Whether you want to test new web designs, plugins to a CMS or web apps, you will need a web server. XAMPP allows you to install Apache, PHP, Perl, MySql and more. This video by jimmyrcom guides you through the installation process on Windows.
You can use standard web friendly fonts like Helvetica, Arial, Georgia in your web designs. Sometimes your design calls for a more decorative font. With CSS3, you can use a more decorative font without restoring to using images. Web Designer Wall shows you in CSS3 @font-face Design Guide how to use these decorative fonts and provide tips on how to make your designs look good when a browser doesn’t support @font-face. The follow up post @font-face Solutions & Suggestions explains the three main options for implementing @font-face and the pros and cons of each option. If you want to implement more decorative fonts in your web designs, use these two article to help make your designs bulletproof.
A short list of tips and tools that can help you to become a better developer from coding tips to showcases on interface design.
- 7 Crazy Tips That Will Help You Become A Better Coder Louis Lazaris explains that you can become a better coder by writing code and solving your own problems, not just cutting and pasting the code of others. He provides some tips for helping you to improve your coding skills.
- 10 Web-based Sandbox Tools For Testing Your Code Snippets A Sandbox Tool allows you to test code snippets without having to set up a test website in order to test them. They also allow you to share and collaborate with other developers.
- Five Free or Open Source Text Editors For Developers Sometimes, you need a text editor to get certain projects done. Tech Republic has complied a list of open source text editors that you can check out.
- 4 Key Considerations for Scaling Your Database Your app may need a database to store information. When choosing a database solution, you want to make sure that it can handle the volume that you place on it. Mashable defines 4 key things to think about when choosing a database solution.
- Showcase of Great Web App Interfaces What makes a great web app interface? An app that focuses on usability, simplicity and helps users get the job done. Does that mean that they have to be attractive? Not all useful apps are attractive. These SEO apps are simple, usable and ugly.
While I went out walking, I found this chalk drawing on a driveway in my neighborhood.
What a fun and creative way to say good bye to summer.
What to learn how to use HTML5 tags in your projects? I found three resources that can help you learn how to apply an HTML5 tag quickly.
- The html5 tutorials has a sidebar list that allows you to open the tag description that you are interested in. It defines the tag, shows you an example and describes each attribute if any.
- HTML5 Tag Reference also has a sidebar list that allows you to open the tag that you are interested in. The home page shows you the new tags and tags not supported in HTML5. It defines the tag, shows you an example and describes each attribute if any. They also tell you the differences between HTML4 and HTML5. Plus W3Schools provides you with tips and notes on using the selected tag.
- Structural Tags in HTML5 defines the new structure tags in HTML5 that can replace the div. It provides a simple example that demonstrates the use of these tags. You also learn how to get JavaScript to get IE to recognize HTML5 elements.
Until you have create a few HTML5 websites, you can use these resources to help you learn it quickly.