Startups are intriguing because they often bring new technologies to the forefront. However, achieving success in the startup arena is far from easy. It requires dedication, long working hours, and a holistic strategy that includes product development, coding, marketing, and organizational planning. Despite the hurdles, the potential rewards are incredibly gratifying.

In this guide, we’ll delve into a range of practical steps for successfully launching your startup. Whether you’re already part of a team working on a product or an independent professional considering a new endeavor, these tips will help you realize your entrepreneurial dreams.

Formulating a Robust Concept

Launching a successful tech startup begins with a well-conceived concept. This could be anything from an innovative website or mobile application to a hosting solution or system management tool. The more comprehensive your initial plan, the less complicated the subsequent stages will be.

We recommend making a list of advantages and disadvantages for each potential concept. For example, if you’re thinking about a community-focused social platform, you might want to concentrate on features that connect people within their local areas. This unique angle could differentiate you from existing platforms.

It’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of how your product compares to others in the market. Use a bullet-point list with accompanying explanations to aid in the ideation phase.

Keep in mind that competition is unavoidable, but it’s also a catalyst for innovation. By learning from the failures and limitations of others, you can create a product that not only grabs attention but also delivers genuine value. This iterative approach is vital for your startup’s success.

Building a Strong Team

Initiating a startup as a solo entrepreneur may seem appealing. You might believe you can manage all aspects alone, particularly if you’re targeting moderate growth. However, as your startup gains momentum, you’ll quickly realize that the workload becomes overwhelming for a single individual.

The CEO typically oversees daily operations, but you’ll also need additional team members for roles like customer service. Essential positions also include a web designer or frontend developer for online presence, as well as experts in marketing and branding.

Allocate Roles Aligned with Objectives

At first, you may be inclined to assign roles based on personal preferences. However, it’s more efficient to align roles with your startup’s primary goals. In the dynamic environment of a startup, multitasking is standard. The sooner you form a cohesive team with a strong work ethic, the quicker you’ll achieve profitability.

Remember, the strength of a team lies in its quality, not its size. If your startup is tech-centric, finding the right talent may take time. However, even small teams of 2 or 3 committed individuals can attain success. Effective collaboration and persistence are key.

Developing Your Product

Having a robust idea and a skilled team is essential. However, the initial significant challenge is creating your first product. This stage can be demanding and time-consuming, but the goal is to go to market as swiftly as possible.

Avoid launching a product with subpar code or malfunctioning features. Yet, don’t hold back waiting for perfection before releasing a beta version. An early launch can help establish your brand and garner initial support.

Consider X (formerly Twitter) as an example. It debuted in 2006 as a much simpler platform than its current version. Over time, features like direct messages, @replies, and media support were added. They didn’t wait for a flawless product; they launched and refined based on user feedback.

So, think globally but act incrementally. Concentrate on accomplishing one or two significant tasks daily. Don’t hold off for perfection; view the initial months as a testing phase for collecting user insights.

Focus on User Experience

Product development is an ongoing process. Post-launch, your team will shift its attention to bug fixes and potential feature additions. This is a stage where many startups falter, becoming entangled in endless design modifications.

Maintain a focused approach to product development. Implement changes that will genuinely enhance user experience and contribute to your business goals, rather than succumbing to individual whims.

Effective Pitching and Marketing Strategies

If the startup ecosystem fascinates you, you might also be interested in the world of finance. This often includes seeking angel investors and venture capital to fuel your innovative ideas. Your startup could potentially become the next industry disruptor.

Although funding for tech startups is increasingly available, it’s not a surefire route to success. Don’t base your startup’s success solely on obtaining initial funding. Y Combinator is an excellent example of entrepreneurs joining forces to secure capital and scale their ventures.

Effective pitching doesn’t require elaborate presentations. Consider crafting concise summaries of your product that can be delivered in timeframes like 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, or up to 5 minutes. Structuring your thoughts is vital for establishing robust business relationships and staying updated on marketing trends.

Digital Marketing

No matter your startup’s focus, online marketing is an invaluable asset. The internet provides a quick avenue to generate interest and establish your brand. Begin by creating social media profiles that resonate with your brand’s ethos.

Effective marketing targets individuals who have interests aligned with your product. Consider promotional activities on industry-related forums or bulletin boards. Alternatively, partner with blogs and smaller websites for product reviews.

Don’t restrict your marketing tactics. Form a small team to brainstorm creative strategies. Experimentation can significantly enhance your online visibility.

Establishing a Clear Mission

Many startups begin without a well-defined mission, and that’s acceptable. Companies often refine and adjust their objectives based on customer feedback. Being adaptable and open to change is indicative of effective leadership.

While it’s impossible to chart your startup’s entire trajectory from the outset, you can create a flexible roadmap. Be ready to modify your approaches as you progress.

While profit is crucial, it shouldn’t overshadow your core values. If you derive satisfaction from creating tech solutions, continue in that direction. The startup landscape offers priceless learning opportunities.

For additional insights, visit Quora, a rich source of information on startup culture and fundraising. Clearly define your startup’s mission to attract individuals who share your vision.

Final Thoughts

Starting a startup goes beyond merely creating a basic website. Your goal should be to address a specific problem that resonates with a broad audience. Tech startups hold the potential to transform how we communicate and connect.

Success is never guaranteed, and many startups encounter hurdles. However, the knowledge and experience you gain are invaluable assets. An early start enhances your likelihood of long-term success.

The post A Guide to Successfully Launching Your Startup appeared first on Hongkiat.

Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a big help for web developers. It lets them keep static files on servers all over the world. When someone requests data, it’s sent to them from a server that’s close by, so it loads much faster. Also, files can be kept in the cloud, making it easy to share them with coworkers or partners. This cloud-based server solution has made getting to files simpler than ever.

In this piece, we’ll explore some of the best CDN and cloud sharing tools out there today. Whether you’re a small business or a freelancer, you can get a lot out of keeping local backups of your files and storing extra copies in the cloud when needed. This way, you can work from any computer and get to data that might otherwise be out of reach. It’s a flexible approach that opens up new possibilities.

Overview:

1. Cloudflare

Cloudflare is a well-known Content Delivery Network (CDN) provider, offering a variety of services to enhance the speed, safety, and dependability of websites. It’s a name trusted by numerous global brands and has earned a reputation as a top player in the CDN field, according to IDC MarketScape.

For those who develop websites, Cloudflare has a lot to offer. Here’s a look at some of its key features:

1. Argo Smart Routing: This service is all about delivering content to users in the fastest, most reliable way possible. By finding the best paths across Cloudflare’s network and using smart routing and tiered caching, Argo can make a website run more smoothly and quickly.

2. Load Balancing: If a website gets a lot of traffic or needs to be available all the time, Cloudflare’s Load Balancing is a lifesaver. It balances the traffic load both locally and globally, checks the health of servers, and ensures that everything keeps running even if something goes wrong. It’s like having a traffic cop for your website, keeping everything moving smoothly.

3. Rate Limiting for Security: Cloudflare’s Rate Limiting feature is like a security guard for a website. It helps fend off harmful attacks like denial-of-service and brute-force password attempts, keeping the site safe and performing well.

4. Cloudflare Workers: This feature lets developers write and deploy code right at the edge of Cloudflare’s network, closer to the users. It supports languages like JavaScript, Rust, C, and C++, and can reduce delays in processing, making the website even faster.

5. Additional Tools and Services: Cloudflare doesn’t stop there. They offer a wide array of other tools, such as Advanced Certificate Manager, Access, Image Resizing, Additional Page Rules, Cloudflare Apps, Cloudflare Registrar, Video Streaming, Automatic Platform Optimization, Cloudflare Images, and Cache Reserve.

In simple terms, Cloudflare is like a Swiss Army knife for web developers, providing a range of tools to make websites faster, safer, and more reliable. Whether it’s speeding up content delivery, balancing heavy traffic, or protecting against threats, Cloudflare has a solution.

Cloudflare’s Price:

Cloudflare provides a variety of services, including a free plan with several features. If you need more functionality, you can opt for paid add-ons, available across free, pro, and business plans, with prices starting at just $5 a month.

These extra features encompass a wide array of tools such as Smart Routing, Load Balancing, Image Resizing, Video Streaming, and more.

2. jsDelivr

jsDelivr is a free and public Content Delivery Network (CDN) that specializes in distributing JavaScript and ESM (ECMAScript Modules) from sources like npm and GitHub. Since its inception in 2012, it has become a trusted option for web developers, handling billions of requests every month.

One standout feature of jsDelivr is its flexibility in loading any project hosted on npm. Developers have the freedom to specify the package, version, and file in the URL, and jsDelivr takes care of the delivery. This includes support for various version ranges, and even the option to leave out the version to automatically receive the latest one. Though convenient, it’s wise not to use this version-omitting feature in a live production environment to prevent unforeseen updates.

In cases where a minified version of a JS/CSS file is not available, jsDelivr can create one on the spot. This helps in shrinking the file size and boosting the website’s loading speed.

Beyond these capabilities, jsDelivr offers an array of tools designed with developers in mind. From usage statistics to on-the-fly file combination, source map support, version aliasing, and integration with multiple IDEs, these tools empower developers to fine-tune their websites and understand how their projects are utilized.

jsDelivr also extends a free API that developers can use to access information about npm packages, such as versions, tags, and files. This API not only suggests the right entry point for each file type but also provides in-depth download and usage statistics for each project, version, and file.

A distinctive aspect of jsDelivr is its embrace of modern JavaScript modules. It’s equipped to load contemporary JavaScript packages as needed, and it’s compatible with the latest web browsers, Node.js, and Deno. This feature encompasses a global multi-CDN network, HTTP/3 support, minification, Brotli compression, carefully managed HTTP caching, dependency preloading, and shared permanent storage across all edge servers.

jsDelivr’s Price:

jsDelivr is a service that’s available at no cost and is utilized by millions of websites all over the world. Its operation is made possible through the backing of its primary sponsors.

3. StackPath

StackPath is a cutting-edge cloud computing service that aims to bring the cloud closer to where data is created and used. Unlike traditional platforms that are located on the outskirts of major cities, StackPath operates right within the heart of major markets across the globe. This innovative strategy enables internet-based applications and small, specialized services (microservices) to operate closer to users and devices. The result? Quicker data transfer and broader distribution.

One of the standout features of StackPath is its incredible speed. Data can travel to their virtual environments and storage containers up to three times faster than with other major cloud providers. Even over their private network, data moves 21% quicker than it does over the regular internet. This boost in speed can make websites or applications run much more smoothly.

When it comes to adjusting to your needs, StackPath shines with its scalability. It offers a diverse array of sizes and capacities in strategic locations around the world. This means that your workloads can easily grow or shrink, move inward or outward, depending on your demands. It’s a system that’s built for both flexibility and efficiency.

But StackPath isn’t just about speed and scalability; it’s also designed with developers in mind. The platform adopts an approach that’s conscious of the edge of the network, prioritizes APIs, and minimizes unnecessary complexity. This empowers developers to have direct influence over their solutions, manage costs effectively, and achieve desired results. Plus, StackPath comes packed with a variety of features, such as virtual machines, containers, Content Delivery Network (CDN), Web Application Firewall (WAF), serverless scripting, origin shield, EdgeRules™, EdgeSSL™, and tools for optimizing images. It’s a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that’s ready to meet the demands of the modern internet landscape.

StackPath’s Price:

StackPath offers three main pricing plans for their Content Delivery Network (CDN) services:

1. Starter Plan: Priced at $10 to $15 per month, this plan provides access to all basic features of the StackPath CDN, including unlimited bandwidth and data storage.

2. Professional Plan: For $50 per month, you can upgrade to this plan, which includes everything in the Starter Plan plus some extra perks like:

   • Using a custom domain name with your website
   • Advanced security features
   • Priority customer support

3. Enterprise Plan: At $500 per month, this top-tier plan offers everything in the Professional Plan, along with:

   • A dedicated account manager
   • 24/7 customer support
   • A 99.99% uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA)

4. Sucuri

Sucuri is a versatile cloud-based service that offers a wide array of security solutions for websites. It’s like a virtual security guard for your website, working to keep it safe from various online threats. Whether you have a custom site or use a common platform, Sucuri is designed to fit your needs.

One standout feature of Sucuri is its ability to quickly remove malware and fix hacked websites. Imagine your website being compromised; Sucuri’s skilled security team can jump in, clean up the mess, and get your site back to normal. This malware and hack removal service is a standard part of all their security plans.

But Sucuri doesn’t just fix problems; it helps prevent them too. With its powerful malware scanner, it can find potential security risks before they become real problems. This is part of a comprehensive security package that includes regular checks, detailed reports after cleanups, monitoring for any blacklisting, and even keeping an eye on your SSL support.

Sucuri also adds an extra layer of protection with its Website Application Firewall (WAF). Think of this as a virtual shield that helps keep hacks and attacks at bay. It’s included in all of Sucuri’s plans, so every user benefits from this added safety net.

And it’s not just about security; Sucuri also helps make your website faster. By offering a Content Delivery Network (CDN), it can boost your site’s speed by an average of 60%. This means a smoother and more enjoyable experience for your visitors. Whether you’re looking to protect, repair, or enhance your website, Sucuri has a solution tailored for you.

Sucuri’s Price:

Sucuri provides various security plans to suit different requirements. The basic plan costs $199.99 annually, while the pro version is $299.99 per year. For those needing more advanced options, there’s a business plan at $499.99 per year. All these plans come with features like malware removal, security scans, and a website application firewall. If you only need a firewall, Sucuri has a plan for that too, starting at $9.99 monthly. Keep in mind, all plans related to hack and malware protection are committed to a minimum of 12 months.

5. KeyCDN

KeyCDN is a top-notch content delivery network, created with an emphasis on quickness and user-friendliness. It’s a global service, distributing content across six continents, and is engineered to provide users with rapid access to content. With over 40,000 customers, KeyCDN ensures that content reaches millions of users efficiently.

What sets KeyCDN apart is its carefully designed hardware. Every edge server is equipped with a sophisticated TCP stack and complete SSD coverage, ensuring that the content is delivered not only swiftly but also dependably.

Moreover, KeyCDN offers a suite of robust features accessible to all users, no matter the account size. These advanced technologies, such as HTTP/2, Brotli, and TLS 1.3, enhance both the speed and security of a website.

When it comes to user experience, KeyCDN shines with its simplicity. It’s crafted to be effortlessly integrated with various CMS, frameworks, or custom applications. Plus, there’s a free 14-day trial, so users can test the service without any financial commitment.

One special aspect of KeyCDN is its real-time image optimization feature. It’s capable of altering and enhancing images on the fly, adjusting dimensions and employing next-generation formats. This not only ensures that images fit perfectly but also boosts their performance by minimizing their size. It’s a thoughtful touch that adds to KeyCDN’s appeal as a comprehensive and user-friendly service.

KeyCDN’s Price:

KeyCDN provides its services based on a pay-as-you-go system, where the cost depends on how much data you transfer and where it’s being sent. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

• In North America and Europe, the cost starts at $0.04 per GB for the first 10 terabytes (TB) each month, and it gets cheaper the more you use.
• In Asia and Oceania, it’s a bit more expensive, starting at $0.08 per GB.
• For Africa and Latin America, the starting price is $0.10 per GB.

What’s great is that there are no extra charges for individual requests, and you can make unlimited HTTP and HTTPS requests. The only thing to keep in mind is that there’s a minimum monthly charge of $4, and you’ll need to make an initial payment of $49.

If you’re planning to use more than 100 TB per month, you can reach out to KeyCDN for special pricing. And while they don’t have a free plan, they do offer a 14-day free trial to test out their services.

Summary

The post Best Cloud Hosting & CDN Services for Web Developers (Updated) appeared first on Hongkiat.

The rise in cyber threats and data breaches has made it imperative for consumers to understand and implement secure online transaction practices. This not only safeguards their personal and financial information but also fosters trust in the digital marketplace.

This blog post aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital transaction landscape safely and confidently. We’ll dig into the intricacies of online transactions, discuss the potential risks, and provide practical tips to enhance your transaction security.

Different Types of Online Transactions

There are several kinds of online transactions, each with its own special features:

1. E-Commerce Transactions: This is when you buy or sell something online. For example, when you order a book from Amazon, get food delivered from an app, or subscribe to a service like Netflix. To do this, you need a way to pay online, like a credit or debit card, PayPal, or other digital wallets.
2. Online Banking Transactions: This is when you move money between different bank accounts. For example, when you pay your bills online, send money to a friend, or get your paycheck through direct deposit. To do this, you need to use the secure online banking platform provided by your bank.
3. Mobile Wallet Transactions: Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay let you keep your card information safe on your phone and make payments directly from there. You can use this for online purchases and in physical stores that accept contactless payments.



4. Cryptocurrency Transactions: This is when you use digital currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. These currencies use a technology called blockchain, which is a system that records transactions across many computers.

Keeping Online Transactions Secure

To make sure these transactions are safe, there are several tools and technologies used. One is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS), which are systems designed to keep communication over a computer network secure.

Websites that use SSL or TLS start with https:// in their web address, which means that the information you send between you and the site is kept safe.

Another tool is the firewall, which checks all incoming and outgoing network traffic based on set security rules. It acts like a barrier between a network that can be trusted and networks that can’t be trusted.

Why Online Transaction Security Matters?

As we do more of our shopping and banking online, keeping these transactions safe is more important than ever. Here’s why:

1. Keeping Your Personal and Financial Details Safe

Every time you buy something online or do some banking, you’re sharing sensitive details like your credit card or bank account numbers. It’s vital to keep these transactions safe to prevent this information from being stolen.

For example, when you buy something from a secure online store, your payment details are scrambled into a code that can’t be read by anyone who might try to steal it.

2. Stopping Identity Theft

Identity theft is a big problem online. Cybercriminals can steal your personal details from unsafe transactions and pretend to be you. They can open credit cards in your name, empty your bank accounts, or even get medical services. Safe transactions stop this by putting barriers between your information and the criminals.

3. Building Trust with Customers

Companies have a duty to keep their customers’ details safe. If they fail, they can lose their customers’ trust, which can be very damaging.

For example, in 2013, the retailer Target had a huge data breach where hackers stole the credit and debit card details of 40 million customers. This breach cost Target $18.5 million and did a lot of damage to their reputation.

4. Meeting Legal and Industry Rules

Companies also have to follow the law when it comes to protecting customer data. If they don’t, they can face big fines and legal problems.

For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) says that companies that handle credit card information have to keep it safe. If they don’t, they can be fined between $5,000 and $100,000 every month.

Common Threats in Online Transactions

As we journey through the online transaction world, it’s vital to understand the common dangers that exist in the digital realm. These dangers can put your personal and financial details at risk, potentially leading to financial loss or identity theft.

Let’s explore some of the most common threats:

1. Beware of Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a sneaky tactic where online fraudsters pretend to be legitimate organizations to trick you into giving away sensitive information. It often happens through emails that seem to be from your bank or a trusted store, asking you to update your account or confirm your password.

For instance, you might get an email that looks like it’s from your bank, complete with official logos and language, but the link takes you to a fake website designed to steal your login details.

2. Malware: A Hidden Threat

Malware, or malicious software, is any software created to damage or exploit any computing device or network. Malware can sneak into your device through a harmful email attachment, an infected software download, or even a compromised website. Once it’s on your device, it can record your keystrokes to capture passwords, steal personal information, or lock your files and demand a ransom.

3, Identity Theft: A Serious Concern

Identity theft happens when online criminals get hold of your personal information, like your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card number, and use it to commit fraud or other crimes. They could make purchases in your name, open new credit accounts, or even file tax returns.

4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: The Invisible Threat

In a MitM attack, the attacker secretly intercepts and possibly alters the communication between two parties who think they are directly communicating with each other.

For example, if you’re connected to an unsecured public Wi-Fi, an attacker could intercept the data you send and receive, including login details and credit card numbers.

5. Card Not Present Fraud: A Common Online Scam

This type of fraud happens in transactions where the cardholder does not physically present the card to the seller. It’s common in online shopping, where scammers use stolen card details to make unauthorized purchases.

To shield yourself from these threats, it’s crucial to use trustworthy security software, be wary of unexpected communications, regularly update your devices, and use secure and trusted networks for transactions.

Best Practices for Secure Online Transactions

Online transactions, while convenient, come with their own set of risks. However, by following a few best practices, you can significantly enhance the security of your online transactions. Here are some key strategies to consider:

1. Use Strong and Unique Passwords

Your password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access. Make sure to use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or names. Consider using a password manager like 1Password, which can generate and store complex passwords for you. Alternatively, you can create a passkey if it’s supported.

2. Regularly Update Software and Devices

Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Ensure your operating system, web browsers, and security software are up-to-date. Most systems have an auto-update feature – make sure it’s enabled.

3. Use Secure and Trusted Websites for Transactions

Always look for https:// in the website URL before entering any personal or financial information. The ‘s’ stands for secure, indicating that the website uses encryption to protect your data. Trusted websites often have a padlock icon in the address bar.

4. Be Wary of Suspicious Emails and Links

Phishing scams often come in the form of emails that appear to be from reputable companies but are designed to steal your information. Never click on links or download attachments from unknown sources. If you receive an email from your bank or a shopping site, it’s safer to log in to your account directly rather than clicking on a link in an email.

5. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring two types of identification before granting access. This could be a combination of something you know (like a password), something you have (like a phone), or something you are (like a fingerprint). Many services, including Google and Apple, offer 2FA options.

6. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. If you spot anything suspicious, report it to your bank immediately.

7. Use a Secure Network

Avoid conducting transactions when connected to public Wi-Fi networks, as they are often unsecured and can be easily intercepted by cybercriminals. If you must use a public network, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) like SurfShark, or NordVPN, which encrypts your data and provides secure access to the internet.

Role of Banks and Online Platforms

Banks and online platforms play a pivotal role in ensuring the security of online transactions. They employ a multitude of advanced technologies and stringent protocols to protect user data and maintain the integrity of transactions.

1. The Magic of Encryption

Encryption is like a secret code that banks and online platforms use to keep your transactions safe. It turns your information into a secret language that can only be understood with a special key. You might have heard of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) – these are common types of encryption that protect your data while it’s being sent.

2. Double-check with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Many banks and online platforms use 2FA to give your security an extra boost. This means you need to prove who you are in two different ways before a transaction can go through.

For example, after you enter your password (something you know), you might get a unique code sent to your phone (something you have).

3. Keeping an Eye Out with Fraud Detection Systems

Banks and online platforms use smart systems to spot anything unusual that might mean fraud. For instance, if someone tries to make a transaction from a place you don’t usually use, the system might flag it as suspicious and ask for extra checks or even block the transaction.

4. Safe Passage with Secure Payment Gateways

Online platforms often use secure payment gateways, like PayPal or Stripe, for transactions. These gateways have strong security measures to keep sensitive information, like your credit card details, safe.

5. Staying Ahead with Regular Security Updates and Patches

Banks and online platforms regularly update their systems and fix any weak spots to make sure they’re protected against the latest cyber threats. They often remind users to update their apps or software so they can benefit from these security improvements.

6. Following the Rules with Privacy Policies and Regulations

Banks and online platforms also have to follow privacy laws and regulations, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. These laws make sure user data is protected and can result in big fines if they’re broken.

What to Do If You’re a Victim of a Cyber Attack

Experiencing a cyber attack can be quite alarming. However, it’s important to stay composed and act promptly to lessen the potential harm. Here’s an easy-to-follow guide on what to do if you become a victim of a cyber attack:

Step 1: Confirm the Security Breach

The initial step is to verify that a security breach has indeed taken place. Signs of a breach could include unauthorized transactions on your bank statement, alerts from your bank or service provider, or strange activity on your online accounts.

Step 2: Reach Out to Your Bank or Service Provider

Once you’ve confirmed the breach, get in touch with your bank or the service provider where the breach happened. They can assist in securing your account, halting any ongoing unauthorized activities, and possibly reversing fraudulent transactions.

Step 3: Update Your Passwords

Alter the passwords of all compromised accounts. If you use identical or similar passwords across multiple accounts, change those too. You might want to consider using a password manager to create and store complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts.

Step 4: Activate Two-Factor Authentication

If you haven’t done so already, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. This provides an extra security layer by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or biometric data, along with your password.

Step 5: Keep an Eye on Your Accounts

Monitor all your accounts for any unusual activity. This includes not just your bank accounts, but also email, social media, and any other online accounts.

Step 6: Report the Cyber Attack

Inform your local law enforcement agency and the appropriate online platform about the cyber attack. In the U.S., for instance, you can report cyber crimes to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Step 7: Seek Professional Help

If the breach is severe, you might want to seek advice from a cybersecurity professional. They can help determine how the breach happened, what information was compromised, and how to prevent future attacks.

Step 8: Learn from the Experience

Use this incident as a learning opportunity. Get to know common cyber threats and the best practices for online security to safeguard yourself in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the digital world offers us unparalleled convenience and efficiency in conducting transactions. However, this convenience should not come at the cost of our security. As we’ve explored in this comprehensive guide, secure online transactions are not just a luxury, but a necessity in our increasingly interconnected world.

From understanding the nature of online transactions and the potential threats they pose, to adopting best practices for security, and knowing what to do in the event of a cyber attack, we’ve covered a wide range of topics designed to empower you, the consumer.

Remember, the key to secure online transactions lies in being proactive rather than reactive. By implementing the strategies and tools discussed in this guide, you can not only protect your personal and financial information but also enjoy the benefits of online transactions with peace of mind.

As we continue to embrace the digital age, let’s make secure online transactions a standard practice, not an afterthought. Stay safe, stay secure, and continue to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

The post Consumer Guide to Secure Online Transactions appeared first on Hongkiat.

No matter if you’re an experienced data analyst, a marketing expert, or a small business owner, our guide offers a deep dive into the leading data visualization tools on the market. We’ve selected these tools based on their ease of use, customization features, ability to integrate with other systems, and the types of users they’re designed for.

First, here is the list of data visualization tools that made it to our selection.

Tableau

Created by Salesforce, Tableau is a user-friendly data visualization tool that turns complex data into easy-to-understand, visual formats. It’s a comprehensive suite of tools that supports the entire analytical process, from preparing your data to sharing your insights.

With Tableau Desktop, part of the Tableau Creator package, you can easily connect to data stored locally or in the cloud. Its intuitive interface lets you clean and combine your data, and create visualizations with dynamic previews. This makes it simple to discover trends, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions.

A standout feature of Tableau is its real-time data exploration. This allows you to gain insights as your data updates, facilitating continuous exploration. Tableau also integrates AI and machine learning to provide enhanced insights, assisting users of all skill levels to make better data-driven decisions.

It includes AI capabilities within the platform to make scenario planning, guided model building, AI-powered predictions, and other data science techniques accessible to all users.

How much Tableau cost?

Tableau offers various plans to cater to different data needs.

• Tableau Creator package: Includes Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, and one creator license of Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud. Priced at $70 per user per month, billed annually.
• Tableau Explorer package: Suitable for larger teams and organizations. Priced at $42 per user per month, billed annually.
• Tableau Viewer package: Priced at $15 per user per month for Tableau Cloud, billed annually.
• Free Trial: While Tableau doesn’t offer a free plan, they do provide a free trial for you to explore their features.

Qlik Sense

Qlik Sense is an innovative data analytics platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help users of all abilities extract insights and make informed decisions based on data. It’s designed to create an interactive relationship with data, offering a real-time reflection of the current situation and going beyond the usual static business intelligence (BI) tools.

Qlik Sense’s unique associative technology allows users to freely explore data, providing ultra-fast calculations that are always relevant. This technology forms the heart of Qlik Sense’s superior analytics experience, taking users beyond the constraints of traditional analytics and dashboards.

The platform boasts a variety of features, including self-guided visualization, interactive dashboards, search and conversational analytics, alerts and actions, reporting, mobility, custom and embedded analytics, and advanced analytics.

Qlik Sense’s augmented analytics capabilities use AI to assist users in understanding and utilizing data more effectively, reducing cognitive bias, enhancing discovery, and improving data literacy. It offers AI-generated analyses and insights, automated creation and data preparation, search and natural language interaction, and machine learning predictive analytics.

How much Qlik Sense cost?

Qlik Sense offers a plan at $30 per user per month, which is billed annually. This plan encompasses:

• Intelligent visualization and dashboards
• The Associative Engine for deeper insights
• Augmented analytics with advanced AI
• The ability to connect and combine hundreds of data sources
• Flexible APIs and custom extensions

They also provide a free trial for users to evaluate the platform before committing to a subscription.

Klipfolio

Klipfolio is an online tool that helps you visualize and understand your data in real time. It’s like a playground for data analysis, where you can mix and match data from different sources and explore a wide variety of visualization options.

One of its key features, PowerMetrics, is perfect for analyzing data over time and getting a quick grasp of your historical data. Klipfolio also has a data preparation feature that lets you fetch and refine your data using data feeds. It’s like a Swiss army knife for data, with a visual query builder and data transformation tool that helps you mold any data to fit your needs.

What sets Klipfolio apart is its knack for creating sleek, professional-looking data visualizations and dashboards. PowerMetrics lets you customize your data visualizations, making them look so good that people might think you hired a designer.

Klipfolio also promotes teamwork by letting you share your dashboards with your colleagues, ensuring everyone is on the same page when making decisions. Plus, you can empower your team to create their own dashboards, complete with their own business logic, dimensions, granularity, and visualizations.

How much Klipfolio cost?

Klipfolio offers a range of plans to help you make the most of your data.

• The Free plan lets you create unlimited metrics, includes 2 editor users, 2 dashboards, 3 data services, and updates your data every 4 hours.
• The Go plan, which costs $90 per month (or $125 if paid annually), bumps up the number of editor users to 4, dashboards to 4, data services to 5, and updates your data every hour.
• The Pro plan, their most popular, costs $225 per month (or $300 if paid annually) and includes 10 editor users, 10 dashboards, 8 data services, and updates your data every 15 minutes.
• For larger teams or more complex needs, they offer Business and Enterprise plans with more flexibility and features.

Looker

Looker is a data platform that offers a unified, real-time view of your data. It’s designed to make it easy to create workflows and applications powered by insights from your data. The platform is built to provide reliable data experiences on a large scale from your preferred cloud, enhancing productivity, decision-making, and innovation by delivering more insights to more users.

Looker’s data model is designed to deliver insights when and where they’re needed, thanks to timely alerts and deep integrations.

A standout feature of Looker is LookML, a potent modeling language based on SQL. This feature allows analysts to centrally manage business rules and definitions in a single data model that’s controlled by git versioning. LookML generates efficient SQL queries for users based on the information in the model, eliminating the need for technical skills and freeing up the data team to focus on innovation.

Looker also works seamlessly with Looker Studio, enabling users to connect to Looker’s semantic model and analyze, explore, and visualize data within Looker Studio. This integration combines the benefits of a governed data layer with a self-service solution for analyzing both governed and ungoverned data.

How much Looker cost?

Looker offers a range of plans to suit different business needs. While specific pricing details aren’t directly available on their website, they encourage potential users to request a quote for more detailed information. They also offer a free trial, allowing users to test out the platform before making a commitment.

Zoho Analytics

Created by Zoho.com, this tool is a cutting-edge platform designed to simplify business intelligence and analytics. It’s a tool that allows users to swiftly connect, process, and analyze their data, resulting in striking data visualizations and the uncovering of hidden insights.

The platform is designed to transform raw data into meaningful reports and dashboards, enabling you to monitor your crucial business metrics, observe long-term trends, spot anomalies, and even forecast future trends. Trusted globally by a multitude of customers and users, Zoho Analytics has been acknowledged by Gartner in their 2023 Magic Quadrant for BI and Analytics.

The platform is packed with features that streamline data visualization and analysis. It allows users to connect to a wide range of sources such as files, feeds, popular business applications, both cloud and on-premise databases, custom apps, and more. Zoho Analytics also includes a smart AI assistant, Zia, which can automatically generate insights, predict future trends, and interact with users.

How much Zoho Analytics cost?

Zoho Analytics offers several pricing plans:

• Free Plan: Allows 2 users, 10,000 rows, and unlimited reports and dashboards.
• Basic Plan: Priced at $22/month (billed yearly), allows 2 users, 0.5 million rows, and unlimited reports and dashboards, among other features.
• Standard Plan: Priced at $45/month (billed yearly), allows 5 users, 1 million rows, and includes all features of the Basic plan plus additional features like hourly data sync, data alerts, and data snapshots.
• Premium Plan: Priced at $112/month (billed yearly), allows 15 users, 5 million rows, and includes all features of the Standard plan plus advanced data preparation, Zia insights, private links, and an analytics portal.
• Enterprise Plan: Priced at $445/month (billed yearly), allows 50 users, 50 million rows, and includes all features of the Premium plan plus 5x performance, 1 analytics portal, and live chat support.

Additional users and viewers can be added for an extra cost. Zoho Analytics also offers a 15-day free trial for you to explore their services.

Domo

Domo is a cloud-based tool that offers immediate and direct access to business data for decision-makers throughout an organization. It’s designed to amplify the impact of everyone in a company by transitioning from basic visualizations like charts and graphs to more immersive data experiences that inspire insights and prompt action.

Domo is user-friendly, making it accessible to all, while also providing advanced features that allow tech-savvy teams to swiftly meet business requirements.

When it comes to visualizing data, Domo provides custom data views and reporting tools that facilitate quicker and more effective decision-making for users at all levels. The platform includes advanced visualizations, alerts based on data science, collaboration tools, data storytelling, and interactive mobile dashboards.

Domo’s secure data foundation provides the necessary infrastructure, data integration, and governance that support your data experiences. It enables data integration from any source, data governance, integration with cloud data warehouses, data writeback, and easy-to-use ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools.

Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a collection of business analytics tools designed to transform raw data into meaningful insights. This robust tool enables users to craft interactive dashboards and reports, simplifying the interpretation of intricate data sets.

Power BI serves as a hub where data from diverse sources can be consolidated, streamlined, and then visualized in an easily digestible format. It’s an excellent resource for crafting data-driven narratives that can guide decision-making processes within a company.

A key highlight of Power BI is its exceptional data visualization features. It empowers users to design interactive visualizations with self-service business intelligence capabilities, meaning you can independently create reports and dashboards without the need for IT specialists.

Power BI offers a wide array of visualization options, such as charts, graphs, and maps, which are interactive, allowing you to delve deeper into the data for more granular information. Additionally, Power BI supports real-time data, ensuring your visualizations and reports are always current.

How much Microsoft Power BI cost?

Microsoft Power BI offers several plans:

• Power BI Pro: Priced at $10 per user per month, this plan is designed for users who need to share reports and collaborate with their team.
• Power BI Premium: This plan comes in two variants: per user and per capacity. The per user plan costs $20 per user per month, and is ideal for businesses requiring more capacity and advanced BI features; the per capacity plan starts at $4,995 per month, and is suited for larger businesses needing extensive capacity.
• Power BI Free: Microsoft also provides a free version of Power BI, which is a great starting point for users new to the tool. While it has some limitations compared to the Pro and Premium versions, it remains a powerful tool for data visualization.

Infogram

Infogram is a user-friendly tool designed to help you create visually stunning data presentations. It offers a broad spectrum of features that breathe life into your data. With Infogram, you can choose from over 37 interactive chart types and 13 map types, tailoring your data presentation to your specific needs.

The tool also provides object animations, adding a lively touch to your visualizations. Interactive features like tooltips, tabs, clickable legends, and linking add depth and context to your data, enhancing the overall user experience.

A key feature of Infogram is its emphasis on teamwork. It enables teams to work together in real-time to create, edit, and publish projects, making it a perfect tool for organizations that need to collaborate on data visualization.

Infogram also keeps a record of your project’s version history, allowing you to view and revert to earlier versions. This feature promotes creativity and experimentation without the worry of losing prior work.

How much Infogram cost?

Infogram offers a variety of pricing plans:

• Basic: This free plan includes up to 10 projects, a maximum of 5 pages per project, and access to over 37 interactive chart types and 13 map types.
• Pro: For $19/month (billed annually), you get all the Basic features plus up to 100 projects, a maximum of 10 pages per project, over 100 premium templates, 550+ map types, 1 million images and icons, advanced image editing, and privacy control.
• Business: For $67/month (billed annually), you get all the Pro features plus up to 1000 projects, unlimited project pages, your brand’s logo, color palette, fonts, and image assets, basic analytics, SQL connectors, and iframe integrations.
• Team: For $149/month (billed annually), you get all the Business features plus up to 3000 projects, single team functionality starting with 3 users, real-time collaboration, commenting, engagement analytics, and tracking links.
• Enterprise: This custom plan offers up to 10,000+ projects, a branded public profile and subdomain, multiple team functionality starting with 10 users, advanced training, a dedicated account manager, first priority support, custom design implementation, and team templates.

Sisense

Sisense is an all-in-one business intelligence tool that simplifies the process of turning complex data into insights you can act on. It’s designed with flexibility and user-friendliness in mind, making it a go-to choice for businesses across various sizes and sectors.

A key highlight of Sisense is its ability to create interactive dashboards. These dashboards visually represent data in a way that’s easy to digest, helping you understand your business better. You can tailor these dashboards to your business’s specific needs, emphasizing the most crucial information and trends. Plus, Sisense lets you merge data from various sources, giving you a holistic view of your business operations.

Another unique feature of Sisense is its “Infusion Apps“. These apps deliver actionable insights right where you work the most, eliminating the need to juggle between different apps or platforms.

Sisense also introduces “Fusion Analytics“, a feature that lets you craft personalized experiences using a combination of code-first, low code, and no code approaches. This enables you to create transformative workflows tailored to your needs.

Grow

Grow.com is a comprehensive business intelligence (BI) tool designed to enable everyone in your team to make informed decisions based on data. It offers a user-friendly, no-coding-required platform that lets you connect, store, and combine data from a multitude of sources. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses aiming to centralize their data for real-time viewing.

A key feature of Grow.com is its capacity to create visually appealing, interactive data visualizations. Users can construct impactful data visualizations and KPI metrics without the need for any coding expertise.

This is especially useful for businesses that want to encourage their team members to delve into data and create their own visualizations. The platform is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it accessible to everyone in your team, regardless of their technical proficiency.

How much Grow cost?

Pricing for Grow.com begins at $9.99/month. This package includes features such as customizable dashboards, in-depth analysis, collaborative report sharing, and formatting capabilities.

preset.io

Preset is a tool designed for data visualization, built on the foundation of Apache Superset, an open-source platform for business intelligence. It provides a service that’s managed and hosted in the cloud, enabling users to design, share, and work together on data visualizations and dashboards.

With Preset, you have the ability to connect to a vast array of data sources, craft interactive dashboards, and disseminate your findings within your team or organization.

The data visualization capabilities of Preset are driven by Apache Superset, offering a broad spectrum of visualization choices. You can generate various visualizations such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, maps, and more.

Preset also accommodates SQL queries, giving you the opportunity to delve deep into your data. Moreover, Preset provides features that allow you to manage your workspaces as code, which can be extremely beneficial for teams tackling intricate data projects.

How much preset.io cost?

Preset offers various pricing plans to meet different needs:

• The Starter plan is free and provides access to Preset Cloud, but has certain limitations on data source connections and dashboard update frequency.
• The Professional plan offers more features and fewer restrictions at a cost of $500/month.
• For larger organizations or those with unique requirements, Preset offers a Managed Private Cloud option, with pricing details available upon request.

Datapine

Datapine is a powerful business intelligence software that provides a wide range of features to help businesses make data-driven decisions. It offers self-service analytics tools that allow users to explore and analyze data without needing advanced technical skills. This makes it accessible to a wide range of users, from data analysts to business executives.

One of the standout features of Datapine is its interactive BI dashboards. These dashboards allow users to visualize their data in a way that is easy to understand and interpret. Users can create custom dashboards that display the most relevant data for their needs.

This can include everything from sales figures to customer behavior data. The dashboards are fully interactive, meaning users can drill down into the data for more detailed insights.

In addition to its visualization capabilities, Datapine also offers effective KPI reporting and predictive analytics tools.

Whatagraph

Whatagraph is a versatile platform designed to simplify data management tasks for marketing teams. It’s a one-stop-shop for connecting, visualizing, and sharing your marketing data.

Whether you’re looking to create stunning data visualizations, share insights, set up reports, or even move your marketing data to a BigQuery warehouse, Whatagraph has all the tools you need. It integrates seamlessly with a variety of marketing sources, enabling you to directly import your data for visualization and sharing.

What sets Whatagraph apart is its focus on creating data presentations that are not only informative but also visually engaging and easy to understand. It provides a range of features that allow you to create impressive reports that are straightforward to build and share.

With live dashboards and scheduled PDFs, sharing insights with others is a breeze. Plus, its export to CSV/Excel and easy transfers to BigQuery make it simple to share data with other platforms and tools. If you need to move your data to a BigQuery warehouse, Whatagraph makes this process easy with a few simple steps.

How much Whatagraph cost?

Whatagraph offers three plans:

1. Professional: Priced at $223/month (billed annually), this basic plan is ideal for most in-house marketing teams. It includes 25 data sources, 5 users, over 40 integrations, pre-made templates, unlimited reports, unlimited historical data, and live chat support.
2. Premium: At $335/month (billed annually), this plan is recommended for small marketing agencies. It includes everything in the Professional plan, plus 50 data sources and 10 users.
3. Custom: Designed for large marketing agencies and businesses with complex reporting needs, this plan offers custom pricing and is billed annually or quarterly. It includes over 100 data sources, unlimited users, and all the benefits of the Premium plan.

Databox

Databox is a tool designed to simplify business analytics and data visualization. It’s a one-stop platform where you can gather data from various sources and transform them into easy-to-understand, actionable visuals. It’s a versatile tool that caters to businesses of all sizes, offering a range of features.

One of Databox’s standout features is the Dashboard Designer. This feature allows you to create personalized dashboards to keep an eye on key performance indicators (KPIs) and other crucial metrics. Plus, with automated reporting, you can effortlessly keep track of your business’s performance and make decisions based on solid data.

Databox integrates with over 100 popular platforms like HubSpot, Google Sheets, Excel, and various social media ad platforms, allowing you to gather and visualize data from these sources in one central location.

Beyond just visualizing data, Databox offers additional features like scorecards for a quick performance snapshot, and alerts and insights that notify you of significant data changes. You can even display your data visualizations on a TV dashboard for a larger, more visible display.

How much Databox cost?

As for pricing, here’s what Databox offers:

• Databox offers a free plan that supports 3 data sources and 3 users.
• Their paid plans start at $49 per month (billed annually) and include 10 data sources and 5 users.
• For larger needs, they offer a Growth plan at $99 per month (billed annually) with 50 data sources and 20 users.
• For even larger businesses, they offer a custom plan with tailored pricing.

ChartBlocks

ChartBlocks is an online tool designed to make data visualization a breeze. It’s a platform where you can transform your data into stunning custom charts without needing any coding skills. Whether your data comes from spreadsheets, databases, or even manual input, ChartBlocks has the capability to turn it into a visual masterpiece.

The standout feature of ChartBlocks is its wide array of customization options. It gives you the reins to every detail of your charts, enabling you to present your data in the most effective and visually appealing way. With a multitude of graph types and a plethora of customization choices at your fingertips, creating the perfect chart is just a few clicks away.

It also offers various ways to share your visual insights. You can easily embed your charts on any website, bring them into the Ceros studio, or share them directly on social media using ChartBlocks’ in-built sharing tools. And if you need your charts for presentations or print documents, you can export them as editable vector graphics or optimize them for high-quality printing.

Datawrapper

Datawrapper is a tool that makes it easy for anyone to create engaging data visualizations. It’s designed with simplicity in mind, so you don’t need any technical skills to use it.

With Datawrapper, you can create a range of visualizations, from basic bar and line charts to more intricate scatter plots and thematic maps. It also allows you to create responsive data tables that offer a variety of styling options.

What sets Datawrapper apart is its user-friendly design. You can easily import your data from the web, Excel, or Google Sheets, or upload CSV/XLS files. Once your data is uploaded, you can select from a variety of chart and map styles with a single click, and then customize and annotate your visualization to make it more impactful.

The end result is a visually appealing, responsive visualization that looks great on any device. Plus, your visualizations and data remain private until you decide to publish them.

How much Datawrapper cost?

Datawrapper provides a free plan that allows you to create and publish visualizations, including PNG export options. However, visualizations will display a “Created with Datawrapper” attribution.

For more advanced features, there’s a Custom plan costing $599/month (or $5990/year). This plan includes full design customization, PNG, SVG, and PDF export options, and removes the Datawrapper attribution. It also comes with 10 user licenses, with additional licenses available for $21 per month.

For larger teams with specific requirements, Datawrapper offers an Enterprise plan. The pricing for this plan is available upon request.

The post 10+ Best Data Visualization Tools for 2023 appeared first on Hongkiat.

Designers or developers who are not very technical may not get into the specifics of managing their own .htaccess file. But the topic itself is fascinating and worth some investigation.

For this article, I want to present some more purposeful concepts for designers and developers. Anybody who is launching their own website on an Apache server will want to understand how to manage their .htaccess file. It provides so much customizability and it can work across pretty much any web programming languages.

At the bottom of this post I have added some external web apps to help newcomers generate their .htaccess files dynamically.

Why use an .htaccess File?

This is a great question and perhaps we should start by answering “what is a .htaccess file“?

.htaccess is a very special configuration file used by the Apache web server. They can tell the web server how to present various forms of information and how to handle various HTTP request headers.

Really it is a means of decentralization to organize web server settings. One physical server may hold 50 different websites, each with its own .htaccess file. It grants a lot of power to webmasters, which would otherwise be impossible.

But why should you use one?

The biggest reason is security.

You can lock out certain directories or make them password protected. This is great for private projects or new CMS (Content Management Systems) where you want a little extra security. But there are also common tasks like redirecting 404 error messages to a certain webpage.

This only takes a single line of code, and it can dramatically impact how visitors react to missing pages.

Truthfully, there is not much I can say to convince others that a .htaccess file is worth understanding. Once you see it in action, then you can recognize all of the value which comes from this tiny config file.

Also, I hope the rest of this article may present some insightful topics to bring webmasters into the light of managing a .htaccess configuration.

Allow/Deny Access

It is possible to recognize potential spam visitors and deny them access to your website. This can be a little extreme. However, if you know that a person or group of people have been targeting your website, there are some options to choose from.

You could pick a domain referral to deny or ban visitors by IP address.

order allow,deny
deny from 255.0.0.0
deny from 123.45.6.
allow from all

Notice the 2nd IP address is missing the 4th integer. This code block will target the first IP(255.0.0.0) and every IP within the range of 123.45.6.0-255, then allow all other traffic.

Prevent Directory Listing

There will be times when you have an open directory that is set up to allow browsing by default. This means users can view all the files listed inside an internal directory structure, like your images folder.

Some developers do not want to allow directory listing, and thankfully, the code snippet is pretty easy to remember.

Options -Indexes

I have seen this answer presented countless times throughout Stack Overflow and it may be one of the easiest .htaccess rules to remember.

It is possible to actually create multiple .htaccess files inside each of these directories, so maybe one of them is password protected, but the others are not. And you can still keep the Options -Indexes so that visitors cannot browse through your website /images/ folder.

Password Protection

Password-protecting your directories is a very common procedure for securing administration areas and other folders crucial to your website. Sometimes you only want to offer access to a small group of people.

Other times, passwords prevent hackers from gaining access to your website administration panel. But either way, it is a very powerful solution to a whole number of problems.

To do so, we can add the rule below:

AuthType Basic
AuthName "This Area is Password Protected"
AuthUserFile /full/path/to/.htpasswd
Require valid-user

Notice that we need to provide a file named .htpasswd. This file should contain the username and the hashed password to allow access. Fortunately, you can simply use an external tool that allows you to generate it easily.

Security for WordPress

To put this password-protection idea to good use, let’s display a real-world example. This more complicated code snippet will force user authentication for anybody accessing the WordPress’ wp-login.php file.

You will find the original source on Ask Apache which has numerous other WordPress protection snippets.

<Files wp-login.php>
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from All
Satisfy Any
AuthName "Protected By AskApache"
AuthUserFile /web/askapache.com/.htpasswda1
AuthType Basic
Require valid-user
</Files>

And if you are going to follow these .htaccess rules, it might also help to password-protect the admin area. Typically the wp-login.php file is going to get the most hits from people attempting to brute force their way into your system.

So even just the sample codes above would be more than enough added security for your WordPress website.

HTTP/HTTPS URL Rewrite Rules

Rewriting URLs is probably one of the most common uses for .htaccess files. WordPress default installations can actually generate an .htaccess file right from the administration panel. This allows you to create pretty URLs which do not have the .php?p=1 structure.

I want to look at this rewrite example on how to update underscores to dashes since it contains a lot of the most important elements.

RewriteEngine and RewriteBase can almost always be set to these exact values. But you need the RewriteEngine turned on for anything else to work.

There are plenty of guides online explaining how to enable mod_rewrite and your hosting provider can also help.

Notice the syntax follows a pattern of RewriteRules at the top. These rules are used to match against cases that are being sent as an HTTPS request. These are answered by a RewriteRule which in this case redirects everything to the domain d.com.

The ending brackets like [R=301,L] are called rewrite flags which are important, but more of an advanced topic.

Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
 
RewriteRule !\.(html|php)$ - [S=4]
RewriteRule ^([^_]*)_([^_]*)_([^_]*)_([^_]*)_(.*)$ $1-$2-$3-$4-$5 [E=uscor:Yes]
RewriteRule ^([^_]*)_([^_]*)_([^_]*)_(.*)$ $1-$2-$3-$4 [E=uscor:Yes]
RewriteRule ^([^_]*)_([^_]*)_(.*)$ $1-$2-$3 [E=uscor:Yes]
RewriteRule ^([^_]*)_(.*)$ $1-$2 [E=uscor:Yes]
 
RewriteCond %{ENV:uscor} ^Yes$
RewriteRule (.*) https://d.com/$1 [R=301,L]

If you want to delve a bit deeper you can find a long list of flags on this cheatsheet webpage.

The mod_rewrite syntax is definitely a little confusing but don’t be intimidated! The snippets can look a lot easier in other examples.

When just getting started, I have to recommend this mod_rewrite webapp that helps you generate code samples using real URLs.

This is a brilliant tool because you can look up various items in the syntax to see what they actually do in the Rewrite rules.

But don’t try to overload yourself on these all at once. It took me well over 3-4 months to really start understanding how to rewrite URLs with [0-9a-zA-Z]+ and similar patterns. Keep on practicing, and in time, I promise you will get this stuff like it’s common-sense knowledge.

Code Snippets for developers

I love easy-to-use snippets, and I want to put together this small collection of pertinent .htaccess codes for developers

Each of these ideas can fit nicely into your own .htaccess file along with other code blocks. Most of these snippets are great for solving quick problems or fixes in your web server environment.

Imagine the perfect Apache setup for brand new webmasters just getting started online.

Setting DirectoryIndex

You can tell Apache which documents should be initially treated as the “main” document with DirectoryIndex. Typically you’d want to target an index-named files such as index.html and index.php.

DirectoryIndex index.html index.php

The order of documents should start with the most important and move through the ranks to the least important. In the example above, if we do not have an HTML, then the fallback will go to index.php. And you could even name these files home.php or someotherfile.php and it is all valid syntax.

Force "www" or "non-www" subdomain

Google can work with both versions of your website domain if you do not specify www.domain.com or just domain.com. In my experience, it is best practice to choose one of these and set it as the only choice via .htaccess.

Then Google will not index various URLs, with some pointing to the WWW subdomain while others do not.

# Force WWW Subdomain
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^domain.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.domain.com/$1 [L,R=301]

# No Subdomain
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^domain.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://domain.com/$1 [L,R=301]

This code snippet comes from a CSS-Tricks archive and provides a very handy solution.

You should update the domain to be whatever you need for your own website. Otherwise, there will be problems, and you’ll notice right away! But I do highly support forcing one of these two options and it is at the top of my tasks list after launching a new website.

Force Media File Downloads

Another fairly important snippet allows forcing certain media types to download instead of being displayed in the browser.

Immediately, I can think of PDF documents and MP3 audio files which may be presented in a downloadable format, but here is how you can force them to download?

AddType application/octet-stream .zip .mp3 .mp4

Feel free to include even more file types at the end of this line. All of the media formats using the octet-stream MIME type will be downloadable. Forcing this through .htaccess is a very direct route to ensure people are not able to view these files in the browser.

Custom Error Documents

One last final piece I want to add is a full template of custom error documents. Usually these number codes are only seen on the server end. But there are plenty of these error documents which you should be familiar with.

A few examples might be 403/404 errors and the 301 redirect.

This error code template starts at 100 and moves upwards into 500 errors. Please note that you obviously do not need all of these. Only the most common errors would be necessary, and possibly a few obscure snippets if you feel the need.

If you do not recognize a code just look it up on Wikipedia to get a better understanding.

ErrorDocument 100 /100_CONTINUE
ErrorDocument 101 /101_SWITCHING_PROTOCOLS
ErrorDocument 102 /102_PROCESSING
ErrorDocument 200 /200_OK
ErrorDocument 201 /201_CREATED
ErrorDocument 202 /202_ACCEPTED
ErrorDocument 203 /203_NON_AUTHORITATIVE
ErrorDocument 204 /204_NO_CONTENT
ErrorDocument 205 /205_RESET_CONTENT
ErrorDocument 206 /206_PARTIAL_CONTENT
ErrorDocument 207 /207_MULTI_STATUS
ErrorDocument 300 /300_MULTIPLE_CHOICES
ErrorDocument 301 /301_MOVED_PERMANENTLY
ErrorDocument 302 /302_MOVED_TEMPORARILY
ErrorDocument 303 /303_SEE_OTHER
ErrorDocument 304 /304_NOT_MODIFIED
ErrorDocument 305 /305_USE_PROXY
ErrorDocument 307 /307_TEMPORARY_REDIRECT
ErrorDocument 400 /400_BAD_REQUEST
ErrorDocument 401 /401_UNAUTHORIZED
ErrorDocument 402 /402_PAYMENT_REQUIRED
ErrorDocument 403 /403_FORBIDDEN
ErrorDocument 404 /404_NOT_FOUND
 
ErrorDocument 405 /405_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED
ErrorDocument 406 /406_NOT_ACCEPTABLE
ErrorDocument 407 /407_PROXY_AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED
ErrorDocument 408 /408_REQUEST_TIME_OUT
ErrorDocument 409 /409_CONFLICT
ErrorDocument 410 /410_GONE
ErrorDocument 411 /411_LENGTH_REQUIRED
ErrorDocument 412 /412_PRECONDITION_FAILED
ErrorDocument 413 /413_REQUEST_ENTITY_TOO_LARGE
ErrorDocument 414 /414_REQUEST_URI_TOO_LARGE
ErrorDocument 415 /415_UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE
ErrorDocument 416 /416_RANGE_NOT_SATISFIABLE
ErrorDocument 417 /417_EXPECTATION_FAILED
ErrorDocument 422 /422_UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
ErrorDocument 423 /423_LOCKED
ErrorDocument 424 /424_FAILED_DEPENDENCY
ErrorDocument 426 /426_UPGRADE_REQUIRED
ErrorDocument 500 /500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
ErrorDocument 501 /501_NOT_IMPLEMENTED
ErrorDocument 502 /502_BAD_GATEWAY
ErrorDocument 503 /503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE
ErrorDocument 504 /504_GATEWAY_TIME_OUT
ErrorDocument 505 /505_VERSION_NOT_SUPPORTED
ErrorDocument 506 /506_VARIANT_ALSO_VARIES
ErrorDocument 507 /507_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE
ErrorDocument 510 /510_NOT_EXTENDED

Online .htaccess Webapps

• Htaccess Builder
• .htaccess redirect generator
• .htaccessEditor – Create a .htaccess File
• Mod Rewrite Generator by GenerateIt.net

Other Useful Resources

• .htaccess in Httpd Wiki
• Official Apache htaccess Documentation
• Ask Apache Blog – Htaccess Archives
• Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mod_Rewrite Rules but Were Afraid to Ask

Final Thoughts

There are so many countless resources online discussing .htaccess files. My linked articles and webapps are a great place to get started. But keep practicing new ideas and don’t be afraid of testing out code snippets. As long as you have a backup file then you can test out anything you like and it is a fun learning experience.

If you have other ideas or suggestions about .htaccess management please share with us in the post discussion area below.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to .htaccess for Designers and Developers appeared first on Hongkiat.

Many people argue that full stack only leads to being a "jack of all trades, master of none". From a certain point of view this may be true, however skillset is only as important as what can be accomplished with it. Many full stack devs offer value because they can take an idea from conception to launch, and fully comprehend every step of the process.

If you’re thinking of going the the full stack route, then this article is for you. I will explain the general requirements of a full stack developer, what the role entails, and how the skillset can be useful for freelancers/contractors who want to work directly either for clients or in their own projects.

Full Stack Fundamentals

Modern full stack development has come a long way, as web technology has changed a lot. Full stack requirements should be used as guidelines to consider following. Generally speaking a "stack" represents the technologies running in unison to make a website work. This means frontend code, backend code, a database system, and a web server platform + OS for the server.

The basic tenet of full stack development is to understand all aspects of constructing a website. This does not mean knowledge of design or UI/UX work, although that can greatly improve your viability and work quality.

• The fundamentals of frontend include HTML/CSS and JavaScript, most likely with a framework, such as Angular or React.
• For a backend language you’ll want to pick something that can be coupled with a database system. PHP/MySQL is the most common and easiest to learn because it powers many CMS engines like WordPress. Also the LAMP stack is undeniably the most popular web stack today.
• Server knowledge could be as simple or as detailed as you like. The absolute basics would be knowledge of a server program like Apache coupled with a database like MySQL or PostgreSQL.
• You might go even further to include knowledge of installing mail servers, or performance tools, such as memcached or Varnish.

A full stack dev should dabble in all three areas with enough knowledge to launch a website independently, and without much help from anyone else.

Technical Depth of Knowledge

A big question about full stack development is how deep to go into each area. Is a full stack engineer really ever a master of anything? Some argue that it’s possible, but that may not be the purpose of going full stack.

Most companies want to hire full stack engineers who have a bit of knowledge everywhere. These engineers may specialize in one area, but they’re able to fill any role when needed.

Devs who are just starting down this path should toy around in all areas learning "just enough" to solve problems as they arise. This gives a real world interpretation to the technologies to see how different problems apply to real projects.

The largest benefit of full stack coding is the ability to build your own applications without working for anyone else.

If you learn every stage of the development process then you can do everything yourself. You don’t need to be a master of PHP to build a custom Laravel app. And you don’t need to be a JavaScript guru to create a flexible dropdown navigation especially now that we have so much open source code available on the web.

So how deep should you go into any of these areas? This is entirely up to you, and your answer will probably change over time.

But when first getting started, just go deep enough to implement what you’ve learned into a real project. When you bump into something you don’t understand, use it as an opportunity to go deeper, and learn more about that particular subject.

Choosing Languages

It’s a bit of a conundrum for the new developer to choose which technologies to learn. Getting the necessities out of the way, HTML and CSS are absolutely required. JavaScript is also a necessity, but you don’t need to consider yourself a JS master. You should however be interested to learn more than just plain JavaScript.

Most devs learn jQuery as well, but frameworks like React, Ember, Angular, Vue, or Backbone all offer a simpler process for building full-scale web applications.

It’s possible to dive even deeper learning fancy JavaScript effects, such as animations, but they’re totally optional. A full stack developer should know just enough to get the job done, and move on from there.

Backend language choice is less about technical advantage, and more about comfort. Most programmers realize that Python is a more versatile language than PHP, however the majority of websites run on PHP servers. This makes PHP a valuable language to more companies.

Pick whatever language suits your needs, or offers you the greatest prospects. Also keep in mind that you’re not stuck with one backend language forever. If you start with Ruby but switch to Python you don’t lose anything in the process.

However I do recommend that once you find a backend language you like, delve deeper with that language, and pick up a related framework. PHP has Laravel, Ruby has Rails, and Python has Django — among many other options. These frameworks will expedite your development process, and help you properly structure your applications.

Databases & Servers

Choosing a database engine comes down to project requirements and server stack. PHP often works with MySQL, so that’s the most preferred choice. The two biggest web stacks today are LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) and MEAN (MongoDB-ExpressJS-AngularJS-Node.js).

Most hosting companies offer LAMP from the start with no setup required. But custom solutions like DigitalOcean allow you to run almost anything with a little elbow grease. You can find more web stacks on this list, or by searching around online.

Your database of choice will often be tied to your backend language. Python comes with SQLite support by default, and RoR devs can typically work with anything. And honestly, any language can usually work with any database.

But you want to pick something that’s common enough to use in the majority of web projects. SQL is a general language, and it uses mostly the same syntax across all database engines. You will find differences in table setup & administration, but these are typically minor.

Beyond databases, here are some technical server-side topics you might want to learn about.

• CDNs and content hosting
• Server software installation & updates
• Best server configs for traffic spikes & load times
• Caching solutions for both database queries and file system storage
• Automated backups of databases and flat files, or disk imaging backups
• HTTPS setup with domain management (DNS servers, CNAME records, etc.)
• More detailed subjects, such as email, microservices, and load balancing

One of the best ways to learn is tinkering with servers as you build projects. Grab a basic VPS account, and try setting up your own stacks. These VPSs are complete virtual server environments where you have full control to configure (or destroy) everything. Also, the list above isn’t a required roadmap for all full stack developers.

The only knowledge you really need is whatever is required to create a blank server environment, and install the software needed to run a website. From there, anything else is just improved knowledge. If you ever have questions or want to learn from professionals check out Reddit’s /r/SysAdmin community.

The Road Ahead

If you really want to learn full stack development, make a list of all the technologies you want to learn. From there, you can tackle them one-by-one making up your own practice projects to test what you learn.

Web development is an ever-changing industry, so you should always be willing to learn more. Test various stacks and languages until you find what you like. But always be willing to go deeper and get better!

Is full stack development worth the effort? That’s for you to decide. But here are some related posts that might help you figure that out.

• On the Legitimacy of "Full-Stack" (heapsortjobs.com)
• 7 Tips On How To Become A Full Stack Developer (usersnap.com)

The post Getting Started with Full-Stack Web Development appeared first on Hongkiat.

What if there were a framework that focused mostly on the core parts of a layout? Something that doesn’t force you to use custom widgets or button styles, but gives you the foundation to create those things yourself.

Tailwind is the answer and it’s the only CSS framework of its kind giving developers this much control.

If you visit the intro page you can read a little more about Tailwind. It’s not meant to be a competitor to Bootstrap or Foundation or anything like that.

Instead it’s a library of custom classes with abstractions to separate CSS features and styles.

This means you can build container elements with certain widths, backgrounds, drop shadows, and margins, all using Tailwind’s proprietary classes.

On the downside this can clutter up your HTML fast. On the plus side it’s a lot easier to use as a starting point for rapid prototyping.

Ultimately the goal of Tailwind is utility first. You aren’t focusing on the little aspects of the design like icon styles or color choices, or 1px margin changes between page sections.

Instead you’re focused on the practical style of your page and how to arrange elements properly. Especially for mobile screens with a growing need for responsive layouts.

Since this isn’t a custom UI framework it doesn’t have many demos to show off. Most of the demos are code-based and you’ll find those in the documentation across various topics.

You wouldn’t use Tailwind for pretty styles or easy page designs. You’d use this as a starting point to simplify your coding process.

To get started you can download a copy from GitHub and then follow their setup guide.

Tailwind does have a CDN version so technically you don’t need to download anything. Just add that file into your page and start coding.

A fun library for developers who want more control over their framework-based projects. This may not work for all your websites but Tailwind is certainly a one-of-a-kind framework.

The post Tailwind CSS: Best Frontend Library for Core UI Design Work appeared first on Hongkiat.

I personally find the best way to learn is to do it yourself and learn as you go. This is why references can be so helpful: you just look up whichever topic you’re confused by and study how it should work in the real world.

When it comes to learning CSS I think the CSS Reference is my favorite site.

This online resource catalogs every single CSS property dating back to the original spec and all the way up to CSS 3.x.

Note this guide is very much a tutorial in its own right. The content reads like one-part dictionary and one-part help guide.

For example have a look at the animation-delay page. This defines the property and what it does along with the values it accepts.

But you’ll notice there’s quite a few live demos on this page too. You can actually test CSS3 animations right on the page to see how the code works live. Crazy!

There’s never been any CSS reference this detailed or this useful. Or at least I’ve never found one.

You can browse properties based on topics (ex: animation, typography, flexbox) or browse the entire library of properties all at once. Either way this is a huge reference guide and it’s basically the unofficial resource for everything CSS.

One thing I will say is that the definitions of these properties are sparse. It helps if you already have some experience coding CSS, or at least some familiarity with the syntax.

But even a complete newbie can bookmark this site and come back to it as a reference. By far the most practical hands-on guide to CSS I’ve ever found.

Not to mention the whole thing is fully open sourced and downloadable from GitHub.

The post Free Visual CSS Reference to Study Codes by Example appeared first on Hongkiat.

One such resource is this random color generator by Threebu.

This handy tool simplifies the process of choosing colors by generating color schemes based on material design. Just click a button, and you’ll get a variety of unique color options.

You can even use this tool as a color scheme designer once you get the hang of it.

Colors appear randomly, but you can lock in your favorites. This allows you to keep the colors you like while continuing to explore new combinations.

To generate new color schemes, simply click the area labeled “Random Palette.” The new schemes will be displayed on the homepage.

You can review your color history to revisit previous selections.

On the right side of the screen, you’ll find icons that let you change the default header style to various options:

• Card UI
• Vertical Bars
• Circular Shape
• Simple Logo

Check out the main page to see how this tool can benefit your projects.

If you have suggestions for new features, there’s a link at the bottom of the page where you can share your ideas.

If you’re having trouble using the tool, look for a small “i” info icon in the bottom-right corner. Clicking it will open a pane with instructions.

The post Easy-to-Use Random Color Generator for Material Design appeared first on Hongkiat.

But nothing compares to the Emoji Finder, a free resource for searching and using all your favorite emojis in one place.

This search engine curates emojis related to tags and lets you search for your favorites. Then you just click on whichever you want and it’ll auto-copy to the clipboard. Genius.

To get started enter a search term for whatever you’re looking for. This could be “smile” or “laughing”, or something more specific like “bird” or “poop”.

Whatever you search you’ll get auto-populated results right on the page with huge icons. Click whichever one you want and you’ll get a confirmation message.

From here you get the emoji that you can paste anywhere. And yes, this absolutely works with any computer. Laptop, desktop, you name it!

Many text input fields support emojis in some way so there’s not much in the way of limitations.

Heck, you can paste these right into your HTML for a webpage or even search Google for them (looks better on MacOS than Windows but works for everyone!). This tool can save loads of time and even reduce your need for CSS libraries to replicate emojis.

Only trouble is that Emoji Finder doesn’t have a good variety of emojis, mostly just the defaults ones from iOS. I’m hoping they’ll eventually grow to include various styles like Google Hangouts and Gmail.

But take a look at the site and see what you think! And if you’d like to say thanks to the creator you can tweet him @gmh.

The post Search and Use Your Favorite Emojis With Emoji Finder appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this article I want to outline 10 interesting web apps for testing your code online. All of these apps require an Internet connection, and some of the more advanced editors offer pro plans to upgrade your account features. But most of these tools will surely come in handy when you’re scrambling to debug a block of JavaScript or PHP.

JSBin

In a similar fashion as above, jsbin is a simple JavaScript debugging console. Their pitch involves a collaborative effort where you can share a private link with other developers and write together in real time.

Their interface may be a bit confusing to newcomers. The developers have setup some online tutorials which you can read through if interested. Basically you can select between any number of JS libraries – jQuery, JQuery UI, jQM, Prototype, MooTools, there are dozens to choose from.

As you’re coding different elements the drafts will autosave. You have the ability to download your final product or keep the source code saved online. Their system is much more advanced for exporting and keeping your code as a bare template.

jsFiddle

Anybody who has browsed through Stack Overflow must know about jsFiddle. Their interface is a whole lot difference compared to JSBin, along with support for more complex functions.

Right away you can signup for a free account and start saving your code samples online. jsFiddle offers a short URL which you can share around the Web via Twitter, Facebook, even Stack. But notice you do not need an account to start coding. It’s just a handy feature to keep everything organized.

jsFiddle also supports the inclusion of libraries such as Prototype and jQuery. You can include additional external resources to JS/CSS files into each testing document.

CodePen

CodePen is more like a social media for Web developer than just a code playground. Not only that we can see people share codes in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which is called a Pen, but we can also give a “Like” to the Pen, add comment, curate a collection of Pen, create a post, and follow the challenge to level up our Web development skill.

CodeSandbox

Codesandbox is a fully-featured JavaScript playground. Aside of runnin a Vanilla JavaScript code or a framework like React.js, Vue.js and Svelte, you can also run a working Node.js application. It means that you can define the Node.js depenencies within the package.json file. Codesandbox will automatically download depencies from NPM. It also provides access to te a web-based Terminal so you can run any NPM scripts right from the browser.

See the Explore page to find cool things built in CodeSandbox.

WebMaker

WebMaker is a code playground for HTML, CSS, JavaScript as well as Pre-processor like Sass, LESS, and JSX. WebMaker will automatically compile these pre-processors syntax for the browser to render the code properly. You can use in the browser or install the extension in Chrome so you can still play with code while offline. When you’re done experimenting with your code, allows you to save your work locally, download the files, or share it in CodePen.

CSSDesk

Moving from the world of scripting into stylesheet language, we have CSSDesk. You’ve got a similar setup like all the rest, with your source code on the left and final webpage render on the right. This webapp is great for building small webpage templates and testing the longer CSS3 properties with gradients and box shadows.

This app also allows you to download source code as files to your computer. It can be a solid replacement in situations where you’re working on a laptop without any IDE software. Or additionally, you can generate a short URL link to share online. Then other developers may come in and edit what you’ve already created – definitely an interesting solution!

IDEOne

IDE One is another tool based around deep programming and software development. Their online editor supports syntax highlighting for some very prominent languages. These include Objective-C, Java, C#, VB.NET, SQL and dozens more.

What’s so great about their app is how you can quickly debug many different programming languages from the same page. You can also store this source code via a unique URL to share around the Web. However I do feel that their layout is very cluttered with ads and other content, it makes using their website difficult. It would be really cool to see the option of including alternate code libraries, such as Cocoa Touch for iPhone app development.

JSLint

The self proclaimed JavaScript Code Quality Tool has to be JSLint. Their website is a bit strange, yet the code editor works exactly as you would expect.

You might find the options to be very confusing if you haven’t used their framework before. It’s possible to work with open source code such as Node.js if you have the skillset. But much of the source code doesn’t even support syntax highlighting, a big letdown when you have so many other options to choose from. I would check out JSLint if you have the time, but it may not become your go-to online JavaScript debugger.

SQL Fiddle

We saw earlier the power of a web application like jsFiddle. Now we can see SQL Fiddle which works in the same way, except for SQL database syntax. I have yet to find another alternative for testing database code and this is by far my favorite choice.

All of the output data from your SQL code will appear in a table beneath the editors. You can write some code to implement new data on the right and generate a schema on the left. This database schema is SQL code you can save to export your current database and re-install everything on a new server.

If you aren’t familiar with databases or SQL language then this app won’t be much assistance. But even for developers who are new yet interested in learning SQL, this is brilliant! Check out one of their basic code examples so you can get an idea of how the app works.

ESLint Demo

ESLint is allows you to set writing rules on your code. It’s a great tool if you work on a shared project within a team to ensure that everyone follows the same styles and rules when writing the codes. It provides a very large number of options on how you’d rule your codes styles that often it’s quite intimidating especially if you’ve just got started with ESLint.

This online demo site from ESLint can you help you try on how each rule works against your code before even installing the NPM packages. It provides the full list of rule you can toggle on and off. When it’s all set you can download the config file to add it in your project.

PHPStan

PHPStan is code static analysis tool for PHP. It checks for code errors and potential bugs without actually running the code. It will tell you whether you pass, for example, a string value to a function that actually accepts an integer, or access a property that does not exist on a class.

Try the online editor on this PHPStan website to see how it works. You’ll be surprised that there are so many of existing PHP codes that can be further optimised and fix from potential bugs. Having static analysis can also train you to become a better developer as you’ll be used to to write syntactically correct code.

OneCompiler

An all in one compiler for many programming languages. It supports 40+ languages which includes Go, PHP, Java, JavaScript, and even C and C++. You can write these languages within these tools and it will compile and execute the code immediately. This tool is a perfect tool to test your code quickly for a demo, or just for running a quick test.

Aside of the code runner, this tool also provides code challenges to sharpen your programming and problem solving skills. You can start the challenge from the beginners to the more advanced level.

Jsitor

An online code editor where you can run JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. You include some popular libries as well like jQuery, React.js, Vue.js, Font Awesome, and many more. It’s a great tool for testing your idea without having to setup a working environment in your computer. You can also use it for running quick demo.

One thing that makes it unique from other similar tool is that it provides a native application on iOS and Android. This allows you to pour your idea on conveniently with your tablet and phone.

Glitch

A tool where you can build static website with some of the modern libraries and frameworks. It includes React.js, Node.js, and Eleventy.js. But you can also write a plain simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well.

Aside of the online editor where you write your codes, Glitch also provides serveral advanced tools that makes it a great working online environment for creating static website. It has an online Terminal where you can type commands, view logs, and a browser debugger.

Once you have the website ready, you can download the files or share the project unique URL.

Stackblitz

Stackblitz is an online development environment where you can build website with modern stacks. It supports backend framework Next.js and Node.js, along with some popular front-end libraries such as React.js, Vue.js, and Angular.

You can select one of these frameworks as a starting point for your project or simply drag-and-drop a folder on it. It’s pre-configured with tools that you typically need to configure on your own when working locally on your computer such as the auto-refresh, intalling dependencies, and Prettier.

On top of those, you can also connect your website Firebase, in case you need to connect to a real-time database.

Codepad

(Codepad has been discontinued.)

Originally created by Steven Hazel, Codepad is a unique web app where you can share code syntax across the Web. Instead of just debugging, Codepad allows you to copy/paste important bits of code to share online.

The output screen displays any error messages associated with your code. The left-hand menu radio buttons allow you to change the parsing language from C/C++, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and tons more. I would argue Codepad is really for software engineers who need to collaborate and debug their more confusing programs.

Final Thoughts

With more computers connected online, it’s getting easier for developers to work together and collaborate in the browser. We’re seeing more and more technologies shift from local applications, and who knows how far this trend will go?

I hope this collection of code testing tools can get you thinking about the modern development environment. It’s so easy to quickly put together an HTML/CSS web project and within minutes have a small demo preview. Remember these are only tools to help guide you along the path to constructing your final product. If you have any suggestions or questions about the article feel free to share your thoughts in the discussion area below.

The post 10 Websites to Test Your Codes Online appeared first on Hongkiat.

If you want to get through lots of practice then you’ll need ideas. That’s what Designercize offers.

It’s a free design prompt tool that spits out project ideas for designers. You can randomize ideas for different UI concepts and then get to work.

As a website I think the interface is a bit… strange. It can feel clunky if you’ve never used it before.

However Designercize has some really great prompts that can be truly valuable to newer designers and more experienced designers alike.

To start you just click the “reload challenge” button on the side. This will auto-generate a design challenge with three different pieces:

• The type of interface
• The type of project
• And the target audience

So you might randomize a project to design a search results page for a shopping website targeted towards sports fans. Perfect!

This gives you a nice starting point to dive in and create a mockup without needing to give yourself the project. It’s almost like a made-up client that can task you with dozens of unique practice projects to improve your UI design skills.

Note you can also pick between three different levels of difficulty that raise the complexity of each random project.

This way you can start small and build up if you’re brand new to interface design.

And there’s even a timer in the bottom-left corner so you can time yourself on each project. Anyone who wants to see massive growth in their design skills will love the random prompts Designercize has to offer.

The post Boost Your UI Skills With Designercize’s Random Prompts appeared first on Hongkiat.

Editing, exporting, and publishing PNGs with transparency takes real effort. Let alone the compression process where you want to reduce file size but not sacrifice quality.

UPNG can help. It’s a free image optimizer built for the web and it’s specially designed to optimize PNG files.

From the homepage you’ll notice the interface is pretty darn simple.

Select the PNG file you want to optimize. Then set your custom settings varying between total size of the image(output KB) and the final quality of the image.

Note this is very similar to TinyPNG but the creator for UPNG actually wrote a comparison post detailing why their tool is better and how it can compress PNGs faster with less quality loss.

This is one dedicated developer.

It all comes from the team at Photopea who have developed a few other free image tools for the web. So this is a group that knows how to create quality resources for editing photos.

They even released a free JS version of the UPNG platform for web developers.

This way you can run the same compression engine on your own site right through JavaScript. How cool is that?

So if you frequently use PNGs then check out UPNG and give it a shot.

The final image output appears on the same page so this works just like a typical webapp. And it’s one of the cleanest I’ve ever used, especially compared to many of the JPEG compression tools out there.

The post Minify and Compress PNGs Fast With UPNG appeared first on Hongkiat.

If you want to take your UX accessibility a little more seriously then try Micromodal.js. It’s a free open source modal window script designed to be fully compliant with WAI-ARIA accessibility requirements.

Some websites can get by without worrying too much on this topic.

However many larger sites, especially government websites, require full accessibility compliance.

The library is on the larger side totaling about 2KB when minified. I know that’s not huge but it’s not the smallest modal script out there.

Still I think it’s a valuable asset for most webmasters because it supports every type of visitor on every modern device imaginable.

And it’s not jumpy or poorly-designed like most a18y scripts. This actually uses custom CSS/JS animations for the fades and it stops the hash symbol(#) from jumping the page up to the top with every click.

These are minor details to developers but they’re massive details to the user experience.

Take a look at the main page for a live demo along with documentation. The install section is pretty clear-cut and you should be able to get this running with 10-15 minutes of editing.

And if you’re looking for some demo styles for this modal window check out this Gist.

It was created as a free demo for frontend developers who don’t want to create their own custom modal UI from scratch. And I have to say, the defaults are pretty nice.

Just grab a free copy of the script off GitHub and get started right away.

Your visitors will appreciate the effort.

The post Accessible Modal Script: Micromodal.js – WAI-ARIA Compliant appeared first on Hongkiat.

These are typefaces where the glyphs don’t use alphanumeric characters, but instead display icons. Since they’re technically text on the page they can be resized and restyled using CSS.

One of the newest and coolest icon font libraries is Fontisto. It’s totally free and it’s got one heck of a library to pick from.

You can download Fontisto right from the main page or via GitHub. All icons are free for any project including commercial use and the latest version is 2.0.1 so it’s ready for production sites.

The font is also fully accessible for all browsers and screen readers making it perfect for designers concerned with accessibility.

To get started using Fontisto icons all you need is a CSS file containing the main fonts.

Just one line of code to get everything installed. Pretty cool!

If you don’t wanna host the font files on your server then try using the CDN link instead. And from there you just add the Fontisto CSS classes into your frontend code and watch the icons pour in.

Check out their examples page for ideas and live demos.

These feature some of the most-used icons along with sample snippets for all of them.

But you can browse through the whole library of icons if you’re looking for a specific one.

That page includes categories you can use to sort the icons and even a cheatsheet for getting all the icon codes to use in CSS.

And did I mention that Fontisto has a free browser add-on? You can install this in Chrome, Firefox, or Opera to get icons directly from your browser.

Really I’m not sure why it took me this long to find Fontisto. It’s such an amazing resource for designers and developers with support for basically all users.

You can’t get much designer-friendly than that.

The post Fontisto – Free Iconfont Pack and CSS Toolkit appeared first on Hongkiat.