10 Useful Tools for Web Developers
This weekend I was cleaning up my bookmarks thinking about the tools I use most when developing on the web. Since I come from both the design and programming worlds, I think my toolbox may look a little different than some. Nevertheless, here is a list of 10 useful tools that every developer should be aware of:
1. TypeTester
The Typetester is an online application for comparison of the fonts for the screen. Its primary role is to make web designer’s life easier. As the new fonts are bundled into operating systems, the list of the common fonts are updated.
Website: http://www.typetester.org/
50 Inspiring CSS Galleries
If you are looking for a little inspiration or would like to have others see your masterpiece, here are 50 top CSS galleries to get you started:
- Boxed CSS » Submit Page
- Best Web Gallery » Submit Page
- CSS 2.0 » Submit Page
- CSS Artillery » Submit Page
- CSS Band » Submit Page
- CSS Based » Submit Page
- CSS Beauty » Submit Page
- CSS Clip » Submit Page
- CSS Collection » Submit Page
- CSS Container » Submit Page
- CSS Creme » Submit Page
- CSS Daddy » Submit Page
- CSS-Design-Yorkshire » Submit Page
- CSS Drive » Submit Page
- CSS Em » Submit Page
- CSS Gallery » Submit Page
- CSS Glance » Submit Page
- CSS Heaven » Submit Page
- CSS Hive » Submit Page
- CSS Import » Submit Page
- CSS Impress » Submit Page
- CSS Leak » Submit Page
- CSS Love » Submit Page
- CSS Mania » Submit Page
- Css Snap » Submit Page
- Css Star » Submit Page
- CSS Tux » Submit Page
- CSS Vault » Submit Page
- CSS-Warfare » Submit Page
- CSS-Website » Submit Page
- CSS Zone » Submit Page
- Cool Homepages » Submit Page
- Daily Slurp » Submit Page
- Dark-i » Submit Page
- Design Creme » Submit Page
- Design Expanse » Submit Page
- Design Shack » Submit Page
- Design Snips » Submit Page
- Genuine Style » Submit Page
- Inspiration King » Submit Page
- Lookom » Submit Page
- Nice StyleSheet » Submit Page
- One Star Gallery » Submit Page
- Screenalicious » Submit Page
- Style Gala » Submit Page
- The Best Designs » Submit Page
- Unmatched Style » Submit Page
- Web Creme » Submit Page
- Website-Gallery » Submit Page
10 Useful Design Cheat Sheets
Here are 10 very handy cheat sheets that every creative studio should have on hand:
For the Web Design Studio
- CSS 2.1 Cheat Sheet
- (X)HTML Elements and Attributes
- jQuery 1.3 Cheat Sheet
- Prototype 1.6.0.2 Cheat Sheet
- mootools 1.2 cheat sheet
- Flash CS3 Quick Reference Card Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
- Adobe Flash CS4 OS X Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet V1
For the Graphic/Media Design Studio
SM Lists 99 Essential Twitter Tools
Smashing Magazine’s Paul Andrew lists what he considers to be 99 of the most essential Twitter
tools, tutorials and applications. Interesting to see so many developers scramble for relevance (or blogs, such as this one, rushing to cover online magazines, covering developers… all hoping to appear relevant 
Linked Remote Comboboxes with EXTJS
To created linked combo boxes with EXTJS it requires 3 steps:
1. create server-side code
2. create component
3. link combo boxes
For the server-side code I use PHP and return the data in JSON format (important: I used a specific db access wrapper found at Ultimate MySql). Of course, you will need a call for each combo.
The new Generation G
“Generation G” is said to be a result of a confluence of two timely trends; one spawned by the current economic crisis and the other a byproduct of online collaboration. According to Trendwatching.com, the “G” stands for “generosity”. They argue that a more generous generation is emerging from the greed and excess of the day. Gen G’s response to the selfishness of society is to give, share and collaborate in new ways by utilizing the latest online tools.
Although a little overstated and “generous” in it’s praise, the report does make some interesting points and the data goes far to establishing an emerging group of more socially aware individuals. Still, I wonder how much of this will stick or is this really just another “nuke the whales” and “Free Che Guevara Fashion Tee” moment in time. After all, one of our biggest Go Green man-of-the-people cheerleaders is a former VP who over-indulges at the plate while half the wold starves, and flies from global warming rally to global warming rally on his own private polluting jet.
Read the Trendwatching.com report.
Ajax via jQuery
Asynchronous JavaScript calls are made simple using jQuery. Here are just a few basics to get you started.
The basic call lookes like this:
$.ajax({
type: “GET”,
url: “somefile.php”
});
Let’s add some variables:
Semi-Unobtrusive Rollovers w/ Prototype
Here’s a tecnique for creating rollover button effects using Prototype. Technically speaking, these are semi-unobtrusive rollovers since they do employ the id tag on the actually element. However, this allows us flexibility in naming and pathing related to hover image.
Below is the final code and usage:
› Continue reading
JS Frameworks: jQuery Basics
Web development continues to get more complicated due to the increasing number of browser iterations, along with progressive feature requirements. Fortunately there are a number of JavaScript frameworks that have popped up simplifying many of the common tasks. One of the most popular frameworks is jQuery. Here is an overview of how it is used.
Since you’ll be manipulating the document (Document Object Model or “DOM”), we’ll need to wait until the page is fully loaded before executing our code. So we start by creating a statement to that affect:
$(document).ready(function(){
//code goes here
});
eCertificates to the rescue!
If you haven’t heard, the US government is now requiring businesses to provide documentation certifying product safety or face severe fines. This wide-reaching legislation includes such things as toys, furniture, apparel and even some forms of drug packaging. In response to the recent laws, we’ve launched a new business geared toward to providing relief to manufacturers and importers (many of which are my clients). On Friday we released the first full-featured Test Report and General Certificate of Conformity software.
This web-based software, http://eCertificates.org, is designed for Manufacturers and Importers to easily create, organize GCCs & Test Reports and distribute to Retailers in compliance with the new CPSIA electronic certification rules. In addition, retailers/resellers can sign-up for free accounts that allow them to search, receive and archive documents online.