Teach Yourself Visually HTML5 by Mike Wooldridge My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book steps through the new features of HTML5, including many new elements for more semantic markup, better forms, audio and video, and canvas. There's also a section on using JavaScript with HTML5. The text is augmented by code snippets and screenshots. […]
The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle by Steve Slaunwhite My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is definitely the best book on freelancing I’ve read so far! Many freelancers assume that they must choose between a high income and the freedom of freelancing, so they settle for an […]
Since we started using the CloudFlare (free plan) on a few sites a few months ago, it's greatly reduced comment spam and contact form spam. According to our CloudFlare dashboard, it's also blocked many botnet zombies and other threats, reducing the risk of sites being hacked. It also serves as a CDN (content delivery network), but sites […]
The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book contains more than I’ve ever wanted to know about typography. It describes not only how to use fonts, but also how to create them, explaining the math and science involved in font design. It also describes techniques for laying […]
PHP & MySQL: The Missing Manual by Brett McLaughlin My rating: 3 of 5 stars This intro to PHP was informative but not as engaging as Head First PHP & MySQL. It's written for those who know HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript. It uses a basic web app as the example project throughout the book, […]
For my 2013 redesign of OptimWise.com, my primary goal was to better showcase my portfolio. Secondary goals included refining information about the business, making it easier for people to contact me, and making the blog more visually appealing. My Portfolio page has been one of my most visited pages since I added it, so I decided […]
A fellow web designer recently asked me, "How do you prepare for a meeting with a prospective client?" Here's my answer: It depends on the conversation that led up to the meeting. When I schedule a meeting, I usually ask the person (or people), "How can I best prepare for our meeting? Are there any […]
I use the WP-DBManager plugin to keep my WordPress databases clean. I like things neat and tidy, so it annoys me when I see unnecessary tables in my WordPress databases. These are often left over from deleted plugins. Some plugins delete their data from the database, but many don't, preserving your data in case you […]
On January 1, 2013, I'll have completed my transition from my day job to being a full-time freelance web designer. How did I do it? To find out, listen to Episode 104: Become a Full-Time Freelance Developer of the Your Website Engineer podcast (one of my favorite podcasts). In this episode, I had the pleasure […]
These are my favorite audio podcasts about WordPress. The last time I posted this list was May 2012, so it needed an update. Sadly, many of the WPCandy podcasts have podfaded since my last list, but I'm glad that a couple new groups have launched WordPress podcasts. I’ve listed these from most to least favorite. […]
Stunning CSS3: A Project-Based Guide to the Latest in CSS by Zoe Mickley Gillenwater My rating: 2 of 5 stars An informative but uninspiring guide to CSS3. It shows how to progressively enhance using several CSS3 techniques, but the examples are uncompelling. Also, I found the writing dry; I've been spoiled by the character and […]
These are my favorite audio podcasts about web design and development, both the technical and business sides. They also feature topics such as marketing and freelancing. My last post on the best web design podcasts was from June 2012, so it was time to update the list. I’ve listed them roughly in order of preference, […]
