DHTML: Forget how it works, let's see some in action!
Edward's Diary
Missives From The Eastern Front
Edward Tanguay is a Web developer and language trainer based in Berlin. During the second half of 2000, the Web Developer's Journal published his weekly diary, covering everything from the joys of a new streaming video camera to his plunge into the unknown depths of Linux. There's some excellent technical advice here, thinly disguised as the journal entries of a real Web developer.
Packaging Complexity
Edward would rather give Web site visitors a wide range of choices than a quick and simple solution. But he's learned from companies like AOL that the quick and simple approach often works best.
Learning to Like Linux
As a 21st century Web developer, you need to become familiar with Linux at some level. Linux is very different than Windows and will burn away many of your learning hours before you are productive with it.
Using Tables for Web Site Layout
After learning HTML, the first technical question a new Web developer has is "How am I to position all this stuff on my screen?" Here are the basics of all-encompassing tables including size, position, and dividing them up for faster rendering.
Why and How I installed PHP4, MySQL and Apache on Windows 98
PHP can be combined with three other technologies to form a powerful Web development solution, abbreviated LAMP: Linux (operating system), Apache (Web server), MySQL (database) and PHP (scripting language). Web devlopers wishing to acquire valuable scripting skills can use the combination for free.
Empower Your Website with JMail
Essentially, JMail 4.0 enables your Web sites to send and receive e-mail. This might sound like "just another neat feature", but the ability of Web sites to send and receive e-mails is for Internet evolution as significant as fish sprouting legs and running up on the beach.
Web Site Down Time and Its Discontents
If you have your database-backed Web site hosted at an external ISP, you have to face the problem of Web site down time while you upload and download the database. What are the possible solutions?
Seven Reasons to Learn Server-Side Scripting Now
Server-side scripting has been around for years and although it is revolutionary in concept, many web developers still aren't learning it. Here are seven reasons why you should learn server-side scripting today:
HomeSite 4.5: The Coding Tool
If you begin to go beyond WYSIWYG and manually code your websites with server-side script such as ASP, PHP, JSP or CFML, you need a tool which gives you flexibility at the code level. That tool is Allaire’s HomeSite 4.5.
Dreamweaver 3
The ease of creating DHTML, CSS and JavaScript features is just a beginning. What's equally impressive is the possibility of restructuring Dreamweaver the way you like it, adding new features and sharing them with others.
Fireworks
If you're used to Photoshop, you'll have plenty to learn before you can get the most out of Fireworks, especially when it comes to vector-based graphics. But it's well worthwhile.
A Simple Backup Plan with WinZip
Add one more little tool, Winzip 8.0, to your Zip drive or CD-RW drive, and you have everything you need for an inexpensive, secure and flexible backup routine. Here’s how:
JSP: The Back Door into Java
Edward Tanguay discovers JSP, and finds it finally allows him to put his theoretical knowledge of Java to use, and hence get a foot into the Java programming world.
Using a Videocam for Stills
To put photos on his sites, our man in Berlin buys a videocam and video card instead of a digital camera, then captures stills from video. It turns out to be a choice that brings many hidden benefits.
The Script/Component Model
Amazing potential! Right now we've only scratched the surface. Personalised Web services based on the script/component model will be a big deal during the next decade.
Information Overload
A monster destined to hit the world over the next two decades. Web developers are at the forefront of this change. How should we adapt our methods of working to cope with it?
Video
What better place for a Web Developer's Diary than a site called the Web Developer's Journal? Our man in Berlin, Edward Tanguay, starts his diary with a look at video files and cutting them down to size, plus the curious SMIL video language.