Sponsor: The JavaScript Anthology
The JavaScript Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks (external link)
Browse Blog Archives
« August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 »
Blog Entries from September 2007
-
Password Security
A forum thread on Lowter (external link) a few weeks ago brought up the matter of password security. For most web developers, I think, the issue of password security is not the top on the list. Most of the time, password security is satisfied with a simple MD5 hash. Personally, I do not know much about password security other than a few articles I have read. Due to the forum thread, I have been trying to verse myself in the matter now. Take a look at the forum thread (external link) and this page on password security (external link) because they have some really useful information..
-
.htaccess Tricks
Understanding Apache's .htaccess files is crucial when using the Apache platform. Whilst its most popular use is most likely mod_rewrite, it has so many other uses as well. I recently came across a web page about .htaccess tricks (external link) that includes a lot of the lesser known abilities of .htaccess. It contains a ton of useful information, so make sure to keep this in your bookmarks for future reference.
Sitepoint also recently published an article about Apache's mod_rewrite module (external link) that has some good examples of its usage.
-
Firefox Fixing Memory Problems
Mozilla's development community is finally attending to one of the largest, if not the largest, technical problem with the Mozilla Firefox web browser: memory. Over the years, each version of Firefox has used more memory and has leaked more memory due to poor programming. Users find that Firefox runs like molasses if left running overnight or if the user is browsing with a large number of tabs.
Detailed on this blog (external link), the memory fixes should be present in Firefox 3.
-
Design Patterns in PHP
If you have ever picked up a book or visited a website about design patterns, it is almost certain the examples in those resources are in Java. However, Doug on the forums posted a link to the website Patterns for PHP (external link), which focuses on design patterns in PHP. Currently they have articles on a good selection of design patterns:
- Singleton
- Registry
- Factory
- Abstract Factory
- Strategy
- Composite
- Decorator
- Lazy Initialisation
- Transfer Object
For the most part these are the design patterns that people will use the most. If you have not utilised design patterns or simply want a quick resource to reference, then you should check out Patterns for PHP (external link).
-
Web Development Cheat Sheets
I found a website with a load of links to downloadable web development "cheat sheets" (external link). These are simple pages that you can print out and use as references whilst programming or designing. They can be pretty handy tools and they are free (as in beer)!
Personally, I tend to whip out one of my SitePoint books (external link) for a quick reference because they are right by my desk.
-
ISO Rejects Microsoft's OOXML
The International Organisation for Standardisation has rejected Microsoft's Office Open XML (external link) (OOXML) document format as an international standard. The Open Document Format (used in OpenOffice.org) is already an international standard.
Late last week, the Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) nullified its vote for the Microsoft document standard (external link). Earlier, Microsoft had been accused of offering benefits to partner companies to vote in support of OOXML. However, the SIS denies any connection between the accusations and the nullification.
A second vote on the format will take place early next year.
Browse Blog Archives
« August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 »
Sponsor: Sunbird Calendar Application
Manage your schedule easily and store it where you want to. (external link)

