I just launched my new idea on the internet. It's a web service where I take people's web design mockups and convert them into valid CSS/XHTML pages for a fee. I call it Mockup 2 Markup.
Apparently, I was not the first to think of it. Right now I'm ranking pretty low in google's page results since it's a new site, but eventually once I get my site Search Engine Optimized, I'll slowly climb to the first page results.
I'm taking a huge leap with this site, since I'm guaranteeing that I'll deliver their finished code within 8 - 12 hours, but I can do it. I've actually done complete sites in that time span before.
That's why my slogan is Delivering your code faster than pizza!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
unwired (goodbye to tangles?)
I just recently acquired my first laptop. It's a Toshiba Satellite M200, a basic entry-level laptop. It came with Windows Vista home Basic.
Naturally, the first thing I did when I got it was to disable all of Vista's eye-candy, since they would only get in the way of any design or development work I planned on doing on the laptop (it only had 1Gig of RAM, and no dedicated Graphics Card).
Next came the task of trying to decide how to connect it to my desktop, and through that, the whole world. I initially thought that I needed to purchase a wireless router and a wireless adapter for my desktop, and set up my home network that way, so I went out to try and catch the hardware shop before they closed for the day. Unfortunately, I can't run that fast. So I decided to go home and do some research instead.
After several minutes on google I found out that the set-up I had pictures was not the only way to wirelessly connect to the internet. There was a cheaper, and easier way to go online. And it only involved buying a wireless adapter for my PC.
The next morning I went out and bought the cheapest wireless LAN card I could get. It was a USB dongle type thing. I then tried to set up an ad hoc connection hosted by my home PC, and connected to that from my laptop.
My laptop was now connected to my descktop. I could share files and folders, and watch movies I had on my PC from my laptop. The only thing I couldn't do was surf the Internet.
Luckily, I already had an existing proxy solution set up, since my parents sometimes dial-up to my PC from their place, and use the proxy to pass through to my internet connection.
A few configuration tweaks later on my laptop's wireless adapter, I was good to go. I could now browse the internet while taking a shower, although I wouldn't exactly recommend it. Who knows what kinds of germs are in the bathroom that could get into the laptop?
It could catch a virus, for all we know.
Naturally, the first thing I did when I got it was to disable all of Vista's eye-candy, since they would only get in the way of any design or development work I planned on doing on the laptop (it only had 1Gig of RAM, and no dedicated Graphics Card).
Next came the task of trying to decide how to connect it to my desktop, and through that, the whole world. I initially thought that I needed to purchase a wireless router and a wireless adapter for my desktop, and set up my home network that way, so I went out to try and catch the hardware shop before they closed for the day. Unfortunately, I can't run that fast. So I decided to go home and do some research instead.
After several minutes on google I found out that the set-up I had pictures was not the only way to wirelessly connect to the internet. There was a cheaper, and easier way to go online. And it only involved buying a wireless adapter for my PC.
The next morning I went out and bought the cheapest wireless LAN card I could get. It was a USB dongle type thing. I then tried to set up an ad hoc connection hosted by my home PC, and connected to that from my laptop.
My laptop was now connected to my descktop. I could share files and folders, and watch movies I had on my PC from my laptop. The only thing I couldn't do was surf the Internet.
Luckily, I already had an existing proxy solution set up, since my parents sometimes dial-up to my PC from their place, and use the proxy to pass through to my internet connection.
A few configuration tweaks later on my laptop's wireless adapter, I was good to go. I could now browse the internet while taking a shower, although I wouldn't exactly recommend it. Who knows what kinds of germs are in the bathroom that could get into the laptop?
It could catch a virus, for all we know.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
CSS anyone?
About three months ago I shifted my focus from pure design to more of design implementation. I find it more challenging from a technical perspective to look at a flat mock-up and try to see how it will be implemented as valid CSS/XHTML.
I don't know, I kind of enjoy it more than designing itself. Technical over Creative for me, I guess. I view a mock-up and place imaginary boundaries between page elements, separating the header, any sidebars, main content area, footers, and any other logical sections. Then I replace those elements with text in my head, and place XHTML tags around those pieces of text according to their semantic function.
At this point I begin to write the code snippets in my head into a web page. Adding each section in until I have all parts complete. Then the styling begins. I go back to the design and try to analyze which combination of styles would be the best set for the site, and apply them. This goes on until the site comes out looking like the original design, in a way.
The next part is tweaking the sections until they are pixel-perfect in comparison to the mock-up, while maintaining validity of the code and CSS. This also includes making considerations so that incompatible browsers are supplied with propers styles to display the page as the designer intended. I guess this is where the bulk of CSS/XHTML work lies, which is a sad fact, all because some browsers choose to implement their own "standards." I mean, why bother calling them standards if there are so many?
When all the coding is done, I upload to a test server and ask for client approval, and hopefully, payment.
One last step. And perhaps the most important one: after payment has been made, always go to your favorite coffee shop and spend some of your earnings on a cup or two of your favorite brew.
I don't know, I kind of enjoy it more than designing itself. Technical over Creative for me, I guess. I view a mock-up and place imaginary boundaries between page elements, separating the header, any sidebars, main content area, footers, and any other logical sections. Then I replace those elements with text in my head, and place XHTML tags around those pieces of text according to their semantic function.
At this point I begin to write the code snippets in my head into a web page. Adding each section in until I have all parts complete. Then the styling begins. I go back to the design and try to analyze which combination of styles would be the best set for the site, and apply them. This goes on until the site comes out looking like the original design, in a way.
The next part is tweaking the sections until they are pixel-perfect in comparison to the mock-up, while maintaining validity of the code and CSS. This also includes making considerations so that incompatible browsers are supplied with propers styles to display the page as the designer intended. I guess this is where the bulk of CSS/XHTML work lies, which is a sad fact, all because some browsers choose to implement their own "standards." I mean, why bother calling them standards if there are so many?
When all the coding is done, I upload to a test server and ask for client approval, and hopefully, payment.
One last step. And perhaps the most important one: after payment has been made, always go to your favorite coffee shop and spend some of your earnings on a cup or two of your favorite brew.
Monday, March 10, 2008
the wonderful world of freelancing
If you have been wondering where I've been since my last post on this blog, worry not: SO HAVE I.
I've been here, in front of my computer, busily creating designs for websites and website elements. I've also been spending time studying several web technologies, one of which is the CMS, short for Content Management System. I don't want to explain what that is, not in this post anyway, since it would probably turn this post into a wiki. Yes, the topic IS that wide.
I also have to make a confession. I've been cheating on you all. I've started a new blog where I post my freelance updates, as well as non-freelance tidbits of my life. It's on
http://h3adrush.wordpress.com
Don't cry too much though, maybe just a tear or three, since I won't be abandoning this blog.
Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you guys is my experience in the last five months I spent as a freelancer. I found this freelance organization on the internet, called www.oDesk.com, that just blows away all the competition. At the risk of sounding like a testimonial, I am telling you that I have never had a single client in my 1 1/2 years as a freelance provider on other sites. But on odesk, I never had to keep telling myself that "my chance will come," because, the chances(plural) just came. And they still keep on coming, at a rate of three interview invitations to bid per day.
Imagine waking up to the tune of "You have been invited for an interview for job #..." every single morning. That should make your day. I know, it makes mine every single time.
I've been here, in front of my computer, busily creating designs for websites and website elements. I've also been spending time studying several web technologies, one of which is the CMS, short for Content Management System. I don't want to explain what that is, not in this post anyway, since it would probably turn this post into a wiki. Yes, the topic IS that wide.
I also have to make a confession. I've been cheating on you all. I've started a new blog where I post my freelance updates, as well as non-freelance tidbits of my life. It's on
http://h3adrush.wordpress.com
Don't cry too much though, maybe just a tear or three, since I won't be abandoning this blog.
Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you guys is my experience in the last five months I spent as a freelancer. I found this freelance organization on the internet, called www.oDesk.com, that just blows away all the competition. At the risk of sounding like a testimonial, I am telling you that I have never had a single client in my 1 1/2 years as a freelance provider on other sites. But on odesk, I never had to keep telling myself that "my chance will come," because, the chances(plural) just came. And they still keep on coming, at a rate of three interview invitations to bid per day.
Imagine waking up to the tune of "You have been invited for an interview for job #..." every single morning. That should make your day. I know, it makes mine every single time.
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