Freeway (software)
Freeway (originally Uniqorn) is a WYSIWYG web design application for Mac OS X (older versions also run under Mac OS 9), developed by the English company Softpress Systems.[1]
 | |
 Designing a website with Freeway 7. | |
| Developer(s) | Softpress Systems |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 7.1.3
/ May 5, 2016 |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher, Intel only, Yosemite compatible |
| Type | Internet publishing |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.softpress.com |
Freeway is based on a pre-Mac OS X print publishing application called Uniqorn, also developed by Softpress, but discontinued when Apple stopped supporting QuickDraw GX in Mac OS 8.
The philosophy behind Freeway is that an average user is able to design websites without having to deal with any code, using an interface very similar to that of Desktop publishing applications like QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign. Advanced procedures (like connecting to a MySQL database using a scripting language like PHP) are done through plug-ins called "Actions". Several Actions can be downloaded for free on several websites, but there are also commercial 3rd Party Actions, like the "Auction Seller Suite" from FreewayActions.com, which allows the creation of eBay-friendly HTML within the Freeway design interface. Many useful Actions are bundled with Freeway, the latest set from Softpress being a suite of Actions that lets the user create a shopping cart through the popular Mals e-commerce system.
Unlike most other WYSIWYG web design applications, Freeway produces syntactically valid HTML code and Cascading Style Sheets, making it usable in situations where valid HTML code is obligatory. For example, valid code is required by law on the majority of federal and state institutions' web sites in Germany. Versions of Freeway from 4.4 onwards also create HTML and CSS that correct many rendering problems with Internet Explorer 6 on Windows.
On July 4, 2016, Softpress announced the end of development on Freeway and other software products via a post on the homepage stating, "The end of Softpress Systems Ltd. has come. It has become clear that our prospects, both in terms of current revenue and new product development, are insufficient to sustain the company as a viable entity going forward."
At the start of 2017 the author of Freeway announced the resumption of Softpress' business but, due to limited staff, without in-house tech support, referring to a thriving on-line user groups for support. It currently offers five products: Freeway, Freeway Express (a basic version of Freeway), Chroma (for selecting color palettes), Exhibio (photo gallery creation), and Fretspace (for creating chord diagrams). They also offer a range of Freeway templates under the name, Marketplace. As stated by Softpress:
"We’ve returned from the netherworld to make our award-winning applications available again, and to begin work on great new software for the future.:[2]
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