What's your web dev process?

Do you use templates? Do you draw concepts and layouts? Do you start from scratch or use a framework/boilerplate? How do you go about attacking a blank canvas? Do you incorporate jQuery, canvas elements, AngularJS, or anything under the sun that's similar? How much PHP do you incorporate into your work? Do you create websites for yourself or for others? Do you work for free or on commission? Do you use art from others or do you create your own art for websites? How proud are you of your work? Do you ever feel finished or satisfied with a site you make? What tools do you use to create the site (image editor, IDE, FTP, etc)? What inspires your work?

I only use templates if requested or if I think the job doesn't warrant a custom job. It's just something to work off of, the actual site usually would look nothing like the template. I start from scratch if I have the time or I can get the job done without anything too fancy, but I use responsive grid systems like Skeleton or Bootstrap when I do need that extra functionality. To attack a blank canvas, I plan the site out using mockups in Photoshop or drawn on paper if it's faster. I only include PHP if it's necessary and in small doses, but if I'm doing something script heavy then the site relies on it. I create sites for both myself and others. Usually I work on commission, but if I've done sites for free before (not advertising myself for free work). I use art only if it's free, made by the client and used on request, or art I've done myself. I'm indifferent about most of my sites, but I come to peace with it if the client likes it. I feel a site is finished if people are happy with it and I feel it serves its purpose just fine. I use Photoshop CC, Brackets/Notepad++, PHP, MySQL, and WinSCP. Sites I browse frequently are my inspiration, usually. Not really into those super-innovative mega-creative artistic sites.

I'd love to hear your responses!

Here is how I do it:

Every work I do is based on the service or purpose of the website. For example if it's promoting a product, it'll have a bunch of images, if it's promoting a service, it'll be made so the price is easy to find. I always use PHP in my work. It makes it easier for me when I am making multi page website, using php can allow you to have 1 file that determines the header for all the pages. I always use Javascript to make my websites operate better. I often use Sweetalert, spin.js, smooth-scroll, and a bunch of others. I do sometimes use templates, but I try to stay away from them. The only reason that I don't use my own templates is because simply all the templates you see on like Themeforest is made in Adobe using a software like photoshop. It's meant for graphic designers not coders. It allows graphic designers to make their images and graphics into web elements. It's extremely hard to make a good template without using any of those tools and pure code. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'm just saying it's hard. I don't do mock ups, but I often do change the look of the website 2 or 3 times before releasing it. As to which software I use, I use AMPPS for a local Apache and MySQL server, and I use sublime text. I used to use Brackets, but it was inefficient and annoying to use. People have been telling me to use Atom, I used it for 3 minutes and it was hell. It made me go through like a bunch of setup, while sublime text just allowed me to start right away. I do however use around 10-20 addons on sublime text that help me code faster.

I'm very interested in web design, my school does offer it, but I'm pretty sure they use Adobe Dream Weaver so they don't use any actual coding. My school's programing team released a "app". Lmao funniest shit ever. They couldn't code in HTML so they used wix website maker and they stole a company's opensource code and added like 3 lines to it.

Anyways if anyone wants to talk to me about this, I would be down.

Aw shit forgot to include how I FTP and shit lol

here goes

I use Filezilla as my FTP client, I don't use FTP I use SFTP. I just find FTP very insecure.

Pfff. Finally I see a high quality post by soemone.

I'm a PHP programmer and back-end web developer. I'm now kind a also learning desiging so I do use sometimes templates. Usually when I make a page I draw a concept and think about the colors. Usually I like to make websites from scratch but I do also use Bootstrap when I like to make responsive website in the least amount of time. I do not incorporate jQuery, canvas elements, AngularJS etc... I do make websites for both. Myself and others. Currently I'm working in a car wash company as a website adminstrator. Usually I make websites for others and co-operate with my colleges. I do the programming and colleges do the design. (In some cases I might do the design myself too if it's not very complicated). I must admit sometimes I do steal art/ideas from others. When I see someone is using some CSS trick to make a nice looking effect on a page then definitely I will remember it and use it in my next project. I would say I'm not very proud of my designing skills but definitely I'm proud of my back-end development skills. What tools do I use? Well a lot. Filezilla for FTP/SFTP. Putty for server sided stuff. For programming I mostly use Notepad++. I used Atom before it is really nice looking text editor but in the end it is pretty slow to start up. That's why I switched to N++ as it is way faster than Atom. For image editing I usually use Photoshop. In some rare cases I might use Paint for some simple testing purpose. What keeps me passionate about programming is that you have a freedom to make something you want. It is logical. I love math so I do love programming as well.

29-05-2016, 08:07 AM

Realistic Wrote: Pfff. Finally I see a high quality post by soemone.

I'm a PHP programmer and back-end web developer. I'm now kind a also learning desiging so I do use sometimes templates. Usually when I make a page I draw a concept and think about the colors. Usually I like to make websites from scratch but I do also use Bootstrap when I like to make responsive website in the least amount of time. I do not incorporate jQuery, canvas elements, AngularJS etc... I do make websites for both. Myself and others. Currently I'm working in a car wash company as a website adminstrator. Usually I make websites for others and co-operate with my colleges. I do the programming and colleges do the design. (In some cases I might do the design myself too if it's not very complicated). I must admit sometimes I do steal art/ideas from others. When I see someone is using some CSS trick to make a nice looking effect on a page then definitely I will remember it and use it in my next project. I would say I'm not very proud of my designing skills but definitely I'm proud of my back-end development skills. What tools do I use? Well a lot. Filezilla for FTP/SFTP. Putty for server sided stuff. For programming I mostly use Notepad++. I used Atom before it is really nice looking text editor but in the end it is pretty slow to start up. That's why I switched to N++ as it is way faster than Atom. For image editing I usually use Photoshop. In some rare cases I might use Paint for some simple testing purpose. What keeps me passionate about programming is that you have a freedom to make something you want. It is logical. I love math so I do love programming as well.

Great post! Inspiring, even :yus:

I usually start working on something when I get a good idea or concept, then everything feels more natural and goes better.
I don't use any frameworks, I'd love to learn JS because it's pretty useful in web design, makes stuff a lot more interactive.
I started learning it but didn't get far due to school and poor time management. I usually work on dark designs, I'm more used to them and pleases my eyes more.
I usually use Brackets since it has a good looking design, there are tons of plugins, great workflow and tons of themes. Oh and live development mode.

I also copy other peoples designs for learning purposes, as in look at it and try to replicate it. I don't claim it as my own though.
When I start designing something I don't plan it out, I don't search for colors nor make a mockup, I start working on it with the picture in my head.
I don't see the need really. I do get ideas from other designs but I don't copy the code or make it exactly as I see, that just ruins the whole creative point for me.
Usually my designs take from 20 minutes to 2 hours, full out themes months. I'm an perfectionist when it comes to designing, if I have to I'll scrap it all.

Going to an IT school in ~3 months which also has a web design course but I don't really know anything about it and it starts like 2 years before graduation so don't really know what to expect.
I like working on designs for the fact that everything happens right before my eyes, that makes it more logical and simpler in a way.

Develop from scratch, and i mean from scratch. Usually open photoshop and layout the colors/colours and the boxes, align everything to my standard. Then after i've messed around and got to my finishing point open a programme called Brackets. A live editing and preview desktop program used by many, then code the html and css at the same time as the programme has 2 seperate windows you can have.. More efficient this way as 2 things at once can mean faster work. :muha:

Normally I use templates and just find one that fit to the project...

Does the end product have a template implemented already?
If yes, buy it and use it.
If not, then find the best way to implement it.

I have a pretty long process

1) Start with Balsamiq for mock-up
2) Plan responsive web design
3) Create UI, Typographic and CSS Style guides
4) Create Photoshop mock-ups
5) Start coding from scratch but I rely heavily on my repositories and save snippets.

Wow some people actually code from scratch here, that's cool!

My process is simpler, due to the lack of time / budget.

1) Find a good theme that fits my client
2) Get all relevant information from client
3) Get client to approve the theme as a preview (this makes sure he likes the layout and colors so I don't need to change too much late)
4) Import demo content in theme
5) Replace demo content with clients information
6) PROFIT