Every once in a while in this business, we stumble across something that makes us stop and think "Whoa...", and then we remember that the word Whoa isn't actually proper English. In any event though, this is the exact reaction elicited from us upon reviewing Sausage Software's latest version of their highly successful suite of Web building tools, which is appropriately titled HotDog Professional 5.5 Webmaster Suite.

We had previously been exposed to the stand-alone version of HotDog, which in itself, is a rapid Web application development environment focused on the direct creation and editing of HTML code (sorry to all the WYSIWYG aficionados out there). The Professional Webmaster Suite version includes the standard HotDog application, plus a whole lot more. In fact, if we tried to completely cover every application included within the suite of tools, we could fill about two month's worth of newsletters just reviewing applications, and although our given nature is one that likes to joke often, we are dead serious about this. With that in mind, we'll do the best we can to cover the basics of what is included in the HotDog Pro suite, plus the coolest things we found while experimenting with it.

The suite is basically divided into three main groups: The main HotDog application, the Super Toolz Pack, and partner applications. Each one, in itself is worth the price of what Sausage charges for the complete suite, and contains enough tools and utilities to create entire Web sites without the need to ever revert to a third-party application. In addition to Sausage classics included in the Super Toolz Pack, such as Jack Hammer and Bandwidth Buster, the partner applications pack also has a variety of tools including PaintShop Pro, Interactor, and Linkbot. So, just how many additional perks can you expect in the Webmaster Suite? Aside from the main HotDog application and the three partner applications, you get more than 15 additional programs that cover a variety of Web building tasks, from creating backgrounds to converting media files to the Real media formats. Not to mention that the list of tools in the Super Toolz Pack just keeps on growing.

What about the main HotDog application? To start, how about the ability to directly and intuitively edit HTML coding, auto-complete tags, check syntax, reference current HTML specs, and watch the results happen as you made changes? Amazing, you say? What if we told you that you could also access the related partner applications necessary to perform any task, in the middle of editing, all from one convenient interface? Impossible? It doesn't stop there, folks... Say that you were given one of the most powerful site management facilities available on the market today? We've totally lost our minds, your first thought? Yes! We are crazy about HotDog Professional 5.5 Webmaster Suite! And who wouldn't be? All of this power, function, and flexibility for just around $200. We'd be crazy not to be so excited about it.

So, what should you do now? Well, how about heading over to Sausage's site and downloading a demo copy of HotDog Pro 5.5 Webmaster Suite to see for yourself? If our words haven't convinced you, then just take a few moments to prove it to yourself. By the end of the day, you'll be glad you did.

Editor's Note: Just for reference sake, HotDog stand-alone version is available for US $129.95, for builders who may not need the whole lot.