JLB » development

Easy Ruby on Rails OS X upgrade

John — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:19:41 +0000

Recently, I’ve been feeling a bit boxed-in by the web technologies that I’m most familiar with (i.e. html & css, php & mysql, javascript). After a lengthy Ruby discussion with a developer friend, I decided that Ruby on Rails would be perhaps be a good solution to be desire to branch out. However, when I tried installing the latest versions of both Ruby and Rails for OS X, I ran into error after error.

In desperation, I went through every guide I could find on rubyonrails.org and extensively searched Stock Overflow and every developer forum I could think of. Fortunately, after numerous french words, hissy fits, and consolatory beers, I came across the easy-to-follow upgrade instructions posted on Ryan Bigg’s blog.

Mac OS X, Ruby, RVM, Rails and You helps you through every step of the upgrade, including installing RVM (Ruby Version Manager) and necessary database packages. Do yourself a favor and let this guide be your first stop when trying to start with Ruby… so instead of exhausting all your time trying to get the damn thing to upgrade properly, you get to actually spend time learning a new language.

Yet another HTML5 compatibility solution

John — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:09:28 +0000

Last month, I posted an article, Backwards compatible HTML5 the JavaScript way, with a specific JavaScript trick to ease the transition to HTML5 and aid in cross-browser compatibility. While I still think Modernizr.js is a great script and easy way to start down the HML5 road, I just recently found perhaps an even better tool, or rather set of tools, to be used as a springboard into the HTML5 pool.

HTML5 Boilerplate claims to be, and in my opinion is, a rock-solid default template for the new(ish) HTML5 language. While the website states that the package isn’t a “framework”, that’s probably the easiest way to think of it. Along with a great HTML/CSS/JavaScript base, you get a custom boilerplate builder, site compression tools (yippee!) and excellent documentation. There’s even a starter Apache .htaccess file to get you on your way with site caching, @font-face and HTML5 video!

Really, I can’t say enough about this wonderful package of tools and how easy to use it is. Beginner and veteran (really, can you be a veteran yet?) HTML5ers alike can benefit from HTML5 Boilerplate. Download it. Use it. Love it.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget the graceful degradation…
(top to bottom: Firefox 4, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 6)

Backwards compatible HTML5 the JavaScript way

John — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:29:42 +0000

HTML5 isn’t new news, but it is still is the latest and greatest of the HTML language to date. Unfortunately, the majority of developers, myself included, are putting-off learning and using the new technology. Learning new markup and making sure everything is cross-browser compatible are no fun tasks. Fortunately, one those those can be easily remedied.

Enter Modernizr.js! From the modernizr.com website: “Modernizr is a small and simple JavaScript library that helps you take advantage of emerging web technologies (CSS3, HTML 5) while still maintaining a fine level of control over older browsers that may not yet support these new technologies.”

While the 10kb script does not add missing HTML5 features and functionality to older browsers, it does allow you to give multiple styles to single elements depending on the level of HTML5 support the end-user’s browser has. Sadly, modernizr.js also won’t give you an immediate understanding of the new markup…

Hush… it's a secret.

John — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:27:27 +0000

I don’t think that I, personally, can hold back Team JLB’s excitement any longer. So I think I’ll give you a little sneak peek:

BAM! What’s that you ask? Well, in T minus umm… soon… the entire face of jlbworks.com will change. That’s right. We’re dang close to launching the new JLB 2010 site.

Get pumped.