Quick Links - James Robinson

Quick Links are an assortment of links to code snippets, development tools and articles about web culture, the role of technology, and the impact of technology companies on society…

Wed 31 May 2023

With increased support for linear easing, Jake Archibald has created a linear() easing generator. linear-easing-generator.netlify.app

WordPress celebrated 20 years on May 27th. WordPress is the most popular content management system in the world and, as of 2022, powers more than 40% of the sites on the internet. wp20.wordpress.net

Sat 27 May 2023

The Google Developer Blog has a list of 20 new features coming to CSS in 2023. Given that some of these, like text-balance, could be seen as progressive enhancement, they can be implemented now. developer.chrome.com

The Nielsen Norman Group, on Error-Message Guidelines. Some of this feels obvious, but there are some nice examples of good user experience by providing better error messages, with explanations on why they are effective. www.nngroup.com

It might not be raised as often, but clients still talk about content being “above the fold”. This article explains why there isn’t evidence that people don't scroll, and how complicated it is to measure engagement. It seems mostly to be about attention and whether people are reading or scanning content. www.chrbutler.com

Mozilla has unveiled a new logo for their Thunderbird email client. The logo was designed by Jon Hicks, the creator of the original Firefox and Thunderbird logos. blog.thunderbird.net

Sun 21 May 2023

Using the database service, Have I Been Pwned, the ABC has created an interactive article showing how pieces of stolen data are combined to create a larger picture of your identity. www.abc.net.au

Thu 18 May 2023

Montana has become the first US state to ban TikTok. The act was signed into law “to protect Montanans’s personal and private data from the Chinese Community Party.” www.abc.net.au

A network of dating and hookup websites are hiring customer service representatives, who are tasked with luring in and maintaining relationships with users through a series of fake online personas — known as “virtuals”. www.wired.com

Tue 16 May 2023

Watch as a webpage performs a live, annotated https request for its own source. subtls.pages.dev

Fri 12 May 2023

Christian Heilmann revisits his defence of frontend development as a full-time job. christianheilmann.com

Thu 11 May 2023

A revealing, and damning, profile of venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz. The firm has been described as “a media company that monetizes through VC”, hyping new tech companies long enough to profit from their IPO, regardless of their long-term viability. www.theverge.com