creativity

Becoming a Web Developer: A Guide for Beginners

Posted on | by moocow

Jobs within the creative industry are fast becoming more and more popular. Our knowledge and awareness of new technologies are developing on a daily basis; and a far greater percentage of young people are moving into the world of web development on completing their studies.

 

So what exactly is web development?

Web development is a blanket term for the work involved in creating a web site for the internet. There are several different roles within the world of web development, enabling you to expand on your knowledge and explore new technologies from day to day.

 

What roles are there within web development?

Front-end web developers: They design what you see visually when you click on a web site or web page, the graphics, the layout and the styling of your website, they are behind how all this comes together. These guys deal with what’s called the ‘user side’ of the website. Making sure your website is easy to use, looks great and works properly is their main priority. Using HTML, CSS & JavaScript, they turn your static web page into a flashy new site from scratch, transforming your web page into what you see now when you click on a page.

 

Back-end web developers: These are the behind the scenes techies, they deal with the bits you don’t see and help with the smooth running and security of your site. Their job is connecting the server to your database and website. They use programs such PHP, Ruby & Python. They might not be in the limelight, but their job is vital to making your site function correctly.

 

So where should I start?

If you’re interested in a career in web development or are even just a bit curious and are looking to create your own website, below are a few tips and tools of the trade to help get you on your way.

 

  • Practice your skills and read up on coding 101. There are some great sites out there that can teach you everything you need to know from scratch. Codecademy is a great place to start and is completely free or give Google’s Developers Training a go. There’s plenty of online forums you can join for advice as well.

 

  • If you’re fresh out of university, internships are a great way to gain experience in a professional environment as a web developer. Plenty of companies offer internships and they’re usually advertised on general job search sites such as Indeed. Although many don’t offer a paid income, the expertise you can gain is vital. It’s also a great chance to network and gain industry contacts.

 

  • Put your skills into practice, use sites like GitHub to help experiment and generate code examples and test problems with your HTML/CSS with other programmers or developers. You can stay up to date on tips and trends by following web development blogs such as HTML Center, Code Visually, Codrops or Developer Drive. Codepad is also handy if you’re in need of fixing any common HTML/CSS issues.

 

  • Once you’ve built up enough confidence, considering looking into helping out with freelance projects where you can put some of your skills into action. There are some excellent sites aimed specifically for freelancer looking for work including Upwork, GetACoder and PeoplePerHour. Glassdoor is also a really handy site that allows you to search for jobs as well as research potential employers.

 

  • Finally, have a go at building your own website. Whether you’re brave enough to give creating a site from scratch a go, or want to opt for using a website builder such as WordPress, there’s lots of options available and online tutorials that can help you customise your site and use your own CSS styling. Once you’ve reached this stage you’re well on your way to being able to present good quality work to potential employers or clients.

Web Trends: The Launch of WordPress 4.8

Posted on | by moocow

For WordPress users who have been counting down the days to the launch of WordPress 4.8, your wait has finally come to an end. WordPress 4.8 has been launched this June, the official update to the WordPress 4.7 base version. If you’re left feeling disappointed to see no jaw-dropping visual changes, hold tight and take a closer look as there are several smaller modifications that could come in handy to current WordPress users or developers. Changes include a few front-end extras, some snazzy new widgets and a couple of fancy new features to the WordPress Editor.

New Widgets and Improvements

The biggest changes seen in WordPress 4.8 are improvements to existing widgets topped with a handful of new media widgets. While not major updates, these changes will enable users to upload visual and audio media with ease.

The Image Widget

First up is the new Image Widget. Prior to the update, inserting an image would mean dragging across a Text Widget and adding an HTML link to your image. The new version, however, now enables you to directly upload images. Simply drag the widget over as before, but this time you can access the option of directly uploading a new image or selecting one from your media library. Add an image title and you’re all set. Only downfall is the widget doesn’t yet allow you to add an entire image gallery, only single images.

The Audio Widget

This new little widget works in the same way as the image widget, but instead allows you to add audio files with the click of a button. Currently you can upload tracks from a URL or upload from your media library. Once complete, the widget will show as playable audio content on your website.

The Video Widget

Once again, the Video Widget works in exactly the same way as the previous two widgets, except this time directly uploads video content directly to your web page. You can insert video files again straight from your media library or a URL to external video links from Vimeo, YouTube and so on.

Rich Text Editing for Text Widgets

More of an improvement to an existing widget than a new one, however an extremely handy one. No more are the days of having to add HTML to a text widget to style font. The editor inside the text widget will now enable you to be able to create bold or italicised text, add bullet points and lists and insert media files.

For Developers

– Changes to CSS rules making admin panel headings more convenient
– A brand-new JavaScript API enabling developers to observe the TinyMCE text editor once a page has loaded. The editor can also be added to all text areas
– A brand-new widget REST API schema allowing for greater improvements and new possibilities for current media widgets to soon be able to have extras such as playlists, image galleries and so on

MooCow – What We Do

Posted on | by moocow

MooCow is an interactive website design agency, based in Brighton & Hove. Since opening its doors in 2006, we have been working hard growing and developing our client base & expertise, offering a dynamic blend of creative thinking, experience and technical know-how.

We are a small agency made up of 10 people, equipped with a ninja approach to creating amazing websites. We have a passion and energy about our work which shows through in the results we produce. We are truly enthusiastic about creating fresh, original website solutions that really work for our clients. MooCow’s dedicated team has just the right measure of experience, talent and passion needed to create a site you will be proud of.

Our processes to a successful website:

DISCOVERY – Your requirements are unique, so we make sure we take time to understand your business; your brand, your products so that we can build you the best website and brand for your company.

DESIGN – We now assign one of our top notch designers to start their magical work on creating you the finest looking website. Our designs are created with your customer in mind.

DEVELOPMENT – Time to release the geeks. Using best practice techniques we develop your site to be user friendly & engaging. From desktop to mobile we develop across a range of platforms to optimise customer engagement and conversion rates.

SUPPORT – Once you are live we are here to help – a successful site is an evolving site. We like to stay involved after launch to provide strategic input and help you achieve your full online potential.

So start the ball rolling, let’s work together. Get a FREE Quote

 

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Web Trends: #ThrowbackThursday

Posted on | by moocow

At MooCow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the hottest web trends. With technology and techniques developing daily, take a look at what 2017 has in store for the world of web design.

With many of this year’s trends in web design solely falling on graphics, one trend we are loving is the increase in fresh takes on vintage and retro web designs. From contemporary twists on Art Deco to a more homely, rustic feel, we’re seeing a rise in changes to visuals and typography for many businesses. With customisations ranging from intricate floral detailing & decorative twining to glamorous graphics & decadent 1920’s styled typefaces, vintage layouts offer a softer approach to website design that still shows of your brand in style. At MooCow we are experts in all things WordPress, and WP itself currently have several fantastic vintage themed layouts to get your creative juices flowing. Pure Retro, Life Gate, Ephemera & Writsy are just a few of our favourites.

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