Stephen Burge's Blog, page 50
July 25, 2017
New Class: How to Use LESS
CSS stylesheets can become hard to manage on large projects. It can become a headache to manage hundreds or thousands of styles.
LESS is a solution that designers use to make their CSS much more efficient. LESS allows you to use plain CSS, but also add programming features such as variables, mixins, and functions. You can create CSS code that is easy to re-use and extend. This makes learning LESS a very popular choice for coders, including those who build popular design frameworks, themes and templates.
This week's new class is called "How to Use LESS". You'll learn about all the key features available in LESS.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
LESS is a solution that designers use to make their CSS much more efficient. LESS allows you to use plain CSS, but also add programming features such as variables, mixins, and functions. You can create CSS code that is easy to re-use and extend. This makes learning LESS a very popular choice for coders, including those who build popular design frameworks, themes and templates.
This week's new class is called "How to Use LESS". You'll learn about all the key features available in LESS.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
July 24, 2017
Joomla Mobile Toolbar Module from JoomForest
A good navigation menu can hugely improve your website user experience. If your site does not have an easy to use navigation menu system, then your customers will most likely get confused and leave to your competitors. Keeping your site navigation menu as simple as possible, will increase your customer satisfaction and make them come back to your site for more.
JF Mobile Bar is a complete mobile navigation solution for Joomla. It can either partially or completely replace your Joomla template's own header or menu. It offers your mobile visitors a flawless browsing experience that is tailored specifically to small screens. This unique Joomla tool can also work on tablet or desktop browsers.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
JF Mobile Bar is a complete mobile navigation solution for Joomla. It can either partially or completely replace your Joomla template's own header or menu. It offers your mobile visitors a flawless browsing experience that is tailored specifically to small screens. This unique Joomla tool can also work on tablet or desktop browsers.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
High Signal, Low Noise News for Your Favorite Software
All of us are busy. All of us have over-flowing email inboxes.
It can be difficult to find sources of news that are high on signal and low on noise.
I'm going to recommend some ways that you can keep up-to-date with news about your favorite platform. These newsletters and RSS feeds contain a lots of useful news and few useless ads.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
It can be difficult to find sources of news that are high on signal and low on noise.
I'm going to recommend some ways that you can keep up-to-date with news about your favorite platform. These newsletters and RSS feeds contain a lots of useful news and few useless ads.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
The OSTraining Podcast #5: Chris Wiegman
Chris Wiegman was an airline pilot in Hawaii, before developing iThemes Security - one of the most popular WordPress plugins of all time. Chris is one of world's leading WordPress security experts.
Chris has always built his career on his terms, taking on challenges and making moves that kept him fresh and engaged with work.
This episode touches on several issues we love to talk about: teaching, building businesses, and how to constantly re-invent and re-invigorate your career.
Follow Chris on Twitter via @ChrisWiegman and visit him at ChrisWiegman.com.
Subscribe to the OSTraining podcast on iTunes, or use the podcast player below. We're also on Stitcher, Overcast and other popular podcast apps.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Chris has always built his career on his terms, taking on challenges and making moves that kept him fresh and engaged with work.
This episode touches on several issues we love to talk about: teaching, building businesses, and how to constantly re-invent and re-invigorate your career.
Follow Chris on Twitter via @ChrisWiegman and visit him at ChrisWiegman.com.
Subscribe to the OSTraining podcast on iTunes, or use the podcast player below. We're also on Stitcher, Overcast and other popular podcast apps.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Debugging Your Website with Firefox Dev Tools
In previous years, we often talked about using browser add-ons like Firebug to help bugshoot your websites.
However, the major browsers now all include their own built-in inspect tools to debug websites. Firebug was retired at the end of 2016. If you’re using Firefox, Dev Tools is the tool that will help you to debug your site’s design.
In this tutorial we will show you how to start using Firefox Dev Tools.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
However, the major browsers now all include their own built-in inspect tools to debug websites. Firebug was retired at the end of 2016. If you’re using Firefox, Dev Tools is the tool that will help you to debug your site’s design.
In this tutorial we will show you how to start using Firefox Dev Tools.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
July 6, 2017
New Class: How to Develop Joomla Components, Part 2
For quite some time, Joomla development was the most requested topic by OSTraining members.
I'm delighted to release another major class in our Joomla development series. We've worked with Cory Webb, a Joomla developer since 2005, to produce a series of classes on building Joomla extensions.
This new class is called "How to Develop Joomla Components. Part 2: the Frontend", and follows on from "How to Develop Joomla Components, Part 1. The Administrator".
In these videos, you'll finish building the todo list component that was started in Part 1.
Cory shows you how Joomla uses the MVC pattern for component development. You'll learn how to build Models, Views and Controllers in the recommended Joomla way. You'll also see how to create router files and language files, plus how to package your work for distribution.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
I'm delighted to release another major class in our Joomla development series. We've worked with Cory Webb, a Joomla developer since 2005, to produce a series of classes on building Joomla extensions.
This new class is called "How to Develop Joomla Components. Part 2: the Frontend", and follows on from "How to Develop Joomla Components, Part 1. The Administrator".
In these videos, you'll finish building the todo list component that was started in Part 1.
Cory shows you how Joomla uses the MVC pattern for component development. You'll learn how to build Models, Views and Controllers in the recommended Joomla way. You'll also see how to create router files and language files, plus how to package your work for distribution.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
July 5, 2017
The Completely Updated Drupal 7 Explained is Here
Today, we're delighted to launch a new version of Drupal 7 Explained.
This is the first major revision for the best-selling and best-reviewed Drupal 7 book.
We originally wrote the book back in 2012, so it's long past time for an update! Drupal 7 is still going strong after all that time.
Using Drupal 7 Explained, you can master Drupal 7 by using step-by-step examples.
The book walks you through a complete site-build, using a city called "Drupalville". You start by planning the site, then you build out content types, fields and Views, before moving on to themes, modules and site management.
Drupal 7 Explained has been used by 10,000's of readers, from individuals learning on their on, to students in university courses and DrupalCon classes.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
This is the first major revision for the best-selling and best-reviewed Drupal 7 book.
We originally wrote the book back in 2012, so it's long past time for an update! Drupal 7 is still going strong after all that time.
Using Drupal 7 Explained, you can master Drupal 7 by using step-by-step examples.
The book walks you through a complete site-build, using a city called "Drupalville". You start by planning the site, then you build out content types, fields and Views, before moving on to themes, modules and site management.
Drupal 7 Explained has been used by 10,000's of readers, from individuals learning on their on, to students in university courses and DrupalCon classes.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Why Gutenberg? Because Everyone Loves Page Builders
If you are tuned into the WordPress world, you've heard one word many times over the last few weeks: Gutenberg.
On stage at WordCamp EU in mid-June, Matt Mullenwegg unveiled the first version of Gutenberg. This is the new editor that Matt hopes will replace the current TinyMCE.
This would be a mind-boggling radical change for WordPress. In recent years, they have developed a legendary reputation for always keeping backward compatability. Gutenberg would probably shatter that reputation. Gutenberg would probably break a lot of existing plugins - many people would not be able to update easily.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
On stage at WordCamp EU in mid-June, Matt Mullenwegg unveiled the first version of Gutenberg. This is the new editor that Matt hopes will replace the current TinyMCE.
This would be a mind-boggling radical change for WordPress. In recent years, they have developed a legendary reputation for always keeping backward compatability. Gutenberg would probably shatter that reputation. Gutenberg would probably break a lot of existing plugins - many people would not be able to update easily.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
June 27, 2017
The OSTraining Podcast #4: Olivier Karfis and WooCommerce Apps
In this episode, I talk with Olivier Karfis who runs FrenchToday.com, a successful site teaching people how to speak French.
Olivier uses WooCommerce as a platform for digital downloads, and increasingly for mobile and desktop apps, based on the WordPress API.
This episode touches on several issues we love to talk about: teaching, e-commerce, traveling and how to constantly re-invent and re-invigorate your career.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Olivier uses WooCommerce as a platform for digital downloads, and increasingly for mobile and desktop apps, based on the WordPress API.
This episode touches on several issues we love to talk about: teaching, e-commerce, traveling and how to constantly re-invent and re-invigorate your career.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
June 22, 2017
The OSTraining Podcast #3: Justin Sternberg and CMB2
In the third episode of the OSTraining podcast I talk with Justin Sternberg.
Justin started painting houses and is now the lead developer behind CMB2, the framework with powers hundreds of successful WordPress plugins.
We feature CMB2 heavily in the new class, "How to Develop WordPress Plugins". I used CMB2 to power a new WordPress project management plugin called UpStream, and can highly recomend it.
I chat with Justin about his career, and why you should use CMB2 for your WordPress development.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Justin started painting houses and is now the lead developer behind CMB2, the framework with powers hundreds of successful WordPress plugins.
We feature CMB2 heavily in the new class, "How to Develop WordPress Plugins". I used CMB2 to power a new WordPress project management plugin called UpStream, and can highly recomend it.
I chat with Justin about his career, and why you should use CMB2 for your WordPress development.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://OSTraining.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
