html5

Tutorial
February 27, 2015
Draw Cherries using HTML5 Canvas
I’m teaching a class on 2D Animation this semester and opted to use web technologies such as HTML5 Canvas, CSS Transitions, and Javascript. In this tutorial we are going to use the canvas element to draw 2 cherries with stems. I’m having my class use CodePen for their assignments, so this tutorial kind of assumes that. If you want to see the final product, head on over here.
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Books
September 20, 2013
Good Books for Web Development
I’m teaching a couple of web development classes this semester and have been receiving a lot of questions as to what books would serve as good resources. Here’s a short list, starting with the ones I’ve chosen for my classes.
1. HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites: This is possibly the best book I’ve used for HTML and CSS. It is visual, puts things in simple terms, and it’s up-to-date. I would strongly recommend this for beginners. I am using it for my E-Commerce 251 (Intro to E-Commerce) course.
2. Web Database Applications with PHP and MySQL: This book (by O’Reilly Media) takes a good look at PHP and MySQL. It covers a range of topics from beginner PHP and an intro to Databases to a look at bigger topics, like security. I’m using it for my Media Info Tech 315 (Web Applications and Databases) course.
3. Bulletproof Web Design: Improving flexibility and protecting against worst-case scenarios with HTML5 and CSS3: This book taught me everything I know about the right want to develop websites. Dan Cederholm is a pro and a great teacher who will take you through doing things, and making them bulletproof.
4. Web Designer’s Guide to WordPress: Plan, Theme, Build, Launch: Once you’re comfortable with HTML, CSS, and PHP, you might want to get into WordPress. This book is an excellent starting point.
5. Implementing Responsive Design: Building sites for an anywhere, everywhere web: Responsive Design is all the rage now, and for good reason. This book will tell you the principles of RWD and how to implement it in your site.
6. The A Book Apart Books: Honestly I would recommend all of them, but the specifically web development ones are: HTML5 for Web Designers, CSS3 for Web Designers, Responsive Web Design, and Mobile First.
As you probably know, I also have a book, Building WordPress Themes from Scratch. However, there have been some changes the publisher has been doing lately and I am working with them to get the book in my hands. More on that here.
Finally, I have another book coming out in December called Responsive Design with WordPress. I think this would work really well after books 4 and 5 on the above list. Keep an eye out for it; maybe I’ll even do a giveaway or two.
What are your must-read web development books? Let me know in the comments!
Gear
July 8, 2013
The Mobile Web App Developer’s Dilemma
I’m currently sitting on an Amtrak train from NY Penn to Exton, PA (the Philly-ish area). The ticket taker was coming by on his nifty device scanning tickets, which would then check a database of purchased tickets to confirm the purchase and the identity of the purchaser. However, when we hit a tunnel (and therefore no data connection), the device stopped working; any scans returned “Ticket not found.” You would think that whoever developed this system for a subway/train company would have considered that at times there might not be a data connection, but that didn’t seem to be the case. This is a bit of a dilemma for anyone developing apps for mobile.
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Links
October 17, 2010
Links Round Up for 10/17/10
- $918,856 Federal Study: Bar Fights Tend to Happen in Darker, Dirtier Bars Frequented by Heavy Drinking, Less Agreeable People: Really groundbreaking stuff here. I’m glad nearly $1 Million of tax money funded what I could have told you from being in college.
- HTML5 Draws Concern Over Privacy Risks: I hate to break it to Ms. Vega, but anyone writing a website can store a lot more than they think, especially since we are constantly logged into social networks like Facebook. Also, I think this is mostly sensationalism since browsers implement the HTML5 spec.
- Jersey Shore RPG: Their final move is a great one.
- The Guy at Home in his Underwear: Really cool online/social media campaign to raise money for a man who has testicular cancer.
Some cool purchases I made this week: Bit Monsters by Simple Bits and Envato’s WordPress Pack ($250 worth of online/electronic goods for $30).
Links
September 5, 2010
Links Round Up for 09/5/10
- 5 Mind Blowing Ways Your Memory Plays Tricks on You: Number 3 is “Your brain just makes shit up.” Fantastic.
- TheÂ Entrepreneur’s Wallet:Â Â A nice comparison of the wallet of someone who runs a company vs. the project manager’s. Mine is actually more like one on the right. I cannot stand clutter.
- How Do Colors Affect Purchases?: This is really interesting and definitely something I’m going to try in future designs.
- iTunes get Social, Launches Ping: Earlier this week Apple had a music event, where among other things, they announced an iTunes integrated social network called Ping. They still have not announced a replacement for lala.
- Chrome HTML5 Experiment with The Arcade Fire: This is really really cool!
- 10 Seriously Cool Places to Work: Hint- Google is on there.
Links
August 15, 2010
Links Round Up for 08/15/10
- Oracle Sues Google over Android’s use of Java: The people at Oracle should be ashamed of themselves.
- HTML5 Boilerplate: An excellent template for web design using HTML5
- FreePress’s Sensationalized Version of the Google-Verizon Net Neutrality Pact: Published by HuffPo. This is an unfounded and extremely sensationalized, deeply misinterpreted version of the actual statement the two companies released.
- Google’s response to theÂ AforementionedÂ Article: A few days later, Google released this statement trying to clear up some of the “misconceptions” propagated by HuffPo, FreePress, and others. Strangely enough, this one went unnoticed by HuffPo. So weird!
- I Finished Reading Assholeology: (Amazon Link) Easy read that’s both informative and entertaining. I’d recommend it.
- Complete Guide to Maximizing You Android Phone’s Battery Life: Very helpful guide to getting the most out of your Android phone’s battery.
- 10 Reasons to Date a Nerd: …ladies.
Code
August 11, 2010
Book Review: HTML5 for Web Designers
HTML5 for Web Designers by Jeremy Keith is a book IÂ pre-orderedÂ when it was first announced and I finally got around to reading it last week. I got it because it looked short & sweet, A List Apart does great work, and up until that point I didn’t know much about HTML5.
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