What does Apple use?

[I'm a Mac]

I've always been curious- does anyone know what software apple uses for their website, apple.com? My guess is dreamweaver but I really don't know. How do they get their titles (the Myriad product titles) with such a perfect typface and gradient? And what about their menu bar, is it possible to do something like that in software like dreamweaver? I've always been curious about apple.com, because it's definitely one of the nicest company websites out there.

[angelwatt]

I can only make guesses as to how they work their sites specifically, but I am confident DreamWeaver is nowhere to be seen. This topic has actually been brought up before here, but can't find the thread. Apple very likely has their own CMS (content management system) for most of the site. You'll notice some of their pages end with a woa extension, which is a WebObject Application and is Java powered and created by Apple (for Apple ;)). They use a bit of custom JavaScript as well as making use of some common frameworks like Prototype and Scriptaculous.

As far as the graphical stuff I'm sure they use various apps like Photoshop and very skilled designers who know what they're doing. These skilled people can kick most people's butt even if they're using inferior products. Apple's menu bar is a simple thing really and plenty of sites have copied the design.

So in short, it's a lot of custom stuff. You can't buy this stuff in stores ;)

[GSMiller]

They use iWeb, of course! :p

But seriously, I doubt Apple uses a WYSIWYG web editor, especially one available to mere mortals.

[Melrose]

I doubt Apple uses Dreamweaver for the actual work, but I'm sure they do use something that enables them to track all the work - SVN or whatever. Dreamweaver supports templating and whatever and can handle multiple users but there's other, more powerful ways of accomplishing the goal.

[dornoforpyros]

What they use to code the site is irrelevant, the look of the graphics would be defined long before the code is started. Heck they could be using notepad to code the site and still have it look the same.

You seem to have confused a production tool (dreamweaver) with a design tool (eg: photoshop, illustrator, fireworks, etc).

Basically what your asking is along the lines of "Apple has really nice computers with clean lines and shiny surfaces, do you think they use screwdrivers to do this?"

Now I few things that we know they are using are:
HTML
CSS
scriptaculous (http://script.aculo.us/)

[justmyself]

I believe Apples website is a collaboration between Apple and Web Firm. As for the software used, I have no idea. Sorry.

[tominated]

don't they use WebObjects?

[majordude]

As for the software used, I have no idea.

Shhhhh! It's...

http://www.nubscc.com/images/frontpage_mac.jpg

[Melrose]

^^ That actually put a smile on my face.

I remember those ol' days when I thought FP was the way to build a website. :eek:

[r.j.s]

^^ That actually put a smile on my face.

I remember those ol' days when I thought FP was the way to build a website. :eek:

I know few people that still think FP is the absolute best, and only, way to build a website.

[Melrose]

I know few people that still think FP is the absolute best, and only, way to build a website.

You jest?! Still? I mean Dreamweaver can be respectable (be it known I code all by hand), but FP in this day and age...

[r.j.s]

You jest?! Still? I mean Dreamweaver can be respectable (be it known I code all by hand), but FP in this day and age...

Surely, I do not! It has even been recommended that I drop DW and use FP by some of my less knowledgeable colleagues.

[wheelhot]

From what I know,
Apple obviously use HTML, JavaScript, Script.aculo.us + Prototype and have their own CMS for some part of the sites.

I bet they dont Dreamweaver or any WYSIWYG editor.

[Greenhoe]

Alright well your commenting on how the apple site looks so nice, which it does and want to know what they use to make it look so nice?

A company like apple has groups of people who work on their site, they have coders which handle the HTML/CSS/PHP along with designers who photoshop all the images along with photographers which take pictures in studios of all their products. And yes they hire professional photogahers to take pictures of each of their products and then they photoshop the products to make them look even cleaner for the site.

A company like apple would never even think about using Dreamweaver to make their site, not to say that the coders don't use to to code the site as Dreamweaver is a nice application to use when writing code rather then a text editor, but they use tons of different adobe applications, and have tons of people working on the site. The store alone probably has an entire team working on have the store run smoothly and making it secure.

[wheelhot]

A company like apple has groups of people who work on their site, they have coders which handle the HTML/CSS/PHP along with designers who photoshop all the images along with photographers which take pictures in studios of all their products. And yes they hire professional photogahers to take pictures of each of their products and then they photoshop the products to make them look even cleaner for the site.

Very true indeed, are you sure they use PHP?

A company like apple would never even think about using Dreamweaver to make their site, not to say that the coders don't use to to code the site as Dreamweaver is a nice application to use when writing code rather then a text editor, but they use tons of different adobe applications, and have tons of people working on the site. The store alone probably has an entire team working on have the store run smoothly and making it secure.

Yup, anything credit card related will require major security team. I wonder though, since we are not Apple or anything, if we want to create a website which require credit card transaction, how do we do it? Or asking them to pay through PayPal is the best option (any other service beside PayPal that people is using now)?

[thinkingman]

I do happen to know they use PHP, PERL, WebObjects, a bunch of JS frameworks (including their own SproutCore, of course). As for the CMS, etc, I know that it's a versioned system, and that there is definitely some kind of collaboration with consultation companies. Other than that, can’t say. Personally, when coding for major sites, WYSIWYG editors never come into play, except to create imagery. And all of it follows a robust design document. Most of their slickness comes from consistent treatment and strict adherence to their graphic/visual style book and programming design patterns, and not a particular editor, such as DreamWeaver, etc. Personally, my favorite tools are on the commandline, BBEdit and XCode for programming and a host of bitmap/vector design tools.

[Not Available]

But seriously, I doubt Apple uses a WYSIWYG web editor, especially one available to mere mortals.
Since when has Dreamweaver become a WYSIWYG-only editor? I use it because of the power of its Code View, and I think the Design View sucks big time.


A company like apple would never even think about using Dreamweaver to make their site, not to say that the coders don't use to to code the site as Dreamweaver is a nice application to use when writing code rather then a text editor, but they use tons of different adobe applications, and have tons of people working on the site. The store alone probably has an entire team working on have the store run smoothly and making it secure.
Would you kindly repeat this part? I haven't understood anything, except for the fact that Apple uses a lot of Adobe software, therefore they don't use Dreamweaver (so Dreamweaver is not made by Adobe). Anybody, correct me if I got this wrong. o.O

Very true indeed, are you sure they use PHP?

No, I bet they use ASP, and Xcode is written in C# :) Trust me ;)

[lucidmedia]

Apple uses many different design shops. Most of them work under NDA and I notice that the work they do for apple does not usually show up in the studio's portfolio -- Apple gets credit and the studios get paid. You don't get to brag about having Apple as a client.

One of those agencies is up here in Boston. Quite a few of my former design students have worked / interned there and done interface / web design work for the Apple site.

[dawiyo]

I know for a fact Apple uses CSS Sprites on their navigation.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/27/the-mystery-of-css-sprites-techniques-tools-and-tutorials/