Ever since I got my first Mac a few years ago, I was always in a hunt looking for an application which would allow me to design quality websites, but without the cost of an application like DreamWeaver.  Through various searches and asking on many forums, one application kept being mentioned…RapidWeaver.  I immediately went and downloaded the trial, and it wasn’t long before I made the full purchase.  I have been using it ever since, and just recently RapidWeaver 4.0 was released from RealMac Software.  

This was a major update, and the first thing you will notice is the redesigned interface which is less cluttered and easier to work with.  The layout makes working with sites a snap, and although the interface has a simple look to it, there is a lot of power under the hood.  On the left side of the application you have a sidebar and buttons which allow you add, remove, and edit pages in your site.  Clicking ‘Add’ brings up a dialog where you can select among a variety of page templates which lets you setup a blog page, media page, etc. with all the bells and whistles, without all the work.  Don’t worry, adding a page where you can enter your own HTML is also there so, if you want to get your hands dirty with some code, they haven’t forgotten you.

You can build a complete site with the included page templates, but what makes RapidWeaver really appealing is the add-ons that are available from developers like YourHead.  This opens up the design possibilities really wide and it seems there are pages available for just about every purpose.  Switching between the Edit view and Preview mode is as simple as pushing a button, and when in preview mode you get an accurate view of what your site will look like when published.

When creating a new site, one of the most difficult things can be just the task of coming up with a graphical design for it.  Some are more efficient in the use of graphics tools than the rest of us, but this is where RapidWeaver really shines in my opinion.  Over 40 themes are included and there are tons more available from 3rd party developers.  You can browse or search through the theme gallery, select a theme, and see right then how your site will look.  The themes can also be further customized to your liking by using Theme Styles which gives you the option to change things like the colors, layout, etc.  If you have some CSS and HTML knowledge, there is an SDK available which gives instructions on how to modify or create your own themes.

Once your site is done, you obviously want to get it out to the masses.  RapidWeaver supports publishing to FTP, SFTP, .Mac, or exporting locally.  Setting up publishing is basically just entering a few settings, and push a button or two.  I have published sites to several different hosting providers and have never run into a problem.  

There are many other features included in RapidWeaver that I could go on and on about, but the bottom line here is that RapidWeaver is the best when you need a web design solution that isn’t expensive, and doesn’t require a lot of coding (unless you like that kind of thing).  RapidWeaver 4.0 is for Leopard only, but 3.6 is available for people still using Tiger.  Both versions are available for $59 and family packs and upgrade discounts are available.  If you are a previous owner of RapidWeaver 3.6, then the 4.0 upgrade is free.  It would be a travesty to give RapidWeaver 4.0 any less than a 5 out of 5.