Website design - CMS is thinking in the box

Website design can be a difficult process. We use a content management system (Dot Net Nuke) and that can force you to think well inside the box....literally.

However, with the right type of effort you can get out the box when it comes to design - CMS or not. We've found that challenging ourselves from time to time is the best way to strethc the CMS meets designer issue. Better we stretch ourselves than over promise to a client.

Feature creep in Software Development

It starts innocently enough with a minor request for a minor tweek. In most cases it just gets done - all part of completing a software project or website development. But then in some cases before you know it requests are growing.

It's an easy situation to get into - a bit like building a new house or doing an extension - things grow and develop. We try our best to be flexible with clients - as we find it can be hard for a non expert buyer to fully understand or appreciate what has been agreed. Sometimes the simplest solution is to agree a picture of the system up front - normally that saves a thousand words.

When is a bug not a bug - when it's a feature

The word Beta is a wonderful word. Google and many others have redefined the term to ensure that they can release pre market ready products. By saying Beta - it sets expectations.

Personally I think it is a good thing - it lets the market feedback what is wrong or what is missing. Release soon and react fast is the motto.

In the past though you couldnt really do that - a bug was a bug. And if it was a released product and the bug caused a crash or a big issue it was fixed fast. In balance I like the new Beta use of Beta - it suggests that the whole community is assisting the software developer get the project done right - I like that.

Software coder - I prefer software developer

There is a word in the software development world that I find a wee bit annoying - coder! It suggests that you stick someone in front of a screen and of they go - coding.

It's a term I think that is normally used by people who don't understand the process of software development and I am sure most use it when they mean developer or programmer.

Software development and software consultancy involves some pretty clever people working with large and often complex platforms and concepts - so the term coder for me doesnt really suggest that. Ok complaint over!

The end of the software reference book

I recently blogged on the need for a good DNN text book...... today I've just thrown out a pile of reference books for various languages and platforms that we either used or are still using as software developers.

We had a cupboard full of them which hadnt been opened for a year as far as I could tell from the dust.

So cancel the need for a Dot Net Nuke development book - lets keep the cupboards for storing useful things and use Google instead.

Software development without the music

Everywhere you go now - especially on public transport it's clear that folks are plugged into music via earphones. I noticed recently that 75% of a fairly busy railway carriage were plugged in - to avoid the conversations or musical taste of the other passengers I suspect.

In the software development environment they can be popular as well - though we discourage them because they limit team communications and can be a frustration. However with the increase of video and new media that is flying around their use is increasing in the office.

DNN - great but limited text books

I guess one of the things that is a frustration is the lack of good text books on Dot Net Nuke - our CMS of choice (DNN).

Maybe it's an age thing but it is useful to have a couple of text books to refer to from time to time. It does mean of course that our DNN development skills can be in high demand - it's a big system and needs good people to make the best of it. But it would be nice to have a few more easy to read manuals around - still there is always Google I suppose.

And in the end that is where developers head to first - the information is probably fuller and more uptodate than any text book could be.

Drupal - a Banana Split CMS

I must be getting old but I still can't used to the name Drupal - sounds too much like one of the Banana Splits. Maybe it was - who knows?

It's a PHP CMS system and one that we have used in house as an alternative to DNN (Dot Net Nuke). It's pretty neat and if it has to be a PHP solution it seems hard to beat - Joomla is ok - but I think Drupal is better if it has to PHP. Generally we'll stick to the Dot Net Nuke product because of our Microsoft.net development expertise but from time to time it makes sense to land up in Banana Split land.

SEO - don't be a dummy

From time to time we get in an enquiry with a bit of a background. We got one in recently where the client had spent a five figure sum on SEO work but had never received a report on the progress or the effectiveness of the work done.

We recommend that clients know a bit about the topic to ensure that they can ask sensible questions of their supplier. And we also recommend SEO for Dummies - not the kindest of names for a book but a really good read.

But I haven't changed anything - the mystery of software developmen

I heard it the other day - the first time for a while "but I haven't changed anything".

It's a cry that most Software developers or software consultants will make from time to time - hopefully not too often. it's a bit like putting your glasses down and not being able to find them - someone has moved them. But of course then you remember where you left them - normally when you see them.

Software development can be a bit like that - so much to keep on top off as a project reaches conclusion - easy to forget that you had changed a routine to return a slightly different result.

Traps for email newsletters

Newsletters can be tricky things to create and even trickier to deliver to the intended recipient. Get the balance wrong and the email newsletter can end up in the junk.

We've spent a fair amount of time learning how best to avoid the pitfalls following the development of our newsletter system. We don't send out spam - but we and our clients do send out interesting newsletter to target markets. However, it's easy to fall foul of the spam traps - use the wrong word (however innocently) and you can be gone!

We test out things out well - but as the traps change the weighting of the rules that trigger them it can be an ongoing process. Also a bit of a problem can be the various email clients - all with their own set of particular rendering issues - makes forr interesting times (though at times frustrating).

Facebook - the influencer of the internet

I've never really gotten Facebook - but I do use it. I have to admit to be being a bit slow with the Facebook thing - so it sort of passed me by. However, now we find that many of our clients are lookin for similar features as Facebook exhibits to ensure that they can stay connected to their clients in an effective way.

We've built a decent selection of community based websites which encourage communication between members and the swapping of best practice. Difficult to imagine how quickly the internet has changed thanks to the Facebook site - hugely influential in the direction of website design and development.

Whats the point of twitter

I know there a lot of people out there who really don't get or don't like Twitter. The normal complaint that I hear is that people don't wan't to learn who is out shopping.

However, the main benefit of Twitter is for news and business intelligence. It is an incredibly impressive way to keep up to date with what is going on in your sector.

As software developers we use it to get breaking news on technology and trends. We've also as you would expect ensured that news or articles on our client sites can get easily posted to the micro blogging site. Twiiter? Brilliant.