Category: web

Articles in the ‘Web’ category could be about a wide variety of subjects and it might be more specifically about web technology, much like the code category. Or it could be the next best cat video trending on YouTube?

  • WordPress 6.6 Update

    WordPress 6.6 Update

    A new WordPress update is available: 6.6. The update includes a block editor feature that displays fonts and a color palette at the theme level. So don’t change themes or those settings will go away. Also, a new page quick-view option in the site-editor. Note – the Altimeter theme does not have support for either of these two features as it is a Gutenberg WordPress update. Gutenberg is an option if enabled with Altimeter, but comes disabled out of the box. Another update is the plugin update rollback. I, personally, do not enable plugin auto-updates, but to each their own and I think this is a great idea. Especially if a plugin pushes code (unintentionally, we’ve all been there) that has a nasty bug that will shut down both the front and back end. See notes below for a fix to that scenerio. Lastly, there are some performance tweaks to include a 33% speed increase in loading the template in the editor. I’m not sure if that applies to Altimeter sites, but it sounds good. Full details here. and documentation here.

    Artwork Credit:
    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Street_art,_Ray_Dudley_Way,_Walthamstow_E17.jpg

  • Google Investing in Cloud Tech

    Google Investing in Cloud Tech

    According to several sources (WSJ, CNN), Google is considering investing in cloud tech by purchasing a cloud-based tech security startup called Wiz. It will be (speculative) the largest acquisition for Alphabet (Google) which would be almost double what it paid for the acquisition of Motorola which was 12.5 billion. The price on the table is currently 23 billion, but talks are still happening. Google also purchased Mandiant, a cyber security firm, in 2023 and looks to catch up with Microsoft / Amazon in terms of security. This follows a recent hack discovered with Google’s Chrome browser in January and another in December: both zero-day vulnerabilities.

    Google is the developer of Flutter and Firebase – both of which are VERY much on my radar. I’ve been learning and working with the .dart language for over a year and will continue to do so regardless. I do (extremely) appreciate security and take these maters seriously. I also want to encourage you to update your Chrome browser if you haven’t since January.

    Google investing in security is a good thing – it signals a turn towards stability and efficacy for Google, it’s customers, and it’s users. It’s not the only tech giant having issues. Microsoft had a report issued by the U.S. Congress earlier this year concerning a hack that accessed Microsoft’s email exchange server exposing 22 organizations and hundreds of employees to include Secretary Gina Raimondo.

    To update Google Chrome:

    1. On your computer, open Chrome.
    2. At the top right, click More More.
    3. Click Help and then About Google Chrome.
    4. Click Update Google Chrome.
      • Important: If you can’t find this button, you’re on the latest version.
    5. Click Relaunch.
  • Flutter: You’re Invited

    Flutter: You’re Invited

    I have been going to Flutter Atlanta for a handful of times when I haven’t been sick, out of town, or other life events. It’s a great way to meet others in our field and people, like us, that “speak the language.” It’s in downtown Woodstock and I’ll be there this Thursday. It meets every month at the Black Airplane offices where a speaker will go over anything Flutter while being broadcast online. So, if you can’t make it in-person, you can always go online: https://www.meetup.com/flutter-atlanta/events/301647313 We also stay after the presentation and talk shop or anything else that comes up at Reformation brewery since it’s right down the street and a great place.

    Thursday, July 11 at 7pm.

    Going to Black Airplane? I’ll see you there!