One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my years of experience working in and around all things webby is that no one person has all the answers to everything. To that end, my bookmark bar has become a treasure trove of information, so much so that I feel obligated to share it with you.
But before I do, I must underscore the importance of keeping tabs on your bookmark bar (pun intended). Just like the milk in the fridge, web design and development information goes bad. It spoils. The web design field is fiercely evolutionary, and new technologies are being imagined and developed every. single. second. So, clean up your bookmarks every once in awhile, and get rid of stuff you don’t need. There’s nothing more useless than a bookmark chock full of links you never use.
Personal Favorites
- WP Gear – Awesome collection of (yes, more) WordPress development resources geared toward the back-end developer. If you’re knee-deep in theme and plugin development, you’ll find more than a handful of these useful.
- Smashing Magazine – I have followed this group for many years, and still swear by their content to this day. Smashing Magazine began as a one-stop shop for WordPress tips and tricks, and has since evolved into a design and development megalopolis. They publish a book, “Smashing Book” which is in its 5th rendition. They also hold a conference which I have yet to be fortunate enough to attend.
- Laracasts – Although primarily aimed at developers, Laracasts was recommended to me by a colleague in the College of Engineering. Jeffrey Way does a fantastic job of providing first-hand knowledge on a variety of relevant topics, not just Laravel. If you want to “level up” your development tool-belt, invest a few dollars a month to Jeffrey and you won’t be disappointed.
- Oldies but goldies? – This one isn’t so much a resource as it is a nostalgic reminder of the humble beginnings of the world of web design. It’s nice to remember your roots, right?