Programmers Community

Choose a Color Palette for Your Web Design

As you design your website, whether you are paying for a top-notch design or are simply doing your own with a WordPress theme that you upload via File Zilla FTP, you will run into colors. Colors can easily make or break your website, causing visitors a sharp feeling of pain as he or she squints trying to read the text, or a squeal of delight brought about by attractive the colors are. Considering this, an attractive color palette for your website is essential.

A color palette brings a level of consistency to the design of your website. For instance, the primary colors of your website will be copied to your toolbar or the borders used within the site. Hyperlink colors, as well as the text of titles and body text of articles, will be coordinated accordingly.

However, the color palette doesn’t just bring universal colors to your website and make it consistent through different sections. Creating a color palette uses complimentary colors that work well together, taking advantage of color theory for the use on the internet.

There are plenty of websites that you can find that will create a color palette for you. When you create one you like, try it out. Also, be sure to make a copy of your palette, noting the exact colors, in case you need to recreate it in the future. Or you could use something like FileZilla to upload the file you have created to your website.

Once you go through these steps and find something you like, you will have a consistent color palette. Ideally it will blend perfectly with any header graphic or logo you use, creating something that looks sharp and appealing. In time, it will be something that is distinctive to your website, bringing visitors to your site something that they come to expect. Because of the attractive and easy to read design, your audience will be able to fully focus on the content of your website.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: FileZilla, palette, Primary color

Educational Requirements for a Web Designer

Web design is a very good business to be in, but is also brutally competitive. Only those who have the best understanding of the web design business will be able to find employment as a web designer at a top firm, or even get enough jobs to work freelance. Although there are certainly people who have learned about web design on their own, most of those who are out there getting the best jobs have gone to school and gotten a degree in computer information systems and web design. Many web designers are able to work remotely on their desk tops using Tight VNC and Putty, freeware programs that allow them secure connections and remote capabilities while trying to keep abreast of this competitive field.

A degree in web design can be obtained at a traditional university, but is also a very common degree offered at technical schools or community colleges. A student who is interested in obtaining a degree in web design can expect to take a full range of courses to prepare them for a career in the field.

The student will generally have to take some general education classes, even at a technical school. The student will likely have to take a basic English class, sociology or psychology, college algebra, and maybe a few other classes like speech, history, or chemistry. After they have taken their core classes, the student will have a wide range of computer classes to take. The first classes will teach the student computer basics. Learning to use common programs like Microsoft Office is very important for anyone who may work on computers. Other common classes will include teaching the student basic computer repair and learning the basics of a programming language or two.

Finally, the student will be ready to take specialty classes in web design. They will learn HTML and CSS, of course, but there is much more to it than that. The student will have to study graphics programs so they can create graphics for their web sites. Some of the hardest classes will put everything together for the student. When students graduate, they will be ready to design web pages.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: HTML, Microsoft Office, Web design

HTML Can be a Bother

You may see a lot of HTML around on the web, but you’re fed up with some of it. Do you have some pet peeves with HTML? You’re not the only one.

Some people feel that HTML can be a good thing when done properly, but if not, it can be exasperating. For example, when websites collage their sites with large, massive graphics. This not only limits the text which can be an essential component to the web site, but it also can increase the amount of time it takes to load a web page. In a culture where fast food and instant messaging are the norm, no web viewer is going to sit around for longer than a couple of seconds to see the page, especially when there are so many other options out there on the web.

Another annoyance can be overly-decorated backgrounds. Backgrounds with gaudy patterns or graphics completely distract from the web content and make it difficult for the viewer to clearly see the text. Although a background may look appealing in the website-building process, web designers and web developers should view the finished product carefully before proceeding. It may seem cool to have multi-colored text, but viewers do not prefer to read web content in rainbow. Like you, the public has the habit of viewing dark text on light backgrounds (i.e. black print on white or cream backgrounds in newspapers or books). It may seem a step ahead to do the opposite, but in reality, it has to be done right in order to look professional. If a web designer is attempting to join in the fashion-forward color black and apply this to their entire web page background, it can come across as amateur rather than polished and sophisticated.

Although HTML has been viewed as an essential, it can be a bother when applied poorly.

Filed Under: General, Web Design Tagged With: HTML, Web design, Web page

Will Mobile Banking Change the World?

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Imagine a world where people did not need to carry wallets. Everything would be centralized on a single device. Cell phones would also be televisions, MP3 players and credit/debit cards. In this world, cash would no longer be necessary, which could eliminate or reduce a criminal activity including the sex and drug trade. This world seems closer to emerging with the development of mobile banking.

The problems with making the shift from the current system to one based entirely on mobile banks are security concerns and public trust. Mobile banking has yet to prove to be as secure as the current system, and the public has yet to embrace the technology. Only about 10 percent of the American public use mobile banking now, but upgrades to mobile banking security might make the public more likely to adopt the technology.

Some mobile banking security experts taught that banking through cell phones could be made safer than accessing accounts through a laptop or going to an ATM. The solution might be something called facial biometrics. This would use the phone’s camera to verify who is logging into the account. Cell phones in the future could have a fingerprinting app installed on them. Those security measures remain a few years away. Right now mobile banking remains in a fragile state, and the security of sensitive information on the phones could be accessed—especially if the phone is lost. Mobile phones engaged in banking transactions work as credit cards, which means that it is enabled to complete financial transactions. Leaving a credit card on a counter or on a restaurant table seems like an unnecessary risk, but for mobile banking users, mobile phones double as banking cards and should be treated as such.

Mobile banking might change the way that money gets transferred around the world, but until security matches the potential of the technology mobile banking will remain only an option rather than the transformative technology it could be.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With: Bank, Mobile banking, Security

Understanding the “Matrix”

Those Matrix movies were cool and all, not to mention the fight scenes and futuristic war settings kicked some serious tail. But just remember the fact about those movies, the one true realization of the “Matrix”. It’s as simple as the popular screensaver we all have seen and for which the movies are known. The familiar green lines of ‘code’ endlessly splitting and forming like technical wallpaper on a cyberspace wall.

Those films are all about coding–understanding programming language, or to be more specific, computer language.

Would you believe computers can ‘talk’? Makes the “Matrix” that much more interesting now, doesn’t it?

It’s that computer language that allows your desktop or laptop to successful run programs, applications, accessories, games, utilities, processes, you name it. Everything. From the moment you turn your computer on, it’s communicating with itself to run the operating system, test the memory, open up start-up applications, etc etc. Generally, a ‘compiler’ and ‘linker’ inside your system is used by a computer to in essence translate the instructions latent in any program. So it can be understood that even programs can ‘talk’. Yes, it’s true. What the computer does then is have the instructions from any given program translated to a ‘machine code’ that the operating system can then run right on the desktop. The final product of an engineered electrical conversation, much like how Neo would move around the Matrix and manipulate the Coding to suit his fancy. Basically the same thing.

If you understand computer language well enough, the fact is you can actually create these ‘worlds’ people would see in games for the PC, or Playstation and Wii and XBOX consoles, by simply inserting lines of code similar to what you’d see in “The Matrix”. (Only if you look closely, the “Matrix” code is basically an alien language! But that’s beside the point.)

You can then finally say the wonderful line everyone loves, knowing computer language…. THERE IS NO SPOON.

Filed Under: Programming Tagged With: Matrix, Neo, XBOX

Learning Web Design

According to recent statistics, there are about 16,000 design firms in the United States, earning nearly $7 billion per year. Salaries for graphic designers averaged about $42,000 (as of May 2008). Designers who also work on the web must also have, in addition to artistic skills, computer technology knowledge. You can learn graphic design skills in many different ways. Here are a few of the ways you can prepare yourself for a career in the graphic design field.

Complete an associate’s degree in web design. Check out local resources to see if there is a school near you that offers such programs. These associates programs generally run about two years and require that you have a high school diploma (or GED) for entrance. You will learn typography, digital illustration, multimedia design, and more. You may also be able to find online programs.

Four-year bachelors degree programs include other general classes such as English, math, and psychology, in addition to design classes. You may also be required to take classes in computer programming, ethics, and database design. A high school diploma and various entrance exams are required for acceptance to most four-year colleges and universities.

There are adult or community education courses available as well. These are generally short-term, evening classes. They also do not usually require any prior education or experience. You will generally take one class at a time, such as courses in Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and other design tools.

Use online tutorials on web design. There are many free ones out there; you’ll just have to do a little research. You will have the ability to go at your own pace and at your convenience.

Read books on design. For instance, “Web Design for Dummies” and other such titles are a great way to get a real-time look at design. These books can also help walk you through learning this skill.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: Graphic design, United States, Web design

Increasing Web Traffic

Many companies are looking for ways to increase traffic to their website. Web traffic can really make or break your company since many companies want a strong presence on the Internet.

Here are ways to help increase traffic to your website.

A great way to boost up traffic is by writing articles on websites that relate to your company’s industry. Make sure the articles are grammatically correct and are well written. Include backlinks so consumers have something to click that will take them directly to your website. Just by doing this you will notice a bit of a bump in your numbers. If a consumer likes what he or she reads, they can head over to the website right away by clicking the backlink.

It could be beneficial to consider having an e-mail newsletter to help boost up your traffic. Getting weekly or monthly newsletters will help remind consumers about your website. Newsletters will come in handy if you’re having any type of special or sale going on.

If there are books that are related to your company, write reviews on them. This is a great way to interact with other people while promoting your company. When a person reads your review they will have access to your website through your profile or any links you include in the review.

Blogging is huge right now. Whether it’s on your website or a personal site, blogging can quickly and easily help increase traffic to your website. If you don’t have time to blog, hire an affordable writer to do the blogging for you.

Sign up for Google AdWords to keep track of your targeted web traffic. Using a pay-per-click campaign can help increase your traffic. Start with a small amount until your website gets bigger.

Increasing web traffic doesn’t have to be hard. Following these tips can help increase traffic, which will help your business make more money.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: AdWords, Google, website traffic

Learning Programming – Start With C

: Image via Wikipedia

Learning a variety of programming languages is essential if you want to master programming for various applications, but it can be difficult to determine where to begin. There are so many different languages that picking the best one with which to start can be integral in easily learning subsequent languages.

C is arguably the best programming language to learn first. Mastering this language will not only teach you the basics of programming concepts, but it is a powerful language that is still widely used in a variety of platforms.

Learning to program in C starts you at the beginning and teaches you various concepts such as polymorphism, inheritance, classes and other programming tenets that are carried throughout other languages. C is also the basic level of Java. Java’s syntax and concepts stem from C, so mastering it will facilitate learning Java as well as other languages.

C is still widely used in applications such as operating systems, games, and myriad other software applications. The fact that it is still a current language makes learning it a marketable skill. There is also little evidence to support this language’s disuse in the near future.

Considered a mid-level language, C combines the best of low and high level languages into one very powerful programming language. It is also block-structured. This means that code is written in succinct and separate blocks that are unconnected. This makes debugging easy and makes understanding the code’s functionality more simple. The block structure also makes testing the code much easier as you can quickly find where you might have gone wrong.

Wanting to learn a programming language is a daunting task, but by starting with C you’ll be learning a great foundation on which to build your understanding of other languages. This powerful language is the best to learn the fundamentals of programming and will allow you to more easily master other languages.

Filed Under: Programming Tagged With: High-level programming language, Programming, Programming language

Photography Software Makes Everyone a Professional

Digital photography has revolutionized the way we think about photography. With just about any digital camera you can capture images that make your shots looks just about as good as any professional. By adding some photography software to your repertoire you can upgrade your amateur prints into shots that are close to professional quality.

The first software most people think of when they think photography is Photoshop. Photoshop gives you just about every tool you could possible need, but it’s hard to learn and a little pricey for the everyday photographer who just wants to enhance their product slightly.
Most of your Microsoft packages come built in with Microsoft Office Picture Manager. For most amateurs, this product works just fine in brightening or lightening your images, but the creative elements of Picture Manager are limited.

A new software package that meets the price criteria while offering many advanced editing features is Lightroom 3. This new software includes much faster performance, reduction in noise (fuzzy images), offers support for video files and helps you create easier to share slide-show videos.

Whether it’s converting to black and white images or adjusting sharpness and fine-tuning the color of your images, Lightroom 3 offers most of the options that you could ever need. While Photoshop does offer more photo editing options, most techniques require a class to even grasp.

Let’s face it; spending large amounts of time editing your photos is not for most of us. When you have a software like Lightroom 3, you can edit your photos in a matter of minutes, yet have the advanced tools you need to work with in a user-friendly environment. For you amateurs out there, adding some photography software to your arsenal can have you saving money by taking your own senior photos or capturing those shots at a family reunion, without the need of a professional photographer.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Photography

All About PHP

If you want to educate yourself about computer languages, you will want to know more about a language commonly known as PHP. Knowing the PHP code can help you understand more about web page design and the history of web page evolution.

PHP is used in developing web pages and was first invented by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995. It continues to evolve and is a free software. In fact, the letters PHP first referred to personal home page. The invention of the language came about because Lerdorf wanted to be able to maintain his homepage, so he invented Perl scripts, which were tools that would allow him to accomplish certain tasks. He wanted to be able to post his resume and he was curious about how much traffic he was getting on his page.

On June 8, 1995, Lerdorf made his language public. He gathered a team of professionals who helped him improve his code and it was then released and called PHP/FI 2 at the end of 1997. Following that, two more developers took the language and enhanced it even further. They called their version PHP 3 and created a company to market it. Their company was called Zend Technologies and was based out of Israel.

The next significant change came about around the year 2000. In that year, on May 22 PHP 4 hit the market and has changed in small ways until 2008, when the version was called 4.4.9. There is also a version of PHP which is called PHP 5, and this was made available during 2004. PHP 5 had a lot of new features and found many admirers.
If you are looking to use PHP, it is helpful to note that it is available on a 32-bit operating system as well as a 64-bit operating system and is available on Microsoft Windows, where it is found with a 32-bit operating system.

Filed Under: Programming Tagged With: Perl, PHP, Rasmus Lerdorf