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Archive for the ‘web-development’ Category

HTML 5: Seeing is believing

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

preamble

We have lived with HTML5 drafts for 4 years, last draft was published on 27 September 2008.
HTML5 has big number of features and probably will be major change of HTML for all history of Web.

Most prominent features are: Scripting API additionally to regular markup, and number of new APIs: Timed media playback, Storage, Offline work support, Drag and drop, Messaging/Networking, Back button management.
You can look at article on wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML_5] and at current draft [http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/] for more details about HTML5.

Come along

Many different words about HTML5 were already told, and we know that seeing is believing.
So today we have possibility to watch some of already implemented features of HTML5 thanks to Ian Hickson, Google employee that “heavily involved in Google’s work with the W3C, representing Google on the CSS working group and reviewing specifications of other working groups (SVG, CDF, etc)” according to Ian site [http://ian.hixie.ch/]

Following video include subsequent features:
* <video> (00:35)
* postMessage() (05:40)
* localStorage (15:20)
* sessionStorage (21:00)
* Drag and Drop API (29:05)
* onhashchange (37:30)
* Form Controls (40:50)
* <canvas> (56:55)
* Validation (1:07:20)

You can find detailed notes on: [http://www.whatwg.org/demos/2008-sept/]

Fresh toy from Google: Chrome browser

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

preamble

We have enough browsers today: IE, Firefox, Opera, Konqueror, Safari.
There is a question: do we need another one?
We have a lot of problems with compatibility, and almost any web-developer spends time on tuning pages for IE/Firefox.

Google Chrome

Chrome developers made a special page describing why they started new browser.

“What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that’s what we set out to build.”

“On the surface, we designed a browser window that is streamlined and simple. Under the hood, we were able to build the foundation of a browser that runs today’s complex web applications much better. We improved speed and responsiveness across the board. We also built V8, a more powerful JavaScript engine, to power the next generation of web applications that aren’t even possible in today’s browsers.”

“We’ve used components from Apple’s WebKit and Mozilla’s Firefox, among others – and in that spirit, we are making all of our code open source as well.”
A fresh take on the browser [http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/why.html?hl=en#]

And made comics to describe features: [http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/]

As you see we should have browser with improved speed that will be modern platform for web-applications.
Unfortunately I can’t test it now due to we use GNU/Linux in our company and developers presented only version for Windows.

If you are Windows user maybe it worth a look, and make own opinion.
Go on: [http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/features.html]

Chrome screenshot

Simplify of web-development with Firefox plug-ins

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

preamble

There is set of plug-ins that really simplify development process and glance will help you select something for your daily work.

golden list

name: firebug
functions: edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live
hints: page loading analysis, live working with CSS styles, JavaScript debugger
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843]

name: user agent switcher
functions: switch the user agent of the browser
hints: cool but IE, and Firefox still interpret code differently and anyway for interpretation tests you need ‘ies4linux’ [http://www.tatanka.com.br/ies4linux/page/Main_Page]
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59]

name: dust-Me Selectors
functions:finds unused CSS selectors
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/addon/5392]

name: firesizer
functions: resize of firefox the window to specific dimensions
hints: it helps to test site in required resolutions
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5792]

name: SQLite manager
functions: manage SQLite databases
hints: I think you know why it is better to use SQLite DB on workplaces
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5817]

name: add N edit cookies
functions: allows you add and edit session and saved cookies in live
add-on page: [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/573]

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