John Wang

Custom CSS Styling for Post Authors are really nice. It’s a great way to differentiate the author’s comments from other readers’ comments, in addition to threaded comments. The problem with the threaded comments, is that other readers may also write response comments which should be threaded to maintain conversational aspect. So styling helps much more.

Disqus is a wonderful commenting system. I was introduced to it by reading Louis Gray’s blog from FriendFeed. Since using Disqus, I have found it to be a very great network. Disqus provides many features including:

• Threaded comments and comment ratings
• moderation and admin tools
• spam filters

Read More »

Read More →

Chad Engle (@ChadEngle) hosts Design Community Twitter Hours every Thursday 6-8PM EST. To join in, just use #DCTH and others will respond to questions. Chad will also respond via @DCTH. You can follow the live tweets via search.twitter.com.

Yesterday’s Topics Discussed:

• The best file format for a illustration being used in a book to be posted online
• Tips on how to start freelancing
• How to best follow live updates of DCTH
• Adobe InDesign vs QuarksXPress
• Design books recommendations
• PHP SQL Injection protection
• Time restrictions on clients. Dealing with difficult clients.
• What a corporate blog should look like? Similarities to the website?
• Suggestions for a “cutesy” font
• Steve Jobs’ illness
• Whether or not to back up your clients data/websites
• What can make DCTH better
• What app do you code in?
• know of a good video podcast for CS4?
• What is your favorite font currently?
• Web standard resolution? 800×600?

Read More »

Read More →

Freelance Folder just released their ebook The Unlimited Freelancer and Envato’s Collis Ta’eed just released How to be a Rockstar WordPress Designer. And since I just finished reading Miles Burke’s The Principles of Successful Freelancing, it seemed like a good time to see what else is coming down to a bookstore near you. Here are some of the books I’m looking forward to their release this year.

Programming Ruby 1.9: The Pragmatic Programmers’ Guide by Dave Thomas, with Chad Fowler and Andy Hunt
Available March 2009
This is the Pickaxe book, named for the tool on the cover. The original PickAxe was the first English-language book on Ruby. Each edition of the book tracks the latest Ruby release, and each is the definitive reference to Ruby. This time we’ve broken with tradition. This isn’t a third edition. It’s technically a separate book. That’s because it reflects all the new features of Ruby 1.9, and we want both it and the second edition (which covers 1.8) to be available at the same time.

Agile Web Development with Rails, Third Edition by Sam Ruby, Dave Thomas, David Heinemeier Hansson
Available March 2009
The Third Edition of the Jolt Award winning book that shows you a new approach to web development, updated for Rails 2. Sam Ruby joins the team to add his world-class knowledge of web application development, making this the most up-to-date and authoritative Rails book out there.

iPhone SDK Development by Bill Dudney, Chris Adamson, and Marcel Molina
Available April 2009
Jump into application development for today’s most remarkable mobile communications platform, the Pragmatic way, with iPhone SDK Development. This Pragmatic guide takes you through the tools and APIs, the same ones Apple uses for its applications, that you can use to create your own software for the iPhone and iPod touch. Packed with useful examples, this book will give you both the big-picture concepts and the everyday “gotcha” details that developers need to make the most of the beauty and power of the iPhone OS platform.

Website Owner’s Manual by Paul Boag of Boagworld.
Available March 2009
Website Owner’s Manual helps you form a vision for your site, guides you through the process of selecting a web design agency, and gives you enough background information to make intelligent decisions throughout the development process. This book provides a jargon-free overview of web design, including accessibility, usability, online marketing, and web development techniques. You’ll gain a practical understanding of the technologies, processes, and ideas that drive a successful site.

Web Design for Developers: A Programmer’s Guide to Design Tools and Techniques by Brian Hogan
Available May 2009
Web Design for Developers will show you how to make your web-based application look professionally designed. We’ll help you learn how to pick the right colors and fonts, avoid costly interface and accessibility mistakes—your application will really come alive. We’ll also walk you through some common Photoshop and CSS techniques and work through a web site redesign, taking a new design from concept all the way to implementation.

What’s on your to read list? Any suggestions for our readers on upcoming books to read?

Read More →

Since I tend to write mostly about web design and development, sometimes people like to “bump” or “vote” for articles. Sociable currently only has the DZone and DesignFloat links by default. So here’s how you can add DesignBump, Vot.eti.me, and FriendFeed links and icons to Sociable.

DesignBump

1. Save the icon: and copy it to sociable/images/directory.
2. Open sociable.php.
3. Find the array called $sociable_known_sites.
4. Copy / paste the code below

    'Design Bump' => Array(
   'favicon' => 'designbump.png',
   'url' => 'https://designbump.com/node/add/drigg?url=PERMALINK&title=TITLE',
   ),

5. Save the file.

Vot.eti.me

1. Save the icon: and copy it to sociable/images/directory.
2. Open sociable.php.
3. Find the array called $sociable_known_sites.
4. Copy / paste the code below:

    'Votetime' => Array(
   'favicon' => 'votetime.gif',
   'url' => 'https://vot.eti.me/login.php?return=/submit.php?url=PERMALINK&title=TITLE',
   ), 

5. Save the file.

FriendFeed

1. Save the icon: and copy it to sociable/images/directory.
2. Open sociable.php.
3. Find the array called $sociable_known_sites.
4. Copy / paste the code below:

    'FriendFeed' => Array(
   'favicon' => 'friendfeed.png',
   'url' => 'https://friendfeed.com/?url=PERMALINK&title=TITLE',
   ), 

5. Save the file and reactivate the plug-in.

Results

This is what the finished version looks like with the 2 services enabled through Sociable Options.

And working version of the icons are used in this website. See below for an example.

Final Thoughts

I have also submitted the code to Joost de Valk,the author of the Sociable Plug-in, in hopes that he adds them for everyone’s use.

Download the complete code here

Read More →

After reading Adelle Charles (  @adellecharles ) review [Are You Freelance Material?] of The Principles of Successful Freelancing by Miles Burke ( @milesb ), I decided to get the book as a Christmas present to myself.

Initial Impressions:

The book seemed very light and small. It has the traditional Sitepoint look and feel to it.

Finished Reading Impressions:

Miles does an excellent job with the many aspects to consider prior to starting freelancing. Even more so, he talks about his experiences and failures in embarking into freelancing. The book’s chapters are very nicely broken down into well manageable sections. And the book is short enough to read on a long flight. Similar to the length of Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think!

Miles takes us through the freelancing journey of 2 fictional individuals. At the end of each chapter, explaining their decisions on the principle emphasized in the chapter. And also provides various links to resources discussed in the chapters. Such as finance software examples and start-up cost examples.

I also liked that the book did not end with the completion of the first year, but also provide advice on where to go and what to do after success has come. Miles did an amazing job bringing out the hidden costs and fees that a lot of potential freelancers come across in their first year as a surprise. There is a lot of emphasis on proper planning before you leap into the sea. And rightfully so. Planning is by far one of the most important principles of success in any field. He goes through the do’s and don’t's for success very nicely.

While the book does center a bit around a web design freelancing aspect as that is Miles Burke’s specialty, it is a very informative resource for anyone considering freelancing in any industry.

The book’s Sitepoint website provides an in-depth list of the chapters and descriptions as well as a free sample chapter to read before you decide if you want to purchase it.

Final Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The material was very well written and did not overwhelm. I highly recommend it to anyone considering freelancing as a career and even those who have already taken the leap.

Your Thoughts?

Have you read the book? What did you think? Will you read the book?

Read More →