A good host is hard to come by. For shared hosting, StringFoo recommends A2 Hosting. The price vs. feature set can't be beat.
In fact, StringFoo.com and its sister sites, StringerSites.com and Lockbox.cc, are all hosted by A2. You can get perfectly adequate LAMP shared server for $3.95/mo.
For dedicated hosting for larger sites, we recommend Rackspace. While they aren't the least expensive host out there, their hand-holding and service are next to none. This can make all the difference on large scale sites. If you call them, please let them know that you were referred by Stringer Sites (they keep me in free t-shirts if you do).
Dropbox is an excellent and free tool that lets you share files among different groups and clients. I wrote more about Dropbox in this post. Sign up for Dropbox with this link and get an extra 250MB of shared space for free!
LockBox is a free, secure repository for all of your sensitive bits of information. Examples include passwords, account log-ins, product serials and more. LockBox can store almost any information you want. How you use it is up to you.
Link: http://lockbox.cc
A free online tool that quickly packs your JavaScript and CSS code for optimal download speed.
A free, open source, web-based tool for developers who need a visual tool to build MySQL queries quickly and intuitively.
Links:
New to web development? Here are five books that absolutely must be on your bookshelf. I use them so frequently, my copies are dog-eared and coffee-stained. I'm even on my second copy of two of them.
If you bounce between programming languages, and have to dust off the syntax, the PHP Cookbook is a fantastic resource. Well indexed, and exceedingly thorough, this book is a must-have.
Programming PHP is also a must-have given its in-depth explanation not only of the lexicon and basics, but also its detailed explanations of some more advanced concepts such as object oriented programming, script security, error handling, and performance tuning.
You'll learn more about optimizing MySQL in High Performance MySQL than you ever will from the MySQL manual.
Fat. Definitive. Exhaustive. Terrible if you're human. Fantastic if you're a book. JavaScript - The Definitive Guide is the bible for JavaScript.
Look, ma! Stupid web tricks! Actually, this is a handy way to get up to speed on DHTML painlessly. Like the indispensable PHP Cookbook, JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook will quickly become your go-to reference for real-world JavaScript.
Links:
February 27th, 2009
Dropbox [link] is a highly recommended service that lets you share large files amongst different groups and machines. A typical use would be to sync your files between two or more computers, but I find Dropbox incredibly useful for my client work.
Like many of you, I work with virtual teams that come together on [...]
February 20th, 2009
I came across this very nice gallery of Flash preloader screens. I am continually humbled in the presence of true creativity. This is well worth checking out.
February 17th, 2009
If you have any dynamic sites that can display the same information through a variety of URLs (e.g. “somepage.php?category=cats&story=123″ vs. “somepage.php?story=123&category=cats”), Google has provided a way for you to avoid the duplicate content issue by providing a “preferred link.”
Basically, you add a special link tag to the head of your page:
When Google finds duplicate content, it will transfer the page ranks and index data to your preferred link.
Clap your hands and say yeah. You’re done.
Head on over to the Google Webmasters Central Blog for details on this tip.
Sphere: Related ContentFebruary 3rd, 2009
Recommended reading:
This article provides a solid overview of the relatively new vector for attack that hijacks your open redirect URLs.
Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Open redirect URLs: Is your site being abused?
No one wants malware or spammy URLs inserted onto their domain, which is why we all try to follow good security practices. But what if there were a way for spammers to take advantage of your site, without ever setting a virtual foot in your server?
There is, by abusing open redirect URLs.
November 20th, 2008
Google has released a useful SEO starter guide that outlines the basics and some pitfalls. This is good stuff.
[via the Google Webmasters Blog]
Our Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide covers around a dozen common areas that webmasters might consider optimizing. We felt that these areas (like improving title and description meta tags, URL structure, site navigation, content creation, anchor text, and more) would apply to webmasters of all experience levels and sites of all sizes and types. Throughout the guide, we also worked in many illustrations, pitfalls to avoid, and links to other resources that help expand our explanation of the topics. We plan on updating the guide at regular intervals with new optimization suggestions and to keep the technical advice current.
So, the next time we get the question, “I’m new to SEO, how do I improve my site?”, we can say, “Well, here’s a list of best practices that we use inside Google that you might want to check out.”
November 19th, 2008
Blame the economy, but everyone is trying to cut corners.
Lately, I’ve come across any number of examples of DIY graphics and marketing materials. This is a trend that will only end up biting the creators in the butt. By pinching pennies and doing a poor job, these people are diminishing their brand, angering their customers, and utterly failing to promote their business in a positive light.
This article discusses classic mistakes made with do-it-yourself-marketing and makes the argument that professional marketing and graphic design matter.
November 18th, 2008
(via @goatlady’s tweet:) For the next 14 days, one of SitePoint’s most popular books, “The Art & Science Of CSS,” is available to download for FREE.
The promotion is designed to get you to follow SitePoint on Twitter, but you can enter your favorite spam catching email address to get the download for free, too.
Click here: Twitaway Free Offer
[NOTE:] In fact, at the moment, the email signup is the only way to get the download link. Twitter spanked SitePoint for sending too many DMs with links, so following them won’t do you any good at this point (unless you just want good karma points).
October 7th, 2008
The venerable and invaluable rent a car bulgariaphpMyAdmin has turned 3.0! Cosmetically, the tool looks pretty similar to 2.x, although some refinements have been made.
Under the hood, phpMyAdmin now requires PHP 5.2+ and MySQL 5.0+. A new range of features are largely esoteric (IMHO) and are enumerated here.
Download phpMyAdmin 3.x from the phpMyAdmin Project [...]
September 16th, 2008
The Webmaster Jam Session ‘08 is coming right up (Oct 3rd and 4th) in Atlanta. If you haven’t signed up yet and are thinking about going, don’t hesitate. For the money, this is the best web development conference out there. I went last year and got a ton out of it.
Read the full post to get $50 off your registration.
September 13th, 2008
Okay, this is more for me than for you, my dear reader, but if you’re struggling with any productivity-based problem, 43folders is the place for you. Here are some crucial meta links:
What Sucks?
Looking for specific answers to what sucks for you today?
“My email sucks.”
“My attention management sucks.”
“My compulsive web browsing sucks.”
“My lack of resolve to put my art first sucks.”
“My procrastination sucks.”
“No, seriously. My procrastination really sucks.”
“My fiddling with ‘productivity systems’ sucks.”
“My to-do list sucks.”
“My blog sucks.”
“My band’s stupid website sucks.”
“My meetings suck.”
“My PowerPoint presentation sucks.”
“I suck.”
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