September 2016 Summaries

This guide was most recently updated on April 27th, 2020. To host a static website on Netlify, you need to sign up for free and create a new site by clicking the "Add A New Project" button. You then link your GitHub repository to Netlify, authorize access, select your repository, configure settings such as publish directory and build command, build your site, and finally deploy it. Once deployed, your site is live and you can update its name and set up a custom domain to further enhance your online presence.

The author is rewriting their React code to utilize Pure Components, a type of component that simply presents data without manipulating it. They were initially using Smart Components, which are aware of their own state and can manipulate it, but found it challenging to test and present. The author simplified the code by moving each section into its own function and creating a Pure Component for rendering plans. This refactoring resulted in fewer lines of code in the Smart Component and allowed for reusability of the PlanMenu component. The use of Pure Components enables more readable and maintainable code, making it easier to reuse components throughout the application.

The concept of building websites using APIs and modern build tools has been challenging to explain due to the evolution of static sites into dynamic web applications and single-page apps. The lack of a clear term or definition for these projects led to the creation of the JAMstack philosophy, which aims to spread awareness and understanding of this approach. To promote the JAMstack concept, a podcast called JAMstack Radio has been released on the Heavybit network, featuring guests from various fields in JavaScript, API, and Markup development. The podcast is now available for subscription on popular platforms such as iTunes and Overcast.

Today, we deployed a change in Netlify's website to make it fully searchable. Clicking on the search icon in the top navigation bar or simply starting to type will populate the most relevant content found. We welcome your feedback on our published content and invite you to contact us for specific topics you'd like to see more about. Netlify is now offering a free trial, allowing users to get started immediately. The company has recently taken steps to prevent phishing attacks using FIDO2 passwordless technology.

This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial on hosting a static website using Hugo on Netlify, including setting up continuous deployment. To get started, download the Victor Hugo template, and install the necessary dependencies. Create a new page by running `hugo new about.md` in the terminal. Update the draft status of the page to false to make it production-ready. Then, create a new post using `hugo new post/first.md`. Use the Strata theme to style your site, and configure the menu variables to include the about page link. Finally, connect your Hugo site to GitHub and Netlify, and deploy your site to Netlify. The guide covers the process of setting up a static website with Hugo on Netlify, including building, deploying, and configuring the site for continuous deployment.

The JAMstack, a combination of JavaScript, APIs, and static sites, offers fast, secure, and dynamic websites. The Serverless approach, in particular, allows developers to build applications without provisioning or managing servers. Amazon's AWS Lambda is a key component of this approach, providing a way to run code on-demand without the need for server management. The Serverless Framework can be used to create and manage AWS Lambda functions, automating the deployment process and reducing the complexity of server management. With the Serverless Framework, developers can focus on building applications rather than managing infrastructure, making it easier to deploy and maintain fast, secure, and dynamic websites.

Phenomic is a top open-source static site generator that allows developers to build fast and secure websites. Gatsby.js, another popular option, also offers features like static site generation and performance optimization. StaticGen is a lesser-known but highly effective tool for generating static sites quickly and efficiently. Weather Report and Song Explodeer are two tools used by Brian Douglas, the founder of OpenSauced, to automate tasks and improve productivity. As an open-source developer, Douglas leverages these tools to streamline his workflow and deliver high-quality software.

The developer at Netlify updated the deploys page by grouping deploy data by date using Immutable.js. The data was coming from an API that didn't group it by date, but Redux and Immutable.js allowed for immutability of state to be maintained. The reducer function `groupByDate()` was created to group similar deploys with the created_at date as the key, using the `reduce()` function available in Immutable Lists. This resulted in a new data structure that made it easier to display the deploy data by date. The developer used JSX to map over the grouped deploy data and render it on the page.

A microservice architecture allows systems to grow organically by adding features as needed. A common structure for these services includes boilerplate code, which can be simplified using Go frameworks such as logrus, cobra, and viper. The author provides an example of building a simple service using these libraries, including configuration, commands, and logging. The service uses a config file, command-line args, and environment variables to store its configuration, with the ability to use a custom configuration file. The author also discusses unmarshaling a config struct and adding logging capabilities, including nested config values and hooks for custom formatters.

Three weeks ago, Netlify released a new user interface for its Deploys screen, featuring improved design components and a structure that aims to deliver a clean and obvious interface for users. The redesign was necessary due to the high traffic on the deploys page, which had been struggling with outdated UI elements. A key element of the new design is the "Card" layout, which splits the responsibility hierarchy and layout into separate entities, providing a better user experience. The cards feature a chronological list format, with horizontal aspects to display associated information and actions, such as deploy type, commit hash, and action buttons. The design team iterated on multiple prototypes before landing on a simpler card layout, eliminating labels to fit all content without compromise, and changing the color and icon according to the type of deploy and branch. The update is part of Netlify's ongoing efforts to build and maintain a User Interface that delivers a top-rated user experience.

JAMstack Radio is a new podcast that explores the JAMstack, a method for building fast and secure web applications. The podcast is hosted by Brian Douglas, a developer advocate at Netlify, and features discussions with guests such as Aaron Autrand and Christian Schlensker. As the founder of OpenSauced, Brian has a deep understanding of the JAMstack and its potential to revolutionize web development. In the first episode, the hosts delve into the world of JAMstack and explore some of its most promising applications. The podcast aims to provide insights and knowledge to developers looking to adopt this new approach to building web applications.