Klevo blog

Recently I started using this wonderful PHP framework called CakePHP. It really moves the whole web development process to another level. It has got the MVC pattern, great community, good documentation, lots of people writing about it and there is the WebBaker. WebBaker is a PHP script that let’s you easily create all the files you need for your MVC pattern (model, controller, views). This saves you a lot of precious minutes.

The CakePHP and WebBaker combination is deadly. You can have a functional element in your site like in 1 minute. All you need to do is create a table in the database and use WebBaker to generate appropriate files. At this point when you have written exactly 0 lines of code you have a fully functional interface where you can list, view, edit, add and delete items from database. This is possible due to the excellent scaffold functionality build in Cake. Then you can start writing your own code and smoothly replace the scaffolds. Try it, you’ll never want to go back.

I am happily moved to my new home for more then two weeks now. I was both lazy and occupied to write something. But right now I have a good reason. I bought a new hard drive and guess what? I installed Ubuntu on it to dual boot with Windows. It was not that new to me, because I was playing with Ubuntu before but that changed when I installed XGL and Compiz. I was simply amazed. In the area of 3D accelerated user interface Compiz can not be compared to XP not even Vista. Take a look at this video but you really have to experience it first hand to see the potential. One thing however still keeps me from using Ubuntu for my everyday work. Font displaying. Clear Type is so much better that everything that can be set up in Ubuntu (yes, I tried various guides how to make this better). This really is important to me because texts are the thing I look most at when behind a computer and they have to be as smooth as possible. So I’ll probably stay with Windows for some more time, but I feel it won’t be for long.

The summer holidays officially ended for me. Tomorrow I am moving to a new flat in Bratislava where I study. The school is starting around the 18th of September but there are some things that needs to be done there before. I will be offline for a few days, until my provider connects me. This will be terrible but I survived two weeks on vacation during the holidays without the net so I know how it is like I have some articles started and I hope I’ll finish them during this time. Stay tuned!

On Wednesday I had 233 unique visitors! It’s a great feeling. That’s the best number I have got in my short blogging career so far. It’s nothing breathtaking but it really motivates me to write more quality content. Not that the CSS Debugging Tips (posting this on dzone caused it) was some masterpiece, but there are surely people that profit from reading it. So thanks everybody and off I go to write something worthy

I would like to share some great books I have read recently or I am reading right now. If you have something to do with the subjects mentioned here I definitely recommend these.

PHP 5 Power Programming

You think you know PHP? Maybe after reading this book you’ll change your mind. This is an extensive journey trough PHP 5 written by the people who know it best. There are a lot of useful code examples and the whole thing is quite amusing to read. The book passes 1 Million downloads so far and they estimate that 1 in 5 PHP developers have this book. Not convinced yet?

Code Complete (second edition)

Everyone who ever touched some production code should have this one. This book covers everything from application design to naming conventions. Every page offers pragmatic insight gained through years of effective coding experience and continues to be the principal handbook of software construction success for its practitioners. Project leaders should read this book cover to cover, and then purchase a copy for each of their direct reports. You probably have at least heard of it. This is a must.

The Zen of CSS Design

Another bestseller. For everyone who does web design. The last chapter really nails it. The CSS development of 5 designs from CSS Zen Garden is explained here step by step. I learned a lot from this one.