If you are starting a career in web development, you may get confused about choosing the best software for your needs. Web development tools have evolved a lot in a few years. Web developers can benefit from tested and proven libraries to improve their input and churn out high-quality websites for their clients.

It is now even possible for a web development team to work on the same project simultaneously, thanks to continuously improving control systems. 

Here is a list of six must-have website development software you can use to create, edit, and update web pages effortlessly. Some are free, while others are paid.

  • WordPress

Almost 36% of the top 1 million websites in the world are powered by WordPress. It is the most popular web creation platform suitable for anyone starting the web development journey.

WordPress is easy to install and has many site-building tools to get you started. It also includes in-built themes and templates, which you can customize to your preference thanks to its functionality and dozens of plugins.

The software is an excellent Content Management System, and SEO optimized, making it perfect for e-commerce owners. It’s also (Search Engine Return Page) SERP-friendly.

WordPress has maintained its status as the leading web development platform for many years thanks to its highly dedicated community support, which attend to client issues promptly. The team also reviews WordPress performance and ensures the safety of the software is always on point.

  • Bootstrap

This is the most popular software for creating responsive, mobile-first websites. Created by Twitter engineers, Bootstrap contains JavaScript and CSS-based design templates for forms, typography, buttons, and navigation. You can edit the templates and customize them to your preference.

Front-end developers use it to create beautiful website designs using JS, CSS, and HTML. Bootstrap includes highly-advanced development tools and features, making it a favourite for new and experienced web developers.

  • Webflow

Webflow is a no-code all-inclusive responsive web design software with a CMS, SSL, and managed web hosting certificate in one platform. Web developers use Webflow to create animations and interactions on their websites and drag-and-drop all unstyled elements.

Developers can also use JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS to build customized e-commerce sections and databases, thanks to the Webflow designer feature.

Through Webflow, one can prototype and export codes to developers if they don’t intend to launch the website in its native form.

Webflow has a rich library of inbuilt patterns, core layouts, and components that you can choose depending on your design requirements. Creating and running a site using Webflow is pretty fast. It also allows you to add and update pages as you progress.

  • Adobe Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver is an advanced web design program for coding, editing and website maintenance. The intuitive visual interface allows you to edit websites according to your requirements.

It also includes many traditional text-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) features, such as automatic code completion and syntax highlighting. You can even collapse or expand code sections. Dreamweaver can be integrated with Bootstrap for excellent workflow.

The visual interface makes Dreamweaver stand out from the traditional IDE. The interface provides real-time displays of changes made to the website’s code, where you can highlight and click to edit the website visually.

Dreamweaver is an excellent option for any developer looking for an easier than code-only IDE but more robust than the drag-and-drop editor.

  • Sketch

This is a leading web design software consisting of interactive prototyping, beautiful layouts, and a rich library of plugins and integrations.

Sketch uses vector images to create high-resolution web designs and templates. It’s easy to read and understand with a simple toolbar and options. 

With Sketch, you get absolute flexibility in creating and managing your web development projects. “Sketch for Teams” allows designers to collaborate on a single project leading to high-end results.

The unfortunate thing with Sketch is that it’s designed for Mac devices, meaning one must be an Apple Team member to enjoy its features.

  • Weebly 

Thanks to its simple features, Weebly is one of the most suitable web building platform for newbies and experienced web designers.

It includes dozens of inbuilt designs, such as portfolios and website maps, to enable you to create awesome sites. Depending on your project specifications, Weebly offers responsive and trendy themes for your selection.

Conclusion

Above are some of the must-have software if you are new in development. Don’t aim at mastering everything at a go because web design and development is always evolving. Go for the basics first and then improve as time goes by.