10 Steps to Becoming a Great Web Developer!
Published March 6, 2010 | 
TeamAltman :: How to become a Web Developer in 10 steps
Learning to work on web sites is actually pretty easy and will certainly not take years of schooling, but becoming a developer will take time and energy. We have included 10 steps that you will want to take in order to become a Web Developer. Development comes in two flavors. The first is in front end development, which would be what the user sees when going to your site. That would include the graphics and style. The second part is the back-end web development or server side. As you can guess this would be development in database, webserver, and similar technologies. Below is a road map to becoming a web developer. Spread the knowledge!
1. Learn HTML
HTML or Hyper Text Markup Language is the markup language for web pages, it is the heart of web pages, so this is what
you should aim for first. HTML is easy to learn, but also easy to misuse. Learn it right, and you’ll get one of your fundamentals as web developer.
Resources
2. Learn server side scripting
Learning server side scripting is fundamental for web developer, pick one of server side scripting language and try to master it. Here some of your choices :
3. Learn SQL
Building dynamic web pages will get you to learn about database. While there are so many database engine, most of them understand SQL language. If you want to speak with your database then learn this language.
Resources
4. Learn CSS
When it come to presentation of your web pages, use stylesheet. This is where CSS will help you. So put some of your time to learn this stuff.
Resources
5. Learn Javascript
While most of today web programmer love jQuery, learning basic syntax and how to program in javascript will give you more skill in the long run.
Resources
6. Learn regular expression
While it is not as important as the others, but knowing about regular expression, and how to use it will definitely save you a lot of time. From validation to highlight words, you can do it easy enough in regular expression.
7. Get yourself basic knowledge of UNIX/Linux
It is optional, but knowing some of basic linux command won’t hurt you. Maybe you don’t know, but most of web server is running on unix/linux platform. If I were you, I’ll get started learning this basic command.
8. Knowing web server
You don’t need to be a master on this part, but it is really nice to know about basic apache configuration, .htaccess tricks. Learning one or two about apache web server won’t waste your time.
9. Get a hand on version control
Learning on how to use version control is one good thing to do. You’ll thank to for yourself for learning this.
10. Learn web framework
After get your hand on HTML, server side scripting language, css, javascript, then it’d be better to choose a web framework to speed up your development. Using framework can save you time. If you’re into PHP, you can go with CakePHP, CodeIgniter, Zend, and many more. Python lovers can go with Django, webpy, RoR for Ruby programmers.
How to Evaluate a Website:: Widener Criteria Evaluation
Published March 1, 2010 | TeamAltman :: Evaluating Your Website
Widener Criteria Website Evaluation site:
http://www3.widener.edu/
an_Information_Web_Page/5720/
It is important to look at a website with an insightful eye. There are some fundamental guidelines when creating a website and below is an example of how to evaluate a website. The website chosen is important for many different reasons and places high in our evaluations process.
Gapminder.org Website Evaluation::
This is a Website Evaluation of the Gap Minder organization using the Widener criteria. According to all the criteria listed and reviewed the website seems to be accurate, well designed, and currently maintained. The site uses a blog to let users know of current updates and news. I have found this site to pass the Widener criteria for site design and content.
Taken from the about section of the site. “Gapminder is a non-profit venture promoting sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by increased use and understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels. We are a modern “museum” that helps making the world understandable, using the Internet.”
Criterion #1: AUTHORITY
1. Is it clear who is responsible for the contents of the page?
http://www.gapminder.org/about-gapminder/staff/ This link is to the staff and positions. The content is supplied by the staff from what I can tell.
2. Is there a link to a page describing the purpose of the sponsoring organization?
http://www.gapminder.org/about-gapminder/constitution/ This is the constitution for the organization. This is very clear and thorough.
3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor?
http://www.gapminder.org/about-gapminder/contact/ There is adequate contact information that includes address, email, and phone.
4. Is it clear who wrote the material and are the author’s qualifications for writing on this topic clearly stated?http://www.gapminder.org/about-gapminder/ This reviews who is responsible for the content and the organization of the presented material.
5. If the material is protected by copyright, is the name of the copyright holder given?
© Gapminder Foundation is printed at the bottom of every page.
Criterion #2: ACCURACY
1. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source?
We need to write to gapminder.org for the documented indicators
2. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors?
The site appears to be well thought out and free of any noticeable errors.
3. Is it clear who has the ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the material?
From what I can tell the staff link above includes who is responsible for the content of this website. All the data has been arranged by this group and maintains the documentation for the indicators.
4. If there are charts and/or graphs containing statistical data, are the charts and/or graphs clearly labeled and easy to read?
This site contains many videos and charts that are dynamic, easy to use, and allows us to use this software for our own needs.
Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY
1. Is the information provided as a public service?
http://www.gapminder.org/faq_frequently_asked_questions/#tou
The rights for this site have been made public and all information is free to use as needed. This link is the terms of use. This states that anyone can use the data.
2. Is the information free of advertising?
Yes, the information is free of advertising.
3. If there is any advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?
None that I can tell.
Criterion #4: CURRENCY
1. Are there dates on the page to indicate:
http://www.gapminder.org/blog/ This blog has posted dates.
a. When the page was written? I see a copyrighted date for google of 2008.
b. When the page was first placed on the Web? The blog has dates. Not main site.
c. When the page was last revised? Unsure from what I have read.
2. Are there any other indications that the material is kept current?
The blog gives indication that the material is being monitored and maintained. Any new indications and data is added to the blog to let us know the data is current.
3. If material is presented in graphs and/or charts, is it clearly stated when the data was gathered?
Yes, the date and year is clearly printed in the background.
4. If the information is published in different editions, is it clearly labeled what edition the page is from? Not sure if this applies to the site.
Criterion #5: COVERAGE
1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under construction?
The page looks clear and well thought out. There is also a box in the lower left corner that represents new blog posts. There is also a box to subscribe to updates. Nothing on the site, as far as development, seems to be in progress.
2. If there is a print equivalent to the Web page, is there a clear indication of whether the entire work is available on the Web or only parts of it?
All the graphs and material are present on the site for public use according to the frequently asked questions.
3. If the material is from a work which is out of copyright (as is often the case with a dictionary or thesaurus) has there been an effort to update the material to make it more current?
It appears that this organization is open to others data with documented material. All the data is documented and all indicators used in the site have been documented according to: http://www.gapminder.org/faq_frequently_asked_questions/#indicators
Great Symphony of Science Video! The Poetry of Reality!
Published March 1, 2010 | Team Altman Awesome Symphony of Science Video!
The Poetry of Reality is the fifth installment in the Symphony of Science music video series. It features 12 scientists and science enthusiasts, including Michael Shermer, Jacob Bronowski, Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Jill Tarter, Lawrence Krauss, Richard Feynman, Brian Greene, Stephen Hawking, Carolyn Porco, and PZ Myers, promoting science through words of wisdom.
As always enjoy, and share The Poetry of Reality!
Lyrics:
[Michael Shermer]
Science is the best tool ever devised
For understanding how the world works
[Jacob Bronowski]
Science is a very human form of knowledge
We are always at the brink of the known
[Carl Sagan]
Science is a collaborative enterprise
Spanning the generations
We remember those who prepared the way
Seeing for them also
[Neil deGrasse Tyson]
If you’re scientifically literate,
The world looks very different to you
And that understanding empowers you
Refrain:
[Richard Dawkins]
There’s real poetry in the real world
Science is the poetry of reality
[Sagan]
We can do science
And with it, we can improve our lives
[Jill Tarter]
The story of humans is the story of ideas
That shine light into dark corners
[Lawrence Krauss]
Scientists love mysteries
They love not knowing
[Richard Feynman]
I don’t feel frightened by not knowing things
I think it’s much more interesting
[Brian Greene]
There’s a larger universal reality
of which we are all apart
[Stephen Hawking]
The further we probe into the universe
The more remarkable are the discoveries we make
[Carolyn Porco]
The quest for the truth, in and of itself,
Is a story that’s filled with insights
(Refrain)
[Greene]
From our lonely point in the cosmos
We have through the power of thought
Been able to peer back to a brief moment
After the beginning of the universe
[PZ Myers]
I think that science changes the way your mind works
To think a little more deeply about things
[Dawkins]
Science replaces private predjudice
With publicly verifiable evidence
Network Communications are Going Green “Green Touch”
Published February 27, 2010 | Team Altman Technology News::
Based on research by Bell Labs networks have the potential to be 10,000 times faster. This would greatly reduce the amount of carbon emissions that is put out by our current network system. The new movement is being labeled Green Touch. According to alcatel-lucent.com the leading research organization in the world is launching the Green Touch Initiative, “a global consortium” that seeks to redesign networking to make the system 1,000 more times energy efficient compared to current networks. The power that is used in one day currently could, in theory, power a new global network for three years. This would save a tremendous amount of energy. I would like to present the parties working on this new technology, the overall goal, and what it can do for our world. The physical technology doesn’t exist yet, but I feel this is an important subject because of new global awareness surrounding green energy.
Intel Rallies Globally with New Marketing Campaign
Published May 6, 2009 | 
Intel is launching a new marketing campaign that is expected to last 3-5 years. “Sponsors of Tomorrow” launches in the US, United Kingdom, and Germany on May 11, 2009. Intel will launch it’s multi-million dollar marketing campaign that will focus on the new Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor.
At 9:30 am, EDT on May 11, Intel employees will ring the ceremonial opening bell for the NASDAQ. This will launch the new campaign. Creating this marketing plan for Intel is Venables Bell & Partners.
Intel plans on a multi-level marketing campaign that includes print, online, outdoor, and other advertising methods. Be prepared to see Intel ramp up with this new marketing campaign that will be seen by the the world.
The end goal of this marketing campaign, from my point of view, is to provide technical information for anyone researching their next computer purchase. If Intel is able to offer more than just a company that produces processors then they will control a larger corner of the market. Intel is already proving it has the power to move society forward in giant leaps and bounds.