Web Developer's tools' review - HTML-Kit and HTML-Kit Tools

This document is the first in a series that will collectively focus on the many features, benefits, and limitations of Chami.com HTML-Kit and HTML Kit for Windows (and Linux). This is not an exhaustive analysis, comparison or critique of all the Web Development editors in the market, but an honest opinion of a seasoned user. I have been using Chami HTML-Kit for the last five (5) years, and more recently, I have started Alpha testing the new application (HTML-Kit Tools for Windows).

As a side-note, I should say that the name HTML-Kit is deceptive and a little limiting as both applications are powerful in editing more than just HTML documents. In reality, the flexibility and modular architecture of the applications makes them suitable for editing a virtually unlimited list of document types.

Main Advantages

Modular architecture: This makes it possible to not only install only those functions that are relevant to you, but you can also contribute to the already extensive list of available plugins that enable users to accomplish anything from using keyboard shortcuts to insert content, to batch processing a given document type based on a predetermined structure (W3C validation and correction, auto-indenting, find and replace etc). By Opening the module development SDK o the public, Chami has created an active community that is constantly developing plugins to meet challenges with a very quick development cycle.

Non-intrusive development

Intrusive development tools that interfere with developer code in the guise of assisting are the reason why serious and careful developers and code writers do not want to be associated with WYSWYG web development applications. For the record, I will declare that I am a purist that believes in not-only knowing and understanding why every character in my code is there, but also in keeping my code semantic, well organised, clearly commented, and understandable to human readers. This makes it impossible for me to use tools such as Dreamweaver and other 'make-life-easy-at-any-cost' tools. HTML-Kit and HTML-Kit Tools for windows are non-intrusive, and you can therefore rest assured that your clean code will remain as such until you decide to modify it. This is not to say that the tools are as plain and simple as Notepad; there are a number of shortcuts and features that make it possible to quickly and easily create markup.

Customisation

Beyond being able to add and remove buttons from your menu-bar, these tools give you the power and flexibility to configure shortcut keys that can insert tags around content, insert entire blocks of code, or create templates that you frequently use.

This review will not expressly mention or discuss UI and other smaller features and functionality that you can experience and see for yourself by downloading and testing the free version of HTML-kit. This may appear like an open endorsement of the two products from www.chami.com ; be as it may be, this is an open account of HTML-Kit, and the currently Alpha version of the forthcoming HTML-Kit Tools for Windows/Linux. To be able to access some features of the older of the two and test the Alpha version of HTML-Kit Tools for Windows, you need to register and pay a very low fee for the product

PS: Unlike many free applications that either limit key features, or lock the application after a month, this is not the case for HTML-Kit.

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