Web Authoring or Web Design?
Some folks feel that “web design” is a better term than web authoring for describing the activity. Clearly there is such a thing as web design. Wikipedia defines web design as:
"...a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media content delivery via Internet in the form of Markup language suitable for interpretation by Web browser and display as Graphical user interface (GUI)."
Wikipedia does not offer a definition for web authoring but their definition of the other thing, web design, is right on. “Design” connotes knowledge and professionalism that is not necessarily present in web authors. A web designer should “plan, model and execute” particularly if paid to provide the service. A web designer should account for client side and server side processing to achieve the goals of the site. Novices probably lack the technical background to understand a lot of that but with the right tool they don’t need to.
Novices Aren’t Stupid
KompoZer is a continuation of Nvu. I have designated it as the official bug fix for the free, open source software known as Nvu. The promise of Nvu was, “Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.” The “anyone can” part may overstate the ability of a WYSIWYG HTML editor but I happen to believe it is 90% accurate.
Novice web authors aren’t stupid they just lack technical background. We don’t understand all that technical stuff but are often accomplished in our respective fields, have advanced degrees in something and even have grandchildren. The group also includes folks with none of that who are simply eager to get their ideas or interests on the WWW.
To call KompoZer a “bug fix,” official or not, understates the developer’s contribution. KompoZer works the bugs out of Nvu, adds additional features, and changes the vision statement slightly. “KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.” That is probably 100% accurate.
Web Authoring
The KompoZer web site defines the application as “…a complete web authoring system…” That definition also continues the Nvu line, which is probably where I got the term “web authoring” in the first place. A definition of web authoring may not defend my choice of the term over “web design.”
Web Authoring. A category of software that enables the user to develop a Web site in a desktop publishing format. The software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the Web pages based on what the user designs.
Web authors are people with something to say but a printed medium isn’t good enough for their purpose. They want to give the rest of us an opportunity to see their creativity, ideas and interests. Web authors may not know how to use the full capability of computing technology available for a web experience but with the right tools they will be able to establish their presence on the web.
I happen to think KompoZer is a great web authoring tool and that anyone who can use a word processor can create a web site. KompoZer is also a great learning tool so that those of us with no technical background can master some of the bells and whistles that enrich the visitor’s experience.
The lower right column of this page has links for a free download of KompoZer and the KompoZer User Guide, an instruction manual on how to use KompoZer to create a web page. The upper right links you to other topics of interest regarding KompoZer, WYSIWYG HTML editing, and KompoZer tutorials. One of these days I may figure out how to develop the Wysi web site and Wiki. Meanwhile it seems more important to provide you with links and encourage you to get your place on the web.
Go ahead. Download KompoZer and give it a try. You can do it.
Wysi
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