Blog Archives: Page 4

  • Interesting -webkit CSS Properties

    A few weeks back I touched on a handful of Mozilla-specific CSS properties that I found to be interesting. This week I'd like to share a few WebKit-specific CSS properties that make me all tingly inside.

  • JavaScript Enlightenment by Cody Lindley

    JavaScript Guru Douglas Crockford famously said "JavaScript is the only language people feel like they don't need to learn to use." A quote that will surely provide a laugh, but it's funny because it's true. What furthers this sentiment is that JavaScript frameworks like jQuery have turned JavaScript into a language different than what it truly is, and has made client-side coding so easy that there's sometimes no need to really learn JavaScript. Anyone worth their salt, however, knows that in order to expertly and efficiently use any tool, you have to start with the basics.That's where JavaScript Enlightenment comes in. JavaScript Enlightenment is an outstanding book by Cody Lindley, one of several members of the jQuery team. I'll let book's description speak for itself:

  • Using dojo/aspect

    Simply put: the Dojo Toolkit has tools that other JavaScript toolkits don't. One of those tools includes Dojo 1.7's aspect, a module that allows developers to react to function calls by executing another function before or after that call. This aspect resource originates from Dojo's awesome connect mechanism. Let's check out how it works!

  • JavaScript Battery API

    Mozilla Aurora 11 was recently released with a bevy of new features. One of those great new features is their initial implementation of the Battery Status API. This simple API provides you information about the battery's current charge level, its charging status, and allows you to be notified of changes via a few events. Let's check it out!

  • PHP Text Messaging with TextMagic

    A few months back I wrote a shocking expose about how sending text messages with PHP was as simple as a simple call to mail(). The only drawback to using the mail method is that you need know the carrier for a given phone number — a humiliating question to ask anyone you plan to advertise to. Luckily there's an simple, effective web service available called TextMagic. TextMagic provides an API for a variety of languages (PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, Java, etc.) and is very easy to configure.

  • JavaScript CDN Fallbacks

    CDNs are great for pulling shared resources from, especially JavaScript libraries. The advantage in the likelihood that a file is already cached before the user gets to our site is huge. The only problem with using a CDN is that it's out of control; more specifically, what if the CDN server is down? What a nightmare! Thousands if not millions of websites would be hurt...but not yours. Nope, you added a CDN fallback so that a failed CDN wouldn't hurt your site!

  • CSS Circles

    A while back I shared a clever technique for creating triangles with only CSS. Over the past year, I've found CSS triangles incredibly effective, especially when looking to create tooltips or design elements with a likewise pointer pattern. There's another common shape that's easy to create, and that is the circle. Using border-radius, you can create wonderful CSS circles.

  • Interesting -moz CSS Properties

    I'm always on the lookout for interesting vendor-specific features and prefixes. The beauty in them is that they allow developers to enhance where possible; they aren't taken into account as core design, but provide nice little touches. I was poking around Mozilla's MDN and found a great list of proprietary -moz properties. Here are a few of that I found interesting and useful.

  • CSS Filters

    CSS filter support recently landed within WebKit nightlies. CSS filters provide a method for modifying the rendering of a basic DOM element, image, or video. CSS filters allow for blurring, warping, and modifying the color intensity of elements. Let's have a look at how CSS filters work and how you can quickly create elements that are beautifully filtered!

  • December 2011 Mailbag

    I get loads of questions each day so I decided to take a few moments to answer your questions about JavaScript, Dojo, MooTools, jQuery, and more.