Considering an update to Rails 5? Here's 3 reasons you shouldn't wait to upgrade to a new version of Rails.
Debating a Rails 5 Update? Here's 3 Reasons You Shouldn't Wait
7 Feb 2017
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Outsourcing a Web Development Project? Read This First
3 Feb 2017
Outsourcing a new web development project? Here's a quick guide to everything you need to know to get the most accurate estimate from outside agencies. No more running around in circles on endless conference calls and email threads for weeks. Cut to the chase and get that project started ASAP.
2016 Year in Review
30 Jan 2017
For the 2016 YIR, we decided to celebrate and critique the previous 20 years of the World Wide Web. Animated gifs, table-based layouts, Comic Sans, oh my!
WTF is a SWAG?
30 Jan 2017
SWAG is the first step in a web development partnership – and we don’t mean style. See what questions we ask ourselves and our potential clients before calculating our ballpark project estimates.
How New Eyes can Refresh a Stale Project
24 Jan 2017
In our initial calls with potential design partners, one of the first phrases we often hear is: I think we just need a fresh set of eyes on this project. Here's a few reasons outside perspectives are beneficial for refreshing a tired design.
3 Useful Lessons from Installing Thinking Sphinx on Engine Yard
19 Jan 2017
Installing Thinking Sphinx on Engine Yard soon? Here's a few helpful tips to navigate through the process.
6 Reasons Not to Hire Planet Argon
10 Jan 2017
We’ve partnered with incredible companies in dozens of different verticals: subscription snack services, spin studios, event venues, and technology companies, just to name a few. Our redesign and development abilities translate beyond one industry. But we aren’t the right fit for every project. Here are six reasons you shouldn't hire Planet Argon. It's not you, it's us.
What Might We Expect in 2017
4 Jan 2017
2016 was…interesting. And, with a new year and change in the air, there are still unknowns and guesses of what’s to come. As a Design Strategist, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of design, and, specifically, what I might design for or need to consider as a design for people in the future. I’ve been observing where we are today (compared to where we have been) and how we now interact and consume what has been designed for us. I’ve been thinking about how our behaviors and needs have significantly changed year after year based on designed platforms and technology, and will surely continue to change based on what is happening around us.
Fjord’s take on the key trends for 2017 is fascinating and, I believe, on the mark. Their analysis of 8 key trends, with a background of how we got here, what to expect this year, and what your organization can do about it is insightful and thorough. And while it doesn’t answer all the questions, it provides a well-rounded perspective to get anyone to think beyond today.
Creating Templates with Google Drive
13 Dec 2016
Do you use Google Drive for your everyday documents and spreadsheets? Wish you could just have a template for those files (instead of opening an old file and creating a copy)? Well, now you can (again). Google recently announced they were bringing back team templates. And this post walks you through how to take advantage of that feature.
Healthcare organizations working on mobile strategy
18 Nov 2016
tl;dr: Healthcare companies are investing in mobile and seeing positive outcomes
Oh My Zsh on FLOSS Weekly
15 Nov 2016
Earlier today, I was interviewed on Twit.tv's open source talk show about my project, Oh My Zsh.
A Helpful Jargon Guide
11 Nov 2016
When I started in this industry, I haphazardly navigated my way through terminology. I most likely used things interchangeably. And it seemed like new terms and titles were coming out daily (this was emphasized as we’d go through a hiring process and each candidate would have a new title or speciality). Not so long ago, it used to be just web design. But these days, there’s more distinction, and rightfully so. This article by Kaycee Collins at Cooper does a great job of making sense of it all.
Does Ruby on Rails Scale?
26 Oct 2016
Friends over at RubyGarage discuss how we in the Ruby on Rails community approach scaling our applications in a DZone article.
How Do I Redesign My Web Application?
19 Oct 2016
Find yourself asking, “how do I go about redesigning an application?” We can help, if even just to get you off on the right start. Here’s a few things to help you prepare.
Getting Great Clients: More than Just Luck?
18 Oct 2016
The best clients are the ones that trust our expertise and seek our input on ideas, but aren’t afraid to poke holes when needed. They collaborate on ideas without pushing their needs over those of their users. They also make time when needed. But I’d argue luck has nothing to do with having a great client. Rather, it’s how you enable them to be great. And as a designer, that’s an important part of my role in a project.
How to Find the Right Designer for Your Project
18 Oct 2016
Are you considering hiring a web designer or agency to help you with your web project? That’s great! But how are you making your decision? Considering there are plenty of options, from freelancer to design house to full service agency, here are a few things to look for when considering who to hire.
Oh My Zsh: The Most Popular Productivity Tool on GitHub
17 Oct 2016
InfoWorld recently showcased seven of the most popular productivity tools on GitHub.
Can you guess what ranked at the top?
Our own founder, Robby Russell’s, creation Oh My Zsh, which has accumulated over 43,000 GitHub stars. Created in 2009 as an open source, community-driven framework for managing your ZSH configuration, it comes bundled with a ton of helpful functions, helpers, plugins, and themes.
Check it out!
How We Communicate
6 Oct 2016
Who you work with and talk to definitely matters because it will determine how successfully you will be able to communicate about project matters. It will determine how well you trust your agency with your idea, and in turn, how well they feel their expertise is appreciated and understood in the room. Any communication style can work successfully. We talk about which works best for us.
What's so new about Bootstrap 4?
4 Oct 2016
We have been using Bootstrap as our go-to frontend framework for a few years now and it has been working great. The next version of Bootstrap is on the horizon and currently has an alpha release. Let’s take a look at what Bootstrap 4 has in store for us.
Explain The MIT License Like I'm Human
30 Sep 2016
Kyle E. Mitchell took some time to write up an explanation of The MIT License. One line at a time... in non-legal speak.
Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Code
29 Sep 2016
The blank canvas is not my friend.
How the f^%k does DNS work?
27 Sep 2016
Our friends over at dnsimple put together a comic to help explain how Domain Name Services work.
Fun fact: the first Linux server I was ever paid to put into production was a DNS server running on Bind and Slackware.
Code Reviews: Be flexible, fair, and do it alone?
27 Sep 2016
David A. Black shares a few tips for your team to consider when conducting code reviews.
Designing for accessibility: Dos and Don'ts
27 Sep 2016
Across the pond, the UK's Government Digital Services team shares some tips on how to design an inclusive user experience.
Thinking Like a Developer
26 Sep 2016
An old friend of mine, Geoffrey Grosenbach, shares thoughts on why thinking like a developer could be a good thing...even if you're not...a developer.
