The sad state of web app deployment
I spent a good chunk of the last four days installing an Internet web forum, which claims it can be up and running in 30 minutes. I like to think I’m pretty alright at computers. So what went wrong here? Well let me tell you.
Introduction to Facebook's Flux architecture
If you’re like me and you wanted to go further with React, you more than likely would’ve checked out Flux , had a glance, closed the tab and then reassessed…
The ethics of modern web ad-blocking
More than fifteen years ago, in response to decreasing ad rates and banner blindness , web advertisers and publishers adopted pop-up ads .
The adblocking revolution is months away
The thing about print adverts was that they stayed where they were. Photo by Bethan on Flickr. TL:DR: when Apple’s iOS 9 comes out in September, there’s going to be a dramatic uptake of…
The Apple Watch
After one week wearing an Apple Watch, my big picture thoughts and observations. It all hinges on the Taptic Engine and digital touch communication.
React Tips and Best Practices
I've spent a good deal of the past year working with React. I've written, refactored, and re-written many components in that time, and I've seen some best practices and anti-patterns emerge. I'm not going to get into what React is...
There are now at least eight Chromium-based Android default browsers
Google Chrome is not the default browser on Android 4.3+. There are now at least eight Chromium-based Android default browsers, and they are all subtly, though not wildly, different.
“Considered Harmful” Essays Considered Harmful
It is not uncommon, in the context of academic debates over computer science and Web standards topics, to see the publication of one or more “considered harmful” essays. These essays have existed in some form for more than three decades now, and it has become obvious that their time has passed. Because “considered…
AWS Lambda as a back end for a single-page app
It’s a bit of a sensationalistic title, but hear me out. And sorry for the boring-ish example in this article. This is designed to only excite people who really get it. :)
Devd: a small, self-contained web daemon for developers
I've just released devd , a small, self-contained, command-line-only HTTP server for developers. It started as a weekend stress-relief hack (that's a thing where I'm from), but has now become my preferred "daily driver" for most web-ish things. It's simple, direct and does more or less exactly what I need. This isn't…
Writing a website in Rust
I wanted to create a website for a personal project. This is usually the great opportunity to learn - no time pressure, no external requirements, etc. That meant I could choose the language I wanted to try out in anger (Rust) and take it for a spin. Here’s a short summary of the experience.
WebSockets: caution required
WebSockets seem to be gaining a resurgence, suddenly they are sexy again. I think this is the wrong message.
Backdooring JavaScript using minifier bugs
In addition to unforgettable life experiences and personal growth, one thing I got out of DEF CON 23 was a copy of POC||GTFO 0x08 from Travis Goodspeed. The coolest article I’ve read so far in it is “Deniable Backdoors Using Compiler Bugs,” in which the authors abused a pre-existing bug in CLANG to create a backdoored…
The Disadvantages of Single Page Applications (2014)
Single page applications are slower, break accessibility, and cause usability issues. Learn why SPAs hurt performance and what to do instead.
Inventing Favicon.ico
In 1998, I was a junior Program Manager on the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft. My first project was shipping Internet Explorer 4 Plus, a CD-ROM with Internet Explorer 4.0 and a whole lot of tr…
Falsehoods programmers believe about addresses
Perhaps you've read posts like Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names and Falsehoods programmers believe about time . Maybe you've also read Falsehoods programmers believe about geography .