Web Standards, Accessibility and Other Stuff

You probably don’t remember O.D. Mag, and I doubt you know of Screenplaze or U of M Dentists.com. But you may want to become familiar with my latest personal project, TimeTracker. It’s a standards-compliant, accessible web application, even with some “web 2.0″ jazz sprinkled in. It’s written out of need of a friend who’s a music therapist, but may be used in many other fields and professions. Here’s a description from the site:

TimeTracker is a web-based application designed to track and report sessions between professionals and their clients. TimeTracker is designed for social workers and psychologists, but can also be used by countless other professions including counselors, teachers, and physical therapists.

I eventually hope to sell this application, but contact me if you’d like the info for a free trial account.

So I’ve become familiar with questions that tech companies ask when interviewing candidates for web developer positions in “Silicon Valley” in California. So if you’re interviewing, you should prep yourself for the following interview questions that always seem to come up:

• What JavaScript libraries have you used? (And for YUI, which seems to be popular, which components have you used?)
• What’s the difference between “if (a==x)” and “if (a===x)”?
• Have you developed CSS for different browsers and versions? What are some examples of issues you’ve had? (i.e. box model)
• How do you keep up on web technology? (books, blogs, etc.)
• Use this text editor to properly properly markup this form from scratch/memory (with XHTML, CSS, JavaScript).
• What’s the difference between visibility:hidden and display:none?
• What’s the difference between using var inside and outside of a JavaScript function? (or an exercise involving this)

Guess what? Adobe’s Dreamweaver CS4 Beta is available! And I’m just getting used to CS3! New features include:

• Live View
• Code Navigator
• CSS best practices
• Code hinting for Ajax and JavaScript frameworks
• HTML data sets
• Photoshop Smart Objects
• Subversion integration
• AIR support
• New user interface

I recently purchased a new PC at Fry’s. I don’t have the budget for a new Mac yet, so I got a pretty decent Windows box for only $300! Plus the tax and extended warranty, of course. It’s an HP Compaq Presario and has 2 Gigs of RAM and 250 Gig hard drive. So the computer came with Windows Vista. To my surprise, I’m really liking it. It has more of a Linux-like GUI which is pretty cool.

Yes, Yodlee is still hiring here in Redwood City/Shores, California. And you or someone you know can be my boss! Yodlee is seeking a Director of Mobile and UI Engineering (UI Engineering is me). My groovy manager left the company a few weeks ago and we need a replacement. Anyone interested please use my name as a reference or contact me directly at “dlembree at NOSPAM yodlee dot NOSPAM com”.

Playoff basketball and hockey is here again. And I’m liking it.

I like many NBA teams, but the team from my hometown is my favorite–the Detroit Pistons. They’re up 2-0 on the Orlando Magic, and playing game 3 this evening. Also, today, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups won the Kennedy Award (for sportsmanship).

I’m not as much a hockey fan, but I usually get playoff Red Wings fever. They’re starting the next playoff series against Dallas tomorrow after destroying Colorado last week. The Red Wings will be well rested, hopefully not too rusty.

Go Pistons and Red Wings!

Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons

For almost a year now, I’ve been away from my hometown of Detroit, Michigan, but my fellow podcasters there (see the Detroit Podcasters Network) are certainly still going strong. Four of the guys are getting a display table at the Motor City Comic Convention, May 16-18, and they will be promoting their individual shows and podcasting in general. They are:

• Chris, Collected Comics Library
• Derek, Comic Book Noise
• Mike, Most People Are DJs
• Jasper, Plan Nine Rock Show

Here’s more about the participation of the event from Chris:

If you would like to participate feel free to send us your promotional materials (postcards, flyers or other such items). All we are asking in return is a donation of $5 to help us pay for our costs.

The four of us, and a few others involved, are going to have a great time hanging out taking about comics, podcasting (audio and video), and conducting interviews, But most of all, promoting all of our shows. We expect many of you to take part in this cool endeavor.

The Motor City Comic Con is a fun and enjoyable event–a small town atmosphere with big city flavor. We hope you will join in on the fun.