Understanding Forms, Part 1</h1> <article> <h1>Understanding Forms, Part 1</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:56:51 +0000</p> <p>In part 1 of this 3-part series, we lay down the roadmap for this lesson and cover building a form, formatting the output, and retrieving variables form a form once it's been submitted. No previous knowledge of PHP or HTML is required, we'll cover everything in easy-to-follow steps all the way through.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Using MySQL in Drupal, Part 2</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:41:03 +0000</p> <p>In "Using MySQL," we look at how to use database queries to get information from a database, as well as how to insert, delete and modify that information. Queries are the backbone of any data-driven functionality, and when you're done watching this video, you'll have all of the essential tools you need to start writing code in Drupal that interfaces with the database. We'll start with some basic explanations of the major components of working with a database, including the database itself, tables, rows, and queries. Then, we work through increasingly complex queries to hone your query-building skills.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Using MySQL in Drupal, Part 1</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:36:02 +0000</p> <p>In "Using MySQL," we look at how to use database queries to get information from a database, as well as how to insert, delete and modify that information. Queries are the backbone of any data-driven functionality, and when you're done watching this video, you'll have all of the essential tools you need to start writing code in Drupal that interfaces with the database. We'll start with some basic explanations of the major components of working with a database, including the database itself, tables, rows, and queries. Then, we work through increasingly complex queries to hone your query-building skills.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Understanding Forms, Part 1</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:20:00 +0000</p> <p>In part 1 of this 3-part series, we lay down the roadmap for this lesson and cover building a form, formatting the output, and retrieving variables form a form once it's been submitted. No previous knowledge of PHP or HTML is required, we'll cover everything in easy-to-follow steps all the way through.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Working With Functions in Drupal</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:28:09 +0000</p> <p>Having a firm grasp of how functions work in PHP can give you a huge boost when it comes to developing for Drupal. We cover some of the basics in this video, such as identifying and creating functions, but was also go over more advanced topics, such as using references, marking functions as private, understanding scope and modifying scope the right way with global and static variables. If you don't know what any of that that means, no problem, by the time you're done watching this video you will!</p> </article> <article> <h1>Working With Arrays in Drupal</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:05:31 +0000</p> <p>In "Working With Arrays in Drupal," we explore arrays, one of the most widely-used - and confusing - variable types in Drupal. Arrays can be used to store and organize multiple pieces of information, making them extremely handy for passing data around through Drupal hooks. In this video, we'll explore how arrays work, from storing and retrieving data to looping through arrays, and we'll also introduce you to some of the most useful PHP functions to sort and modify arrays.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Using Templates in Komodo Edit</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:55:57 +0000</p> <p>If you thought snippets were cool, just wait until you learn about Komodo template files. In this video, we begin by explaining what template files are, and demonstrate how you can use template files and snippets to create a new module in under a miinute! Whew! We'll show you how to create a template file, as well as editing it later on (not as straightforward as it sounds). We'll show you how to add template files to your project or Komodo's toolbox, and finish up by demonstrating how you can use the techniques you learned in the Komodo snippet videos in your template files. This is really good stuff, enjoy!</p> </article> <article> <h1>Create a Drupal Project in Komodo Edit</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:48:59 +0000</p> <p>In this video, we cover how to organize your files into Komodo projects. First, we explain what a Komodo project is and how you would use it. Next, we discuss the difference between a 'live' and a 'static' project. We cover where to save your project file depending on the type of project you decide on, and finally demonstrate how to import a live folder into a static project.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Drupal AJAX basics</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:15:25 +0000</p> <p>AJAX is the core of Web 2.0 applications. In this video, we use a simple example to demonstrate how to employ AJAX on your Drupal site. In contrast to building an AJAX application from scratch, Drupal gives you a number of useful tools to make AJAX both easier to implement and more secure, several of which we cover.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Testing your module, part 2 - Intro to Simpletest</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:50:45 +0000</p> <p>Manually testing the functionality of your code takes time and is prone to error. The solution is to automate your tests! In a previous video, we took a look at Selenium and how you can use it to automate testing by using a real browser. In this video, we explain SimpleTest, which is both a module and a testing framework used throughout the Drupal world.<br /> Using SimpleTest can save you hours, greatly reduce the number of oversights when doing testing, and it's much quicker to run numerous and complicated tests than Selenium. As a bonus, many modules come bundled with tests so you can insure that your code isn't causing problems outside of your module.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Setting up your module's install file</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:56:40 +0000</p> <p>Sometimes your module needs to store unique data or make adjustments to Drupal settings when it's installed. If your module is one of these, you'll need to use a .install file and the Schema API to install your database tables. Sound scary? No worries, I'll walk you through the process of creating an install file, setting up tables and even performing special set up tasks when your module is installed.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Testing your module, part 1 - Intro to Selenium</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:18:38 +0000</p> <p>Developers usually make do with manually testing their code as they're learning, but you can both save time and improve test accuracy by automating your tests. The most common tool for test automation is Simpletest, which we will cover in future videos. The less common, but more accessible tool is called Selenium IDE. Selenium is an incredibly useful tool you can use to automate browser activity in Firefox. It allows you to record your actions, modify them, and replay them. Because Selenium is browser-based, it allows you to test things like AJAX and javascript, among other things.</p> <p><a href="http://buildamodule.com/video/testing-your-module-part-1-intro-to-selenium" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Adding and configuring blocks</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:22:06 +0000</p> <p>If you're coming from a non-Drupal background, you might not be familiar with the idea of blocks. Using module-based blocks is an excellent method for exposing functionality, configuration and content to a Drupal administrator. Blocks can be used to display content, embed useful forms or add widgets to a site.<br /> In this video, I'll show you how your module can add a block. We'll look in detail at the hook that makes it all happen, and explore several examples, from a simple block to something a bit more fancy (infinite dynamically generated blocks!).</p> </article> <article> <h1>Securing your module - part 4</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:36:28 +0000</p> <p>In this final installment of the 4-part series on security, we discuss how to safely interact with the database. By using a couple of key techniques, in one fell swoop you can make your module cross-database compatible and virtually insure a defense against SQL injection attacks. You won't want to miss this one.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Securing your module - part 3</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:33:41 +0000</p> <p>In part 3 of "Securing your module," we discuss some really useful tools and techniques for preventing CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks, XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) and user access. Whew! Sounds like a lot of stuff, but Drupal compresses a lot of functionality into some core functions and strategies. As mentioned in the previous security videos, using these tools can not only makes your module more secure, but also do a lot of the heavy lifting that's difficult for a single developer to do on their own.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Securing your module - part 2</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:04:27 +0000</p> <p>In part 2 of "Securing your module," we'll continue discussing methods of filtering content for XSS attacks, and continue to discuss ways to generate URLs and links in Drupal. As with many security features of Drupal, these functions make the developer's life a whole lot easier with some heavy-lifting side-benefits.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Securing your module - part 1</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:50:23 +0000</p> <p>Security is not usually not a primary concern for a Drupal developer when they build their first module. That makes sense because there's a lot to learn. But Drupal gives you some real incentives to implement basic security techniques by making sure that when you make your module secure, you also make your life a whole lot easier. Also, knowing you're responsible for gaping security holes on someone else's site is a burden to the conscientious coder. Save yourself the pain and spend an hour now learning the basics.</p> <p><a href="http://buildamodule.com/video/securing-your-module-part-1" target="_blank">read more</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Using a PHP debugger</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:40:24 +0000</p> <p>As you develop, you will inevitably run into errors in your code. It can be a huge pain to track down obscure problems, or try to follow the values of variables through an entire process, and you. Using a PHP debugger is the ultimate solution. In this video, I will demonstrate a PHP debugger in action and explain the different components you'll need to get a debugger working in your development environment. Trust me, if you don't use a PHP debugger, you can save yourself hours by watching this video.</p> </article> <article> <h1>How to theme your module</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:29:46 +0000</p> <p>Integrating the Drupal theme layer into your module can be a confusing task, and if you're new to Drupal you might not even know what that means. For one, themeing allows other developers and designers to override the look and feel of your module with hacking into your code, but that's only part of it. After watching this video, you'll be more than comfortable with them idea of themeing, and how to integrate theme functions and files with your module.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Make your module customizable</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:22:13 +0000</p> <p>You can magnify the awesomeness of your module by allowing your users to customize it, and lucky for us, Drupal makes this really easy. In this video, we're going to explain how to set and retrieve settings and create an administration page with a few lines of code.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Adding Javascript and CSS</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:16:49 +0000</p> <p>Most modules need a little bit of CSS and javascript, but it's not always clear where you're supposed to put it. In this video, I'll cover how and where to add these in our module.<br /> In addition, we'll go over techniques for optimizing the loading of javascript and CSS so that your module has as small a footprint as possible. One CSS file won't make a huge difference, but on a site with 50 or 100 modules, every little bit helps.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Using the Forms API</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:10:49 +0000</p> <p>The Forms API is one of the most powerful tools in Drupal, and it can save you a ton of time if you use it right. In this video, we're going to cover techniques for using the Forms API to generate forms, validate them upon submission and process them once they've passed. </p><p>If you come from a code-from-scratch background, you know how difficult securing forms from abuse can be. Even though the Forms API looks a bit odd at first, once you grasp the concepts you'll see how much of the heavy lifting is done by Drupal and you'll never look back.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Using hooks</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:39:41 +0000</p> <p>Hooks are the single most important concept to learn when it comes to module development. Hooks allow developers to tap into Drupal at virtually any point to change anything from forms to nodes to the how a bit of output displays. There are over 70 hooks in Drupal 6, but you only need to know a few to get started developing in Drupal.</p> <p>In this video, I cover how to implement a hook, and show you how easy it is to expose hooks in your own module. Adding hooks to your code allows other developers to tag on functionality, just like you can do with Drupal core. Pretty neat stuff!</p> </article> <article> <h1>Build your first Drupal module</h1> <p>learn@buildamodule.com (Christopher Shattuck) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:55:56 +0000</p> <p>In the first video ever added to Build a Module.com, I'm going to show you how to create your first module. It's far from rocket science, and it will take you less than 10 minutes.<br /> Along the way, I will introduce you to the menu system and how to add new pages to your modules, as well as point you to some helpful resources to further deepen what you learned.</p> </article> </main></body></html>