June 14, 2007 The Coda Factor

The Coda leafUntil Coda’s release, my workflow was relatively set and regimented. I used a simple combination of tools that consisted of:

While Coda’s simplified approach to web development make it the perfect candidate to take the place of many of these individual programs — it promises one-window web development — it’s not quite there. I’ve found it actually complicates my workflow. And, unfortunately, the release of CSSEdit 2.5 and it’s powerful override and X-ray features make matters even worse for me.

To give you an idea, here’s an example of my current toolset:

  • Coda for simple FTP
  • Coda for simple HTML
  • Coda for previewing HTML changes
  • TextMate via “Edit in TextMate” for advanced HTML
  • CSSEdit for CSS
  • CSSEdit for previewing CSS changes
  • CSSEdit and Coda for copy/pasting final CSS code into live document
  • Safari textareas for certain ExpressionEngine pages
  • Safari to double-check the preview, or sometimes because I forget Coda has live previewing
  • FireFox to test how Mozilla treats the code
  • Various other testing on various other browsers

As you can plainly see, Coda has made my life so much easier. Not.

Even still, the key factor in my continuing to use Coda is the company its developed by (as well as its infancy). I’ve been a Panic user since the release of Audion, and they’ve earned my loyalty. It’s Panic’s software development philosophy that makes them so special. Their ideas aren’t original — or, perhaps “aren’t fundamentally innovative” is a better way to put it — but the way they implement those ideas is.

So, there you have it. I’m admitting to my masochistic software use once again. Aren’t these computers supposed to make our lives easier?

Comments

You should come out to Refresh Seattle on Monday, Eric Meyer will be there and it’d be fun to talk to you about both of these posts regarding Coda and Newsfire.

Joshua
June 14, 2007

I’d love to, but isn’t it on Wednesday? I’ll have to try and re-work my schedule.

Sean
June 14, 2007

Yeah you are right, Wednesday… if you could re-work it that’d be fantastic.

Joshua
June 14, 2007

I’ve tried using Coda several times because I just loved the interface. But every time I find myself grabbing back to the tripple-combo of CSSEdit, TextMate and Transmit…

The combination of CSSEdit and TextMate is very powerful, ea. whenever you hit “Save” in TextMate, CSSEdit’s preview-screen will automagically update itself. So it’s kinda like a live (or at least, semi-live) html previewer :-)

Sorry Coda, but your an octopus with a couple of legs to many…

Tim
June 14, 2007

I have to agree with Tim—CSSEdit, Textmate and Transmit is the way to go. Er, and then you have to leave Firefox open, because CSSEdit only shows Safari. So. CSSEdit, Textmate, Transmit, and Firefox. That’s definitely the way to go.

timoni
June 15, 2007

I fell so left out. I need to get a mac.

Michael
June 15, 2007

Coda would make hand-coding a lot less painful for me as a migrant Dreamweaver user, but its inability to play nicely with Expression Engine leaves me running back for familiar territory. The idea behind Coda is great, but the execution leaves a little to be desired.

Charlie
June 19, 2007

Man, I must be missing out on textmate and cssedit, because I use Coda non-stop and love it. Of course, I came to Coda from Dreamweaver’s code view. I liked Dreamweaver because of the built-in FTP. Coda served that in a more light-weight program. The publish arrow appearing on save of my files is wonderful. I find it to be a hassle when I have to switch to Transmit. Of course, I’ve never used a CSS program like Coda has built in or like CSSEdit. Still hand-coding all that. Maybe I’m missing something there as well (speed perhaps?). Wouldn’t mind trying that combo out. I am curious, Charlie, how Dreamweaver is compatible with EE.

Jon Thomas
June 11, 2008

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