KompoZer Momentum

Free downloads of KompoZer reached a new high during the month of August. Increased use of this WYSIWYG HTML editor could be due to renewed development for the cross-platform application or maybe comments in blogs like this one. We just happen to believe that the web authoring capabilities provided by KompoZer are suitable for novice and veteran alike. We also believe the developer has a firm grasp of the issues and a solid development plan.

KompoZer Free Download History

The KompoZer project is hosted by SourceForge to take advantage of software development tools and other resources.

Downloads for August continue a steady upward trend, 32,000 and counting as the month isn’t over everywhere at this writing. I would expect this trend to continue as new release candidates expand to cover all platforms.

Interest in KompoZer is probably peaked by the announcement in July that KompoZer development had resumed.

Downloads are probably (1) first time downloads by folks who have just discovered the package, (2) downloads to replace Nvu, and (3) upgrades for current KompoZer users. I have no data to support that order of precedence but suspect it is in order of importance. "KompoZer upgrades," for example, can be defined by downloads of version 0.7.9 and 0.7.10, maybe 10% of the August total.

The split between first time downloads and frustrated Nvu users is more difficult to gauge. KompoZer is the bug-fix for Nvu. Both are open source, cross platform, WYSIWYG HTML editors and replacing Nvu with KompoZer is simple for most operating systems. I personally think calling KompoZer a ‘bug-fix’ understates the contribution that Kaze, KompoZer developer, has made to the code base. KompoZer does a lot of things better than the original.

I personally think calling KompoZer a ‘bug-fix’ understates the contribution that Kaze, KompoZer developer, has made to the code base. KompoZer does a lot of things better than the original. Wysi

To me the more interesting question is not how many downloads are Nvu upgrades but how many downloads are by novice web editors. That question is significant to me because I are one. I think beginners should use KompoZer and I think KompoZer is useful for experienced web authors. Kaze describes KompoZer as aimed toward the advanced user. I have read comments by advanced users who agree that KompoZer is a useful tool but as a rookie I find KompoZer to be an essential tool.

I suspect the mix between novice and professional to be something like 50-40 where 50% is novice. I think that because the novice is likely to be doing a web page or site for the first time as a hobby. Because there is no money generated by the hobby we novices are looking for a free download that is easy to use. KompoZer fills that need.

KompoZer Development Road Map

KompoZer is in active development again with changes and release candidates flowing from the developer. The long hiatus is over as Kaze confirms his game plan for future releases. Maybe future releases are our reward for waiting patiently.

The first update to KompoZer since the release of version 0.7.7, July of 2006, was announced on the WysiFAuthoring Forum on July 23, 2007. Since then the subject area dealing with KompoZer has collected 583 posts on 65 topics. This does not count related topics that have popped up in other areas. The announcement thread has more than 6,600 views from the members and visitors alike.

I argued in this blog that KompoZer (or even the predecessor N|vu) was worthwhile as a WYSIWYG HTML editor even without further development. Among its many virtues KompoZer produces valid code. Not many WYSIWYG editors can make that claim. Each day (well almost) I see another post somewhere saying KompoZer is the best tool for the job. Even card-carrying geeks use it.

KompoZer 0.8 is on the Way

KompoZer’s developer has made it clear that he knows where development must go. He reminds us that his frustration led to KompoZer and that he had the basic road map over a year ago. It is interesting to watch the interaction between user and developer taking place daily on the forum. I had no idea when setting up the forum that it would come to this -- in more ways than one.

Here’s the developer’s road map:

• 0.7.x: correct most bugs of the CSS editor (integration of KaZcadeS and urlCleaner);
• 0.8.x: correct most Site Manager bugs and helper application support (integration of some parts of NsmConText);
• 0.9.x: correct some code reformatting bugs (Nvu/KompoZer will always reformat your code, I just would like that this reformatting doesn't affect scripts nor *pre* blocks.

So my short-term plan is to finish the work on CaScadeS (the CSS editor) and all CSS-related bugs. I consider this part of the job should be finished with the next public release (version 0.7.10).

My mid-term plan is to rewrite the site manager. I've already a prototype of NsmConText + FireFTP that makes a good proof of concept, but I don't find it stable enough yet for a public release. However, 0.8 versions will have a site manager with dual local/remote views, like DreamWeaver has. This site manager will also be used in Mozilla Composer 2 (or whatever it will be called).

In case you don’t know, Dreamweaver is a cool, sophisticated application costing hundreds of dollars and Composer 2 is a next generation, open source package. The thing that bothers me about Composer 2 is that it may never get of the ground. Of course the thing that bothers me about Dreamweaver is the price and the amount of time it might take me to master the capabilities. So I keep coming back to the same conclusion: KompoZer is my web authoring answer for the foreseeable future.

Go Download and Make Something!

My advice is download a free copy of KompoZer and start building web pages. I know there are lots of geeks and purists who are offended by the notion that the web belongs to everyone including us folks who lack experience with HTML, CSS and what a friend of mine calls “technobabble.” Rather than having novices upload a less than perfect web page they, the geeks and purists, would have us go to college before authoring. The simple fact of the matter is a less than perfect web page will not cause the Internet to crash.

The other fact of the matter is that any number of professionally built web sites do not meet the criteria for validation established by W3C. Lord have mercy! Some of those professionally developed web sites are based on tables rather than CSS. Such sites have thousands of pages so I doubt my ten are going to hurt anything even if poorly designed.

Certainly web authors should learn to present web sites that are suitable for viewing in all browsers but not many surfers look under the hood. Most modern browsers can render “flawed” code in a coherent form so there is really not an issue with “learn by doing.” Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Get KompoZer and get started.

Wysi

NOTE: After this blog was published the developer made a more detailed release announcement for KompoZer 0.7.10. He provides some interesting information on the project as well.
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