For the last few months I’ve been trying to gain a better understanding of the many frameworks and libraries proliferating the development community.  When I first discovered Yahoo! User Interface (YUI), I knew it was something powerfully useful, easily accessible, and would change the work flow of more than a few developers and designers.

As I dug deeper, my giddiness subsided and I was soon immersed knee-deep into Ajax, JQuery, Mootools, Scriptaculous, and Prototype.  I’ve been long overdue posting my findings, and for good reason: It was important to learn more about “why” you would want to use one framework versus the other.  However, I also circled back around and found yet another framework right at home in one of my most trusted tools, Dreamweaver, called Spry and developed for designers by the good folks at Adobe.

In an effort to keep things brief, I’ll discuss the above frameworks in a series of future articles.  First we’ll explain Ajax in a nutshell.

Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a technology that allows a web page to perform actions or update data dynamically, without reloading the page or fetching data from the server.  By using Ajax, a web site can be more responsive and interactive.  For example, Google Maps wouldn’t function as it does without Ajax. Imagine if when you tried to scroll the map to the left you had to wait for the page to reload? With Ajax, Google Maps provides a user-friendly tool that allows you to manipulate the application by dragging or clicking a page object to view or pull additional data. Ajax allows for a much shorter delay and a less disruptive process than if you had to wait for the entire page to reload for each and every interaction you initiate.

JavaScript is not new to the web by any means.  In the early days of the web it was, admittedly, used for just as much evil as good. I have horrible memories of multiple-occurring pop-ups, flaming pillars, and animated insects scurrying across web pages.  What’s new today, however, is how it has been adopted into a developer’s tool kit to make a semantically marked-up and beautifully designed CSS web page truly interactive.  This is called the behavior layer.  Of course, the downside to JavaScript occurs by the simple act of turning it “off” within the web browser.  But, here again the maturity of JavaScript can come to your rescue by degrading your code gracefully to accommodate a browser that has opted out of your meticulously designed user experience.  No harm, no foul.  If JavaScript is turned off, the user will still benefit from whatever page content is present absent the really kewl functions and actions that JavaScript can create.

To learn more about Ajax, check out Wikipedia or this very good article by J.J. Garrett at Adaptive Path.

It’s been a long-time coming, but I’ve finally uploaded a few of the many XHTML/CSS templates I have archived. The templates can be found on the, wait for it, Free Templates page. Feel free to borrow, but please don’t steal. Show mad love to the developers and designers that have provided very useful sites that can get anyone up and running in no time. All they ask for their creativity and ingenuity is that you credit their work.

I’ve included several of my favorites, but I will post links to others I’ll be featuring in the coming weeks. Contact me with any questions you may have or how to best share these wonderful tools with others. But, be forewarned that I will not entertain inquiries about how to modify them. The templates are free, not my professional time. Enjoy.

It’s been about a month since my last article or post. Most of the elapsed time has been spent renewing my Fireworks and Photoshop skills. The life of a self-proclaimed web developer means that not only must I stay current with the latest web technologies, but I must also continue to use my current tool sets to improve my work flow and efficiency while producing interesting content.

I’ve been working on a few projects that I hope will demonstrate my particular talents, especially with XHTML and CSS. But it will be the imagery that will hold folks attention. “A picture is . . .” goes the old saying. That’s why keeping up on using Fireworks or Photoshop is such an important part of web design. Using an image editor is a personal preference, but most would agree that without one, developing and designing a web site would be a lot more difficult and a lot less fun.

So, stay tuned for a variety of articles and posts covering things like jQuery, sIFR, Fireworks, and web standards, as well as new links to useful sites from my ever-growing list of admired developers and designers.

After receiving what I thought was yet another unwanted marketing call, I was unexpectedly drawn into a great conversation about local design firms and the creative community here in Detroit. I followed one web address given by the caller and was introduced to the creative folks at “Elemental,” located in Troy, Michigan. After being wowed by their great web site, I received the added bonus of being directed to “deep canvas,” their social network for Detroit’s creative class. I fell in love instantly.

Admittedly, I’m addicted to joining sites I like, but I rarely decide that I’d like them sufficiently enough to want to complete my profile, upload a picture, and submit a comment or blog article.  deep canvas changed my mind from the start. Not only can you submit articles and create a personalized profile page, you can avail yourself of the great content they offer and network with other artists, technophiles, intellectuals, and other such kewl and creative types.  And the content is extraordinary in my humble opinion.  Check out this abstract video that uses a data mapping technology set to a track by Blip Boutique called “Rest my Chemistry.”

Find more videos like this on Deep Canvas

I enjoyed this video so much I just had to include it on the DP site and send it to numerous friends on the West Coast. Not only do I recommend visiting the site, but if you are a creative living in or around the Detroit area, please join the network. I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed.

“Twitter” popped up on my radar today as I was thinking of how to best keep in contact with project teams or work groups.

I first noticed the Twitter feed button showing up on my favorite blogs about year ago, but I had no interest in just adding another colorful feed icon onto my own site. Twitter admits “it sounds ridiculous and stupid when you first hear about it” but it is, nevertheless, simple to set up and kind of addictive once you get going with it. If I’m working on a Web project involving a design team spread out across town, country or continent, I sometimes need a little nudge of motivation to keep me focused or to remove a creative blockage. Twitter allows my team to follow my creative process when I turn on the “follow me” features.

It does cause you to question why anyone would want people following their every thought, feeling, or disappointment, but you can just as easily extend the concept to some practical purposes for work or business.

clipped from twitter.com Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to�communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

I don’t know if Twitter will become a way for me to annoy colleagues more, but it does allow me to demonstrate a pretty good collaboration tool that can help me share my thoughts, ideas, and favorite toys I’m working with. It’s also a great way to have some fun with friends and family.

Addendum

Notice the “Clipmarks” image? Another reason Firefox is my browser of choice. I spend a lot of time online and view more than a few Web sites each and every day. Just as I take a notepad or journal with me every where I go, Clipmarks is with me on every World Wide Web destination. It provides a handy tool to keep your posts fresh and timely without having to access your site’s administration functions. Edit the document before posting it, however. Unless your site’s visitors are comfortable with typos and poor grammar, I recommend playing it safe and keep these type of posts brief.