A string cohort in my readers’ responses to my software bleg (many, many thanks to all who took the trouble) is telling me to code native HTML (with XHTML and CSS). I kind of let myself in for this, by boasting a few days ago on the Corner about having been a “code down to the metal!” Assembler programmer in a previous life. As one correspondent says: “You’ve done programming, after all…”

But that’s just it: I’ve done programming. I don’t want to do it any more. “Coding down to the metal” was fun for a few years, but now I’m getting my fun in other ways–ticking off self-important TV lefties, going into a cluster-hug with a bunch of intellectuals over The Magic Flute, building treehouses… Life’s too short to learn another darn computer language.

On the other hand, after a little checking, it seems to me that mastering HTML/XHTML/CSS may be no more arduous than mastering a full-trimmings package like DreamWeaver. My site’s pretty simple, I won’t be using half the features in a big package. Plus, going with native code is a heck of a lot cheaper–$0 vs. $400 .

Then again, there are the minimal packages other readers are recommending–some of them likewise free. Hmm. Gotta think about this.