StringFoo :: Web Development Resources

SOPA Has Me Scared Shitless, and You Should Be, Too

sstringer — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:02:09 +0000

SOPA is a truly frightening piece of legislation currently skating through Congress. It wouldn't take much under SOPA to shut down your site, and you would have no recourse. Bottom line: This is a rotten piece of legislation that threatens the Internet as we know it, and could potentially pose a very real threat to your online business. Take a minute and write your representative now and tell them in the strongest terms to oppose SOPA. Read on for details and context.

How To Relocate An SVN Working Directory When a Repository Has Moved

sstringer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:02:13 +0000

If you've ever received the message, "svn: Repository moved permanently to..." when dusting off an old SVN repository, this tutorial will show you how to relocate your working copy so that it points to the new repository location.

Alternative to DigitalColor Meter in Lion (Updated)

sstringer — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:21 +0000

Update: With the release of 10.7.2, this issue is resolved. The Apple engineers have reverted the code back to its pre-Lion state complete with the ability to copy hex values. Original post: With Lion, DigitalColor Meter lost the ability to copy hex colors to the clipboard. Fear not, web developers, I've found a work-around.

Google Announces Cloud SQL

sstringer — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:40:09 +0000

Google have announced the launch of their Cloud SQL product. This is a MySQL variant that stores the database in the cloud and works in conjunction with Google's App Engine service. Until now, App Engine developers have had to rely on rough, schemaless file systems to store data objects. Now, they can take advantage of a MySQL-like database stored in the cloud. Read on for details and article links.

Web Site Development Environment Recommendations

sstringer — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:00:59 +0000

I frequently get asked what I use to develop my clients' web apps or if I could recommend a tool to do such-and-such. It's a good question. Web development is constantly evolving as quickly as the web itself. With so many choices, it's easy for new developers to get overwhelmed, and harder still for experienced developers to stay on top of the tools. What follows is a list of tools and hardware I use to create complex custom web applications for my clients.

MySQL PHP Extension to Be Deprecated; Free MySQL->MySQLi Code Converter

sstringer — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:09:59 +0000

Heads up, developers: the PHP folks have announced their intention to deprecate the old MySQL database extension. If you're currently a Dreamweaver user or are just using the old MySQL extension out of habit, I developed a free tool in MyQuery Builder that will convert your existing code to both procedural or class-based MySQLi code, your choice.

Data Visualization Nerds, Take a Gander

sstringer — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:56:29 +0000

Many of you know I'm a bit of a data visualization nerd. I'm pretty impressed with this graphical Evolution of the Web. Done, aptly, in HTML5 rather than...what did they used to call it??? Oh, yeah. Flash. Remember that?

MyQuery Builder in Chrome Web Store.

sstringer — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:41:30 +0000

Good news, everyone! MyQuery Builder is now available as an app in the Chrome Web Store. Once you do, an icon will appear on your new tab and/or home screens. Click on that, and it takes you directly to the Query Builder (assuming you've signed up, etc.). MyQuery Builder, if you don't know, is a visual MySQL query editor and php code building tool designed for php web developers. Try it for free or find out more information at myquerybuilder.com.

MyQuery Builder Makes Editing MySQL Queries Easy

sstringer — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:14:56 +0000

I'm proud to announce the launch of my latest project, MyQueryBuilder.com! MyQuery Builder is a visual tool for professional PHP developers who need to construct MySQL queries reliably and easily. If you have ever needed to build database functionality into your site, you'll want to check MyQuery Builder out.

Divorcing Dreamweaver

sstringer — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:00:17 +0000

After ten long years, I'm finally kicking Dreamweaver to the curb. I'm done. I've had it. I'm divorcing Dreamweaver. In this article, I'll chronicle my journey and describe the choices I made along the way. I committed to switching away and used the productization of my MySQL query building tool, MyQuery Builder, as the testbed for this experiment. After a few jarring days, I grew to love Coda and I haven't looked back since. If you have ever thought about looking for an alternative to Dreamweaver but have never made the leap due to difficulties in learning new tools or finding equivalent functionality, you'll be interested in my story.