In the past 10 years of Web development, I've seen a lot of change. And the future of Web development looks very interesting at the moment. For a long time, Web developers working on mainly client-side code (html, javascript, css) have not really had an intergrated development environment (IDE) on par with application development IDEs. Dreamweaver is a great editor, but it doesn't have a debugger, for example. JavaScript development has been a major pain without a debugger. But the world has changed and every Web developer needs to recognize that. The days of notepad are obviously over, but so are the days of Dreamweaver for any serious Web application development in PHP or other languages, such as the new kid on the block, Ruby on Rails. This includes all client-side development, including Flash development.

Say what?

Yes, I am not a big fan of big claims, posted on Websites just to sound important. And I'm probably coming across that way right now. At least, I hope you are questioning what I'm saying, because it's a major shift in Web development and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Over the past few years, my career has greatly expanded. I'm working mainly as a Flash developer now. Of course, Flash development (not animation, development) means also working in XML, XHTML, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on the client-side, along with backend systems including (mainly for me) PHP and MySQL. Flash development is not just Flash. It's Web development, that includes ActionScript and all the other languages and technologies (just mentioned) needed to weave together a comprehensive and coherent experience for the user while implementing the business goals for the client. Yes, it's complicated. It's more than "just DHTML" for fun to create something cool. Many businesses depend developers' skills, talents, and understanding to reach customers and to reach the bottom line. The Web is a fact of life. Web development started as something fun and exciting (and still is) but has matured into a major industry and a way of life. It defines who many of us are as professionals and as individuals. Is that grand enough for you? (I don't speak this way very often ;)

The new guard: Web 2.0

A new ship has sailed, and everyone needs to get on board. Web projects now require a new breed of Website and consequently, a new breed of developer. Many call this Web 2.0. Setting aside debates over the meaning of Web 2.0, let's just recognize that the Web is different now. Clearly, it is. And Web development is different now, too. You can't just know DHTML anymore, even if you mainly do client-side development. DHTML static pages just don't cut it. Sure, the Web interface is dynamic, but is the content? We can't just create static pages and be at the top of our game. And the same goes for the backend developers. Dynamically generated pages need a dynamic interface as well. Frontend and backend development have merged into a new type of development -- Web 2.0.

Arming yourself for the new world

I love Dreamweaver, but I find myself working in it less and less, precisely because I need to write PHP, Ruby, and ActionScript, in addition to HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and XML. I work in additional editors: Flex, FlashDevelop, Eclipse. A lot of the HTML I write is actually in code that generates the HTML output. I don't just write HTML code. I write other code that generates HTML code. I write PHP and Ruby and ActionScript that generates HTML code. I still write just HTML as well. But a lot less than I used to. Same for CSS and JavaScript. Dreamweaver just doesn't cut it.

If you are doing mainly client-side development (or only client-side development), you better start learning to use other development environments besides those just for HTML, like Dreamweaver, HomeSite, etc.