In this episode we talk to returning guest Ben Croker about how to write a good support request.

• Turn it off and on
• Our experiences providing technical support
• How to troubleshoot before submitting a support request
• Rubber ducking
• Use the correct support channel: not DMs on social media
• When providing support a public, discoverable approach, such as github issues, is recommended
• RTFM - read the docs
• What to include in a support request
• What to exclude in a support request
• Sean's mistake asking Ben for support a few months ago
• Security issues
• Closing the issue

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The Dangers of Over Reliance on Plugins in Website Builds

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In this episode we reminisce about how things used to be done and how much web development has changed in the last 25 years. From under construction gifs to the rise and fall of jQuery we cover it all.

• Geocities
• Table based layouts
• Float based layouts

• Clearfix

  .clearfix::after {

content: "";

clear: both;

display: table;

}

 Equal Height columns 

• Matchmedia.js

Conditional comments

star selector hack ('star plus html) css hack.

Microsoft Kicks Off Campaign to Kill Internet Explorer 6

Microsoft anti-trust lawsuit

Image Ready - slicing design

WYSISWYG (drag and drop) html editors

• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Microsoft Front Page
• Adobe Go Live

Adaptive Design (not responsive design)

Fluid Layout (CSS tricks article)

Rounded corners with sliding doors

Image Sprites

Cufon Fonts

Navigation tabs

CSS Zen Garden

Blink, Marquee (blink no longer works despite what Sean said in the show. However, the marquee tag does work)

Sean's Boilerplate (Season 7 Episode 5)

Animated gifs

• Under construction animated gif

1TB archive of Geocities (article) 

Web rings

Javascript 

• jQuery 
• Mootools

 

 

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In this episode we discuss the advantages of using a boilerplate to start a new website build and what to include or not include when establishing a boilerplate.

• Github stars and forks
• Packagist
• What is a boilerplate
• Save time by pre-configuring settings for all projects
• Wireframe components
• What to include in a boilerplate
• What to exclude from a boilerplate
• Disadvantages to a boilerplate
• ReadMe file and documentation
• Feature requests for your boilerplate
• Personal conventions

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Sean's Craft CMS boilerplate

Packagist

Swup

MatrixMate

SEOmatic

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In this episode we discuss motivation, burnout, and imposter syndrome including our experiences and strategies on how to handle

• Kevin's origin story
• How important is doing work that you enjoy doing?
• Routine work vs cool projects
• Luck is when preparation meets opportunity - Roman philosopher Seneca
• Imposter syndrome
• Don't beat yourself up, go for a walk, talk to a colleague
• The industry changes so rapidly its impossible to keep up
• We're all partial stack developers
• There's always somebody better than you. The person you should compare yourself to is yourself.
• Burnout
• Ideas to get over burnout
  
• The ancestor to every action is a thought - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Feast or Famine
• Money management
• The juggernaut of fear, guilt
• Schedule time for yourself (self care)
• Set boundaries and limits
• Inspiration

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TTC Mapper (Sean's Photography Project)

What to do When Work is Slow (S07E03)

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In this episode we talk with Mitchell Kimbrough, founder of Solspace, about strategies to help with when work is slow.

• How Mitchell helped Sean start his freelancer journey
• Mitchell's encouragement to people to start freelancing
• You'll never be ready to start a business. Better to start it then later in life wonder What if?
• Customer service
• Soft skills
• Most important thing to do when you realize you don't have enough work
• Self care
• Hire expert help for sales and marketing - delegate work
• Abundance mindset vs scarcity mindset
• Focus on current tech stack vs pick up something new
• Vertical markets / ideal clients
• Hedghog Concept - Jim Collins
• How to find and vet help for marketing
• Social media

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Solspace

Solspace Podcast

Jim Collins list of books

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In this episode we discuss various project management tools, and the pros and cons of each. Additionally how best to communicate with clients.

• Email from Natalie
• What is a project management tool
• Required features
• Centralized communication
• UI
• Dependencies
• Cost
• Email notifications - batches, individually
• Agile
• Browser extension

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S01 E02 Planning Structure, Goals

Gqueues

Asana

Treelo

Basecamp

Notion

Getting Things Done

Jira (Atlassian)

Air Table

Notion

Milanote

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In this episode we discuss when and how to say "No". We talk about when developers need to say no as well as when a client should say no.

• When to say to no to a brand new client.
• Talk about budget early.
• Client requirements are unclear.
• Include expiry for proposals.
• Overbooked
• Ethics & Morals
• Reputation and rumors.
• Advice when working with a developer.
• Keep it positive.
• Give better options.
• How to say no.
• Mental health.

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Web Jargon part 1

Web Jargon part 2

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The ins and outs of mastering social media for small business owners with Jessica Perrault plus a predication about AI generated content for social.

• How Jessica got into social media
• Tips to get started for small business owners
• Social media and content marketing
• Understand the nuances of the different social networks
• Which social network is the most important?
• How to manage the time requirements
• How to measure success - analytics
• Vanity Metrics
• Own your digital footprint
• Email list is critical
• Difficult to trust a company that is only on social - no website
• Red flags about social media
• Misconceptions about social
• Software to manage social & mailing lists
• AI In social and marketing
• Amanda makes a prediction about AI content
• Replying on social - flame wars

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Own Your Digital Content

Use social media to promote your website, not replace it.

hootsuite

Sprout Social

Agora Pulse

Later (Instagram)

Hubspot

Active Campaign

Google Analytics

Google Search Console

Wendy's Twitter

Spotify Wrapped

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A discussion on plugin development with Ben Croker who has developed plugins for Craft CMS and previously for ExpressionEngine. We discuss when to use a plugin, when a plugin should be commercial, how to price a plugin, and providing support to end users.

• Ben's origin story
• What is a plugin?
• CMS acquisition of plugins in order to add to core functionality
• When to use a plugin or build it myself?
• How do you come up with an idea for a plugin?
• Commercial vs Free plugins
• Supporting plugins
• No code vs bring your own code and technical knowledge
• Support tickets/issues
  • GitHub issues
  • Email (good for sensitive information)
  • Ticketing systems
• Feature requests and pull requests
  
• How to decide the cost of commercial plugins
• Breaking changes in the CMS
• Plugins that work with other plugins
• Website security and plugin evaluation
• Advice for developers new to plugin development
• USE an IDE

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Code Igniter

ExpressionEngine

Craft Cms

Put Your Lights On

Blitz

Sprig

Sendgrid

Feed Me

The Dangers of Over Reliance on Plugins in Website Builds

SEOmatic

Good Documentation is Hard (Matt Stein)

HTMX

Tailwind with Adam Wathan - Season 5 Episode 4

Semantic Versioning

Craft CMS Docs

Craft Quest

Craft Generator

PHP Storm

Visual Studio Code

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In this episode we discuss internet privacy with Michael Geist who holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law.

• Artificial Intelligence and phishing scams
• Chat GPT
• Government TikTok Bans
• Bill C11 - Canadian content requirements
  • Potential negative consequences to how YouTube's algorithm shows Canadian content.
• Pentagon Leak on Discord
• GDPR and cookie consent
  • Bill C-27
• Surveillance capitalism
• Elon Musk & Twitter
• Social Media
• Canadian Telecoms, mergers, and consumer protection
• Website account deletion

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Micheal Geist

Law Bytes Podcast

Bill C-11

Bill C-27

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