November 8, 2018 — When creating a multi-step form in which a file is uploaded and manipulated, if the application is running on several servers behind a load balancer, then we need to make sure that the file is available all throughout the execution of the process, for whichever server handles the process at each step. In this article, Leonardo Losoviz will solve this issue by creating a repository accessible to all servers where to upload the files, based on AWS S3. Read more…

November 6, 2018 — In this tutorial, Alvin Wan will program three-dimensional objects and add simple interactions to these objects. Additionally, you can learn how to build a simple message passing system between clients and servers. He will specifically focus on point-and-click adventure games. Such games are a casual class of games; the goal is to point and click on objects in the scene, to finish a puzzle. You will build a simple version of such a game but in virtual reality. Read more…

November 6, 2018 — By creating understandable and tangible visuals, companies will decrease interdepartmental miscommunications and increase overall productivity. A storyboard is a collection of cells, either in a linear progression or mapped out from a central idea that tells a story. Storyboards are meant to be simple representations of a larger concept, and force both its creators and readers to break down large complex topics into simple step by step subsections. In this article, Joshua Bumcrot adresses anyone who wants to develop a product and improve internal communication. Read more…

November 5, 2018 — Animated GIFs are popular on the web for good reason. They provide more engagement than an ordinary image, while remaining more digestible compared to a typical video. However GIFs are a terrible format for storing video and are often huge in size leading to slow page load times and high data usage. With HTML5 video, you can reduce the size of GIF content by up to 98% while still retaining the unique qualities of the GIF format in the browser. Today, Ayo Isaiah will show you how to convert animated GIFs to video files and examine how to properly embed these video files on the web so that they act just like a GIF would. Read more…

November 2, 2018 — At Smashing Conferences, we don’t big up speakers to be Idols On A Pedestal — they’re developers just like the audience, who happen to have solved a problem that we think others face, so share that knowledge. In this post, Bruce Lawson brings you the newest member of the Smashing Team — Bruce Lawson — looks back on a successful Smashing Conf NY. Read more…

November 1, 2018 — A 404 page should do more than apologize for poor navigation on behalf of your website. There are some 404 pages that go above and beyond. Rather than the stark white of a standard 404 error page, these pages take an opportunity to speak to users in a more personal tone. Excellent 404 pages are exactly like getting an unexpected treat from a friendly face. In this article, Shelby Rogers will show you why making an effort with a 404 page could better your website’s chances of people coming back despite the inconvenience, and how to track those errors to reduce how often people see it. Read more…

October 31, 2018 — Give your desktop a makeover with this fresh batch of wallpapers. Today Cosima Mielke brings you wallpapers designed by the community for the community and available with and without a calendar for November 2018. The wallpapers all come in versions with and without a calendar for November 2018 and can be downloaded for free. As a little bonus goodie, we added a selection of favorites from past November editions to this post. Because, well, some things are too good to be forgotten somewhere down in the archives, right? Enjoy! Read more…

October 30, 2018 — The Server Timing header provides a discrete and convenient way to communicate backend server performance timings to developer tools in the browser. Adding timing information to your application enables you to monitor back-end and front-end performance all in one place. Over the years developer tools have been improved to help us troubleshoot these sorts of performance issues in the front end of our applications. Browsers now even have performance audits built right in. This can help track down front end issues, but these audits can show up another source of slowness that we can’t fix in the browser. Read more…

October 26, 2018 — Last week, Rachel Andrew attended the CSS Working Group meeting at W3C TPAC, and rounds up some of the discussions in this post — including those things where you can help make a decision. Today, she will explain a little bit about what happens at TPAC, and show some examples and demos of the things she discussed at TPAC for CSS in particular. Read more…

October 26, 2018 — Everyone knows that if a website is slow, users will abandon it. Many studies demonstrate the connection between website performance and conversion rates. Being an easy-to-use inclusive and versatile piece of software, WordPress comes with a plethora of options that are not necessarily utilized in each and every project. As a result, website performance can suffer. In this article, Denis Žoljom shares his experience and the basics of creating a decoupled WordPress. Read more…