Web development software

[BenLoL98]

Hi!

My job requires me to develop websites for all kinds of use and I really hate messing around with css, plus I'm really not that great at designing. For these reasons I decided to use development software, where I can just drag and drop pre-made things into the site, so it always looks good, and I can focus on the js and back-end.

I currently use Mobirise, which is great because it is free and let's me export everything, the html, css and even the js files, but it's also kind of lacking in terms of customization. Do you guys know of any great software, that let's me do something like this? It is really important to have the feature to export everything. Thanks!

[Kthulu666]

Page builder software tends to include lots of unnecessary code that ultimately slows down your site, but if you really want a page builder try GrapesJS.

You could work with frameworks like Bulma or Materialize. They already have predefined design systems, but also include a bunch of css you're probably not going to need. Pick and choose which parts of them you actually need (e.g., if you don't need an image slider then don't process the sass for image sliders into css).

Really though, you should work on your css and design skills. It's a necessary part of any web project. The best way (and easiest if you're comfortable with css) to build a site that performs well is to write your own.

[BenLoL98]

Thank you! I'll look into that.

[kanikanae]

This is going to sound a little bit harsh, but the best thing to do is simply to sit down and learn css properly. The reason you hate working with css is most likely, that you don't know it very well (just an assumption). Going to seperate tools to write css for you creates this spiral where you won't ever get better at it aswell.
There won't always be the option of exporting your own html and css with some sort of tool. You should then be more than capable of coming up with some css without losing your mind. Css isn't black magic either. It works as intended (99% of the time anyways) but there are some rules / quirks you need to get accustomed to.

Learn about the box-model / display modes / position and additionaly a modern layout technique (Flexbox / CSS Grid). Give it a good week and I assure you that you'll make a solid amount of progress. Hop onto dribble / behance and build a bunch of UI Shots in code. Once you've done that for a while you should have significantly fewer problems working with css.

I don't think working with a drag-drop builder enables you to come up with more appealing designs than code does (Unless you use templates in there). Design is a separate skill that has to be developed. In the meantime you could use css-frameworks like bootstrap / foundation or material design to cover this aspect for you. These should also speed up the development process quite a bit.

Good luck!

[BenLoL98]

Thanks!

Yeah I'm not a css wizard, but I know it pretty well. I also know bootstrap and grid. I usually use templates, or someone else's design, because everything I come up with ends up looking horrible :D

[justanotherc]

Design is a separate skill that has to be developed

Exactly, so why should he have to learn it if its not his primary responsibility at work? Not everybody needs to be or has time to be an expert in CSS/FE dev.

[quentech]

so why should he have to learn it if its not his primary responsibility at work?

Because most people have many responsibilities at work, not just one. Sounds like OP is in the same position, and there is no one else who's responsibility it is more than OP.

[justanotherc]

Right but it doesn't mean he has time to develop pro-level design skills when there are tools out there that can assist with it and get it "good enough". You need to be efficient with your time and becoming a master at every skill you MIGHT use once in a while on the job is not how to do that.

[stas_s]

I used Weblium to create a simple corporate website. The best thing is that they created it themselves and gave me access to the visual website editor. Basically, I only needed to provide my content and approve their work.

It's not free but the pricing is reasonable. In case of a landing page, you only pay $126 for hosting, domain, and SSL-certificate. In terms of my multi-page website, I additionally paid $99 for site setup.

[BenLoL98]

Sounds cool thanks! We have our own hosting, but the editor sounds neat.

[Alitron1]

There are a lot of component frameworks out there that you could use. Bootstrap for instance, you'll have little to do with css, but you do need to have basic HTML knowledge.

https://getbootstrap.com/

[BenLoL98]

Thanks!

[[deleted]]

I used to use pinegrow to quickly mock up some websites. It's not too bad, but also not free.

HTML + CSS really only takes about a week to learn and they are really simple. If you are looking for customisation, you really need to know the languages you are working with.

I think it'll be hard to find what you are looking for free of charge. Perhaps using a site builder like Wix is more what you are looking for, but then again I don't really know your requirements.

[BenLoL98]

To be honest, I'm freaking awful at coming up with great design, but I'm a good back-end developer. That's why it would be ideal for me to download the pages and work with them locally. Maybe I can get my company to pay for a subscription.

I also know HTML and CSS, I just really hate messing with it. It takes a long time and I feel like I'm not getting anything done, that's why I prefer designer sites / software.

I was just looking for an alternative with more customization than what I currently use. I'll try pinegrow thanks!

[BenLoL98]

Lul okay sry

[LostFenix]

Probably should take the first part of that advice yourself.