Hi, I am now getting ready to switch from VSD to RSD. I will be spending a lot of time and effort on the switch. My question is: What are the benefits of RSD over other responsive web design software that might be more popular and have a larger user base. Don't get me wrong. I really love CoffeeCup. I think their products are great and their tech support is excellent but......

After all, when making a switch on a large website a very significant amount of resources are put into the switch. The question that must have gone through many of your minds is: Why should I make the investment in CoffeeCup, perhaps there is better software out there that more people are familiar with and therefore it would be easier to pay others to help design your website.

I had a similar dilemma way back when i used to use Borland's database (called Paradox). When they upgraded their database and it required a redesign, I switched to Microsoft Access because it had a larger pool of users and I figured Microsoft was going to be around for a long time. Paradox disappeared after several years and Access is still going strong.

I'd like to address the fact that there are really not any other programs out there (within any reasonable price) that even do what RSD does. Most of the builders are online builders, I've actually not found any others that fully do responsive design as well as Responsive Layout Maker, let alone RSD. Not that I want to change, I Love RLMP myself, but I'm always on the lookout to see what others are doing too.

I've found one really really nice builder out there, but it's online only which I don't like, and it's a monthly fee that makes the price of RSD look like peanuts lol. So I think the real question is, what else are you going to use?

I have only messed around with RSD a little bit, but I'm pretty sure there's not much of anything out there to compare with the features or the pricing.

As a web designer, I use RLMP and RSD in some way most days. Here are my top 3 reasons to choose RSD over other software.

1. Price: RSD's price is much lower than other comparable products. In addition, if you buy RSD, then you own your software and can continue using it no matter whether you ever upgrade again or not. Other products have gone the subscription route which means that when you stop paying the subscription, you are stuck.

2. Usability: There is definitely a learning curve with RSD. However, you still don't have to learn all the ins-and-outs of web site programming in order to use the software. You can learn as you go and settings are visual all in the various tabs to the right. Therefore, basic users can do well with it. On the other hand, it contains so many features that developers can use it too.

3. User-base and support. While Coffeecup may not have the user base of Microsoft, there is a pretty good size number of users, and you find the active in the forums as well. I remember Paradox, and I don't think CC is going the way of Paradox anytime soon. And CC support is fantastic and much more responsive than other software providers.

Thanks so much for your responses.

What about WordPress.

My understanding is that they have responsive themes and thousands of plug-ins

Wordpress is a CMS system, not just an HTML/CSS based website so it's not quite the same as building your own website from scratch and doesn't really fit into the question you originally asked. It's not a software setup that you create a website with, it's a prebuilt system that creates the site for you and it's quite different trying to edit something in Wordpress than it is using a program that's creating a website from scratch. Just not in the same category of site builders for your question.

Having said all that, it really depends on your needs, wants, and what experience you have with CMS systems to know if that will work for you or not. They are all learning curves no matter which way you go, I just like the control I get from RLMP and RSD that I can't get from Wordpress. But if you need login systems, user accounts with specific posting permissions and such, then something like a CMS works well for it.

It's really a preference in the end. Both take some learning, Wordpress is probably easier to setup, but definitely not as portable as a straight custom made HTML/CSS website is as you don't have to mess with all the databases (if you haven't added any yourself that is) and with redoing anything with the theme etc. Not as easy to move to another server as just zipping up your site and uploading it to the new location is.

As I said, it's a preference, but Wordpress and Joomla and the other CMS systems aren't really part of a software comparison to be honest.

This is just my opinion:
As a developer and coder... here is my BIGGEST reason to use CoffeeCup software. Everything I've used from them, including RSD which I am now learning... *spits out really nice and clean code*. Real, no loads of bloated / padded nonsense, plain HTML and CSS. Oh I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to cry when someone handed me a site built with Dreamweaver asking me to troubleshoot it. The most unformatted, gobbledy-crap code I've ever seen.

Anyone who inherits a coffeecup website to webmaster or take over, what have you - will love you for it. It is just pleasing to look at and easy to follow in an editor. The sad thing is... that is hard to find in a piece of software.

I can't thank the people at CoffeeCup enough for their diligence on the 'back side' of all of their software. It puts Adobe and all the other boxed-boys to shame.

So far, I am still learning my way with RSD and am already proficient enough to kick out simple websites. I've already started integrating some advanced server side coding with no problems as well. Just awesome stuff really.

Well said!!!

Off-topic, but...

I had the same issue as you with Paradox (for those of you youngsters, we are talking about the early 1990s). Had probably 20-30 different databases set up and running and no viable upgrade path. I ended up going with Alpha Five because it was still DOS, ran in Windows, and handled DBF files (although I did do some work in Access). Alpha Five is still in business and very successful.

I agree with everything that has been posted in this thread. Coffee Cup Software is the way to go for websites with the exception of someone who needs a CMS. I'm sure there's a way to do that but it's probably a lot of work.

As far as Word press being 'easy' to set up, yes it is and no it isn't.

If you just go into your cpanel and use one of the installers it's the easiest thing to install. BUT, that's the worst way to install Wordpress. You are guaranteed to get your site hacked and that can be a nightmare to clean up.

So, if you're new to web site design stick with CC and eliminate a lot of headaches.

Oh, and all of those 1,000's of plugins can cause major site loading problems as well as more security issues than they help your site. Just say'in.