A remote web site authoring system is located on a server in communication with one or more clients via a network with in a distributed computing environment. The system provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interface program that enables the client to edit a web page of within a web site maintained on the remote server while concurrently viewing a replica of that web page. The system dynamically generates the replica of the web page while the client is editing the web page. The system combines the two elements of remote authoring, i.e., editing the web site and viewing the web site, enabling the user to view a replica of the web site during the editing process.