January 2019 Summaries

Role Based Redirects is a feature in Netlify that allows users with specific roles to access restricted content. To enable Role Based Redirects, users need to add a redirect rule to their redirects file and configure JSON Web Tokens (JWT) with specific user roles. The JWT must be signed with a secret key and added to the Netlify dashboard. Once set up, authorized users can access gated sites by storing the JWT in a cookie named nf_jwt using a serverless Netlify function. This feature allows for granular access control, influencing navigation via redirects, and is implemented at the CDN edge, reducing extra round trips to the server when authorizing access.

We are excited to announce that Netlify Deployment Badges are now available, allowing you to see the status of your latest deployment directly from your repository or website. This feature is designed to provide a simple and transparent way for developers to showcase their project's activity and maintenance, similar to how badges are used in gaming, social systems, and open-source projects. The badge is an SVG image that can be easily embedded in your README, documentation, or web pages through a URL, providing a programmatic way of returning the latest build status. The feature was designed with simplicity and discoverability in mind, making it easy to add to your file and update automatically. We would love to hear from you on what other badges you would find useful.

This music discovery tool uses APIs in the browser, making it a JAMstack application. It allows users to find music on Spotify based on their mood, listen to samples and add songs to their playlists. The tool is designed to be engaging and addictive, with a website accessible at `synthetic.netlify.com`.

Markus Oberlehner leverages Netlify Functions to integrate a GraphQL backend into his VueJS application, utilizing Apollo Components for renderless querying and building a simple example application. He sets up Netlify Functions to run the GraphQL endpoint, enabling a seamless interaction between front-end and back-end functionality.

### React Static is a CLI, build tool, and React NPM module that helps build progressive static sites for React. It generates progressively enhanced static websites or PWAs by producing static HTML files for each page that can act as the entry point to the progressive application. Once loaded in a browser, these pages are invisibly rehydrated with the actual React application, creating an instantaneous navigation experience for users. The build process is mainly dependent on Webpack bundling, downloading remote assets and data, and exporting routes to HTML and JSON. However, as sites grow in size and complexity, build times can become unrealistic, necessitating optimization strategies such as reducing bundle size, optimizing React templates, using multi-core machines, and implementing incremental builds.

** The legendary founder of GitHub, Tom Preston-Werner, shares his insights on Developer Experience (DX) and the similarities between Netlify and early GitHub. He highlights the importance of releasing new features quickly to make developer's lives easier, choosing existing but nascent technologies to build upon, and using tools like TOML for configuration. Werner also discusses the evolution of static site generators, the JAMstack, and how it has reshaped the way we think about building and deploying web applications. He emphasizes the importance of simplicity, ease of use, and feedback loops in developer experience. Werner's vision is to make it easy for developers to turn their ideas into finished products quickly and easily, which aligns with his definition of Developer Experience.

To better grasp redirects, let's dive into what the process of a redirect entails. A redirect is an explicit instruction by the server to find a specific resource elsewhere. This communication between client and server happens over HTTP/HTTPS, a web protocol that enables the server to communicate the status of a request to the browser. In a redirect scenario, the browser first attempts to visit a URL but is instructed to visit another URL instead. Similar to the process of mail delivery, a browser needs explicit instructions from the server on how to respond to a request from the client. Redirect rules make use of HTTP status codes to handle browser redirects. Achieving a redirect requires configuring your server with the necessary instructions on how to handle incoming requests, and Netlify provides an easy solution to handle redirects without having to fuss with unwieldy server configurations.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation's extensive repository of projects provides a platform for individuals to explore coding and building with their Raspberry Pi computers, showcasing the potential of open collaboration and build automation on the JAMstack. The site has been translated into over 20 languages, allowing users to find and filter projects in multiple languages. This resource is an example of how technology can facilitate global connectivity and community engagement.

Ghost has fully embraced a decoupled architecture, opening possibilities for using Ghost as part of a JAMstack site architecture. The platform's public API and tooling have been updated to enable complete decoupling, allowing developers to integrate Ghost with other tools and services in the ecosystem. This move marks an important step forward for those interested in building headless CMS models.

The Power of Open Source Software``, Bruce Perens and Thomas A. Wailo argue that open source software has significant benefits for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. They suggest that open source software is more secure than proprietary software because it allows multiple developers to contribute to its development, making it harder for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, open source software can be customized and modified by users, which enables innovation and adaptation in various fields such as technology, healthcare, and education. The authors also emphasize the importance of community involvement and collaboration in the development and maintenance of open source projects, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives and expertise. Overall, Perens and Wailo's article presents a compelling case for the benefits of open source software, encouraging readers to consider its potential to drive positive change in various aspects of life.

Squoosh.app was launched at the 2018 Chrome Developer Summit by Google's Chrome team to showcase modern web application techniques. It utilizes Web Assembly, workers, web components, and TypeScript for efficient image compression. The app is open source, hosted on Netlify, leveraging its custom header control and simple redirects API. Squoosh has received positive reviews from developers and users alike, with notable coverage in prominent tech publications such as The Verge and Engadget.

This beautifully designed, multilingual site includes all sorts of subtle, smooth visual touches and animation. Built with Gatsby and deployed to Netlify as a JAMstack site, Hopper.com sports a variety of information and a searchable jobs board. The site's responsive design approach, with clever navigation optimisations for mobile devices, is particularly noteworthy, considering performance and user experience. Its deployment on Netlify also highlights the benefits of using a JAMstack architecture.