Blog
For the latest information on what I am working on, what I am doing or even my random thoughts, click on the articles below.
How to increase memory limit with PHP
On rare occasion, I need to up the memory allowed for PHP.
10 Tips to Passing Your Web Application Penetration Test
(or 10 Tips for Securing your Web Application)
MYSQL - average rating value
The below MYSQL query came into use for me as a sort of "house keeping" script where I had a 2 tables, products and product_reviews and although product_reviews stored the rating (out of 5) that a user would have entered, I wanted to keep an average rating value within the products table so I did not have to calculate it during my select statement.
Display Flickr images using the API with PHP and cURL
Working on a small project whereby I need to tap into my clients Flickr account and display the images on his site. He wants them to loop through with jQuery but I will not showcase that code but will show the initial code to load in 5 images from Flickr and hold them in an array for later use.
First is the class code (flickr.cls.php):
Adding a Timepicker to jQuery UI Datepicker
Currently working on a project where by I need to allow the user to enter a time value along side the date and rather then allowing the user to enter the values manually, found this jQuery UI Datepicker plugin that works a treat.
jQuery Validation with AJAX
Quick code sample on how to use jQuery Validation with AJAX based on a successful page validation...
Upload and resize images with PHP
Now this is a fairly common request on the net so I thought I put in my two pence and showcase how I upload and resize images... Below is my class that handles all my uploading and resizing functionality:
Node.js, Doctor's Offices and Fast Food Restaurants - Understanding Event-driven Programming
Further searches on understanding node.js, I found this article which explains how it works through 2 analogies:
What is node.js
Although this is something I have not worked with before, a potential client made a request in his brief that node.js was something that was required and with no knowledge of it I think IBM helped explained it better.
WAMP and cURL on Windows 7 64bit
Just this week I was supporting a collegue of mine where he has WAMP installed on his Windows 7 (64bit) machine but had issues using cURL with a twitter plugin he was working on.
What is the difference between a web developer and a web designer?
Just a quick overview to explain who does what :-)
Sending emails via Gmail SMTP with PHPmailer
Had to use PHPMailer to send emails via Gmail SMTP and the PHPMailer version I was using was old skool but with a download of the latest code everything was good :-)
MYSQL - get rank position of users in database table
On project I am working on it requires me to let the user know what position they are ranked amongst other users with their bid that have assigned to a product.
PHP sessions and garbage collection on Windows 2008
This week one of our Windows 2008 servers was slowly grinding to a halt and after 2 days of running tests (via Rackspace) various options were thrown to work out what was going on.
SQL Server: Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.
Today (10/04/2012), I imported a csv file with over 8million rows into SQL Server which created the database table for me which I mapped out via the import method.
Facebook - adding your App to your Page
Since Facebook is slowing pushing the timeline feature across its Pages I noticed that assigning Apps to Pages also changed compared to how easy it was before but Chris from Feed London enlightened me to this Facebook page: http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/dialogs/add_to_page/
Facebook Open Graph META Tags
Although I have used the FB Open Graph META tags before, more so when sharing URL's of everything I have developed, the META tags came in useful when I wanted a personalised description and image to appear on my FB wall.
Wordpress editor removing iframe tag between visual and html mode
Supporting a Wordpress website for a client and came across an issue where when they were adding in <iframe> tag into the WYSIWYG and switching from html to visual - visual to html, the code would disappear.
PHP Printer() function with custom font styling using CSS
I had a task for a potential project where I required PHP to print to a network printer.
Google Analytics - bespoke event tracking
Recently, and its been a while since I did it, had to basically assign some bespoke Google Analytics tracking to various links on a website I was working on.
JQuery Ajax "invalid label" issue
Had this issue where when I made an ajax call with JQuery 1.5.0, Firebug would throw an error saying "Invalid label".
The Revolution Awards 2011
Heard some really good news this morning coming into the Saint London office.
General timezone list for MYSQL
Today I had to create short list of timezones for a project I was working on and basically created a list that I used within a MYSQL database, which I hope saves someone else the hassle. Once in database, it can be used in selectlists using PHP, etc.
Thickbox from content loaded via AJAX using jquery
Working on a project called Can You Draw The Internet? I was hit with a problem with my thickbox modal when content was loaded via AJAX. The thickbox modal would appear twice as the function TB_init() would be initiated twice.
Disable open_basedir in Plesk
From time to time there will be a situation where you would need to disable open_basedir if you are hosting with Plesk.
Creative Circle Commendations awards
Simon Labbett sent some very good news around the Saint office today saying that three of our projects were awarded Commendations by Creative Circle.
Apple album cover carousel with jQuery and PHP
Working on a small website for a friend where he wanted a clean way for users to view some of his images similar to how Apple deals with album covers in iTunes.
Handling cookies and arrays with PHP
Working on my latest baby www.twitterknitter.co.uk one of the features was to add in a "like" tweet button. Catch - to prevent the user from liking if they had already liked.
Adding custom rules to WordPress htaccess
Ahhh!!! Got a Word Press setup and wanted to add in other rules to the .htaccess.
Load Content While Scrolling With jQuery
Working on this art gallery competition project for Internet Week where one of the request was:
"Rather then have pagination links, can we have it so that when the user scrolls to the bottom of the browser, new content is loaded in?"
Partnership with CSSology.co.uk
PHPology have recently taken on CSSology for all our HTML/CSS/JS work.
PHP Simple_XML with namespaces
Had to read in an external RSS file from T3 and needed to drill into the "content" node which had a namespace. Using traditional ways of echoing out this node was not working so searching the net found a nice simple solution.
Cufon and screen readers
Working on a new project and one of the questions asked by the client was "will Cufon work with screen readers?", as accessibility needs to be considered.
The wampapache service terminated with service-specific error 1 (0x1)
Installed WAMP on my new work machine and jumping the gun a bit I went in and set my vhost config with the rest of it before actually starting WAMP.
FFMpeg losing duration when converting to FLV
Recently hit an issue where when I was converting a video file to a FLV format via FFMpeg (PHP) the duration of the video was lost during the export.
Customize Disqus CSS
During the Xmas period, a Word Press blog I was working on required the use of Disqus widgets.
Look out for a Junior PHP Developer in the UK
Any junior PHP web developers out and about?
HTML Special Characters
Whilst coding HTML newsletters, found a very useful list of special HTML characters from WebMonkey. Hope you guys find it useful.
Courier IMAP and Parallels Plesk 9.2.3 upgrade
Something really quick about upgrading your Parallels Plesk to 9.2.3.
Use remote designers and developers? Check out Source Repo SVN
Working with designers and developers who work in remote locations tends to cause problems when trying to merge their code whether HTML/CSS or Server side (PHP) with mine, but Ben from StudioMohu introduced me to something called Source Repo.
Top 50 Shopping Carts
Sooo chuffed, one of our clients just notified us that a custom built shopping cart we built was rated 5 out of 50 recently:
Multisorting columns in a 3D array with PHP
Today (Tuesday 4th Auguest '09) was put in a situation where I had to reorder one of the columns from my 3D array and initially started to use array_multisort as described on php.net.
Getting annoyed that it was not giving me what I needed, I started to read through the comments others had left, and tried cagret at gmail dot com example which worked a treat for me.
Rackspace Cloud API
Yesterday I was told that we were using the Rackspace Cloud server to store our files rather than on the local server itself.
wmode equals transparent
Working on this flash website for Virgin Media and ran into an issue with @ symbols appearing as " in Firefox and Chrome with flash parameter wmode="transparent" enabled. Works totally fine in IE 7 (not tested other IE browsers).
Recently Launched
Beauty by Perfection, a London based beautician and Padz.com, I think the finest portal for property rentals have launched.
ESPN Classic redesign launched
The latest redesign of ESPN Classic went live recently, thanks to Ralph and Co for the project.
Freelance Web Developer in London and Ilford
Ilford, east of London is the area I live in. If you are near or live in that surrounding and are looking for some one who can help you locally then you have came right place. Just give me a call or drop an email; you will get an instant reply from me.
New websites launched
Been keeping myself busy with these 3 projects which over the week have been put live.
Freelance PHP developer wanted
I need a freelance PHP developer to work on a new web application for approx 2 to 3 months. The developer will join a small team based on site in central London, England, close to Liverpool Street Station who are already working on the project. Must have excellent skills in PHP and MySQL integration and be experienced in working with a large and complex database structures. Must provide own computer to work on, with connection to our onsite server. Experience in Google maps, geocoding, address databases and video uploading would be an advantage.
Drum and Bass at Church
Any one for drum and bass at church, check this out, will make you laugh out loud.
Been in hiding
Man, its been a hectic few weeks since I've been back, trying to find work here and there, all good though, got loads going on at the moment. At times I feel like I am a women, you know multi tasking and all that with loads of projects lol.
India completed, next stop Maldives
Ohh man, Manali, Goa and Kerala is all now completed, ohh now legally married too which was actually different, indians dont normally marry with a sunset behind them. haha :-)
Run up to wedding
Man, its been a hectic few weeks to the run up to my wedding. Been working my butt off on finishing projects as well as giving headache to my wife to be.