Plus2: Agility. Mobility. Technology.

The Weekly Bowerbird – 2 Nov

Ben Webster — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:38:13 +0000

A few links to feather your nest…

GoodBarry – the end of the virtuous Barry. Next steps with this product will be very interesting.
Rails + Google Analytics = easy goal tracking – via the Scout App blog
Refraction – a rack middleware replacement for mod_rewrite
Really easy continuous integration with Signal – we’ve been using www.runcoderun.com lately but I’m not sure it’s quite there yet
Behaviour Driven Development with Cucumber – nice slideshare presso
Why django is a perfect choice for a startup – I would have thought www.rubyonrails.org may have rated a mention… perhaps my own myopia
RateMyArea.com – nice full width use of Google Maps.
Get Your API Right – nice checklist of API best practice
Why you need a continuity plan – another thing to add to the “todo” list
Mistabishi – Printer Jam – nice tune

The Weekly Bowerbird – 27 Oct

Ben Webster — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:53:52 +0000

I thought it was time that we actually started blogging on this site. The Weekly Bowerbird was an email I started sending to my workmates at Federal Publishing and Hothouse in 2001. I have always collected links and bookmarks to line my online nest (am I stretching the metaphor?) and shared them with my workmates… often to their dismay.

I’m also an avid follower of Russ Weakley’s (@russmaxdesign) – www.maxdesign.com.au – “links for light reading”.

So here are a few links from this week… there will be more next week.

What You Need to Know About Page Fold – essential info for any web developer
Rails 2.3.4 and SWFUpload – Rack Middleware for Flash Uploads that Degrade Gracefully
Mr Eaves – the spouse to the lovely Mrs Eaves is released
New ANZ logo – New brand and logo to cost ANZ $15 million
Waver – an Air app for Google Wave
Campaign Monitor – Recording the source of your subscribers
Atlassian Open House – this Thursday… book now
From Nothing To Something. How To Get There – startup story by Meebo founder
fauxllower – urban dictionary says… “Someone who follows folks on Twitter because all the cool kids are…”
11 Domain Name Generators & Search Tools – rather handy list
Online Database of Social Media Policies – a very interesting read
The Strength of Nations – great info-graphic
Housing & Poverty – another great info-graphic
Blik Surface Graphics – very cool removable decals for your wall

“Don’t make me think” by Steve Krug

Ben Webster — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:04:08 +0000

This seminal book is the first must read for anyone working on the web. Published in October 2000, its simple message is clear: the most important usability concern for anyone designing or building a website is to not make the user think. Steve Krug calls this (with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek) his first law of usability.

A new site

Ben Webster — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:22:21 +0000

Efficiently create 24/7 deliverables before market positioning infomediaries. Completely initiate economically sound platforms and 24/7 ideas. Monotonectally foster covalent content through principle-centered technologies.