Web Design: Algorithm and Blues

Universal Studios

Front-end

First up, a guide to form validation in the front-end [css-tricks].

How to create a universal React component system [medium/styled-components].

Box Office

Back-end/programming

A guide to getting started with Webpack 3 [liquidlight]. Thanks to Mike on Twitter for that!

An aside to say that you should always send me links you think a significant chunk of the 30-odd thousand subscribers to this newsletter would like. That definitely includes stuff you’ve worked on! Self-promotion! The easiest way to do that is to reply to this email or get me on the Twitter [twitter]. Twitter caveats: do not slide into my DMs, I barely use Twitter, saving all my links/wit for this newsletter.

How to deploy a Node.js Docker app on Kubernetes [sitepoint].

Tutorials for learning machine learning, via Python 3 [github/ethen8181].

TIL: there is a gender extension for PHP [sitepoint]. And it’s less problematic than you might have feared.

A guide to choosing a DDOS protection service for your websites [sitepoint].

Bright Spark

Design/UX/product

Effective information architecture techniques for developers [uxplanet].

Jessica Hische set up a helper tool for answering client emails [jessicahische]. With diligent email filters set up, you may never have to communicate with a human ever again.

If you just need to make a nice-looking but otherwise low-effort image, Adobe’s new tool Spark [spark.adobe] might be just what you’re looking for.

Or, if open source is more your speed: Pencil [github/evolus] is a project for building an open source tool for making diagrams and GUI prototyping.

Algorithm and Blues

News/business

A good look at Google’s hacker SWAT team: Project Zero [fortune].

It’s harder than ever to defend against online propaganda [arstechnica].

A look at Amazon’s cool, creepy new Echo Show device [buzzfeed]. “Cool, creepy” is kinda the best we can hope for at this point, right?

Normally I have a bit of an aversion to infographics, because I like words more than diagrams, but this one charting Jeff Bezos’ empire is quite a good infographic [visualcapitalist].

Apple’s ARKit is a bit more exciting than Google’s efforts, since it’s a lot closer to reality [theverge].

Analysis: growth is getting difficult [andrewchen].

Ethereum now consumes as much power as Cyprus [motherboard.vice]. That doesn't even include the power used by the media in presenting hot takes about cryptocurrency.

An overview of SpaceX’s 2017: it’s going quite well! [arstechnica].

PHYSICISTS MADE A LIGHT THAT IS AS BRIGHT AS ONE BILLION (WITH A ‘B’) SUNS [motherboard.vice]. They did this by firing a super powerful fricken laser at electrons, which just seems impossible to me, but sure! If you’re a physicist doing any other activity, you missed out!

Today in articles relevant to my interests: the tension between curation and algorithms in tech [stratechery]. But in a way, aren’t we all algorithms? What is an algorithm, anyway? What was I talking about? Where did I park?

Cushion [cushionapp] is a scheduling and budgeting app for freelancers.

Holo-ello-ello

Everything else

Sega Forever, which I mentioned last week, is a really great idea. Unfortunately, the launch was a shambles[arstechnica]. In the meantime though, I’ve been playing the iOS version of Crazy Taxi and I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

A preview of iOS 11 [imore]. You’ve got drag and drop, you’ve got files, you’ve got interface changes, it's all there.

Manual [shootmanual] gives you full control over photography on your iPhone. Aside from subject, but for that you have...

... Holo [thisisholo] allows you to add "holograms" of real people to your photos. Easier than adding "actual" people, most of the time.

Vax [vax.herokuapp] is a simple app built using D3 that aims to gamify epidemic prevention.

Sygic [travel.sygic] is a travel planner and itinerary manager for all the fancy travel you’re probably doing, you fancy person you.

Finally, this is very, very exciting (to me, at least): Nintendo’s releasing the Super Nintendo Classic in September [arstechnica]. The SNES was the first console I owned so this is a big deal (I am a terrible millenial and I will get off your lawn.)

There's Versioning for ya, for Tuesday. I'll be back with some more tomorrow, right after I spend a few hours Googling tips on Mike Tyson's Super Punch Out.

Hey, we've had a lot of fun here today, but now I need to talk to you about something serious: does anyone have a recommendation for an iOS calendar app? I use Timepage, but I'm not in love with it and I could be tempted away with the right offer. Email with any suggestions you love and I'll share the best ones in an upcoming Versioning issue. There is nothing in it for you aside from the my undying gratitude.

Schedule some time to send this one to your friends!