Web and Content Management Portfolio
The web as come a long way in the decade or so that I've been involved with it . . . and so have I.
There are many ways to render a web page, from your basic HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language) through PHP, JavaScript and other more complex programming mechanisms. If you didn't mind having a fairly basic site, you could 'bodge' one in basic HTML code... or if you were of a geekish inclination, or lucky enough to have a technically-minded friend, you could get a few 'bells and whistles' added, like nifty menus or moving logos, perhaps even a form or such.
The problem is that, like any programming project I've ever been involved with, building the site is only about 20% of the work! Maintaining the site, keeping it current and interesting, making sure details are still accurate, this is the REAL work! And most tekkies would rather poke themselves in the eye with a rusty spoon than spend time maintaining someone else's website (nor can they do a very good job either- after all - they may be IT experts, but they are not experts in whatever idea, product or service is being explained / sold on the site!)
Enter content management systms (CMS). My first CMS was in the form of a Domino server I ran for the Canadian Navy.( I'd tell you more, but I'd have to kill you! haha) It was my first real intoduction to the power of thin client technology. (Don't worry, it's not a fad diet - just a fancy term for an application where some of the code is on your computer, and the rest lives on a server somewhere (you know, like I Tunes, or Skype))
To be honest, I found Domino cludgy and slow - a real space-hogger. I was less than impressed. We could write far cleaner solutions in Java! But that was then...
I've recently started sharpening my IT tools again and am DELIGHTED to see that things have really moved on! First of all, HTML is now a super-hero (XHTML) a leaner, sexier, set of codes and a lot more structured than I remember. Like all good super heros, he has this sidekick CSS who does all the stuff HTML is too cool to do ( but it's all the artsy stuff, you know, pictures, colours, fonts . . . ) For the artistic, that can feel like a drag ( ". . .but I USED to be able to put the colour of the font in the web page, why can't I now?. . .") ok I agree, it takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm THRILLED! XHTML is looking more and more like a programming language and that means structure and (here's the really good bit!) structure means fewer bugs and easier modification.
It gets better. In my quest to improve my skills, I found part-time work at ukgamefairs.com They run a Joomla!-based system.
Wow. Take the top off my head! Finally there's a content management system with all the standardisation and structure of Domino and none of the speed and space problems! CMS has grown up!!!
This site is a work in progress, as I'm using it to test new technologies and new ideas, meaning by definition, that the site will be up and down as I learn and grow.