Readings on Weblogs and CMS (10 March 2008)

Some background readings on blogs and content management systems.

• Wikipedia entries on blogs, wikis, and content management systems.
• Chapter 2: The Read-Write Web (PDF) from Dan Gillmor's book We, the Media
• Blogs open doors for developers (CNet)
• Why Content Management Fails

Readings on XHTML and Web Standards (10 March 2008)

• How to Grok Web Standards
• Why We Won't Help You
• The Business Value of Web Standards
• Wikipedia entry on XHTML
• Better Living Through XHTML
• Fix Your Site With The Right DOCTYPE

Optional:

• CSS Intro (and other sections of the introduction to Westciv's CSS Guide)

Optional Readings on XHTML vs HTML (10 March 2008)

There are a lot of debates and discussions about XHTML vs HTML. Here are some selected readings on the topic for those who are interested in the pros and cons of each.

• HTML vs. XHTML on standards compliant websites (Roger Johansson, 19 June 2006)
• HTML or XHTML? (Robert Nyman, 2 November 2005)

These articles, by Mark Pilgrim, are still among the very best on the subject, despite the fact that they were published over four years ago.

• Semantic Obsolescence (Mark Pilgrim, 13 January 2003)
• Eddies in the Space-Time Continuum (Mark Pilgrim, 14 January 2003)
• Won't Somebody Please Think of the Gerbils? -- includes numerous links to other related resources (Mark Pilgrim, 29 August 2003)

Readings on Typography and CSS Formatting (17 March 2008)

• Web Page Design for Designers: Typography
• A List Apart: Typography Matters
• A List Apart: The Trouble With EM 'n EN (and Other Shady Characters)
• The Noodle Incident: Sane Text Sizing

And a how-to for CSS text properties:

• CSS Guide: CSS Properties

Readings on Visual Design (17 March 2008)

• Boxes & Arrows: Visible Narratives: Understanding Visual Organization
• Web Page Design for Designers: Taming the Electronic Page

Useful color tools:

• Man In Blue: Technicolor Tool
• Hex Color Chart: Visibone
• Colour Tools Roundup

Readings on CSS Positioning (17 March 2008)

• David Siegel: The Web Is Ruined and I Ruined It
• Bill Merikallio: Why Tables for Layout is Stupid
• Brainjar: CSS Positioning
• Relatively Absolute @ The Autistic Cuckoo - a very clear explanation of the difference between relative and absolute positioning, as well as the default (static) positioning and use of float properties.
• a list apart: In Search of the Holy Grail
• a list apart: CSS Design: Going to Print

Readings on Information Architecture (24 March 2008)

• The Myth of User-Centered Information Architecture and Information Architecture is not Usability, from Digital Web Magazine
• Webmonkey's Information Architecture Tutorial
• Information Architecture the Adaptive Path Way: An Interview with Indi Young
• Web Site Architecture 101

Readings on Accessibility (31 March 2008)

• Dive Into Accessibility (30 Days to a More Accessible Web Site)
• CNN Article on Web Accessibility

Readings on Usability (31 March 2008)

• "How we really use the Web," a chapter from Steve Krug's wonderful book, Don't Make Me Think!
• Jakob Nielsen's "Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2003" and "Ten Most Violated Homepage Design Guidelines"
• Lane Becker's 90% of All Usability Testing is Useless
• 37 Signals: The Long Road to Simple

Readings on DOM and Basic Javascript ( 7 April 2008)

• Thau's JavaScript Tutorial, Lessons 1-3

Reference Sources:

• DevGuru Javascript Quick Reference Guide
• Visibone Javascript Reference

Readings on HTML Forms ( 7 April 2008)

• W3Schools HTML Forms and Input
• Simon Willison's Simple Tricks for More Usable Forms
• The Man in Blue's Accessible, Stylish Form Layout
• Enhancing Forms - Unobtrusive Javascript

Readings for Advanced Javascript & DHTML (14 April 2008)

There are lots of great sites on javascript, both tutorials and repositories.

I've collected a number of useful links at http://del.icio.us/mamamusings/javascript/.

In particular, take a look at:

• Simple Tricks for More Usable Forms (also listed as a reading for last week)
• Unobtrusive Javascript
• Brainjar's Revenge of the Menu Bar

Readings on Web 2.0 and AJAX (21 April 2008)

• AJAX: A New Approach to Web Applications (this is the article that started it all)
• Executive Brief on AJAX (a PDF, suitable for non-techie types)
• Unlocking the Promise of Web 2.0
• Web 2.0: Principles and Best Practices (PDF can be found in MyCourses)
• Time's Person of the Year: You
• AJAX UI frameworks: Script.aculo.us and Yahoo! UI
• Cheatsheet for Scriptaculous Effects
• Introduction to Scriptaculous Effects
• Scriptaculous Slider Demos
• Yahoo! Design Patterns Library

Readings on SSA and SSI (28 April 2008)

• Webmaster in a Nutshell, chapters 13 and 18.
• Comprehensive Guide to .htaccess

Readings for PHP (12 May 2008)

• PHP Pocket Reference
• PHP Basic Syntax (from Builder.com)
• Webmonkye's PHP From the Ground Up (PHP3 compatible)