Baby's first blog update
Baby's first blog has migrated from WordPress to SlickCMS and had a brief design refresh in the process.
We've not blogged much about Lily over the latter part of 2009, so we're intending on posting many more updates this year, especially now that Mia Leia-Rose is on the way too!
This also marks the last of my WordPress sites. I've either switched them to SlickCMS or turned them off altogether. In the near future I plan to setup a WordPress.com hosted blog, mainly to keep up-to-date with the latest developments and new features. I'll let you know how that goes.
Spam Free
Slickhouse has been live for almost a week now and I'm yet to receive a spam comment. In comparison, each time I logged into the WordPress Admin on v8 of the site, I was greeted with over 200 spam comments to moderate, that Askimet had trapped.
So it seems that OpenCAPTCHA is working as intended and preventing spammers from submitting comments.
When selecting a Captcha provider for SlickCMS, I had several criteria including:
- Free
- Easy to implement
- Easy to use
- Reliable
OpenCAPTCHA was the only one I came across that met all my requirements. Although no formal sample code is provided in ASP (SlickCMS' language of choice), the PHP code was easy enough to grasp and develop the same.
So, if you're looking for a spam prevention tool for your next web project, consider OpenCAPTCHA.
Posted: Tuesday 2nd March 2010, 00:58pm
Categories: Slickhouse
Tags: slickcms
V9 and SlickCMS is live
Version 9 of Slickhouse.com is now live and I've switched from WordPress to my very own Content Management System, SlickCMS.
The theme has gone a bit darker this time around, but should hopefully tie everything together well. I've decided to drop the 2 sidebars and have increased the main content width, to allow for bigger images within future Posts.
It's been tested working in all the major browsers and has taken about a week's worth of evenings, after I'd released version 2.6.147 of SlickCMS to the public.
Overall, you should find the site closely resembles the previous version in terms of functionality and content. From a technical point of view, SlickCMS utilises Microsoft's ASP, ASP.NET and SQL Server platforms, rather than WordPress' PHP/MySQL.
Let me know if you come across any issues with the new site. I'll be closely monitoring the logs over the coming days, to ensure everything's running as planned.
Lastly, expect a lot more on this site in future - as after completely every line of code, I can concentrate on some content.
Posted: Wednesday 24th February 2010, 00:58am
Categories: SlickCMS, Slickhouse
Tags: slickcms
30 Great Website Footers
Today, a Footer is essential to a website. It shows the user that they’ve reach the end of the page and provides them with some additional information/links. Without a Footer, many users may wonder if the page has fully loaded within their browser.
Recent trends in Web Design have expanded on the traditional Footer, which contain a handful of links and perhaps a Copyright notice. These new Footer designs stand out from the norm and can provide a dramatic ending to a user’s scrolling experience.
Although I’m a Web Developer by day, I do have a keen eye for good design on the Web. So the following is a selection of my favourite website Footers.
Firstly, starting with what I consider a bad footer:
In general, Wiggle’s site comes across as cluttered and takes a while for the user to digest and find what they’re looking for. It’s also full-width, so on a larger resolution monitor can appear to have too much whitespace. Admittedly, the Footer does have some valid information, but could be laid out better.
So what makes a good footer?
Added Bytes has 3 clearly defined columns showing the user information about the author, his recent work and contact information. It also contains a few obligatory social media icons.
Andrew Wilkinson has a hand-drawn/illustrated feel to the Footer, again with 3 distinct columns.
Apple’s site is clean and crisp throughout, though their Footer is very simple and allows the main content to take centre stage. However, interestingly it contains a breadcrumb of the user’s path to the current page.
The BBC’s recent redesign impressed me, especially the Footer – which provides useful links for the user and uses a neutral colour palette, so that it doesn’t clash with the various pages throughout the site.
Binary Bonsai has a black/white Footer with a paragraph about the site along with 4 columns of links.
Cephas is a good contrast to Binary Bonsai – in that it’s black text on a white background, again with 4 columns.
Colour Lovers has 3 columns with recent forum posts, blog comments and an about section.
Design Bombs has a great illustrated Footer, that echoes the site’s theme.
Dyn has a huge footer containing a vast amount of information, including their latest tweets; flickr feed; site links; social media badges and even a contact form.
Elliot Jay Stocks’ Footer contains a selection of links, but I think its greatest feature is the huge search box.
Hash Rocket has a background-image of a planet within its Footer, which contrasts well with the white background of the rest of the page.
I am Paddy’s footer is very clean and simple with several icons that darken on rollover.
Impulse Studios incorporates a login form for their clients into the Footer, which is finished off with a wood-effect background.
Jon Raasch is another example of an illustrated Footer that reflects the colourful header of the site.
Komodo Media’s Footer contains several CDs that change on rollover to show their latest tracks from last.fm
Line25’s Footer continues the blueprint theme of the page and contains what could be described as avatars of affiliate sites.
Little Box Of Ideas’ Footer makes good use of Lego bricks as links to social media sites. The typography suits the rest of the site well and stands out well compared to others on this list.
Microsoft’s Footer is split into 5 columns and fades well to the blue background. It provides the user with more links in relation to the section of the site they’re on – in this example, Windows.
PelFusion’s Footer is split into 3 columns with links to Comments; Categories and Archives – distinct Blog features. I’m interested to see how this will look in a year or two – whether or not the extra Archives will spoil the look, or if the owner decides to only display the most recent ones.
Perishable Press has an almost sepia tone to the page, with the Footer echoing this. What inspired me most about this was the 3 sets of images that fit together well and the rollover states display more colourful versions, yet the 3 sets differ in dimensions and location.
Play’s Footer displays essential links for an e-commerce site, split into Categories. It also fits well with the aformentioned BBC and Microsoft Footers.
Shopify’s Footer is large in height and contains a mix of 3 then 4 columns. Visually, it’s fairly simply and dark to contrast well with the rest of the page.
Simple Bits’ Footer continues with the grainy feel from the top of the page and is split into 5 columns.
Smashing Magazine’s Footer shows the team along with 4 columns of links.
Sohtanaka/Torrance Web Design’s Footer is another 3 column example with a great illustration that uses shades of blue well to show foreground/background objects.
Square Space’s Footer is another black/white example, which is split into 4 columns of links and a 5th with call to action items.
The Travelers Notebook’s Footer contains many links split into Categories that appear to be useful from an SEO and user’s point of view. The lower part of the Footer reminds me of The BBC’s too.
Waterstones’ Footer is perhaps the only one here containing an actual photo, rather than the more common illustrated picture. It fits well with the nature of the site, displaying a selection of books on a Web 2.0 style glossy shelf. Below are 2 columns of links, each divided into 2 (totalling 4).
Yodaa’s Footer fits well with the rest of the site, which changes as you scroll down the page – from a blue sky in the header through to the dark earthy feel of the Footer. It contains a contact form that has been designed to fit the illustrated feel of the page very well.
I had to include my own site for reference, purely because at the time of designing it, I believed it reflected the current trend of Footers on the web. I spent a few days researching Footers that I liked the look and feel of – and opted to attempt a cartoony style, with all of the links as pictures rather than text. It’s starting to show its age and in some respects looks fairly plain compared to others on this list in a similar style.
That’s my list of 30 great website footers. Please be aware that these are my personal favourites and have made such an impact that I’ve bookmarked them whilst browsing the Web over the past few months. I can’t pick a favourite of the bunch, but looking through the list there does appear to be a trend in website Footers that I prefer:
- Multiple-columns – 3 and 4 are the more popular choice
- Jammed full of useful links
- Fit well with the rest of the theme
- Illustrated
- Big and almost overpowering
And overall, they all provide that important factor – letting the user know they’ve reached the end of the page and providing them with a few more options in the hope of keeping them on the site.
When designing my next version of slickhouse and indeed, any future sites – I’ll be taking these into account, allowing them to influence my design decisions. If you’d like to read more on website Footers, the following Articles are worth a look:
- Themeflash – 50 excellent footer design inspiration
- Smashing Magazine – footers in modern web design
- Six Revisions – 25 stylish website footer designs
- Vandelay Design – blog footers
Let me know if you’ve come across any additional Footers that have inspired you and if you agree with the above choices, or not.
Posted: Wednesday 17th February 2010, 00:58pm
Categories: Articles, Links, Web
Tags: footers, web-design
The Setup
Inspired by the site over at usethis.com, the following is a brief interview between me and, well, me.
Matthew Juffs
Web Developer, Techie
Who are you and what do you do?
I'm Matt, Husband to Anneka and Daddy to Lily (18 months) and Mia (15 weeks to go). By day I'm a Web Developer for IOCEA.com Ltd, the creators of Cshop and by night I develop my own sites and tinker with my servers.
I code primarily in ASP (Classic and .NET) with Microsoft SQL Server, but have been known to dabble in PHP and MySQL. Then I used a splashing of XHTML/CSS to bring it altogether and a sprinkling of Javascript if required.
My personal project, SlickCMS is nearing completion for a public release, over a year after embarking on it. I'm still contemplating going Open Source with it, or simply making it freely available.
When I'm not developing for work or my own kicks, I try to improve my measly XBOX 360 Gamer Score; Fallout 3 is proving to be engaging.
What hardware do you use?
At work, a Dell Optiplex 320 with 2GB RAM and an Intel Pentium D. It has lasted me nearly 3 years of development without any problems. It has 2 Sony 17" LCDs connected to it, with a Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 - an older gaming mouse I found to be perfect for me, a lefty.
At home, a Sony VAIO, again with 2GB RAM and an Intel Pentium (M). It runs Windows 7 fine and my only complaint is the loud fan.
I also run several servers in the loft, including a mini-itx Firewall and an AMD Athlon X2 with 6GB RAM as a Virtual Host.
And what software?
My work desktop and laptop run pretty much the same set of software, with the former using Vista and the latter Windows 7. Visual Studio 2008; Microsoft SQL Server 2008; Office 2007; Notepad++ and 7Zip amongst others.
Browser wise, it's Internet Explorer 8 at work, with Google Chrome at home. I prefer the minimalist approach of Chrome for browsing websites and the Web Developer toolbar of IE8 for development purposes.
The Firewall uses Smoothwall and the Virtual Host uses Microsoft Virtual Server 2005, with the VMs a mix of Server 2003/2008.
Lastly, I am a fan of Star Wars, so my Servers are named after planets: Bespin for the Host; Talus, Hoth and Corellia (amongst others) for the VMs and Tatooine for the NAS.
What would be your dream setup?
At work, a 30" Dell monitor, with the Sonys either side would work well - all powered by a Intel Xenon workstation.
Laptop wise, a bleeding-edge Lenovo, Sony or Dell would be good. Maybe a high-end netbook or lightweight laptop for browsing the Internet when not developing too.
My servers could do with an upgrade and consolidation - there's no need to run all 4 of them 24/7, when just the one with a bunch of Virtuals would suffice.
I used to roll with a desktop at home, for PC Gaming and occasional developing - but have since found a laptop to be ideal for sitting on the sofa whilst coding.
Posted: Tuesday 26th January 2010, 00:58pm
Categories: Articles, Computers and Technology, SlickCMS, Slickhouse, Web, Work
Tags: asp, microsoft
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