox and Firebug.

6) Tweak CSS for IE8 if necessary.

7) Beyond Compare for uploading to real site: easiest (visual) way to keep local and remote files in sync.

8) Have the ZC database backup contribution installed to
- easily get a remote backup into the local database
- easily make backups prior to any db fiddling/adding new contribs.
No messing needed with phpmyadmin.