Why is Dreamweaver not being updated?

[defaultox8l1v3utuhm]

For a few weeks now, dreamweaver on mac is crashing every single time i use it. Is it being fased out? will it be replaced with something else? i need to know, so i can switch to a different app if it is being dropped.

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from cc desktop">

[Amitej S]

Hi @defaultox8l1v3utuhm, Welcome to the community!

I want to inform you that Dreamweaver recently received an update and is not phased out. Here are some resources that might help you with the questions.

Dreamweaver system requirements: Applicable for May 2025 (21.5)

Release Notes | Adobe Dreamweaver

Hope this helps!

[BenPleysier]

Why is the update using outdated PHP and Bootstrap versions.

There should be a security warning attached to Dreamweaver.

Using PHP 7 today—especially in a production environment—is not recommended due to serious security concerns. All versions of PHP 7, including 7.4 (the last in the series), reached end of life (EOL) as of November 28, 2022. That means they no longer receive official security updates or bug fixes from the PHP development team.

Here are the key risks of continuing with PHP 7:

• Unpatched vulnerabilities: Any new security flaws discovered in PHP 7 will remain unaddressed, leaving your application exposed to exploits like remote code execution, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Compliance issues: Running unsupported software can violate security standards like PCI-DSS or ISO 27001, which may be critical depending on your industry.
• Dependency conflicts: Many modern libraries and frameworks are dropping support for PHP 7, which can lead to compatibility issues and stalled development.
• Increased attack surface: Legacy PHP code often lacks modern safeguards like strict typing, improved error handling, and safer default configurations.

If you're stuck with PHP 7 due to legacy systems, some vendors like Zend and TuxCare offer extended support with backported security patches. But ideally, upgrading to PHP 8.2 or later is the safest and most future-proof move.

You can still use Bootstrap 4, but it’s no longer the safest or most future-proof choice. As of January 1, 2023, Bootstrap 4 reached end of life, meaning it no longer receives official updates or security patches from the core team.

Here’s what that means for you:

• Security vulnerabilities: Recently disclosed issues like CVE-2024-6531, a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the carousel component, highlight the risks of using unsupported versions.
• No official fixes: Any new bugs or vulnerabilities won’t be patched unless you’re using a third-party long-term support provider like HeroDevs.
• Compliance concerns: If your project needs to meet certain security or privacy standards, using EOL software could raise red flags.
• Dependency drag: Bootstrap 4 still relies on jQuery, which many modern stacks are moving away from for performance and security reasons.

If you’re maintaining a legacy app, Bootstrap 4 might still be fine with proper sanitization and security hardening. But for new projects—or if you’re planning a refresh—Bootstrap 5 or 5.3.6 is the way to go. It drops jQuery, improves accessibility, and has a more modern utility API.

[glenn_acawa]

How is Dreamweaver still being updated? It is not since 2021...

I loved it so much and it is sad that Adobe is phasing it out...

Just do some updates in the code definitions to support the newest html/css/js/php standards would already be a very great and yet simple feature to implement in a minor update...

Come on Adobe, don't think so much in future capital achievement, you once bought the great Macromedia, now don't let it die please, there are still a lot of subscription paying users using it.

[Nancy OShea]

How is Dreamweaver still being updated?

By @glenn_acawa

========

The same way that all Creative Cloud apps are updated— automatically or manually, depending on which settings you selected in your CC desktop app. 

Dreamweaver's status has been static since 2021. No new features have been added, except essential security & compatibility updates.  DW 21.5 is more or less the same as DW 21.0.  And there will never, ever be a DW 26. 

Just do some updates in the code definitions...

===========

That's not happening.  DW is zombie-ware.  Use it alongside other apps or services that are in active development.  Or replace it with more current code editors mentioned elsewhere in this thread.  Adobe has cut ties to the consumer web software space. 

[Nancy OShea]

Revert to the previous version 21.4.

DW hasn't been in active development since 2021. No new features are planned. It's in minimal maintenance status. DW receives the occasional security & module updates but otherwise, it's the same software now as it was in 2021. 

I still use DW alongside other tools that are in active development.

CODE EDITORS:
-- Bootstrap Studio https://bootstrapstudio.io/
-- Codespaces (free, browser-based) - https://github.com/features/codespaces
-- Notepad++ (free) - https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
-- Nova (Mac only, formerly called Coda) - https://nova.app/
-- Pinegrow - https://pinegrow.com/
-- Sublime Text - http://www.sublimetext.com/
-- Visual Studio Code (free) - https://code.visualstudio.com/
-- Wappler ~ Visual Web App Builder - https://wappler.io/

Hope that helps.

[glenn_acawa]

Yes there are many alternatives and believe me, I've tried them all...

The best out there for me, which comes the closest to the functionality of Dreamweaver (ftp sync) is not mentioned in this list:

Eclipse IDE: https://www.eclipse.org with the RSE extension for working directly on an ftp server.

[Nayan_Kankariya]

Hi @defaultox8l1v3utuhm,

We hope you are continuing to stay well and healthy. Dreamweaver currently has dependency on Rosetta on Mac ARM platform and hence the unexpected crashes. We are internally investigating on the behavior, in the meanwhile, as a workaround, can you please try installing Rosetta environment on your mac arm machine and see if the Dw crash gets resolved. Awaiting your kind confirmation on the same for further investigating the behavior. 

Please follow below steps for installing Rosetta:

1. Invoke Finder >> GO >> Utilities >> Terminal
2. Copy and paste the below command 

   softwareupdate --install-rosetta​

3. Press the Return key

Have a pleasant day!

Thanks,

Nayan

Dreamweaver Team 

[defaultox8l1v3utuhm]

Thanks for your kind response. i'll make sure to share the log the next time the program crashes.

[rayek.elfin]

As @Nancy OShea and @BenPleysier pointed out to you: Dreamweaver is what we call 'zombie software'. It is no longer actively updated with new features but for shallow security updates to avoid legal pitfalls. Zombie software like Dreamweaver will wander around aimlessly for a while longer and then collapse in a rotten heap meat. Not worth your time, money, or energy unless you have an emotional attachment or older projects that require maintaining a copy of Dreamweaver.

Hardly any developers outside the few left here in this forum and the odd duckling out there use Dreamweaver anymore. Time to move on to alive and healthy alternatives, including the ones that Nancy listed previously.