Curiosita Labs - Thoughts on programming, web development and design.

3 CSS Techniques To Help Build Better Sites

By djbrensinger

On April 14, 2012

In CSS, Web Development

While looking for tips on CSS, I found 3 articles that can help you build better websites with CSS.

As mobile sites and applications become more important and readily used, web developers need to focus on learning how to develop for mobile. Flexible Mobile – First Layout With CSS3 walks you through the design process and gives you tips and hints on designing for mobile.
Every web developer needs a collection of coding techniques. CSS is no exception. At noupe.com, you can grab the Useful CSS Snippets for Your Coding Arsnel. You’ll need a place to save your snippets here are 25 Handy Tools to Paste and Share Your Code Snippets.
@FontFace allows you to specify what font or fonts you want your site to use. The new bulletproof @FontFace syntax shows you how to use it so that it works in most browsers (mobile and desktop) without issues.

jQuery and Google Maps

By djbrensinger

On March 30, 2012

In Programming, Web Development

While looking for jQuery tutorials that were more challenging than the typical beginner tutorials, I found marcgrabanski.com. His now defunct developer blog has a few tutorials on jQuery. Marc posted one on Google Maps and jQuery. This tutorial had exactly what I was looking for. It showed a practical use for jQuery instead of how to create an animated box. Marc walks you through a step by step process of using jQuery with Google Maps. He shows you how to mashup jQuery with Google Maps to create a simple map that overwrites Google Map popups.

If you are learning jQuery and want to try a tutorial that is more challenging and fun, I suggest taking a look at jQuery and Google Maps.

Dummy Text Generators

By djbrensinger

On March 18, 2012

In Design, Web Development

When you create a web design, sometimes you need filler text to help complete the design. You don’t always have the option of having content written before you design. If you don’t have content available, you can use a dummy text generator to fill in the places where the text go. By using text instead of boxes, your client will see how the text will look with the design. The standard is to use “Lorem Ipsum” as filler. Or you can use something a little more interesting. Web Designer Depot has complied a list of 15 dummy text generators you should know. This list ranges from the standard “Lorem Ipsum”, random gibberish text, passages from famous stories, TV Shows or even Bacon Ipsum.

Instead of writing your own dummy text, you can try out one of these generator for your next project.

March brings snow

By djbrensinger

On March 4, 2012

In Miscellaneous, Photography

After our March snow, I took a few pictures around town. The snow had made everything look so pretty.

Maple In Front Yard

Mukwonago Road

Snow on Pond

Snow on Trees

I used my Canon PowerShot and Android to take these pictures. Can you tell the difference?

How to Build and Redesign Websites

By djbrensinger

On February 29, 2012

In CSS, Design, Web Development

Building a website is both an art and a science. There are new techniques and tricks to building web sites being created. You have to choose which techniques to learn and use. Not all techniques will work for every website. Here is a list of 5 articles to help you improve the way you build and redesign websites:

Tom Milway explains How to Build a Modern Website. He suggests using a mobile first design strategy, making your client have content written first and applying responsive design.
In Zen and the Art of Good Web Design, Pamela Wilson writes that minimalist web design doesn’t have to be boring. She provides tips on how to achieve minimalist design with personality.
Web developers and designers are often asked to redesign a web site. The New Redesign Rules of the Web helps you to decide what you should keep and what you can afford to lose.
Developers can make design mistakes in their web designs. Have you made one or more of these 7 design mistakes?