April 2012
3 posts
1 tag
March 2012
3 posts
6 tags
Get a Static IP in Ubuntu (guest) - Win7 (host) on...
Static (Fixed) IP Address in Ubuntu (guest) Windows 7 (host) VirtualBox
I’ll keep this quick and dirty. You may need a static IP in your networked machine for accessibility between other machines. This is also a great way to host a web development environment, locally.
First: Setup VirtualBox networking
Attached to: Bridged Adapter
Second: Update the guest system’s interface...
5 tags
5 tags
Installing Virtualbox Guest Additions and Shared...
This post assumes that you have Virtualbox 4.1.8 running a fresh copy of Ubuntu 11.10 Server (guest) on Windows 7 (host). After hours of trying to figure out why I couldn’t get Guest Additions installed, I found the answer! I hope this helps…
Update & Upgrade apt-get and get dependancies for Guest Additions.
$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
$ sudo apt-get...
January 2012
1 post
4 tags
Find Items in one Column not in the Other with...
Super awesome query that puts MS Excel to shame!
SELECT * FROM Table1 WHERE Table1.principal NOT IN (SELECT principal FROM table2)
with data export to file:
SELECT *
INTO OUTFILE "c:/mydata.csv"
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' OPTIONALLY ENCLOSED BY '"'
LINES TERMINATED BY "\n"
FROM Table1
WHERE Table1.principal
NOT IN (SELECT principal FROM table2)
October 2011
1 post
4 tags
September 2011
1 post
1 tag
August 2011
1 post
1 tag
Styled Dropdown current release: v1.0
This release includes the functionality to close the drop down when the user clicks off it. If demand needs it, I’ll work on the blur with a timeout too. Enjoy.
Styled Dropdown
May 2011
1 post
2 tags
April 2011
1 post
2 tags
WatchRalph Langner: Cracking Stuxnet, a 21st-century cyber weapon
February 2011
4 posts
3 tags
Code Lab Redesign
Just released my Code Lab redesign. Let me know what you think.
5 tags
AJAX #HASH Based Navigation Needs Rethinking! →
5 tags
eZColumns jQuery plugin for newspaper -like...
eZColumns is a jQuery plugin for newspaper -like columns on the web. It grabs the child elements of a container and organizes them into a top-down, customizable, set of columns. The advanced example also features a super fast searching ability. Check out the eZColumns home page and Jquery project page.
4 tags
Testing for HTML5 Canvas Support with JavaScript's...
JavaScript enables us to use a special trick to turn any returned value into a boolean. For example, this can be very helpful for running browser feature detection scripts like the one below.
Testing for the HTML5 Canvas
if ( !!document.createElement("canvas").getContext ){
//run code for browsers that support canvas
}
In this example, document.createElement("canvas") creates dummy element...
January 2011
1 post
4 tags
December 2010
1 post
1 tag
Watch
November 2010
2 posts
5 tags
Relative URL Protocol (scheme)
Have you ever had the “This Page Contains Both Secure and Non-Secure Items” error message in IE?
This is a typical error when working with secure sites and resources that are located in unsecured domains. Luckily, I just remembered an old secret to make the scheme part of an URL relative. See http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3986#section-4.2 for more info.
For example: <img...
6 tags
Simple Benchmark Snippet
If you need to quickly benchmark some code in firefox (maybe chrome too) try the following function to make you life easier…
function benchmark(name, fn, n) {
console.time(name);
for(var i = 0; i < n; i++)
fn();
console.timeEnd(name);
}
…where name is an arbitrary test name, fn is the function you want to test, and n is the times to run the function.
October 2010
1 post
5 tags
Sorting Faux-Columns (and real table columns too)...
There might come a time where an HTML table can’t be used but the faux-columns need to be sorted.
The example image above shows, on the left, unsorted columns and, on the right, sorted columns.
The HTML for this fake columns example is a table-less group of divs as follows:
<style type="text/css">
.row {clear:both}
.column {width:100px;height:150px;margin:5px;float:left}
...
September 2010
2 posts
3 tags
WatchThis is hilarious but sadly true!
4 tags
Google Instant
Google pushes out a new functionality called Google Instant. For the techies: Can you imagine the extra load created by more requests on Google servers?
When I noticed the feature, I was shocked at how fast it responded to my queries. This post explains some of the benefits in instant search results. However, as a developer, I was left craving more info on the “15 new technologies”...
August 2010
4 posts
4 tags
WatchSource: Techcrunch
1. Get your domain and e-mail working: “When you register your name, you should register the misspellings as a .com, you should register the primary and the .net or .org or it will be sold back to you for thousands of dollars later…” Approximate cost: $160
2. Produce some mock-ups: “You want to show the key functionality that you’re trying to bring to the marketplace…You...
4 tags
WatchKeeping up with Game Dynamics!!!
Appointment Dynamic is a dynamic in which to succeed, one must return at a predefined time to take a predetermined action. For example: Happy hour at a local bar or Farmville’s crops will wilt if not attended on time. Influence and Status is the dynamic of the ability of one player to modify the behavior of another’s actions through social pressure....
7 tags
Creating Same Height Boxes (equal heights grid)
With the absence of table-less designs, creating equally proportionate “boxes” in HTML can be daunting. So, with the help of a couple of CSS tricks and jQuery, I’ll demostrate a cross-browser method of creating equally tall and wide boxes.
before:
after:
The new jQuery $.equalHeights([widths]) Plugin
$.fn.equalHeights = function(widths) {
$(this).each(function(){
...
4 tags
Looping Through JSON property Keys
Here’s a simple method to iterate over an object for its attribute names. To get 1st level keys in an JSON object:
for(var key in json){
/* useful code here */
console.log(key);
}
or you can use hasOwnProperty like
for (var key in json) {
if (json.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
/* useful code here */
console.log(key);
}
}
July 2010
4 posts
5 tags
JavaScript Function with Unlimited Arguments
Declared Arguments
Usually, we provide an argument list when declaring a JavaScript function. Therefore, creating a function that checks for the existence of an argument is pretty simple. For example:
function popup (url, framename, attr) { if (!url) url = ''; if (!framename) framename = 'MyPopup'; if (!attr) attr = "width=800px,height=600px"; window.open(url, framename,...
WatchThis is really inspiring.
3 tags
Player Archetypes in Game Design (Player Personas)
Creating a successful multi-player, community-driven, game requires that at least four typical player archetypes have a place or role in the game. These four types of players need to feel comfortable in order for the natural evolution of community to continue within the game.
Think of your favorite MMO or MMORPG games and see if you can play as any of these four archetypes:
The “Alpha...
3 tags
WatchWorld Population
Interesting perspective on how to manage the ever-growing human population. I too remember when my teacher told me the world’s population had reached the 3 billion mark. I can only imagine the strain our world will face if those numbers are meant to double every couple years.
What stands out in Rosling’s presentation is that “child survival” is the key to...
June 2010
2 posts
CSS 3 @media queries
See an example on using media queries to style content for different screen sizes.
WatchOldy but goodie…
May 2010
2 posts
6 tags
JSL (JavaScript Loader) version 1.1.0
Just finished working on the new release of JSL (JavaScript Loader). Please take a look and send me any bugs :-)
3 tags
WatchHappy Mommy’s Day!!! Love Andres and Kristina
February 2010
4 posts
4 tags
Release and Stability Versioning Explained
Software versions can sometimes be difficult to understand. And, in my experience, it’s even harder to find a clear explanation on how to version your own product releases. So, after searching for clarification, I found some reasonable guidelines to follow. Let me know if they’re helpfull in your projects.
The standard version schema will be as follows: X.Y.Z.P-Stability Status#
X -...
4 tags
Detecting HTML5's Placeholder
Update: jQuery Plugin
HTML5 WG has implemented an input or textarea attribute feature named “placeholder.” It acts similar to suggestive pre-populated input text that clears on element focus.
While developing jQuery’s Simple Clearfield I discovered a way to test for the browser’s support of the placeholder attribute. Here’s the code:
function placeholder_support (){...
6 tags
Inline-Block that works cross-browser
CSS Inline-block is a great CSS property that enables grid-like designs without all the hacks of using tables. This property, however, is not cross-browser friendly. A quick search can provide a ton of information regarding the typical support for this property. For now, here’s a cool workaround that works with most a-grade browsers using descending definitions:
Use a class, like .iblock,...
January 2010
3 posts
5 tags
Apple Tablet?
Apple Tablet. Apple iPad. I speculate that the tablet will run off something similar to the popularized iPhone platform. It will benefit from app-like software and include cellular/wifi connectivity. iPhone developers will be able to port their application to desktop-like environment with ease. I see the tablet used “on-the-move.” Therefore, fast finger-swiping actions, not mouse or...
7 tags
Quick thought on the app market model
Apple has certainly shown us the potential of a closed app market. The benefits are clear and simple. The Apple app submission process assures security and some quality. However, the problems start when the approval behavior is determined by subjective reasoning.
A model that could solve skewed approvals would include something like a dual track submission process. The first track would allow a...
4 tags
Creating a JavaScript Object with a Dynamic...
After going crazy trying to dynamically push objects into an JavaScript array I hit another wall. Dynamic object property names. For example, how do you dynamically write myObject.dynamicName?
Well, after much googling I remembered that magical function eval(). The best way, so far, to write dynamic property names is to parse,eval(), a string name into the property definition. For...
December 2009
3 posts
5 tags
relCopy jQuery Plugin
I just finished uploading a jQuery plugin called relCopy. It spawned from the need to duplicate form fields with specific needs. Try the Demo or Read the Docs. Also visit the the jQuery Plugin page.
5 tags
Staples.com's Holiday Face Lift - Site Redesign
Scary Move!
Staples.com launched their new site yesterday. At first glance, it looks great. However, big and drastic changes during the holiday season is a brave move for the nation’s largest office supply retailer.
Most web professionals would hold back on such heavy changes because customers are in critical shopping mode. Consider the typical stress of bargain hunting and time...
6 tags
Shopping Carts and Solutions
After looking for the best shopping cart solution, I found some interesting candidates. I’ll post them here and, if time permits, come back later to annotate my experience.
Magento www.magentocommerce.com
Free [open source] and Enterprise editions
Very active community
Based on PHP Zend Framework
Better backend UX
Great visual designs and templates
Issues in accessibility. JavaScript...
6 tags
Data URLs and MHTML (for IE)
These browser transport methods are being exploited to include or link to base64 encoded images. Some of the methods being developed are trying to replace image calls in css sprites. The concept is that an embeded base64 image would be more accessible. Others, like the guys at cappuccino.org, are trying to achieve single files that combine css/images/JavaScript inside JavaScript. The purpose is...
November 2009
3 posts
3 tags
Browser Stats
I’m launching a stats page on my site today. My, future, intent is to aggregate statistics from various sources and compile the big picture of what the general audience is using to browse the web. For now, I’ll put up some charts from the most popular resources.
Blog @andresvidal.com
Hi! Just finished setting up my new blog. I hope I can keep up with the posts.
March 2009
2 posts
Blockbuster.com RSS needs date stamps
Blockbuster needs to add date stamps on their rss feeds!!! Now they’re alone at the bottom of my feeds :( - then they wonder why netflix is on point! Companies need to understand that the more transparent they make their information, the more people will use it…. Hmmm facebook why is it you give access to status updates only?!!! Go twitter for portability.
1 tag
