Web-Development on DevelopRx

[Rx] Update Node.js

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:18:00 +0000

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript run-time environment that executes JavaScript. It includes npm, which is the package manager for JavaScript code ( installs programs).

[Rx] Basic SEO | How to Write Simple Meta Tags

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:31:09 +0000

There was a Kevin Costner movie where he kept on hearing, “Build it and they will come.”

Great for Kevin, not so good for webpages. If you want to be found on the net, you need more… SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

What is Grunt?

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:33:30 +0000

What the heck is a JavaScript Task Runner?

Grunt is a command line tool that runs on Node.js and automates your JavaScript build process. Grunt is an “easy” way compile coffeescript, sass, compass. It can minify, concatenate, and a whole lot more. Everything is simple… as long as you know what you’re doing.

[Rx] Using Wordpress Duplicator to Restore Local Database

Thu, 12 May 2016 04:06:52 +0000

Duplicator is a WordPress plugin to backup, migrate, copy or clone a site from one location to another.

I wrote a recipe up some time ago to do a localhost database restore using Duplicator, but never prettied it up. Since it might be of use to someone in the future (like me), I’m going to go head and publish it.

[Rx] Customizing Open Live Writer

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 17:37:51 +0000

Way back in the day, Microsoft gave out a very good offline blogging program called Windows Live Writer. It was an offline WYSIWYG blog editor that allowed you to write, save, and post all from the comfort of your local PC desktop and came bundled in an online package called Windows Essentials. The program stalled out on version Windows Live Writer 2012.

Microsoft opened sourced the program as Open Live Writer at the end of 2015. From there, it was ignored and forgotten… sad story.

On the off chance you’ve entered a time warp, and go back to 2015, here’s how to customize Open Live Writer.

[Rx] Trim CSS Fat Using Win7 Grunt

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 18:52:57 +0000

Back in the day, you didn’t have to worry about “devices.” Now, we’re all modern. We have stylish CSS that makes HTML look hipster-good on any screen size you can imagine. To do all this you need css code, lots of code.

You can punch the code-masters ticket and roll your own CSS or you can attach everything to a CSS framework ( Bootstrap, Foundation, etc.).

These frameworks don’t know what you want, so they give you EVERYTHING. You have a screen the size of you large toenail? Not a problem, but the typical websites uses less than 80% of all the framework css code.

The price you pay for a kitchen sink framework is speed. Luckily, if you have a need for speed, you can trim out the CSS fat using unCSS.

[Rx] Install WordPress Theme Unit Data

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 19:32:01 +0000

When you’re in development it’s handy to have Wordpress filled up with dummy data.

In order to test out a theme, you need some basic content. WordPress already has some content available for testing so don’t have to dream it up yourself (Yay!) called Theme Unit Test.

[Rx] Creating a WordPress Undescores Starter Theme

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 18:40:10 +0000

WordPress Underscores is an online tool for creating a starter theme.

It saves a lot of time because it inserts the name of the theme with an underscore in the variable names in a boilerplate theme. If you activate this theme, it’s just basic text and nothing else.

There’s still more to do to create a WP theme, but it certainly is better than rolling your own.

[Rx] Local Web Development - Installing WordPress on UniServer

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 17:00:26 +0000

Back in the day, I was working with WordPress and wanted an easy way to develop locally. I got lucky and found a great piece of software… Uniform Server, an open source lightweight mobile WAMP server that I use as a local web development environment. Version I used back in the day, i was on: 12.0.1_Zero XII. After UniServer, I installed the latest WordPress.

Site Design

Sun, 23 Aug 2015 14:31:43 +0000

Sometimes, a screenshot says it all. My text seems to push to the left and that looks funky. Hmm.

When I made up this little memory-aide site, I wasn’t too concerned about aesthetics. My goals were:

1. Clean/Functional. Easy to write and easy to read. 2. Responsive. Readable on various devices. 3. Spam-less. No spamy comments.

Normally, I use a plain sheet of paper to get the basic layout done. I kind of winged it on this one. Once I get my new local development set up, there are a few things on the to-do list:

Add More Left and Top Margins
Create a Better Instructional Template

No worries. Content is still king.

[Rx] Fried Spam with a Side of WP Comments

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:43:16 +0000

I had WordPress comments turned on for awhile and had a ton of spam about penis enlargement, Nigerian relatives, and how Candy wanted to make my wildest fantasies come true. I didn’t think these added much value (sorry, Candy), so I found a WordPress plug-in that turned off ALL the comments, appropriately named Disable Comments.

This adds a new item under the WP dashboard settings. I selected to disable comments everywhere. Harsh? Tell me about it.

Okay, I kept this one cause of the art. 🙂