How to practice responsive web design

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Since 2012, it has been the time for responsive web design. It has become quite the in-thing among the web designers’ communities all over the world. However, before getting into the nitty-gritties of good web design practices, let us take a look at what does responsive web design actually mean? Rather than there being a comprehensive definition of what it means, let us look at what problems responsive web designing solves. It creates different versions of the same website so that it can be viewed on a variety of compatible devices including laptops, cell-phones and tablets.

JQuery Or Flash: Which Is Better Option For Your Website Design?

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In the recent times, one of the hot topics of discussions in the world of web designing is JQuery or Flash. Most web designers are perplexed in the selection from among them. Moreover, each of these tools is available with unique features and functionalities, determining the best often seem to be difficult. Javascript in its most popular library of JQuery is considered to be the most active platform in the world of modern web. Different people are of different opinion regarding the selection of the best. In this context, it is important to find the promising factors that can help in making an effective judgment.

The 3 Web Designing Issues That Can Make or Break A Site

Compared to using the traditional media of advertising like newspapers, radio stations and the television, online marketing and advertising is now considered as a cheaper means of giving a service, a product, or an individual the exposure it needs to be sellable. In the era or internet connection, many small-scale and large-scale businesses “set up” shop online. 

Putting up a website does not only cost lesser, it allows the business proprietor to reach as many people as he can anytime. There are many factors, however, that affect a certain site’s ranking in the search engines and visibility in the worldwide web. Among the most crucial aspect that determine the website’s fate and charm is its design. 

Three Compelling Reasons That Everyone Should Have A Personal Website

There was a time when the web was young and the whole internet seemed to be filled with amateur websites created by people who just wanted to have fun and experiment. Of course most of these sites were hosted by Geocities or FreeWebs (both of which offered free hosting in exchange for covering your site in ads), and mostly consisted of lots of animated GIFs and polyphonic tunes.

While this might not have been any kind of golden age for the internet in terms of quality content or the user experience, I do believe that in some ways it was a great time. Back then the web truly felt like an open platform that anyone could use to express themselves or publish their opinions, and while it might have looked a bit thrown-together, that was actually part of the charm.

The Mobile Web Revolution

Recent statistical data and expert forecasts suggest that the world is getting serious about equipping as many people with smartphones and tablets as possible. With Europe, North America, and other developed regions already enjoying high penetration levels, the primary drivers of the next wave are going to be Asia, Latin America, and other highly populated and technology-thirsty regions. At the moment 15% of the global Web traffic already originates from mobile device users, and this share is going to continue rising, according to most industry analysts. As more and more people prefer to browse from their handheld gadgets, webmasters are getting more concerned with how their websites look and operate on small, tap-reactive screens. Responsive (mobile-friendly) web design is the latest fad across the board, as websites which look natural on small screens and are easy to use with a single finger have been proven to bring considerably higher engagement rates (and profits) from the mobile visitors. Applying the principles of responsive interface might not be the easiest part in many cases, yet the possibility to ride one of the most important online trends of the decade may well be worth the time and effort.

5 Important Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Web Designer

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It’s not always easy to choose a web designer.  There is a lot for companies to consider and you want the process to run as smoothly as possible.  You can take some of the pressure off the decision by asking the right questions and searching for the right information.  To help you make the right choice for your web design project, consider these five important factors.   

1. Experience

Experience is among the best ways to gauge the potential of a web design company.  Web design has a steep learning curve so you always want to ensure a certain level of experience that minimizes the chances of making a mistake or under-delivering on objectives.  Start by checking to see if the web design company has experience building sites similar to yours.

Find out if the company works with raw HTML or prefers to use Joomla, Drupal or some other content management system.  Just think logically when approaching the company about their experience.  If you want to sell projects through your website with credit card transactions, make sure the web design company has experience with eCommerce hosting.  Do some homework and find the company with the right experience.

2. Portfolio

Any quality web design company will have a portfolio.  Ask the web design company for links to websites in their portfolio and review them carefully.  Web designers are versatile in their practice although many portray a similar style throughout their portfolio.  If you like the particular style of the designer, then you are one step closer to making a decision.

3. References

It helps to review a company portfolio, but don’t forget to review references, too.  You are a potential client and the best person to answer your questions about the web design company is a previous client.  Was the client happy with their experience with the company?  Would the client recommend the company for web design services?  You can also find out how much the client paid for the web design services and how long the project took from start to completion.  Also, find out what the client disliked about the company.  If the design company dropped the ball in a particular area of the web design project, chances are it will do the same for you.

4. Price

Before you enter into a deal with a web design company, always ensure that the prices are clearly outlined in writing.  A lot of different factors go into the overall cost of web design services and it is extremely important to put these costs on the table before starting the project.  You can help steer yourself away from trouble by asking the company about their payment management system.  While a professional, business-like response is a good sign, a simple “Don’t worry, we’ll manage” is a red flag.

5. Support

Reputable web design companies offer maintenance services to clients after launch.  Companies without an in-house webmaster should definitely look for a web designer that offers post-launch maintenance.  If the company fails to include maintenance as a part of their services, you might want to keep looking.

Akesh Gupta is President of Light Speed Solutions.  Akesh and his team strive to design, develop and deliver a plethora of web development and web design services to clients.

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Top 3 Web App Development Vulnerabilities

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All web applications are vulnerable to attack.  Attacks tend to occur more frequently when the developer maintains a poor programming standard and also when the web application is PHP based.  When it comes to building a web app designed to meet business specific requirements that rightly meets all development targets, it is imperative that a developer take caution to avoid common attacks.  It often takes an experienced web developer to negate threats of attack, which often include remote code execution, SQL injection and format string vulnerabilities.

Remote Code Execution

An improper coding structure makes it easy for attackers to retrieve information stored in the server.  It is often hard to track remote code execution vulnerabilities.  Remote code execution can only be revealed after a review of the source code.  It is imperative to ensure that your web app is free from this issue and to fix it immediately.  Failure to address this type of error can seriously compromise mission critical information and data.

SQL Injection

SQL injection is one of the most popular vulnerabilities despite its consideration as an age old technique among attackers.  Security codes are especially important in preventing SQL injection as these determine the amount of information that is accessible on the server.  Essentially, this vulnerability allows attackers to gain all the required information from the web server database.  Always ascertain whether data will be contained within just the basic information or to go beyond it to compromise the core structures.

Format String Vulnerabilities

Unfiltered inputs from the users create format string vulnerabilities.  Errors in format strings generally occur in one of three broad categories – denial of reading, writing and service.  

The best way to avoid these web app development vulnerabilities is to avoid small time freelance web developers or companies and work instead with an in-house team of expert web developers.  Renowned web and application development companies offer the best of services as these companies maintain a reputation of following a holistic development methodology.  Customers can depend on reputable companies to design an app that fits the initial requirements completely.  Best of all, in-house teams of expert developers go the extra mile to deliver a hassle-free web app development experience.

Web app development is an industry that is growing at a tremendous rate.  Businesses large and small and from all sectors are now turning to web app development companies to build custom applications.  The tips in this article should help you avoid running into any unwanted web app vulnerabilities.  

Akesh Gupta is President of Light Speed Solutions, a web app development company specializing in a plethora of web design and development services.

3 Best Programs to Help with Your Web Design

Designing a website is a very difficult thing to do. Once you sit down and have a real idea of what you actually want to accomplish, you need to have a handle on the programs you’re using as well. If you aren’t tech-savvy enough to really go in-depth with your tool-set, you’ll be behind with your design before you even started. The most important thing to do is pick the most appropriate programs so you’re not wasting your time. If you’re interested in programs that will appeal to just about anyone, whether you’re an expert designer or just a beginner, this list will help you out big time. 

Adobe Dreamweaver

This program is considered, and has been considered for a long time, as the benchmark by which all web design programs are measured. With an array of tools that appeal to beginners and master designers alike, Dreamweaver is just about the perfect program for anyone looking to design a website themselves. The only downside is that there is a steep learning curve with this program due to all of the tools you need to get a hang of. But once you get comfortable with the interface, you’ll be creating beautiful and dynamic sites like a pro. 

Image via Wikipedia

Microsoft Expression Web 4

Expression Web is the other major web design program on the market. While not quite as popular as Dreamweaver, it’s still a major component of the web design field. While Dreamweaver is great for just about everything besides certain programming languages, Expression Web picks up the slack in its support of the other major programming languages. Expression Web also has a much cleaner interface when compared to Dreamweaver, which may entice beginners. Even though it has less of a learning curve, it is still a very powerful design tool for designing NY Volkswagen websites, for example. 

Image via Wikipedia

 
Adobe Photoshop

1    You’ll need this program to get professional images and layouts on your site. If you’ve ever done CSS (cascading style sheets), Photoshop will definitely help you design great looking designs. If you’re unfamiliar with how this program works, it’ll take a little while to get acclimated with it, but once you do, it’ll be your best friend. Since you’re developing a great site with some of the best tools out there, you might as well finish the look with professional styling and imaging.

Image via Wikipedia

With these programs, you’ll be able to create some unbelievable websites in only a matter of time. All it takes is dedication and a bit of time to learn them. You can check out online classifieds if you need help learning about them.

About the author:

Joe Petchonka has been a writer for over five years, and has written for newspapers, websites and automotive dealerships. In addition to having an extensive writing background and bachelor’s degree in English, he has helped companies develop professional material to help them achieve their goals.