Hot Computers & Programming Posts
How To: Use type hinting in your PHP design patterns
Type hinting in PHP appears frequently in design patterns but can be distinctively confusing unless you are totally familiar with it. This walkthrough from JREAMdesign raises your exposure levels to using type hinting in your parameter functions with objects and arrays.
How To: Utilize the Decorator design pattern in your PHP programming
Learn to create and use the Decorator pattern in PHP by following along with this instructional video from JREAMdesign. The Decorator pattern is very handy when it is time to "decorate" an object by "adding", for example, frosting, nuts and sprinkles to a cake by sending it to various "decorating stations."
How To: Use the Facade design pattern in your PHP programming
This tutorial from JREAMdesign reviews the Facade design pattern and how it specifically relates to PHP programming. In the facade pattern, a complex subsystem and calling class are hidden from each other through the use of a Facade class. This video guide walks through the construction of a Facade and demonstrates its use.
How To: Utilize the MVC Pattern in PHP programming
The "Model View Controller" pattern, or MVC, is a paradigm of programmatically organizing an application into three parts: the Model, the View and the Controller. This video tutorial from JREAMdesign summarizes the purposes of the various components and how they interrelate with the program within this pattern. Several options for working with MVC are also highlighted.
How To: Create PDO's (PHP Database Objects) in PHP
Learn to work with PDO in PHP with this informative video tutorial from JREAMdesign. The PDO extension is a consistent interface for accessing several types of databases in PHP and it has a ton of options. This knowledge is also required for Zend Certification.
How To: Use SimpleXML to load XML into PHP
Learn to utilize SimpleXML in this PHP tutorial to load and access XML from within PHP. This video shows how to load an XML file into a PHP array variable and get values from within that array. This informative video from JREAMdesign shows you step by step.
How To: Choose the right PHP framework and CMS
In this video tutorial, JREAMdesign looks at the task of choosing a PHP framework and a CMS. He helps simplify the act of choosing between the major framework contenders (Zend Framework, Symfony, Yii, Code Igniter, CakePHP) and content management systems (Drupal, WordPress, Joomla, Wolf CMS, Mod X) by summarizing what normally is expected from these systems and some of their typical features.
How To: Use getters and setters in your PHP programming
Learn how to properly use and implement getters and setters in your PHP programming by following along with this informative video. By constructing a very simple program on his computer, JREAMdesign demonstrates how getters and setters work within PHP programming.
How To: Serialize data arrays in PHP into a single string
Learn to serialize your data and convert multidimensional arrays into a single string by following along with this informative video from JREAMdesign. Serializing your data essentially compacts it from an expanded array into a string series of values, a very handy PHP feature indeed.
How To: Use composition instead of inheritance in PHP
While inheritance is very useful within PHP and OOP, it is notably better to favor composition over inheritance. In this video walkthrough, JREAMdesign demonstrates the composition concept with interrelated functions, and also shows a way of logically organizing the resultant files.
How To: Fix problems on your Mac computer
Is your Mac computer broken? Here are some basic troubleshooting tips that you might find useful before you take it into the shop to be repaired. These are some simple things that you can do to troubleshoot issues. If you are not a computer expert, you might have to bring your computer to the repair shop for proper diagnosis and repair. However, one of these helpful hints solve your problem and save you a costly repair bill.
How To: Use the AutoFill feature in Safari and save time
Use the AutoFill feature in Safari to quickly fill in web forms for sites that you visit again and again and save time when logging in. Form entry data is stored in your address book contacts, and from information you have filled out in web forms before. You can see the passwords used by AutoFill in the OS X keychain, and you can also specify and limit general access to those passwords.
How To: Import and manipulate images in iWork documents
In iWork documents and pages, there's a lot of things you can do with external images. You can import them and manipulate them in various ways. These images can be resized, scaled, rotated and cropped. You can also make color adjustments, brightness, contrast, adjust image colors and place them inside of shape masks.
How To: Build a good reusable PHP library with organization & consistency
One of the things you'll need for a successful future in programming is a great re-usable library of code. In order to achieve that you'll need to practice strict organization and consistency with your coding. This tutorial shows you how to do both, and help up your PHP proramming potential.
How To: Save your server resources with PHP caching
Sometimes server space can be an issue, especially when you're talking about costly actions such as iteration, file scanning, and numerous queries. In those instances it's often best to cache! This tutorial gives you a simple example which can help your site load faster and take less abuse.
How To: How to code efficently using Netbeans IDE
In the world of coding you want to be clean and efficient. A great way to do this is with an IDE, such as Netbeans IDE. If you're ever working with a team, knowledge of a great IDE is a must. Check out this PHP coding tutorial and up your knowledge base.
How To: Understand PHP object oriented design composition & coupling
When you're working with PHP OOD (Object Oriented Design)you want to create objets that are singular and serve a specific role. This tutorial shows you how to easily couple and decouple things when designing - and when you should and should do it too.
Tech Tip: Clean Your LCD Screen With a Coffee Filter
Apparently paper towel + Windex is a no-no when it comes to cleaning your computer or television's LCD screen. Apple's official guidelines for proper cleaning are as follows:
How To: Tag files using Spotlight comments on OS X
Apple's Spotlight is pretty good at helping you find any file in the bowles of your hard drive, but if you want to make super sure you find what you need, follow this how-to and learn how to add tags with Spotlight comments to give you searchable tags.
How To: Copy a data disk uing one optical drive using disk utility on OS X
Here's something everyone needs to know: how to copy a data disk (CD, DVD) using disk utility on OS X when you only have one optical drive. You will need to create a temporary disk image on your hard drive. Then use that disk image to create physical copies of your disc.
How To: Add pictures to your email signature in Apple Mail
Looking to spice up your email signature a bit? Why not add an image? This simple how-to shows you an easy way to take advantage of some simple HTML embedding so you can add an image to your Apple mail signature.
How To: Use the Mac App Store on Mac OS X
No longer will you need to get in your car and head down to the software store to pick up the latest copy of Photoshop. With Apple's new Mac App Store you can purchase and install the latest apps fromthe comfort of your own home!
How To: Access Your Programs Fast from Your Right-Click Desktop Menu in Windows
On your keyboard, press WinButton + R to open the Run window Once opened, type Regedit.exe into the textbox and click OK
How To: Start programming your first pages in CSS
Looking for a place to quickly and easily learn CSS? This is the tutorial for you! This video covers every basic concept that you'll need to get under your belt, and shows you how to code a few simple procedures using CSS.
How To: Use an external stylesheet for greatest consistency in HTML
A stylesheet helps keep the design elements for your website consistent - such as making sure all your headings and links are formatted exactly the same way. This tutorial shows you how to set up an external stylesheet for your own HTML based website.
How To: Increase your productivity by mastering the hierarchy concept in CSS
This tutorial gives a beginning web designer a few useful strategies for improving efficiency and productivity when working with HTML and CSS. Hierarchy is one of these concepts, and the video also covers grouping elements, overriding groups and Document Oject Model.
How To: Set up a Box Model when using CSS to design your website
If you don't learn anything else about writing a website using CSS, learn this. This video teaches you about how to use the Box Model, which will save you hours of frustration and re-tinkering your website once you master how to use it.
How To: Use floats to help program your website when using CSS
This tutorial goes from the box model and then progresses on to show you how you can use floats when designing a website using CSS. Which layout you choose will determine how your website looks, so make sure you pick the one that's the best for your needs.
How To: Learn the difference between relative and absolute positioning in CSS
This is a tutorial on CSS floats, which shows you the difference between relative and absolute positioning on your website. This also touches a little bit on the fixed position, so you can figure out which style is the best for your own website.
How To: Design a website with a fixed layout using CSS
A fixed layout means your website will not change size no matter the size of the browser it's being used in. This tutorial shows you an easy and quick way to set up the CSS for your website to give it a fixed layout.
How To: Program a liquid layout for your website using CSS
A liquid layout will change size as the browser also changes size. It's a good layout to use if you're trying to design a website that can be read on many different size screens and browsers. Here's how you can implement a liquid layout in three minutes.
How To: Set up JQuery and get started using it to create websites
JQuery is a new type of JavaScript that you can use to write and design your own websites. This tutorial shows you how to download the JQuery software and set up a few basic items, like script tags. Now you're ready to start learning JQuery!
How To: Use some of the available effects when programming in JQuery
This tutorial gives you a quick rundown on some of the various effects you can play around with in JQuery, such as buttons or alerts. This is a good video for anyone looking to round out their knowledge of JQuery progrmaming.
How To: Submit data to your server using JQuery and AJAX
This tutorial is a quick introduction to the $.post() function when you're using JQuery. This function is most often used to submit data to your website server, and is also a useful function when you're programming in AJAX as well.
How To: Get around in Mod Rewrite and master some of the basics
First, turn Mod Rewrite on (which it usually is). Once it's on, then you can follow this tutorial to learn how to master some of the basics of Mod Rewrite. Keep easy track of all your files on your Windows based machine.
How To: Fake an AJAX-looking form using JQuery
This form will look like it's been written with AJAX, but the dirty little secret is that it's actually a JQuery script. The reason for doing it this way is greater efficiency in your program, and a little easier to work with.
How To: Get everything you need to start teaching yourself MySQL
MySQL is a structured query language (hence the 'sql'), and is an open source language published by Oracle. If you want to learn how to manipulate and use databases (such as customer lists or membership rosters), you will need to learn MySQL.
How To: Program a cost calculator for your website in JQuery
Create a list with checkboxes and assign a price to each item. As your customers check or uncheck the boxes, they'll see the estimated price below change in accordance. This is a quick and easy trick visitors to your website will definitely appreciate.
How To: Join tables together when programming in MySQL
JOIN commands in MySQL can be scary, and a bit tricky to master - but that's where this video comes in. This clearly and succintly demonstrates what a JOIN in MySQL is and how you can painlessly use these commands in your projects.
How To: Use the ALIAS command in MySQL as shortcuts in your programming
The greatest function of the ALIAS command is as a shortcut. Being able to use this properly will make your MySQL database much easier to use, more functional and streamline all your programming. This tutorial shows you everything you'll need to know about using ALIAS in your database programs.