Keeping up with technology is a lot of work. Luckily, we enjoy wading through the noise just to find the gems of awesomeness sprinkled throughout. Fusion Radar is our gift to you, Current or Potential Client, so that you can enjoy all of the awesome without any of the drudgery. Unwrap it each week, and know that you’re loved by the geeks and pixel-pushers at Agency Fusion.
Why React is Awesome
Mozilla web developer James Long spent months studying frameworks and libraries in an attempt to find the best solution to his core problems of data binding and componentizing UIs. After research, development, and trying out frameworks like Ember, Angular, and React, Long finally settled on React as the best solution. The article linked below is a thorough explanation of his findings, and also demonstrates some of React's capabilities.
Removing User Interface Complexity, or Why React is Awesome
App.js
App.js is a lightweight JavaScript UI library for creating mobile web apps. This cross-platform library offers developers a customizable foundation for web apps, and includes stack management and built-in widgets for general use-cases.
Async Software Development Manifesto
The Async Software Development Manifesto outlines the principles and priorities of async software dev (which is found in async collaboration tools like GitHub and Bitbucket). These principles promote a flexible work environment and usage of modern tools over the more traditional work environment of frequent meetings and standard office hours. A great example of why async development is more effective than standard office environments can be found here.
Async Software Development Manifesto
5 Rules For Writing Great Interface Copy
Google Ventures designer and writer John Zeratsky recently published an article detailing his personal rules for copywriting for the web. Those rules range from the commonsense–valuing clarity over cleverness or eloquence–to more complicated principles, like his claim that writing is a part of the design process. The article's worth reading for anyone involved with web design or development.
5 Rules For Writing Great Interface Copy
Stamplay
Stamplay is a cloud platform that helps web designers build web apps without worrying about server-side logic. Using a visual programming language that allows you to customize templates and drag and drop modules, designers can create functional web apps and still remain focused primarily on their design.
What Are You Going To Do With That Degree?
Ben Schmidt's interactive visualization, "What are you going to do with that degree?" explores the most common college majors and the professions those college graduates end up in. Clicking on any one degree or profession will bring up a more detailed visualization for that area of expertise.
What Are You Going To Do With That Degree?
Life, Below 600px
"Life, Below 600px" is an article that explores and attempts to debunk the commonly-held belief that when content is "below the fold", it is largely ignored. The article relates websites to newspapers (which, incidentally, is where the phrase "below the fold" came from), and explains that while newspapers do put their most eye-catching content above the fold, they don't cram all of their best content into that area. Just as a newspaper's goal is to get readers to actually look at the rest of the newspaper, websites should be using the space above the fold to entice visitors to explore the rest of the site.
RecruitEm
RecruitEm is a site that allows users to bypass typical site barriers and view social media information about anyone. For example, LinkedIn does not show its users the last name of people they're viewing unless they upgrade to a paid plan. However, RecruitEm uses Google to search LinkedIn profiles and gives you the full profile of the user you're looking for without you having to sign up for anything.
Picturelife
Picturelife is an app that allows you to store and sync all of your photos and videos across mobile and desktop devices. Unlike other, similar cloud storage apps, Picturelife automatically uploads any pictures you take to the cloud. It also supports iPhoto's and Aperture's structures, and has a web app, so you can access your images anywhere you are, on any device.
A Plane Controlled By Your Brain
German research project Brainflight recently had a major breakthrough: seven subjects participated in a flight simulator where they used only their brain (connected via various nodes on the skull) to control a plane. Just by thinking of commands, the subjects managed to stay on the course outlined for them, and some of them even managed to successfully take off and land the plane.