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The hack makes use of a standard Windows 95 image and the Bochs emulator, though as you can expect, the performance is thoroughly crummy. They’re working on getting Windows XP to work too.
From : bink.nu
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Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
How to Install Windows 7 or Windows Vista on Physical Machine Without DVD Media
A lot of Windows Vista and Windows 7 license has been sold media-less nowadays, where buyers only receive a piece of authenticated certificate with a genuine and legitimate product key printed on it. It’s especially true and almost a standard practice for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, or any beta participants, who wants early access to latest build release.
Beside, many people now download the Windows DVD ISO image from BitTorrent using torrent file, instead of having to pay for the hard-copy DVD media to be delivered by post.
Thus a lot of people has soft copy of Windows installation file, normally in the format of ISO format. Normally, the ISO has to be written or burnt to a DVD disc, which can then be used to insert into DVD drive to start the installation of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Unless the ISO is been used to install in virtual machine powered by Microsoft Virtual PC, Virtual Server, VMWare or Sun xVM VirtualBOx, which can mount the ISO image as CD or DVD drive.
For user who doesn’t want to waste a DVD disc to burn the ISO to physical media, and does not have WinPE (Windows PE) startup disc, here’s a workaround method to install Windows Vista and Windows 7 into physical computer’s hard disk drive or partition (volume) directly with ISO without writing or burning to disc. The without-disc installation method is useful especially during beta and RC period of new operating system in the making, where the new build and new version is launching and publishing every now and then. This tutorial guide assumes that the new Windows 7 or Windows Vista will be installed and replaced the original existing operating system currently installed. The instructions can be modified slightly (mainly on hard disk partition used) to fit into need of readers who want to have a dual-boot, multi-boot, or simply just to upgrade install to new OS.
- Install a virtual CD/DVD drive on existing Windows operating system.
- Mount the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD ISO image using the virtual drive.
- Copy all files inside the virtual CD/DVD drive mounted with the ISO into any folder on any partition or hard disk drive not going to be used to install the Windows OS. For example, copy into E:\Windows7.
- Copy the bootmgr and boot folders nested inside the copied folder (i.e. \Windows7) to root directory of system boot drive, typically C:\.
Note: For Windows Vista, users may need to use this step: Copy the bootmgr folder from E:\Windows7 to C:\ root directory, copy E:\Windows7\boot\boot.sdi file to same folder in C:\boot folder, and then copy bootsect.exe from the E:\Windows7\boot\ folder to C:\ drive.
Note: boot folder in system boot drive is hidden system folder.
- Create a new folder named sources under the C:\ root folder.
- Copy the boot.win file inside \Windows7\sources folder to the source folder created in the system boot drive, normally C:\.
- Open a command prompt as administrator.
- Run the following command (change the C to your drive path letter if applicable):
C:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 C:
For Windows Vista users who copied bootsect.exe to C:\ root folder, use the following command instead:
C:\bootsect.exe /nt60 C:
A successful message is the command completes successfully.
- Change the name or label of the boot system partition local disk to BDCP or any name you prefer that easier to remember and type (in DOS command promot, use label command).
- Restart the computer.
- After booting up, the system will start the corresponding Windows installation process. Select the applicable language to install, time and currency format (regional settings locale) and keyboard or input method in the installation wizard dialog.
- On the next screen, user will be presented with option to Install Windows. DO NOT press on Install Windows button, instead, click on Repair My Computer link on the bottom left corner.
- In the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) System Recovery Options dialog window, click on Command Prompt to open a DOS Prompt window.
- Run the format command to format the primary hard disk or partition to clean state:
format c: /q
Note: /q switch, which perform quick format can be omitted to full format. And if existing hard disk partition is of FAT32 filesystem format, use format c: /q /fs:ntfs to convert the file system to NTFS while formatting. Before formatting begins, the command may prompt for hard disk drive or partition label name, if so, enter accordingly (i.e. BDCP).
- After format completed, start the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation process again by manually running the setup.exe located in the copied. Note that the setup.exe is not the one located on boot system drive which copied at later step, as the boot drive has been formatted. For example:
E:\Windows7\sources\setup.exe
- Continue with installation procedures by following on-screen instructions as per normal practice.
Source : mydigitallife.info
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Harddrive Performance - Ntfs Cluster Size
Cluster is an allocation unit. If you create file lets say 1 byte in size, at least one cluster should be allocated on FAT file system. On NTFS if file is small enough, it can be stored in MFT record itself without using additional clusters. When file grows beyond the cluster boundary, another cluster is allocated. It means that the bigger the cluster size, the more disk space is wasted, however, the performance is better.
So if you have a large hard drive & dont mind wasteing some space, format it with a larger cluster size to gain added performance.
The maximum default cluster size under Windows NT 3.51 and later is 4K due to the fact that NTFS file compression is not possible on drives with a larger allocation size. So format will never use larger than 4k clusters unless the user specifically overrides the defaults by using the /A: switch (for command line format) or by specifying a larger cluster size in the format dialog in Windows Explorer.
However, when you format the partition manually, you can specify cluster size 512 bytes, 1 KB, 2 KB, 4 KB, 8 KB, 16 KB, 32 KB, 64 KB in the format dialog box or as a parameter to the command line FORMAT utility.
The performance comes thew the bursts from the hard drive. by having a larger cluster size you affectivly have a larger chunk of data sent to ram rather than having to read multiple smaller chunks of the same data.
More info : support.microsoft.com
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BuddyPress is a set of WordPress MU specific plugins, each plugin adding a distinct new feature. BuddyPress contains all the features you’d expect from WordPress but aims to let members socially interact.
The idea of BuddyPress is to take a standard vanilla installation of WordPress MU and turn it into something that represents more of a community building tool, or niche social network.
BuddyPress is essentially a set of WordPress MU specific plugins. Each plugin adds a distinct feature (or component) to BuddyPress and only handles functionality for that specific component (for example, private messaging). BuddyPress also has a core plugin that all other plugins require, it contains shared functions and performs the basic modifications to the WordPress MU interface.
When using the default theme, BuddyPress will move the main focus of WordPress MU away from blogs, and onto the actual member profile. However, members can still blog and use all the blogging features they would normally expect from WordPress. When someone uses BuddyPress, they will be going there to build or enhance their profile first, and write something on their blog second. The blog is turned into another component of BuddyPress. It should be noted that removing the blog as the main focus is all done in the theme files. Other themes could keep the blog as the focus and still make full use of other components.
A BuddyPress installation will consist of a main community home page, which could either be an actual blog, or a syndication of all the activity of the community members.
The standard features of BuddyPress are:
- Extended Profiles
- Personal Blog
- Private Messaging
- Friends
- Groups
- The Wire
- Status Updates
- Albums
As each one is a separate plugin, there is no reason why site admins can’t pick and choose which components they want and don’t want. There is also no reason why additional components couldn’t be written, or other existing WordPress plugins be used alongside.
Source: buddypress.org
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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33 New Places to Get Design Inspiration
The quality of design sites around has just been escalating and escalating. Last year we published two articles on finding design inspiration - 34 Places to Get Design Inspiration On and Off and the follow up 60 More Places to Get Design Inspiration. Since then I’ve been collecting new sites that didn’t make those two lists, and today I’m happy to deliver 33 New Places to Get Design Inspiration! Without further ado:
1. Depthcore
Into digital art, 3d, and visual goodness? Look no further.
2. Rasterized
Another old school art group
3. DesignFlavr
DesignFlavr is my favourite new inspiration site by a country mile. Great content, great categories.
4. Before & After Magazine
It’s not all free, but there is some good stuff to be found here
5. SmashingMagazine’s Inspiration Category
SmashingMagazine have really been putting out the goods in their inspiration category
6. YouTheDesigner
YouTheDesigner is a great blog that just keeps getting better. Gino has been putting out stellar content all around and built in a nice inspiration category to boot!
7. PSDTUTS Inspiration Category
Hey it’s PSDTUTS! Sean Hodge’s awesome inspiration posts have wrapped up everything from mecha to icons.
8. Abduzeedo’s Inspiration Category
Abduzeedo’s got a great set of posts covering HD photos, design and much more
9. Most Inspired
A neat aggregator complete with a blog worth keeping up with
10. LogoLounge
Some decent stuff at LogoLounge, though it’s not my favourite logo inspiration site (that of course being FaveUp!!)
11. Outlaw Design Blog Inspiration Category
Outlaw’s got some beeeautiful inspiration images, particularly in his digital paintings post.
12. SpoonGraphics Inspiration Category
Another blog featuring some occasional great inspiration posts.
13. DesignYouTrust
Social Inspiration - this site is one to watch out for!
14. AllTop - Design
Not so much visual inspiration as textual. Guy Kawasaki’s AllTop features a ton of great design blogs
15. TypeSites
Like your inspiration with a bit of typographic style?
16. Fuel Your Creativity
Another up and comer in the design blog scene with lots of great posts to choose from!
17. Just Creative Design
It’s not *just* creative design, it’s also damn useful! Check out JCD’s list of inspiration sites
18. QBN
You might remember QBN in its previous incarnation as NewsToday - it’s still just as good as ever!
19. FormFiftyFive
A little more abstract and offbeat than some of my other picks, FFF runs inspirational images daily and they are worth seeing!
20. Muse
Not only great aesthetic choices, but Muse also goes behind the work to profile the artists and designers behind a job.
21. AIGA’s Design Archives
AIGA’s design archives are the kind of place you can get lost in, it is AIGA after all!
22. Fawnt
Need a font to get your project started? Fawnt can give you a quick typographic shot in the arm!
23. CarbonMade Portfolios
I love looking through other people’s portfolios, especially when the site is as fun and colourful as CarbonMade!
24. Coroflot’s Portfolios
Coroflot is the grand-daddy of porftolio sites and it’s still rockin’
25. Behance’s Portfolios
Behance has been taking portfolios to a new social networking dimension and getting a lot of press. Some great stuff in there.
26. Flickr Groups
Vandelay’s Best Flickr Groups for Designers
Flickr has become a great way to get design communities participating, Vandelay has rounded up a ton of them, but really you should just visit the PSDTUTS Flickr Group!
27. Vandelay Design
Our own Steven Snell’s home turf where he publishes tons and tons of great content, including inspirational wrap ups
28. Fubiz
Don’t speak French, don’t worry, neither do I! But Fubiz is still worth visiting, in particular their collection of 70 amazing business card designs
29. Inspiration Folder
Not the greatest looking site, but quite functional. Inspiration Folder lets you collect and share inspirational designs
30. WeHeartIt
This is one of my favourite new sites, share your images in a sort of social-delicious-inspiration-image-fest!
31. AisleOne
Old school graphic inspiration focusing on grids, minimalism and modernism, nice!
32. CoolBoom
Need some sweet architectural inspiration? Try CoolBoom!
33. VisualizeUs
Similar to WeHeartIt, this is Delicious but for images. Really, really cool!
Source: freelanceswitch.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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Helpful Tips For Creating A Niche Resume
If you are willing to apply for a job vacancy then it is better to create a good resume. If you are creating a resume then try to make is as different as possible. If you are planning to know the ways to create a niche resume then you should know some important factors that should mentioned in the resume. At the same time, you should also know something that you should not mention in the resume.
If you browse the internet then you will be able to get lot of websites that will help you to know more about the creation of resumes. Most of the websites will contain general information like formatting the resume and many more. Majority of the advices on resume making will focus on professional work experience, education qualification, and other important skills. However, these are not the important factors that should be considered while creating a niche resume.
It is better for you to know that a niche resume will help you to get noticed. Therefore, the chances to get an interview call will increase with the help of a niche resume. If you have a poor form of resume then it will not help you to get an interview call. If you get an interview call with poor resume then you are lucky. It is always advisable to prepare a niche resume rather then depending on your luck. It is important that you manage to get an interview call. If you don’t get an interview call then you will not be able to get a job.
You will come across lot of companies that will go through the resume in detail. These companies would prefer to have a resume that has details like skills and achievements. If you have achieved something that is related to the filed that you are planning to work then you should not forget to mention that in the resume that you create.
If you are willing to qualify for the job then you should create a resume that can meet the requirement of the recruiters. Most of the job websites will have information about the job requirements. You should create a different resume for each and every job opening. If you create a resume according to the recruiter’s requirements then your chances of getting the job will increase. You will be surprised to know that a resume will work as your face. Getting a job is also dependent upon the quality of resume.
Source: blog.globalpitch.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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Secure and Beautify Your Windows Operating System
The following article will provide its readers with the necessary software to enhance and secure their operating system.
We’ll take a look at some of your choices for improving the look and feel of your operating system, but also keeping it up-to-date with the latest hotfixes released by the Redmond company.
For starters, let’s see what some of your options are if you’re trying to use a freeware program for updating and patching your Microsoft operating system.
Running a computer from the stone-age, with just Windows 98 installed, will not offer you many options for keeping it secure and patched, as Microsoft ceased support for this OS back in July, 2006. Therefore, the options are very limited: one has to choose from no more than three Windows 98 patchers, Auto-Patcher for Windows 98SE, Windows 9x Power Pack and Unofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack. We recommend the first package, as the second and third haven’t been updated for almost two years.
Let’s head on to the next important operating system in Microsoft history, Windows 2000. Sadly, in this case you don’t have that much of a choice, since only a single package was developed to compensate the lack of major security patches for Windows 2K after the update rollup for Service Pack 4 in 2005: Gurgelmeyer’s Microsoft Windows 2000 Unofficial SP5. Unfortunately, the creator of this impressive package has gone missing in the summer of 2006 due to health problems, but others have continued his work and a new release will most probably come even sooner than expected. Of course, you can also try Autopatcher, but this project has come to a full stop in August 2007 and although efforts to raise the program from its ashes are being made as we speak, it’s impossible to tell if the program is ever going to regain the success, support and impact it once had.
Last, but not least in our list of unofficial security patchers are the update packs for Windows XP. After Microsoft’s sudden decision to shut down the development of Autopatcher, only a few important Windows patchers were left standing and even fewer are currently under active development. Since the recent release of Service Pack 3, none of these programs have been updated, therefore we recommend a much better solution to avoid installing the same updates over and over again on a computer. You can easily create a fully customized Windows XP CD, with all the patches and hotfixes included, using a freeware application like: nLite, Windows Unattended CD Creator, WinFuture xp-Iso-Builder, Windows XP PowerPacker or RVM Integrator. Unfortunately, the official Microsoft utility for creating unattended XP installation CDs doesn’t support adding updates.
Let’s continue with Softpedia’s most popular shell replacements and themes, which will allow you to easily change the look of your Windows to a much more attractive one. To give your operating system a shiny new look, you can try the Windows 98 Revolutions Pack 7 on Windows 98 of course and Vistapack on a Windows 2000/XP system. Still, by far the most popular Vista theme for Windows XP is Vista Transformation Pack.
Source: news.softpedia.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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Be Afraid of BitTorrent, Very, Very Afraid
A new file-sharing service called Rhever is using an interesting tactic to get customers. It appears to be trying to scare users away from BitTorrent and LimeWire, and onto its service. Their promo videos are entertaining, I admit that, but are you scared enough dump torrents and try it? I don’t think I am.
I mean, come on. Who needs BitTorrent when the Rhever network has over 20 Million files, 300 TB’s of downloadable content, with another 2 TB’s of information added daily? Also, Rhever has some great (Mac vs. PC inspired) promo videos (we’ll see them below) poking fun at LimeWire, KaZaA and (gasp) even Bram Cohen! And it gets even better.
No more slow downloads, viruses, or adware/spyware required to find the files you are looking for. The Rhever application has a built in easy-to-use search engine to find what you are looking for and does not require you to troll websites looking for .torrent files.
Unfortunately for Rhever, there is no Internet ‘buzz’ around their brand, people just aren’t taking about it, which is a bit strange for such a seemingly great product. If you do a search, 95% of the stuff you’ll find are press releases - and they only appear to be designed to worry people onto their new service.
They play an awful lot on the closure of TorrentSpy in their attempts to generate fear, uncertainty, doubt - and new business for them.
The ‘launch‘ press release lays off most of the scare tactics but is still littered with strange and misleading statements. Rhever spam is posted on dozens of forums, like this one and there are also some ‘interesting’ articles and blog posts around (tagged ‘Rhever’) proclaiming the end of BitTorrent sites. Even Digg doesn’t escape Rhever spam submitted by the company itself.
Also, Rhever use the most contentious music industry statistics to ‘prove’ that other P2P networks are dangerous, and refer to the IFPI as “respected industry analysts.”
If the fear doesn’t work, maybe the comedy angle will get them some subscribers? Rhever has produced a series of (admittedly quite funny) promotional animations showing the benefits of using Rhever over existing file sharing networks. Take a look at the ‘Rhever vs LimeWire’ video below which says that Rhever has done the impossible - and completely eradicated viruses from its network. In its own words:
Each of its [Rhever's] 60,000 servers are run by an administrative team that monitors the servers for any rogue files - viruses, fake uploads and other negative features that are removed instantly
LimeWire vs Rhever
BitTorrent vs Rhever . In this video you will find the secret of the Rhever network..
So it seems Rhever is selling access to good old Usenet and advises its subscribers to use NZB files to get their material, recommending its own (currently non-operational) site to get them - NZB.net.
Considering that Rhever’s strategy is to worry people about the legality of their chosen method of sharing files so much that they sign up, they’re quite cavalier about their own legal position. NZB sites in the US don’t have a great lifespan and offering a full package with Usenet seems very brave.
Finally, here is the KaZaA vs Rhever video:
Rhever is keen to play on the adware bundled with KaZaA, and that proves interesting when armed with WHOIS.
Rhever.com and NZB.net are both owned by a company called JMH Media. JMH Media are the current owners of the MySpaceBar.com domain, which was previously connected to the Scam.MySpaceBar malware. Unsurprisingly, McAfee doesn’t like it at all.
I’m not exactly inspired with confidence to try this Rhever but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Time to sign up. Unfortunately, no matter what I put in I get errors, a point not lost on the solitary poster on the Rhever forums:
No mention of prices anywhere. No contract information. No proper terms or conditions. No company information. No privacy statement. No contact information. No postal address.
There is however, a link to the Rhever client, named ’setup.exe’…..
Maybe Rhever’s fear-marketing has got to me? Far from being scared into leaving BitTorrent, all this uncertainty means that i’m too scared to even install ’setup.exe’ due to what might be inside it - an instinct I acquired in my days as a LimeWire/KaZaA user. I think something just backfired.
Well then, another couple of hours wasted looking for The Holy Grail, only to realize that much like the French soldiers in the movie of the same name, I already have one.
What we really need now is a talented animator to make a proper ‘BitTorrent versus Rhever’ video….
Source: torrentfreak.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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4 Tips for Juggling Multiple Projects
As we’ve pointed out before, independent web workers often have patchwork careers. While it would be nice to only have one project needing attention, the reality is that we need to juggle together multiple projects with overlapping deadlines for many clients. Depending on the workload and your personality, this can be either exhilarating or oppressive.
One thing that can make dealing with multiple projects easier is good time-management skills. But you need to apply some special twists to make time management work for multiple concurrent projects. Here are four ideas to make it easier for you.
1. Know Your Next Deadline. If you’ve got four projects running concurrently, it can be very tempting to just pick the one that is easiest, funnest, or for your oldest client and work on that. This is a recipe for disaster, as it allows deadlines to creep up on you for the other three projects. I’ve found it useful to exercise a modified GTD here: know the next major action and the next deadline for each project (something like “Deliver layout wireframes by June 3″). I keep a text document with these open on my desktop, or a list on a whiteboard, to keep me on track with everything. Detailed task lists live elsewhere - I just want the reminder of the big picture obviously at hand at all times.
2. Keep Task-Switching to a Minimum. As most software developers know, switching from one task to another is a productivity killer. Every time you need to ramp up on something it takes you a while to remember what you were doing, and to get back into “the zone” where you’re working efficiently. Don’t try to divide a four-project day into 8 individual 1-hour segments if you can possibly avoid it. You’re much better off blocking two hours for each project together - or, even better, spending half a day on each project on alternate days.
3. Apply Grease as Needed. No client wants to think that they’re at the back of the queue. One way to give the illusion that you’re always listening whenever they squeak is to do a quick triage process on requests for new features or extra work as they come in. I make it a practice to get to inbox zero every morning - and if client requests that take me ten minutes or less are on the new stack, I just take care of them. Deliver quick turnaround often enough and you’ll find people are more forgiving about the things that take a little longer.
4. Keep Clients Updated. Even if you can’t deliver everything as soon as the customer might like, don’t ever “go dark” on a project. Every client email should get a response, if only to tell them that you’ll be able to consider that more fully tomorrow. On major projects, I send out a quick status report every one or two days (usually just a text list of open issues) to let the clients know that their work is still proceeding. If you take this approach, make sure that the list actually changes from day to day!
Switching between multiple projects can be challenging, but if you can manage it, the benefits in terms of a smoother income stream and more satisfied clients is worth it.
Have any tips of your own to add to the list?
Source: webworkerdaily.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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10 things you should do near the end of a project
Depending on the size of your organisation, you may treat project management as a casual practice or you may have an involved PMO. In either case, you probably go through the typical inception, elaboration, and construction phases of a project. But when it comes to the end of a project, many project managers come up just short of the finish line.
Failure to handle the final steps can add confusion to an initiative and may lead to customer dissatisfaction, unhappy staff, and a project dragging on longer than necessary.
Here are a few things you should be thinking about when you get to the end of your next project. Some of these items are purely administrative, but many of them will help get you one step closer to ensuring that your project is successful.
#1: Finalise testing
Testing can be a drain on people, and many of us don't like to do it -- especially when it takes a few rounds. I have seen complex projects that were four to six months long and have a day or two scheduled for testing. Not scheduling an adequate amount of testing usually ends up with problems occurring during the first few weeks of an implementation. Don't take a shortcut here and minimise the importance of testing; otherwise, you'll take on the additional risk of having a painful roll-out.
#2: Finalise training
Users? Who cares about users? Well, many projects are done for their benefit, so make sure you have all your testing materials completed and delivered. Failure to do so will most likely manifest itself in the form of angry phone calls from irate users in the middle of the night.
#3: Validate deliverables
You've checked all your boxes and cleaned out your inbox, and you really think you're done. But what does your customer think? Schedule time with customers to review all the deliverables and ensure they have been met. In some cases, there may be a few outstanding issues still unresolved when you get to your scheduled end date. Early on in your project, you should have made an agreement that determines how this will affect your end date if this situation occurs.
#4: Get project signoff
After you've agreed that all the deliverables have been met, request a formal signoff on the project documentation. Doing so helps ensure that everybody is in agreement on the state of the project. Since this signoff usually signals the formal end of the project, be careful not to make your customers feel pressured into signing. If they do this without understanding what it means, you will likely end up with an unsatisfied customer if an issue arises at a later date.
#5: Release the team
Now that the project is done, where is your team going? Depending on the organisation, they may be sent back to a development pool or into the business. Or maybe they need to go drum up some work for themselves within the company. No matter what it is, make sure you spend time with them and set a clear end date for when you no longer need their services. Also don't forget that you probably need to complete any performance review documents that need to be added to their file.
#6: Analyse actual vs. planned
Resources. Did you really get away with only one developer/tester for 10 weeks or did you need to scramble and get more people? What about the amount of time you scheduled for your business partners? Understanding how well you hit these targets will help you better allocate resources for your next project and set more realistic expectations when it comes to a project's duration.
Budget. How much was the project going to cost? Did you come in on budget, under budget, over budget? Sitting down to understand the answers to these basic questions should give you some insight into a critical area of any project.
#7: Archive documentation
During any project, we seem to create huge amounts of documentation. It can range from scope documents and project plans to contracts and meeting minutes. Whatever it is, when you are done you should have someplace to keep it based on the retention policy of your company. You'll be glad you did when your phone rings two years from now and somebody asks you to explain the rationale behind a choice you made during the course of the project.
#8: Ensure contract closure
It's not unusual for a project to have its own budget. You also may have contracts for hardware, software, or professional services. When you're done, make sure that you verify that all the terms of your contracts have been met, request final invoices from vendors and submit them to AP, and close out any associated financial accounts, if necessary.
#9: Conduct a postmortem meeting
What types of risks did you identify and mitigate? What went really well that you want to ensure you do again next time? Have a meeting with all the project stakeholders and relevant participants to provide them with a forum to express any lessons learned.
#10: Perform a self assessment
So it's finally over. After all the hard work has been completed, you've made sure that all the i's have been dotted and all the t's crossed. Now what do you do? It's important to get some feedback on your performance from the people you interacted with during the project. If you have the opportunity to send out a 360-degree feedback survey to as many individuals as possible, I would recommend it. It will help you assess how you're progressing and will give you some great direction in deciding which personal growth opportunities you should focus on.
This list won't be the same for everybody and will depend on your organisation and how it implements projects. But if you can do them, it will always make the transition to the next project smoother.
Source: builderau.com.au
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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25 Excellent Ajax Techniques and Examples
Ajax allows for rich-internet applications that mimic the responsiveness and complex user interfaces typically associated with desktop applications. Moving applications to the web browser opens many possibilities, including the ability to save user data, connecting with other users for collaboration and sharing, and making deployment and using the application easier since web browsers are standard-issue with most computers regardless of operating system.
If you’re interested in expanding your understanding of Ajax techniques and practices, check out these 25 hand-picked Ajax articles and tutorials that outline various methods and concepts involved in the development of Ajax-based applications. Though most are geared for budding and intermediate developers, veterans might find a trick or two they haven’t encountered before.
1. Ajax RSS reader
Build a simple RSS reader that takes remote XML data from RSS feeds using Ajax, PHP, and MySQL. This example allows users to view feed content from multiple sources in one page. At the bottom of the article, you’ll find an animated demonstration of the RSS reader.
2. Ajax Desktop Tutorial
This tutorial is a step-by-step guide on how to create a desktop/homepage similar to Pageflake and Netvibes. The goal of this tutorial is to showcase some common techiques involved in developing web-based applications like manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM), listening to events (i.e. certain mouse movements), and working with remote data.
3. Ajax for Chat
Learn to build a simple web-based chat client using asynchronous JavaScript, XML, and PHP. The tutorial’s example utilizes the Prototype JS framework, MySQL, and PHP.
4. Create your own information space with Ajax and del.icio.us
This article outlines the basic foundations of using Ajax alongside an API service. It uses the del.icio.us API, but the methods and concepts can be adapted to other popular services such as Digg’s or Flickr’s. It’s an essential resource for those contemplating on creating web applications that use remote XML data - a couple of live examples are popurls and SocialBlade, which obtains information from social media sites using available API services. This tutorial requires you to register (for free).
5. Ultra-lightweight Charts For AJAX
See how to create a super-lightweight (1.78 KB) charting component using Flash with Ajax. The example allows you to generate visual graphs using dynamically-loaded data. The solution involves ActionScript-JavaScript communication, and covers the use of the setData and setStyle ActionScript methods for generating and styling the charts.
6. Quick Calendar Using AJAX and PHP
Learn how to create a calendar component using Ajax and PHP. Ajax is used for navigating through the calendar months without refreshing the page.
7. How to integrate Google Calendar in your website using AJAX
This tutorial shows you how to create a web page component that calls a publicly available Google calendar. Google Calendar allows you to easily create, share, and manage events and is an excellent feature for community websites.
8. Edit In Place with AJAX Using jQuery
In this example, users are given the ability to edit the XHTML of the web page they’re currently viewing. The example is a proof-of-concept – presenting how this functionality can be achieved using jQuery. Normally, you’d want to send the user’s edits to server-side code to perform processes such as validation or saving the changes in a database.
9. Creating an AJAX Rating Widget
Learn the concepts of creating a rating system without prompting the user to click a submit button or refreshing the page. The tutorial showcases how you can do this in a variety of ways by including examples for the following four JavaScript frameworks/libraries: Dojo, jQuery, mootools, and Prototype JS.
10. AJAX file upload tutorial
In this tutorial, you’re shown how to create a file uploader. The tutorial uses JavaScript and PHP.
11. Use AJAX and PHP to Build your Mailing List
This tutorial from SitePoint walks you through the development of a mailing list form that accepts submissions asynchronously. It uses MySQL for storing the data inputted by the user and Prototype JS for simplifying Ajax requests and binding event handlers.
12. Safer Contact Forms Without CAPTCHAs
One way to reduce spam from public web forms is to implement a system to verify if the submitter is human by using image CAPTCHAs. Problems arise with accessibility when individuals using visual assistive technologies are presented with the test (and thus cannot continue on). This simple technique uses an Ajax call to a server-side script to drop a cookie on the user’s computer.
13. Using AJAX with CAPTCHA
Avoiding the use of image-based CAPTCHAs is a good idea. With that said, many sites still prefer using this technique to distinguish between humans and computers. If forgoing web accessibility is appropriate for your situation, this article outlines a unique method for administering CAPTCHA tests. The user is presented with a sequence of descriptions (i.e. Animal, Costume, Boy), and asked to click on a set of images in sequential order. The clicks are recorded and validated, returning the appropriate status message. Though probably not an ideal solution to CAPTCHAs, it does outline a fundamental technique for developing responsive user interfaces - use it for inspiration.
14. Ajax-based login form
Create a basic login form that asynchronously validates the inputted data. The example uses the jQuery form plugin and PHP to process the request.
15. Nice Ajax effect for message box using Mootools
In this example, a message box that fades after a specified duration is displayed when the user clicks on the "save" button. This is a model for supplying users with the status of their request, and an real Ajax request should typically happen when the user clicks on the "save" button.
16. AutoCompleter Tutorial
The AutoCompleter tutorial teaches you how auto completion of input fields can be accomplished. The example uses jQuery, PHP, and MySQL.
17. Auto-populating Select Boxes using jQuery & AJAX
A key technique in Ajax applications is to populate content without a page refresh. In this tutorial, you’ll witness how this is done with a PHP and JavaScript (jQuery to make it easier).
18. Build an Ajax Dropdown Menu
Here’s a basic example of working with external data to load content into a drop-down menu - from our beloved Webmonkey. Though the example uses a text file, you can use your own data source when applying the technique to your own purposes.
19. Ajax/PHP Shoutbox Tutorial
Make an Ajax-powered shoutbox using PHP and JavaScript. This tutorial walks you through the server-side and client-side requirements of creating a shoutbox, which can be adapted to other functions such as a commenting system.
20. Building Tabbed Content
Learn how to build a tabbed content component with the data populated via Ajax. The tutorial uses PHP and Prototype JS.
21. How to Load In and Animate Content with jQuery
This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to load data into a web page using jQuery to handle the Ajax request and manipulation of the DOM.
Best practices and workaround techniques to common issues
22. The Hows and Whys of Degradable Ajax
This article discusses the concept of creating Ajax-based applications that degrades effectively when JavaScript is not detected, providing increased accessibility and bulletproof-ness. Completely successful degradation means that an application is still usable and information is still accessible without reliance to JavaScript or CSS.
23. Avoid unnecessary Ajax traffic with session state
This article presents a method for minimizing unneeded database/computational processes and avoiding large status updates if no changes have occurred. By using client cookies to keep track of the session’s state, you can cut down on processes that may be redundant. Though the article presents an example using Python for server code – the model remains the same in virtually any language you use.
24. A Better Ajax Back Button Solution
Here’s a workaround to issues pertaining to Ajax-loaded content breaking web browser controls and bookmarking capabilities. The solution involves firing off a function at a set interval that checks the #value of the URL, and then presenting the correct content. It restores the ability to bookmark the content. In Part 2 of the article, you’ll see a working example and additional discussion of this method.
25. Making Ajax Work with Screen Readers
One of the biggest drawbacks of loading content via Ajax is that it fails to indicate an update of the content to users who are reliant on screen readers. For people who are not visually-impaired – messages and status indicators can be visual queues that the content is changing; this isn’t effective for users with visual impairments. This article draws out the underlying issues and proposes techniques to make Ajax-based applications work with screen readers.
There we have it… some brilliant Ajax techniques and examples. I hope you’ve found some links of interest that will help you in a future project or in advancing your command of Ajax.
Source: sixrevisions.com
Posted By: IndoSourceCode
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