Nickbits.co.uk

Not sure why I have not noted before, the open source Drupal Content Management System (CMS). This is a full CMS that allows you to add and customise all elements. Themes can easily be created as well as add-ins, known as modules. It can be difficult to get used to, however it is getting better with each new version and there is help and tutorials available on the Drupal.org website. There is a mature API in place and is well documented. This is, as far as I am concerned, the best CMS out there.

I was recently sent a review copy of "Drupal 6 JavaScript and jQuery" by Matt Butcher. Having recently started to use JQuery with Drupal it was a shame I had not discovered it earlier.

Anyone who knows me knows I love to use the Drupal Content Management System (CMS). In my opinion Drupal is relatively easy to use, although it can be daunting knowing how to configure the system to accomplish the desired working website. For example, setting up a blog with Drupal is easy, but how do you add a gallery? What if you would like to pull RSS feeds from another source or even run an e-commerce website?

For those of you who know me I am an excellent web developer, can work well with XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, etc. However, when it comes to designing a layout, especially anything with artistic touches ir when I have little time, I use other sources. One of these is ThemeForest. A fantastic website with templates for sale that can be used in your site(s).

Anyone who follows what I do will know that I have been converting HTML templates to Drupal for a while. I ahve also been converting PSD themes to XHTML and Drupal, but have only just found a good source for FREE themes. If you have not heard of it yet, take a look at PSDThemes.com.

There are many HTML (and associated technologies) websites available. For the beginer they all look good and valid.  Some of these though are written by people who really do not have a clue, have not proof-read, have not their work or simply do not understand the language.

Too many website developers still code their websites for older browsers. For example some still build their websites aiming them at Internet Explorer 5 or even earlier and then add additional functionality for newer browsers. This is known as progressive coding.

I wrote in two previous posts (here and here) about record number of visitors to my website.  In the 2008 post (stats for 2007) this number was at 3,057 visitors which Iw as pleased with.  Then in the 2009 post (stats for 2008) the number of visitors stood at 15,737.  This year has already seen this thrashed.  To date this year (1st January 2009 to 5 June 2009) the website has had 16,897 visitors.  This is due to several reasons:

I have just finished converting the latest website template by Andreas Viklund to Drupal. See it on my pages, here, or on the Drupal website.

Many website designers need to take a little inspiration from time to time. Got a client that has said they want a blue theme or a portal site and stuck for ideas, then take a look at Design Melt Down. They have catalogued a huge range of websites that can easily be browsed. These are some of the finest sites around and can be very inspirational. Well worth a look and a bookmark.