tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184037362024-03-25T07:32:33.416+08:00Naim Zulkipli's BlogNaimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.comBlogger505125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-37916390453025242142023-07-28T15:48:00.001+08:002023-07-28T15:48:04.265+08:00Tukar Duit Kepada Emas Sebelum Beli Laptop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcMEcsxmRmF7qmqSCsdIUmZbASRgM1NvYEFnBUa5OISoJJDTmqAisQgFSN38rG-TWJL1Ish4SZAKqHXvO_sEu0FTYEpk4XeivC9upHFZxC7XXKLn3lCN2jyt7BWbuvH_AhdeCik0-a-GB_g2D3O14HRhbv3KDeM8VellhrDeBCxX3FN8wrucYoQ/s1100/blog-laptopemas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1100" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcMEcsxmRmF7qmqSCsdIUmZbASRgM1NvYEFnBUa5OISoJJDTmqAisQgFSN38rG-TWJL1Ish4SZAKqHXvO_sEu0FTYEpk4XeivC9upHFZxC7XXKLn3lCN2jyt7BWbuvH_AhdeCik0-a-GB_g2D3O14HRhbv3KDeM8VellhrDeBCxX3FN8wrucYoQ/w640-h466/blog-laptopemas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Kebiasaannya apabila seseorang itu membeli laptop, duit untuk membeli laptop itu akan dihabiskan, dan dia akan mendapat sebuah laptop baru. Namun, dengan memanfaatkan fasiliti GCA di QM, seseorang itu bukan sahaja boleh mendapat sebuah laptop baru, tetapi juga boleh mendapat emas sebagai simpanan. Pilihan manakah yang lebih bijak?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Mari kita lihat secara lebih terperinci.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kamal mendapat wang sebanyak <b>RM5,000</b>. Kamal membeli sebuah laptop baru dengan harga RM4,700. Dia mendapat sebuah laptop baru, dengan wang baki RM300 untuk dibelanjakan, ataupun mungkin untuk disimpan (yang kemudiannya akan dibelanjakan jua).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Salim juga mendapat wang sebanyak <b>RM5,000</b>. Sebelum membeli laptop, Salim membeli emas terlebih dahulu. Salim menghabiskan keseluruhan RM5,000 itu untuk membeli <b>16.3569 gram</b> emas melalui platform Quantum Metal (QM). Pada hari yang sama, Salim terus membuat pembiayaan GCA. Keesokan harinya, wang pembiayaan sebanyak <b>RM4,252.28</b> masuk ke akaun bank Salim. Salim terus menggunakan keseluruhan wang tersebut untuk membeli laptop baru.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Salim mendapat laptop baru bernilai RM4,200. Salim tidak mempunyai baki duit, tetapi Salim mempunyai <b>16.3569 gram</b> emas dalam pegangan QM. Dalam jangka masa panjang, emas sebanyak <b>16.3569 gram</b> itu akan membantu <u>mengekalkan</u> nilai harta Salim, malah mungkin juga boleh <u>menambahkan</u> lagi.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kamal habiskan duit, dapat laptop baru.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Salim habiskan duit, dapat laptop baru <b>DAN</b> dapat emas.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Melalui fasiliti GCA di QM, Salim boleh menebus emas dan melangsaikan pembiayaan tadi <b>tanpa perlu mengeluarkan tambahan satu sen pun</b>. Malah, Salim juga berpotensi mendapat wang tambahan lagi melalui emas yang dalam pegangan tadi. Jika anda ingin tahu bagaimana caranya untuk elakkan berbelanja ‘hangus’ seperti Salim, sila WhatsApp / Telegram saya: <b><a href="https://www.wasap.my/60198285019/nak+info+qm" target="_blank">019-8285019</a></b>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-13743564530640128512023-07-25T22:22:00.000+08:002023-07-25T22:22:09.638+08:00Bagaimana GCA Dapat Elakkan Belanja Hangus: Panduan Kiraan<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpAPSYhn1rWODm0hkQVq3FMa9wAhN-WywyLCMtsG4dna8YeRk5opt1G-OJiL5sEExfS9NxqjdHmOJFoWZOxVLQSQBlhmvzzbNz1aeRS0uR1gsEtKNMyroJUUzjm8cCjCxB_VTsPMBeORNPk6Y_oPM8fhUxpjl7Q6BvOMSYZvFNvGIiMIzC-Xo_g/s1100/blog-familyGCA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1100" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpAPSYhn1rWODm0hkQVq3FMa9wAhN-WywyLCMtsG4dna8YeRk5opt1G-OJiL5sEExfS9NxqjdHmOJFoWZOxVLQSQBlhmvzzbNz1aeRS0uR1gsEtKNMyroJUUzjm8cCjCxB_VTsPMBeORNPk6Y_oPM8fhUxpjl7Q6BvOMSYZvFNvGIiMIzC-Xo_g/w640-h466/blog-familyGCA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Fasiliti </span><b style="font-size: large;">Gold Convert Account (GCA)</b><span style="font-size: large;"> yang disediakan oleh Quantum Metal (QM) adalah perkhidmatan yang sangat efektif untuk menyelamatkan nilai harta melalui emas. Melalui perkhidmatan </span><b style="font-size: large;">GCA</b><span style="font-size: large;"> yang disediakan oleh QM, kita boleh memanfaatkannya untuk mengekalkan nilai harta kita — mengelakkan daripada kita berbelanja hangus begitu sahaja. Mari kita lihat contoh orang yang ‘berbelanja hangus’:</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Azman mempunyai gaji bersih RM1440. Saya gunakan contoh gaji yang agak rendah untuk menunjukkan bahawa fasiliti <b>GCA</b> ini sesuai untuk semua golongan. Kita andaikan Azman baru berkahwin, dan isterinya turut bekerja untuk menampung sedikit sebanyak kos sara hidup mereka. Selepas mendapat gajinya, Azman pun terus membuat pembayaran berikut:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Ansuran Kereta</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM400</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Bil Elektrik</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM100</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Bil Air</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM20</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Tambah Nilai Telefon</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM50</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Sewa Rumah</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM500</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>JUMLAH</b></td><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>RM1,120</b></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Baki duit Azman tinggal RM370. Azman boleh gunakan duit RM370 itu untuk minyak kereta, makan minum, untuk disimpan, atau untuk dilaburkan, atau untuk perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan lain sepanjang bulan itu. Berkemungkinan, Azman perlu membuat kerja sampingan untuk menampung lagi perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan lain itu. Yang pastinya, duit Azman akan habis ‘hangus’ dan Azman mungkin boleh membuat sedikit simpanan bulanan.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Setiap bulan, begitulah kehidupan Azman.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Untuk contoh yang kedua, kita akan andaikan bahawa harga emas semasa adalah <b>RM277 / gram</b>. Di QM, harga jualan emas adalah 7% daripada harga semasa (harga jual dalam contoh ini: <b>RM296.39 / gram</b>). ‘<i>Spread</i>’ ataupun ‘<i>markup</i>’ sebanyak 7% ini adalah nilai yang biasa bagi penjual emas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sekarang, mari kita lihat contoh orang yang memanfaatkan fasiliti <b>GCA</b> di QM:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kita andaikan Rahman mempunyai kehidupan yang sama seperti Azman. Rahman juga mempunyai gaji bersih RM1440. Berbeza dengan Azman, setelah mendapat gajinya Rahman terus membeli emas. Berdasarkan harga jualan yang disebut di atas;</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>RM1440 / RM296.39 = <u>4.85846 gm</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rahman menghabiskan duit gajinya sebanyak RM1440 itu untuk mendapatkan <b>4.85846 gm emas</b>. Setelah itu, Rahman terus membuat permohonan pembiayaan GCA dengan menggunakan 4.85846 gm emasnya itu. QM akan membiayai <b>91%</b> daripada nilai emas yang ada. Bermakna, selepas membuat GCA, Rahman akan menerima (selepas 1-5 hari bekerja) duit di dalam akaun banknya sebanyak:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4.85846 gm x RM277 x 91% = <b><u>RM1224.67</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rahman pun terus membuat pembayaran-pembayaran berikut:</span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Ansuran Kereta</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM400</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Bil Elektrik</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM100</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Bil Air</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM20</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Tambah Nilai Telefon</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM50</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Sewa Rumah</td><td style="padding: 10px;">RM500</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>JUMLAH</b></td><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>RM1,120</b></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Duit Rahman cuma tinggal <b>RM104.67</b>. Sama seperti Azman, Rahman juga perlu membuat kerja sampingan untuk menampung perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan yang lain. Bezanya, Rahman sudah ada simpanan tambahan <b>4.85846 gm emas</b>. Emas tersebut dipegang oleh QM sehinggalah Rahman membayar kembali duit RM1224.67 yang dibiayai itu tadi.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Bagaimana Rahman mendapat manfaat daripada GCA ini?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Emas dalam pegangan QM bagi GCA ini akan dicaj sebanyak 3.5% setahun. Dalam kes Rahman, itu bermaksud caj sebanyak <b>RM0.1174 sahaja sehari</b>. Emas dalam pegangan QM ini tidak akan dilelong, dan caj pegangan itu tidak perlu dibayar lebih awal. Katakanlah Rahman menunggu selama <b>300 hari</b>. Kita andaikan, selepas 300 hari itu harga emas telah naik ke <b>RM350 / gram</b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rahman pun membuat keputusan untuk membayar balik pembiayaan RM1224.67 tadi dengan menggunakan keuntungan daripada kenaikan harga emas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rahman mempunyai <b>4.85846 gm</b> emas. Nilainya pada ketika itu adalah <b>RM1,700.46</b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ditolak bayaran balik, RM1700.46 – RM1224.67 = <b>RM475.79</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Caj pegangan untuk 300 hari: RM0.1174 x 300 = RM35.22</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maka, Rahman menutup pembiayaan <b>GCA</b> yang telah dibuat tadi tanpa perlu mengeluarkan duit, malah Rahman menerima lagi ke dalam akaun banknya sebanyak: RM475.79 – RM35.22 = <b><u>RM440.57</u></b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bermakna, dengan gaji RM1440 tadi, Rahman menerima tambahan <b>RM225.24</b> dengan hanya menukarkan duit gajinya itu kepada emas terlebih dahulu. Bayangkan bagaimana pula jika Rahman membuat begitu setiap bulan; untuk jangka masa panjang, Rahman akan dapat meningkatkan pendapatan bulanannya secara signifikan.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jika anda ingin menukar kebiasaan berbelanja ‘hangus’ ini, manfaatkan <b>GCA</b> ini. Mulakan dengan membuka akaun simpanan emas patuh syariah secara percuma di QM melalui pautan ini:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://bit.ly/daftar-akaun-simpanan-emas" target="_blank"><b>https://bit.ly/daftar-akaun-simpanan-emas</b></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jika anda ingin mendapatkan penerangan yang lebih lanjut, sila hantar mesej kepada saya melalui <b>WhatsApp / Telegram</b> di nombor: <a href="https://www.wasap.my/60198285019/info+GCA" target="_blank"><b>019-8285019</b></a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kita berusaha untuk pulihkan ekonomi kita. Tukar wang kepada emas!</span></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-474486922077877562023-07-23T15:50:00.005+08:002023-07-23T16:02:28.144+08:00CARA BELI DAN LIHAT REKOD SIMPANAN EMAS DI QM<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CT_rSLZV7QbI2GGdGtkYLgDy7KiP7iRWa4e6mRRkH-Wny5T88Vn_4_8soH1xNGsX1xZX3pnLDRwW-Apn0DX0uTe2Oi7uWK7zQgLOX6V_IympYrBmlTprnDjWmDp7dhZ4PRswsn10D17M7e4nxg7BJUYRDw5ssP1SjrgKTmapQeRSIHAsxX5L4Q/s1100/golden-vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1100" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CT_rSLZV7QbI2GGdGtkYLgDy7KiP7iRWa4e6mRRkH-Wny5T88Vn_4_8soH1xNGsX1xZX3pnLDRwW-Apn0DX0uTe2Oi7uWK7zQgLOX6V_IympYrBmlTprnDjWmDp7dhZ4PRswsn10D17M7e4nxg7BJUYRDw5ssP1SjrgKTmapQeRSIHAsxX5L4Q/w640-h466/golden-vault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bagi mereka yang sudah mempunyai akaun simpanan emas di bawah Quantum Metal (QM), ini adalah panduan ringkas tentang bagaimana untuk membuat pembelian emas sebagai simpanan (GSA), dan bagaimana untuk melihat rekod emas yang anda telah beli.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Langkah #1:</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Setelah anda mendaftar masuk ke portal ahli, klik pada menu GSA dan pilih “QM Sell”. Perkataan “QM Sell” bermaksud pihak QM menjual (sell) emas kepada anda. Jangan salah pilih “QM Buy” kerana “QM Buy” bermaksud pihak QM membeli (buy) emas daripada anda.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbDDDGsZJnM20DbbxZcclG4btpby7ezbwUncQKNP_J179QSayPhmPXWuxWvVZK1nWsRukfOVIleq3JwfYGyUv16yLGYFpWfrKyi4Z1P5eZ--6nsr55I3xlJKH78gBwu9OpbsU8u-q16xDbsadHHNiD43PEs4zzXupj8Vz72XawkhmcDcMBhFxfg/s772/gsa-save-gold-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbDDDGsZJnM20DbbxZcclG4btpby7ezbwUncQKNP_J179QSayPhmPXWuxWvVZK1nWsRukfOVIleq3JwfYGyUv16yLGYFpWfrKyi4Z1P5eZ--6nsr55I3xlJKH78gBwu9OpbsU8u-q16xDbsadHHNiD43PEs4zzXupj8Vz72XawkhmcDcMBhFxfg/w262-h640/gsa-save-gold-01.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Langkah #2:</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">(1) Pilih akaun GSA untuk menyimpan emas yang dibeli.<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">(2) Masukkan nilai (dalam RM) emas yang hendak dibeli.<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">(3) Pilih kaedah pembayaran (pilih FPX untuk perbankan online).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHehcC7FBV6dYXWDXwkRmBD765eADNJy5mYoNX3xqdpVIQFbpqL584Z8p7WzkpG2qUBQKAEN2c25wRjevX453e85VlqQJQvDNEZmUbmJ21kIQ-N-UJBADT8IR18FEmTPEVcB5n2cNQC25fh9yeG7_sgkwd29-025HXHMJgiJFrbZY7Vi5EjCUqBw/s1305/gsa-save-gold-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1305" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHehcC7FBV6dYXWDXwkRmBD765eADNJy5mYoNX3xqdpVIQFbpqL584Z8p7WzkpG2qUBQKAEN2c25wRjevX453e85VlqQJQvDNEZmUbmJ21kIQ-N-UJBADT8IR18FEmTPEVcB5n2cNQC25fh9yeG7_sgkwd29-025HXHMJgiJFrbZY7Vi5EjCUqBw/w640-h454/gsa-save-gold-02.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Langkah #3:</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sahkan semua maklumat pembelian adalah betul. Tekan confirm.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2SGrAV0MJvMRgD-keImvXiyoSdbAmJdp0KIQRS91SnaPPVgBBudsp2rwIY4OfxMDgluJdA96bDS1e2XITPc33DNhdjREbkkLiG0csWKeAW1zr9siWT9IsENyvBzh7VZ-ps9p_vzDK1BeWg2Y86t4nyG3xitvQ3GDbz0Zueh3hm-2ab22_7YcaA/s1299/gsa-save-gold-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1299" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2SGrAV0MJvMRgD-keImvXiyoSdbAmJdp0KIQRS91SnaPPVgBBudsp2rwIY4OfxMDgluJdA96bDS1e2XITPc33DNhdjREbkkLiG0csWKeAW1zr9siWT9IsENyvBzh7VZ-ps9p_vzDK1BeWg2Y86t4nyG3xitvQ3GDbz0Zueh3hm-2ab22_7YcaA/w640-h352/gsa-save-gold-03.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Langkah #4:</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pilih bank anda, dan teruskan pembayaran sepertimana transaksi pembelian online yang lain.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlSkvWPmJJw4WYkNu40t2GFQq9tkeQd97vU3OXJ3mZwhU9iZU2jyqNIb3fLtdBiI8t52n-2Kj7-l8Teiq-cHb0KQze0-hO1syyGJaxjKdyA2aeO6SA9XqRbSUSwSWKl2qQbmkAk1QRTARYG8m7N9egqdSY3GAmVVhC8tbd-lzX6KSQRSl6tpVYw/s1262/gsa-save-gold-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1262" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlSkvWPmJJw4WYkNu40t2GFQq9tkeQd97vU3OXJ3mZwhU9iZU2jyqNIb3fLtdBiI8t52n-2Kj7-l8Teiq-cHb0KQze0-hO1syyGJaxjKdyA2aeO6SA9XqRbSUSwSWKl2qQbmkAk1QRTARYG8m7N9egqdSY3GAmVVhC8tbd-lzX6KSQRSl6tpVYw/w640-h510/gsa-save-gold-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Setelah selesai, anda akan mendapat mesej pengesahan. Anda boleh muat turun segala dokumen (PDF) yang dilampirkan untuk simpanan rekod.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Di halaman utama ini, anda boleh melihat rekod Gold Storage Account (GSA) anda:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhMQ_--_fz7tAIUV5bClwM08QnY1jLfrKEUvQqpi3gBwlx-E5MnkdOaQ-L22g9vKxDaw--9h_v87pOJt8vj67u_vewobkrwqJjb5-dJN8ccLI7fGg9gT074tjJH-gQl9gtLME6EbLwFB83EjAfhvtSBBfD8x47tL1CkoBqs8vMcQiABBSlChJyw/s584/gsa-save-gold-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="341" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhMQ_--_fz7tAIUV5bClwM08QnY1jLfrKEUvQqpi3gBwlx-E5MnkdOaQ-L22g9vKxDaw--9h_v87pOJt8vj67u_vewobkrwqJjb5-dJN8ccLI7fGg9gT074tjJH-gQl9gtLME6EbLwFB83EjAfhvtSBBfD8x47tL1CkoBqs8vMcQiABBSlChJyw/w374-h640/gsa-save-gold-05.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Simpanan emas dikira dalam unit gram / tray ounce. Nilai yang dipaparkan pada bahagian “Approx Value” adalah berdasarkan kepada harga belian semasa (QM Buy price — juga ada dipaparkan di halaman utama).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingat, dengan GSA ini, anda boleh membeli emas serendah RM10. Emas terkumpul di dalam GSA anda boleh dijual pada bila-bila masa kepada QM, atau boleh ditebus sebagai emas fizikal. Simpanan dalam GSA juga boleh digunakan untuk GCA / GAE (produk QM yang lain, akan diterangkan di dalam penulisan yang lain). Semuanya itu boleh dilakukan dengan mudah melalui portal ahli QM anda.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Selamat menyimpan emas!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">=======<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Buka akaun simpanan emas patuh syariah di QM secara percuma:<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/daftar-akaun-simpanan-emas" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/daftar-akaun-simpanan-emas</a></b></span></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-39435761419082875892023-04-27T07:23:00.002+08:002023-04-27T07:23:18.838+08:00How To Create a Random Password Generator with JavaScript<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmrmyIGwYHGq4xjOm5v-DE9R9QblxQjfw7tejzrggmvFzs6D0p_W0-F7FUVktVh461O6SUfTnVCCcUdeOyVRUj5q66QG4GQX9MUfhIf7nfdNzj-Y9aqbXJLCXs-XnKwN3EiWBSIWJcS8BMjGq70Sr9_DW2PzP4402hlDkWmqbgZUnyHKbVaM/s1100/blog-passgen-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmrmyIGwYHGq4xjOm5v-DE9R9QblxQjfw7tejzrggmvFzs6D0p_W0-F7FUVktVh461O6SUfTnVCCcUdeOyVRUj5q66QG4GQX9MUfhIf7nfdNzj-Y9aqbXJLCXs-XnKwN3EiWBSIWJcS8BMjGq70Sr9_DW2PzP4402hlDkWmqbgZUnyHKbVaM/w640-h408/blog-passgen-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">A random password generator is a program that can generate random passwords using a mixture of randomly selected characters. Since a complex and unique password is becoming a requirement almost everywhere nowadays, a random password generator would become very handy. Personally, I use a password generator which I developed myself to create passwords and unique identifiers for the databases of my web apps, server logins, and cookie names.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this article, I’m going to share a step-by-step guide on how to develop a password generator web app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can see the full working example of this password generator at <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/password-generator/" target="_blank">this link</a></b>. This password generator web app uses two libraries: Font Awesome (CSS) and jQuery (JavaScript). The user interface is a simple layout which features (i) a box to display the generated password, (ii) a password options area for users to choose the length and characters sets to be included in the password, and (iii) a button to start generating the random password.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This step-by-step guide will focus only on the JavaScript file, so you can either create your own HTML & CSS files (with your own design) or you can download the full source codes (all HTML, CSS and JavaScript files) for this password generator web app at <a href="https://www.amz.com.my/get.php?f=passgen" target="_blank"><b>this link</b></a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, after creating your HTML and CSS files, create a new JavaScript file and load it in your HTML file. Make sure jQuery is already loaded before your newly created JavaScript file. You can refer to my index.html file from the link above if you’re unsure how it’s done.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>1. Populating the dropdown (select element) with options</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first part in the JavaScript file is to create a <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>$(document).ready()</b></span> method that will dynamically populate the dropdown (<span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>select</b></span> element) in the web app with options. The dropdown in the web app is for users to select the length of the password to be generated. We populate this dropdown with jQuery so that you can always change the maximum and minimum values in the options easily.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf15pbSfnRyGHHNhw27SRx3128px2_mycYFFCqH50ipwHE1w5cDPU5ETnjgl39guGCq8biwuG7SqFaiggE3r_aRaDAD1do3Ka087EH_bW5VUeU8vqQQOApq29dpzRM_fv5U8_9uLQ-KzjzR87pZ8gKW5rmlvRFSws9nqGGu96RgB9ujL9-azU/s900/01-populate-dropdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="900" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf15pbSfnRyGHHNhw27SRx3128px2_mycYFFCqH50ipwHE1w5cDPU5ETnjgl39guGCq8biwuG7SqFaiggE3r_aRaDAD1do3Ka087EH_bW5VUeU8vqQQOApq29dpzRM_fv5U8_9uLQ-KzjzR87pZ8gKW5rmlvRFSws9nqGGu96RgB9ujL9-azU/w640-h192/01-populate-dropdown.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In this method, we run a loop that will iterate through the values set in the constants <b><span style="color: red; font-family: courier;">min_len</span></b> and <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>max_len</b></span>, and at each iteration append a new <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>option</b></span> to the select element with the current value using the <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>.append(new Option(x,x))</b></span> method. The <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>select</b></span> element in this example has an id named “<span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>passlength</b></span>”; you should change that to your own id name should you use a different one.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>2. Define the character sets</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Next, we define the character sets using a JavaScript object. For each key-value pair, we define a key that matches the value attribute of its corresponding checkbox item in the HTML, and for the value: a string of all the possible characters that can be used to build the password.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aoPhg9gSAydgm606VjFL3uBIi6RNLtDrmeC-QilXaphnaDoPb-amkFAXCRSmCue53Zr1S8hnrbIdL7eBm3Cgj1z-2tDL9rxbBOjCFxTXVZ_4aMcBeAnpjIrdsgAFyA-dv3cJcmu3AGxVz09B6-XkYVp-T3IZL5Sr4fBZmnsVLL5fAZA6kMM/s900/02-character-sets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="900" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aoPhg9gSAydgm606VjFL3uBIi6RNLtDrmeC-QilXaphnaDoPb-amkFAXCRSmCue53Zr1S8hnrbIdL7eBm3Cgj1z-2tDL9rxbBOjCFxTXVZ_4aMcBeAnpjIrdsgAFyA-dv3cJcmu3AGxVz09B6-XkYVp-T3IZL5Sr4fBZmnsVLL5fAZA6kMM/w640-h152/02-character-sets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>3. Function to shuffle characters</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then we create a function to shuffle the characters in a string. In this web app, we will select characters randomly from each character set in sequence and arrange them in a string. For instance, if a password is 6 characters long, we could have 4 lowercase characters plus 2 numbers in sequence. So, we use this function to shuffle the characters so that the arrangement of the lowercase characters and numbers are mixed up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMufJeeNd_NxibgmAqlfxmQkqZ5zudcyHumAiaP-FLjb2S4f0Y_lq9gxzOgkS4gnemOZMHOyFEPmyre2PjN3zh8_z66gMcaXSstkNXu3zpBT8i53USj5x14FDyFWtNPuHrCQD8ac4aftLr3qfuLFlFQxqANhouayb1vXR3jYfY4XsiFdDhE/s900/03-shuffle-word.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="900" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMufJeeNd_NxibgmAqlfxmQkqZ5zudcyHumAiaP-FLjb2S4f0Y_lq9gxzOgkS4gnemOZMHOyFEPmyre2PjN3zh8_z66gMcaXSstkNXu3zpBT8i53USj5x14FDyFWtNPuHrCQD8ac4aftLr3qfuLFlFQxqANhouayb1vXR3jYfY4XsiFdDhE/w640-h190/03-shuffle-word.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This function will receive a string parameter – which is the full selected characters for our password – and then uses the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm to randomly reorder the characters in the string before returning it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>4. Generate password when button is clicked</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, we set up a click event listener for the “Generate Password” button. This event listener will execute a function to generate the random password. We start by declaring five variables. The first variable <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>passmix</b></span> is an array that will store the key names for the selected character sets. We start by setting the first value in the array – index <span style="font-family: courier;">[0]</span> – as “<span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>lowercase</b></span>” as that is the default and required character set for our password. Then we iterate through all the checked checkbox for the character set options and push the keyword value into the <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>passmix</b></span> array.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXx-oCVaGgCj7ggz0rV-vPqCjVp4d4ZvXiBymgnPTWTo8TlVNQLd4scTfoVt4xC4EPplBbx7HlhmxBaeDGa3_4QUDV4UGJ3QhAKTLRRtamOWRJ3oPqgNGPbLVs-PDs1dqrAlFYjEar2Cd-m5kGqdrxeIN9n068sR45z1qcRahkuzs3romSwM/s900/04-javascript-passgen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="900" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXx-oCVaGgCj7ggz0rV-vPqCjVp4d4ZvXiBymgnPTWTo8TlVNQLd4scTfoVt4xC4EPplBbx7HlhmxBaeDGa3_4QUDV4UGJ3QhAKTLRRtamOWRJ3oPqgNGPbLVs-PDs1dqrAlFYjEar2Cd-m5kGqdrxeIN9n068sR45z1qcRahkuzs3romSwM/w640-h286/04-javascript-passgen1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Next, we loop through every selected character set, one by one. At each iteration, we determine the maximum number of characters to be selected from that character set – which we assign to the variable <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>maxcnt</b></span> – leaving enough room for at least one character from every other selected character set. The exact number of characters to be selected from the current character set is assigned to the variable <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>limit</b></span> either randomly or same as the maximum number of characters if the current character set is the last one in the array <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>passmix</b></span>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We then perform a loop according to the value set in <b><span style="color: red; font-family: courier;">limit</span></b>, to randomly select a character from the current character set at each iteration, and push the selected character into the variable <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>mix_tmp</b></span>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivebeY1bO_fHdKw0Vj1KZN4GtakjXysizlFtlj03gsyAmpX0BJ-unETq_9x7e4i8X7mZn7aajGKnMBT7obG1PzQBg5Eqz1o4X55Kze82gKZSTOQcf0Jstpqr8dNmBn3qTr4149HrmGMWdV020WIJUrseAKDDiNNXoGc16eBrXmVGmWu3Qkkok/s900/04-javascript-passgen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivebeY1bO_fHdKw0Vj1KZN4GtakjXysizlFtlj03gsyAmpX0BJ-unETq_9x7e4i8X7mZn7aajGKnMBT7obG1PzQBg5Eqz1o4X55Kze82gKZSTOQcf0Jstpqr8dNmBn3qTr4149HrmGMWdV020WIJUrseAKDDiNNXoGc16eBrXmVGmWu3Qkkok/w640-h640/04-javascript-passgen2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Once we have randomly selected all the required characters as per the options, the string we have in <b><span style="color: red; font-family: courier;">mix_tmp</span></b> is sent to the function <span style="color: red; font-family: courier;"><b>shuffleWord()</b></span> to be jumbled – and the returned value is our random password which we can then display in the <b><span style="color: red; font-family: courier;">password-display</span></b> div.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RxWmcIkCWgFKeB91_9IY8gkI_n99WTvRwUXHdG3o3WFdxBU9h0-0prbmmIQ31FV1CJI4H6s0ljndbOsX-RdfxdoN7-RA10P3HgoxGN4C9inZaL7ttL4eyQG3UjGyBDbkHby5CX_1o22v-UFSoGe4VJyRhLnnjBbkT1G0H3LBAaEtDjbpIUI/s900/passgen-ui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="900" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RxWmcIkCWgFKeB91_9IY8gkI_n99WTvRwUXHdG3o3WFdxBU9h0-0prbmmIQ31FV1CJI4H6s0ljndbOsX-RdfxdoN7-RA10P3HgoxGN4C9inZaL7ttL4eyQG3UjGyBDbkHby5CX_1o22v-UFSoGe4VJyRhLnnjBbkT1G0H3LBAaEtDjbpIUI/w640-h576/passgen-ui.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Our password generator web app is done, but you can further customize it however you want. Go ahead and try it out! If you have any comments, questions, or requests, feel free to drop me a line at <a href="mailto:naim@amz.com.my" target="_blank"><b>naim@amz.com.my</b></a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />26 April 2023<br /><br /><i>Note: Original article <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/read-amz-it-solutions-blog/how-to-create-a-random-password-generator-with-javascript" target="_blank">posted here</a></b>.</i></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-21280410830479167952023-04-14T16:03:00.002+08:002023-04-14T16:03:22.401+08:00Understanding Front-end and Back-end in Web Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-u5V0fHfd2beP0CGJhabz94LmjIVYvv22bHlkXp62E8dH5QqZ2b4Lw5RGK0NfsxQ-O6tvHjvykI3cUdwrh_INKnrGx79UjUOyKto5AuIOl484lHnm4QbwH0iqDZ0VrwUscB-3alaDmIAXbbeolGXwl8DVBaim8GRd53NFMOUFX-exRI0nsE/s1100/blog-frontback-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-u5V0fHfd2beP0CGJhabz94LmjIVYvv22bHlkXp62E8dH5QqZ2b4Lw5RGK0NfsxQ-O6tvHjvykI3cUdwrh_INKnrGx79UjUOyKto5AuIOl484lHnm4QbwH0iqDZ0VrwUscB-3alaDmIAXbbeolGXwl8DVBaim8GRd53NFMOUFX-exRI0nsE/w640-h408/blog-frontback-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">In website development, there are generally two main areas of development: front-end and back-end. These two areas also represent two areas of expertise. Some web developers specialize in front-end development, some focus on back-end web development, and some can do both front-end and back-end development (which we call a full-stack web developer). If you’ve been looking around the world of web development, you will have come across those terms (front-end developer, back-end developer, full-stack developer). In this article, we will explore in brief the differences between front-end and back-end in web development.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Front-end development refers to the part of web development that deals with user interface and user experience. Front-end developers with client-side codes and scripts – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript – to create the website’s visual layout. In his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HTML-CSS-Design-Build-Websites/dp/1118008189/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4da22cd6369b8eca4a491c9f290b9f8f&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites</a></b>”, Jon Duckett explains that front-end developers are responsible for “creating a website’s look and feel by using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript”. The technologies for front-end development are referred to as client-side codes and scripts because the codes are executed at the client’s (the user browsing the website) computer, by the web browser. To put it in simpler terms, front-end development deals with whatever the users can see and interact with on their web browser when they go to a website.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Back-end development, on the other hand, deals with the logic and functionality that powers a website on the server. Back-end developers work with server-side programming languages such as PHP, Python, Ruby, and many others, to build the logic and algorithms that enhances the functionality of a website. They also work with databases to store and retrieve data for the website. In his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Rails-Tutorial-Addison-Wesley-Professional/dp/0321832051/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=1e3b97306afe21b8972970aaeb6877e7&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Ruby on Rails Tutorial</a></b>”, Michael Hartl explains that back-end developers “build the database, write the code that runs on the server, and develop APIs that allow front-end developers to communicate with the server”. The codes that back-end developers work with are called server-side codes because they are executed at the server. The codes are processed at the server before the results are being sent to the client computer for users’ viewing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As an analogy, imagine a website as a restaurant. The tables where people eat, the ambience, the food being served, are all the “front-end” part. The kitchen, the office, the electric room, are all the “back-end” part. Hence, in a website, the back-end part is the more crucial, important, and complicated part of the website. However, a website can exist as a front-end only, without back-end development. Back-end development on the other hand, needs front-end development to display the results from the back-end processes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, if you’re looking to build a static website to simply display information and establish an online presence, then front-end development is all you need. But if you’re looking to build a complete web application, then both front-end and back-end development are required. Now that you already know the differences between front-end and back-end development, you can start looking for the specific skill sets for your next project.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />13 April 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">We provide full-stack web development services. Contact Us.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-85682051753744455242023-04-07T19:02:00.003+08:002023-04-07T19:05:26.439+08:00MONTH OF THE HOLY QUR`ĀN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEllydZaf8h0-T33k9SXOkHNoxhbzCR-V6XJQ9ov2INZ1YOl72Q2ENb2TNmVO_dEIYthi8hi3VS3nJ1CAwMlBC2Q0EjviPM--Mf1qJjK189F5OvvxL1Iu8ERdAeXieAilo6eHuLTzdmAA1qgVYDPVg8oxklgrK22smV9fzSxCjmY6Fy0rHIYs/s1100/nuzulQuran.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1100" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEllydZaf8h0-T33k9SXOkHNoxhbzCR-V6XJQ9ov2INZ1YOl72Q2ENb2TNmVO_dEIYthi8hi3VS3nJ1CAwMlBC2Q0EjviPM--Mf1qJjK189F5OvvxL1Iu8ERdAeXieAilo6eHuLTzdmAA1qgVYDPVg8oxklgrK22smV9fzSxCjmY6Fy0rHIYs/w640-h466/nuzulQuran.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Ramadhān is the month of the Holy Qur`ān. Tonight, Muslims around the world commemorate the event of Nuzul al Qur`ān (the revelation of the Qur`ān). The Holy Qur`ān is the true word of God, revealed unto the final prophet Muhammad s as the ultimate guide for all mankind until the end of time. Every Muslim, every true believer, from all over the world believe with total certainty (yaqīn) that al Qur`ān is truly the word of God, and that it is the ultimate source of knowledge for Muslims – such that anything that contradicts any of the principles laid out by the Holy Qur`ān will be rejected by true Muslims.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the important elements that a true and valid religion must have is a source of reference, a holy scripture that serves to build solid foundation. Without a valid source of reference, a solid foundation cannot possibly be built. That source of reference, that holy scripture, must also come from The Creator, our God, for it to be valid reference. And for the holy scripture to be the ultimate source of reference for mankind, the holy scripture must remain untainted by humans, preserved through times. The word of God must remain as the word of God, and not interpretations of it by humans. Also, it is only logical that the word of God must be declared, confirmed, and guaranteed by God Himself. For there exist none above God, hence a true holy scripture can only be affirmed by itself.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The principles above can all be found in only one holy scripture in existence: the Holy Qur`ān. Within the Holy Qur`ān, we can find solid foundational principles that affirms itself. No other holy scripture in the world have the kind of certainty that the Holy Qur`ān provides, which only proves the truth of the Holy Qur`ān.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all, the name of the book which contains this word of God, is called al-Qur`ān (among many other names). The name of this holy scripture is not something Muslims create. The name of this holy scripture is declared explicitly in the Qur`ān itself in several verses, such as in Chapter 73 (al-Muzzammil) verse 20. No other holy scripture in the world names itself (which means that the names of the other so-called holy scriptures are given by men).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Qur`ān also affirms its own truth, such as in Chapter 5 (al-Mā`idah) verse 48, and in Chapter 6 (al-An‘ām) verse 115. The Holy Qur`ān is the only holy scripture that affirms its own truth, and this is very important because such declaration gives confirmation to its truth and provides reason for humankind to follow the Qur`ān.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Qur`ān, again, is the only holy scripture in existence that affirms that there are no discrepancies or inconsistencies in it. Refer to Chapter 4 (al-Nisā`) verse 82. There are no different various versions of the Qur`ān – every Muslim in the world reads the same version of the Qur`ān, word by word. There are some non-muslims who claim that they found inconsistencies in the Qur`ān; however, they are mistaken in that they compare “translations” of the Qur`ān, and not the Qur`ān itself. The original language in which the Qur`ān was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is Arabic. How do we know that? Again, the Qur`ān declares that. It is explicitly mentioned that the language for the Qur`ān is Arabic, such as in Chapter 39 (al-Zumar) verse 28, and in Chapter 43 (al-Zukhruf) verse 3. Hence, the authenticity of the Qur`ān can always be preserved as the original language in which it was revealed is specifically declared.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tonight, the 17th of Ramadhān, Muslims commemorate the event of the start of the revelation of the Qur`ān unto Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Although there are differences of opinions on the exact date of the revelation of the Qur`ān, it does not really matter. The important thing is the meaning of the event, the changes that the revelation of the Qur`ān brought upon this world, and the light that it is showing to help mankind differentiate the rights from the wrongs. However, Muslims celebrate the Nuzul al Qur`ān usually on the 17th of Ramadhān because one thing is very clear: the Qur`ān was first revealed in the month of Ramadhān. How do we know that? Again, because the Qur`ān declares it in Chapter 2 (al-Baqarah) verse 185.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Learn the Qur`ān from qualified scholars, and you will learn the way of truth.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7 April 2023</div><p></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-72182312845824382982023-04-05T16:27:00.002+08:002023-04-05T16:27:22.201+08:00The Pros and Cons of Using A CDN For Your Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeXXuidVu7X9e1ruuXpTMw5F44bsrGidYpAozcZszYb3uPXdr0Lw4v_9cPMr5big43Uyf_iIMK-8GaRQsRMIwPo3fQS9J5-HJiG6CMJbh9ew8LwpWnTeD35F8FqhRKwIgmGoq75_LLX1OXBGO02Rba-dwC1gQuIjwc3NJkt-XtN1ohjXDQVI/s1100/blog-cdn-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeXXuidVu7X9e1ruuXpTMw5F44bsrGidYpAozcZszYb3uPXdr0Lw4v_9cPMr5big43Uyf_iIMK-8GaRQsRMIwPo3fQS9J5-HJiG6CMJbh9ew8LwpWnTeD35F8FqhRKwIgmGoq75_LLX1OXBGO02Rba-dwC1gQuIjwc3NJkt-XtN1ohjXDQVI/w640-h408/blog-cdn-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Website speed – which is the time it takes for your website to load – is very crucial. According to a <b><a href="https://blog.google/products/admanager/the-need-for-mobile-speed/" target="_blank">research finding by Google</a></b>, pages that takes longer than 3 seconds to load will have a 53% chance of being abandoned (meaning people will skip your website and go to another one, most possibly a rival’s). If you’re a web developer or a website owner looking to improve your website’s loading speed, one of the most effective ways to do that is by using a Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN is a network of servers located across the world that helps deliver website content to users quickly and efficiently. While there are many benefits to using a CDN, there are also some potential negatives that website owners should consider before using one. We’ll look through, in brief, some of the pros and cons of using a CDN for your website in this article.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Understanding CDNs</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Before we dive into the pros and cons of using a CDN, it’s important to understand what a CDN is and how it works. As mentioned above, a CDN is basically a network of servers located in different geographic regions that store copies of the website and deliver the website contents to users based on their location. When a user visits a website that uses a CDN, their request is routed to the nearest server in the network, which delivers the content quickly and efficiently. This helps improve website speed and performance, particularly for users who are located far away from the website’s original server.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Pros of Using a CDN</h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Improved Website Speed and Performance:</b> One of the biggest benefits of using a CDN is that it can significantly improve website speed and performance. By delivering website content from servers located closer to the user, CDNs can reduce latency and load times, which can lead to a better user experience and higher engagement rates.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Increased Website Availability and Reliability:</b> CDNs also help improve website availability and reliability by reducing the likelihood of downtime and outages. Because copies of the website content is distributed across multiple servers, a CDN can help ensure that users can access your website even if one server goes down or experiences a problem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Enhanced Website Security:</b> CDNs can also help improve website security by providing protection against DDoS attacks and other types of cyber threats. By distributing traffic across multiple servers, CDNs can help absorb and mitigate attacks before they can reach your original server.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Scalability:</b> Finally, CDNs can also help improve website scalability by allowing you to handle more traffic without overloading your original server. This can be particularly useful for websites that experience sudden spikes in traffic, such as during sales or promotions.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Cons of Using a CDN</h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cost:</b> One potential drawback of using a CDN is the cost. While some CDNs offer free plans, many charge based on usage, which can add up quickly for websites with a lot of traffic. Additionally, some CDNs may charge additional fees for certain features, such as SSL encryption or advanced security.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Configuration Complexity:</b> Implementing a CDN can be a complex process, particularly for less experienced web developers. Configuring DNS settings, integrating the CDN with your website, and optimizing cache settings can all require technical expertise and time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Privacy and Data Security Concerns:</b> Using a CDN may raise privacy and data security concerns, particularly for websites that handle sensitive information or personal data. Because website content is distributed across multiple servers, it may be more difficult to control access to that content and ensure that it’s protected.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Content Update Delay:</b> A CDN stores a cache of the website content from the original server and serves that cache to users. As such, sometimes after updating the contents of a website, the updated content might not be immediately available to users as the updated content is yet to be cached by the CDN.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Technical Limitations:</b> Finally, some CDNs may have technical limitations that can impact website performance. For example, certain CDNs may not be able to handle certain types of content or may not be able to cache dynamic content.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Choosing a CDN</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’re considering using a CDN for your website, it’s important to choose one that meets your specific needs. When evaluating CDNs, consider factors such as cost, features, performance, and reliability. Some popular CDNs include Cloudflare, Akamai, Amazon, and CloudFront, but there are many others to choose from.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When evaluating a CDN, consider the following factors:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cost:</b> Look for a CDN that fits your budget and offers a pricing model that makes sense for your website’s traffic.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Features:</b> Consider which features are important to you, such as SSL encryption, DDoS protection, and advanced caching options.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Performance:</b> Look for a CDN with a strong track record of delivering fast load times and reliable performance.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Reliability:</b> Ensure that the CDN you choose is reliable and has a strong uptime guarantee.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Support:</b> Consider the level of support and documentation that the CDN offers, as well as the ease of implementation and configuration.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Using a CDN can be a great way to improve website speed, reliability, and security. However, there are also potential drawbacks to consider, such as cost, configuration complexity, update delay, and privacy concerns. When evaluating whether to use a CDN for your website, carefully consider the pros and cons outlined in this article and choose a CDN that meets your specific needs. With the right CDN in place, you can improve your website’s performance and provide a better user experience for your visitors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />5 April 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">For professional website development services, contact us.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-30282892009837307422023-03-27T12:37:00.011+08:002023-03-27T12:39:08.252+08:00How to Optimize Images for Web Without Losing Quality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x4cZUiuRazPYDiDsAnNZjTBDy98oFQbR67m0jqAWMK2BWfKfPd7ST5XfatbXIVWpmqyhGEsrKjpDKNk7yY384RuEArZurSc34vgAR2bXE50NwlE2Yln6xCCR_61KZ2Jtn26lJLFu1LhpZZc4B1DlmtXQ3vnDgtjdzGo-AElCSjMPuUyttJo/s1100/blog-imgopt-wide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x4cZUiuRazPYDiDsAnNZjTBDy98oFQbR67m0jqAWMK2BWfKfPd7ST5XfatbXIVWpmqyhGEsrKjpDKNk7yY384RuEArZurSc34vgAR2bXE50NwlE2Yln6xCCR_61KZ2Jtn26lJLFu1LhpZZc4B1DlmtXQ3vnDgtjdzGo-AElCSjMPuUyttJo/w640-h408/blog-imgopt-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Images play an important role in web design. They add visual appeal to your website and help convey your message to your audience. If you’re new to web development, you’re probably excited to create visually stunning websites that impress your clients and capture the attention of their audience by incorporating lots of high-quality stock photos. However, large image files can significantly slow down your website, affecting its overall performance. Hence, one of the common challenges a web developer will face is optimizing images for the web without sacrificing quality. In this article, we’ll discuss a few tips on how you can optimize images for the web so that it won’t significantly decrease website performance, yet without losing quality so that it will still make your website visually pleasing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>[1] Choose the Right Image Format</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When it comes to optimizing images for the web, choosing the right image format is very important. The most common formats for web images are JPEG, PNG, and GIF. JPEG is a lossy compression format that works best for photographs and images with lots of colours. It offers a high degree of compression, resulting in a smaller file size compared to PNG or GIF. However, JPEG compression results in a loss of image quality, and compressing the image too much can result in noticeable artifacts, such as pixelation and blurriness. PNG, on the other hand, is a lossless compression format that works best for images with fewer colours, such as logos, icons, and graphics. Unlike JPEG, PNG compression does not result in a loss of quality, making it ideal for images that require transparency. However, PNG files can be larger in size compared to JPEG files, especially for images with a large number of colours. GIF is a format that supports animation and is best suited for simple animations and graphics. It uses a lossless compression method, which means it doesn’t lose quality during compression. However, GIF files tend to be larger in size compared to JPEG or PNG files, making them less suitable for use with large images.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">You may also come across other image formats such as TIFF and BMP. These formats are typically never used for web images as they have large sizes, which can significantly slow down your website’s performance. You can decide which image format to use by comparing the sizes of the image in different formats. However, as a general rule, use JPEG for images with high resolutions (such as stock photos) as you can perform a higher compression, and the loss of quality will be unnoticeable when the large image is scaled down in websites (considering the majority of people are browsing websites from mobile phones). Use PNG for images that require transparency (usually logo, brand elements), and GIF for simple animations (most of which can be substituted more effectively with CSS and JavaScript nowadays).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>[2] Resize Images</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another way to optimize images for the web is to resize them. Large images take longer to load, which can affect your website’s performance. You can use an image editor or an online tool to resize images. Remember to keep the aspect ratio intact when resizing images to prevent them from looking distorted – this is a mistake lots of amateur web designers do, they resize images without maintaining the aspect ratio. Most image editors (like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP) allow you to preview the estimated file size before actually saving the resized image, so you can make adjustments to achieve your target file size. Also, when resizing images you will want to resize your image to the exact size of the container in which the image will be placed in, or just slightly larger. If possible, avoid resizing the image to a size smaller than its container. This is because if the image is smaller than its container, it will probably be scaled up in the website and scaled up images will lose quality, while images that are scaled down tend to look sharper.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>[3] Compress Images</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Compressing images is another way to optimize them for the web. Compression reduces the image size without losing significant quality. There are many online tools and software that can compress images. JPEG Optimizer and PNGOUT are two popular online image compression tools. If you need more advanced compression options, image editors like Adobe Photoshop and GIMP offer greater compression settings.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>[4] Use Lazy Loading</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lazy loading is a technique that allows your website to only load images as they appear on the screen. This means that the images will actually only be loaded once the user scrolls to the part where the images are at. This can significantly improve your website’s load time, especially for websites with lots of images. Lazy loading can be implemented using JavaScript or with the help of a plugin. If your website really needs to have lots of images, then lazy loading is a must to ensure the best user experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>[5] Optimize Alt Tags</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Alt tags don’t really affect the speed of your website. However, alt tags are important for search engine optimization (SEO) and also for users with visual impairments. Adding descriptive alt tags to your images can help improve your website’s accessibility and also help with SEO (as search engines can ‘search’ the images better). Alt tags should accurately describe the image content in a concise manner.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Practical-SVG-Chris-Coyier/dp/193755743X/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=2ff23193b07f9822d0dfe9f9ab65983a&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Practical SVG</a></b>”, author Chris Coyier notes that “Images can make or break a website’s performance, especially on mobile devices where network conditions and bandwidth are limited.” Therefore, it is important to optimize images for the web to ensure that your website loads quickly and efficiently. As a conclusion, optimizing images for the web without losing quality is possible with the right techniques and tools. By implementing these tips, you can significantly improve your website’s performance and provide a better user experience for your audience at the same time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />26 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us today for professional web development services.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-47886525187618619832023-03-24T16:18:00.001+08:002023-03-24T16:18:18.565+08:00RAMADHAN IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSLIMS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuupys5HES8GYiEPBucDk-6asxy1gu9AUHJVMGJQ73dhWm9Jg2nqjPgdPqq0q5dbfG2_qIK_szh5FriBSEkl0xoJViY_YeRvi8Pg3poJgf804_-T4RH3d-o4mibWPc2y26U9VE-b9o9e7OiHCeFNm0ewkTKpSj9K02AQRFdHt5uAr-Hhwciw/s1100/muslimgood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1100" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuupys5HES8GYiEPBucDk-6asxy1gu9AUHJVMGJQ73dhWm9Jg2nqjPgdPqq0q5dbfG2_qIK_szh5FriBSEkl0xoJViY_YeRvi8Pg3poJgf804_-T4RH3d-o4mibWPc2y26U9VE-b9o9e7OiHCeFNm0ewkTKpSj9K02AQRFdHt5uAr-Hhwciw/w640-h466/muslimgood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Most of the children in Malaysia were taught in schools that the purpose of the ‘ibādah of fasting during the month of Ramadhān is so that we can empathise with the poor, to feel their thirst and hunger when there is no food around. There is truth to that, although it is not the main purpose as muslims who are poor are also obliged to fast. The children are being told that as it is the reasoning that young children can easily understand and relate to. As we grow older, there is a need to continue gaining a deeper understanding of the ‘ibādah in Islam. Sadly, there are some muslims whose knowledge of Islām are only confined to whatever they learned in school, they stopped pursuit of knowledge of this religion when they are out of school. As such, they grow up as adult muslims but their knowledge of Islām is that of a child’s. This is evident when we observe what some muslims do during the month of Ramadhān.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Prophet Muhammad <i>sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam</i> has already reminded us of this, in a hadīth which means: “<b><i>There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.</i></b>” (Narrated by Abu Hurairah <i>radhiyallāhu ‘anhu</i>)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The ‘ibādah of fasting in Ramadhān, just like all the other acts of worship in Islām, has a plethora of benefits. This is because every act of worship in Islām originates from Allāh, our Creator and Sustainer. Every single act of worship that muslims perform has its roots in the Qur`ān or in the Hadīth. Muslim perform their acts of worship based on sound knowledge of the absolute truth, which is why for the last 1400+ years it was possible for muslims all over the world to perform the same acts of worship every single day without fail.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Fasting in Ramadhān has its ultimate purpose. Without understanding that purpose, which is the principle upon which the ‘ibādah of fasting is commanded, then muslims who fast gain nothing deeper than just the feeling of hunger. The ultimate purpose of fasting in Ramadhan, as mentioned explicitly in the Qur`ān, is to attain taqwa. Taqwa is a state of the soul, not of the physical body. According to Sayyiduna ‘Ali <i>radhiyallāhu ‘anhu</i> taqwa is fearing Allāh, believing and adhering to the revealed book (al Qur`ān), content with whatever little is given, and preparing oneself for the hereafter. To attain all that, we need training and practice of the soul. And in order to allow us to focus on training our soul, we reduce our carnal needs by stopping things that are pleasurable to the body such as eating, drinking, and the intimate relationships between a husband and wife.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Fasting in Ramadhān is the best avenue to train our souls. Which is why even though muslims may be lots of things before Ramadhān, we can clearly see during the month of Ramadhān an increase of muslims coming to the mosques at night to perform prayers. Muslims may engage in lots of sinful acts before Ramadhān, but during Ramadhān these same muslims strive to read the Qur`ān, give charity (sadaqah) a lot, and perform lots and lots of prayers. So, as muslims, we must take this opportunity. There are lots of carnal benefits that can be attained during the month of Ramadhān, but the main purpose is to attain taqwa. This is the month where we can really train ourselves to have good habits, to be comfortable and familiar doing all kinds of ‘ibādah daily. This is the month where we can have all our sins forgiven, and start anew with good habits instilled within us.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Granted, we may not be able to truly attain taqwa by the end of Ramadhān; but if we take the opportunity during this month of Ramadhān to strive towards that aim and build good habits (acts of worship) within us, we may just emerge as a much better muslim by the end of Ramadhān. However, if we perceive fasting as only having a carnal implication, then as Prophet Muhammad <i>sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam</i> said, we will attain nothing except for the feeling of hunger during this whole month.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli</div><div style="text-align: justify;">24 March 2023</div><p></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-86270443604691958732023-03-23T00:10:00.001+08:002023-03-23T00:10:53.875+08:00RAMADHAN: SOMETHING SPECIAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_bjCpmwYhIXHkbmHc_BySWG_gJoyco80nN__XEP6pHvhX1E-CWz1pMKZJ4jcNqPHp6eyNSvXpq4aCOQIT7NajH1h_MFLi9xk2sVOE7aZXQQE2bLAgRsE9i73OAcQA-AcQp2iW5pchreInqqJ572rTCpqYdBQ0icHiuafIIqe85Mgy5s-WW0/s1100/ramadhankareemnaimz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_bjCpmwYhIXHkbmHc_BySWG_gJoyco80nN__XEP6pHvhX1E-CWz1pMKZJ4jcNqPHp6eyNSvXpq4aCOQIT7NajH1h_MFLi9xk2sVOE7aZXQQE2bLAgRsE9i73OAcQA-AcQp2iW5pchreInqqJ572rTCpqYdBQ0icHiuafIIqe85Mgy5s-WW0/w640-h408/ramadhankareemnaimz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Tonight is the 1st day of Ramadhān. For muslims around the world, this morning will mark the first day for obligatory fasting for the year 1444 Hijri. Just like all the other acts of worship ('ibādah) in Islām, in the act of fasting we can witness yet another miracle, something special. An achievement that were it not for a true divine will, would be impossible to attain.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Starting tomorrow (give or take a few days for some nations) muslims all over the world will perform the 'ibādah of fasting. More than 1.5 billion muslims around the world will refrain from eating, drinking, and performing acts that nullifies the 'ibādah of fasting, from fajr until sunset. Granted, there may be a few bad muslims who won't fast, but those are like bad apples in an enormous garden of apples. Look closely, and we will find that centered around every single mosque in the whole world, the muslim community around it will perform this 'ibādah of fasting in the exact same manner, at the exact same time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even with the potential of social media nowadays, no single person on earth can ever get 1.5 billion people -- spread around all the different continents on this globe -- to harmoniously perform any single act of worship at the same time. In fact, the largest ever petition only amassed the support of a little more than 3 million people (Source: Change.org).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Think about it. There is currently no one recognized global ruler of the muslim community. There is no organization that rules over the entire global muslim community. There is no muslim's TV channel or radio station that is broadcasted to every muslim homes around the world. Yet, muslims unanimously perform the 'ibādah of fasting by adhering to the exact same rules, at the exact same month, and in every year for the past 1400+ years without fail! No other religion on earth can achieve this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even with all the Islamophobic agenda and the atrocities towards muslims orchestrated by the Western world, the religion of Islām continues to "live". It is something only achievable because The One True God deems it to be so.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Praise be to Allāh, The One True God.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To all my fellow muslims around the world, have a blessed Ramadhān!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />23 March 2023</p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-78473496928931336352023-03-22T15:52:00.001+08:002023-03-22T15:52:04.477+08:00Web Developer vs Web Designer: The Differences<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7e4k7pa-IeXyOdf-KGXevkWnazFUMFajRV7lcsfCxna2axgcoYHVi8E8zIqpj3FM9SRMU8cH7bI9kUPD8jMqv_LUVJnhDXaeNm1A6Hqqb6jcBZtgXUTmb9OjXQIkm19Qm_YIanMs0L23DnKLQ25GsshQideJ4kAT7ysKby6jTRnaEjebznk/s1100/blog-webdevdesign-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7e4k7pa-IeXyOdf-KGXevkWnazFUMFajRV7lcsfCxna2axgcoYHVi8E8zIqpj3FM9SRMU8cH7bI9kUPD8jMqv_LUVJnhDXaeNm1A6Hqqb6jcBZtgXUTmb9OjXQIkm19Qm_YIanMs0L23DnKLQ25GsshQideJ4kAT7ysKby6jTRnaEjebznk/w640-h408/blog-webdevdesign-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’ve ever thought of hiring someone to do a web project for you, you’ve probably scoured around the Internet and came across the terms ‘web developer’ and ‘web designer’. While you (and many others) may think that both these titles refer to the same profession, they’re not. The responsibilities and skill set for a web developer and a web designer are different. You may be forgiven for thinking they’re the same though, as lots of people who are new to the industry itself seem to think they’re the same. So, to understand which you should work with for your next cool web project, let’s take a look at what are the differences between a web developer and a web designer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A web designer, as the name hints, work with designs. They are responsible for creating the overall look and feel of a website. They oversee the visual aspects of a webpage such as the layout, colour scheme, typography, and graphics. Web designers work closely with clients to determine their design preferences and to create a webpage that reflects their brand identity. A web designer is skilled in design; they know how to use design elements to create a visually pleasing layout that’s also functional.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, web developers are responsible for the actual building and the technical aspects of a website. We developers use coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the website’s structure, functionality, and interactivity. They also use back-end technologies like PHP, Python, MySQL, and many others to build the website’s database and advanced functionalities. They are the ones who will produce the final product that will be published and used. Web developers work with web designers to ensure the website is built correctly, and they also work with clients to ensure that all the user requirements are met.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We can further illustrate the difference between web designers and web developers using the construction of a house as an analogy. The web designer is like the architect who creates the blueprint, determines the layout, colour scheme, and overall aesthetic of the house. The web developer, on the other hand, is the engineer who uses various tools and materials to construct the entire house based on the blueprint.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the reasons why many people think that web designers and web developers are the same is because lots of web designers offer web development services as well, and vice versa. Web designers and web developers often work with each other to offer clients the full range of services, starting from the design of the website up until the website is fully published on the Internet.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A successful web designer will need to have a strong understanding of design principles, typography, colour theory, and layouts. A web designer should also be proficient in design software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. However, it is also important that web designers have a sufficient understanding of the technical aspects of a website to ensure that the design is actually functional. Walter Isaacson in his book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=de22383de74483e21fb75f29b7643a0e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">"Steve Jobs"</a></b>, quoted the founder of Apple Inc. as saying, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A successful web developer will also need to have an understanding of some design principles besides being proficient in technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, web frameworks, development libraries, and others. This is to ensure that their code produces the intended output and makes the website user-friendly. In the book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4cda739cbba2310db2eafb4c2a91180c&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">“Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship”</a></b> by Robert C. Martin, the Senior Director of Engineering at Pandora is quoted as saying, “A great developer is someone who not only knows how to code, but also understands the context in which the code is being written.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, while web designers and web developers are both involved in building a website, they have different responsibilities and skill sets. Web designers focus on the visual aspects of a website, while web developers focus on the technical and usability aspects. However both are needed together to ensure that a successful and functional website can be developed. If you’re interested to learn more about web design and web development, contact me at <b><a href="mailto:naim@amz.com.my" target="_blank">naim@amz.com.my</a></b>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />22 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">For professional web development services, contact us here.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-77806023901808124102023-03-15T14:11:00.001+08:002023-03-15T14:11:07.916+08:00What Are Meta Tags in HTML?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfjV_JFSbNOsaHNoevlPhMn2dJM1lhQLzwkNNEWnkLH-p7iLdsml0H61_D9E-NbztQnUvGFFFSYUkQuwFaB1pxfI94fdaCfeviN5UmokordsqrafU-wcacpnjSPUYe27JcW7pxbJcKtSPqYk-XhPYsapiJf3wNgyCcfyh1aZ94dSQPXqvMUg/s1100/blog-meta-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfjV_JFSbNOsaHNoevlPhMn2dJM1lhQLzwkNNEWnkLH-p7iLdsml0H61_D9E-NbztQnUvGFFFSYUkQuwFaB1pxfI94fdaCfeviN5UmokordsqrafU-wcacpnjSPUYe27JcW7pxbJcKtSPqYk-XhPYsapiJf3wNgyCcfyh1aZ94dSQPXqvMUg/w640-h408/blog-meta-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">As a seasoned web developer, I can tell you that HTML has come a long way since the early days of blinking text and scrolling marquees (I know, thank goodness). One of the most important tools in any modern HTML developer's toolkit is the humble META tag.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">META tags are a crucial aspect of HTML coding that can make a big difference in how your website appears to search engines and visitors alike. Simply put, META tags are pieces of code that describe the content of your webpage in a way that browsers and search engines can understand. Without META tags, search engines would be forced to guess at what your webpage is all about, and you might miss out on valuable traffic and engagement.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this article, we'll take a closer look at META tags and explore what they are, why they matter, and how you can use them to improve your website's performance.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">What are Meta tags?</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">First things first, what exactly are META tags and why are they so important in HTML coding?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In a nutshell, META tags are snippets of code that provide information about a webpage to search engines and other web crawlers. As the name implies, META tags are not visible to visitors of your website - instead, they exist solely in the code of your webpage and are used to provide information to search engines and other automated systems.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HTML-CSS-Design-Build-Websites/dp/1118008189/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=987b2a100ef20ac9b669c4289e730acd&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites</a></b> by Jon Duckett, META tags are "used to provide structured metadata about a Web page." This metadata can include things like the title of the page, keywords related to the content, a description of the page, and more. By providing these information in META tags, search engines are better able to understand what your webpage is about and can therefore display it more accurately in search results.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are several different types of META tags that you can use in HTML coding, each with its own specific purpose. Some of the most common types of META tags include:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li>Description: This tag provides a brief summary of the content on your webpage and is often used by search engines in search result snippets.</li><li>Keywords: This tag specifies the relevant keywords related to the content on your webpage.</li><li>Author: This tag provides information about the author of the webpage.</li><li>Viewport: This tag specifies the dimensions and scaling of the viewport used by the webpage.</li><li>Charset: This tag specifies the character set used by the webpage.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the most important use of META tags is to describe your Web page to search engines and social media sites. By providing accurate and descriptive information in META tags, you can help ensure that your website is displayed accurately and attractively in search engine results, social media shares, and other automated systems.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">How to add Meta tags to your HTML code</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Now that we've covered what META tags are and why they're important, let's look into how you can add META tags to your HTML code. It’s pretty straightforward and easy and you can do it during any phase of your website development process.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To add META tags to your HTML code, you simply need to insert them into the head section of your webpage. Jennifer Niederst Robbins explains this in her book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Web-Design-Beginners-JavaScript/dp/1491960205/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=dab0779cbcfb0c8f0b65eeef59fddf8a&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Learning Web Design</a></b>, "The head section of your page is the place for metadata - information about the document itself, like the title of the page, what character set to use, and what other files are necessary to display the page." META tags fall under this category of metadata.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are several attributes and values that can be used in META tags, depending on the specific type of tag and the information you want to provide. Some common attributes include:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li>Name: Specifies the type of information being provided (e.g. "description", "keywords", "viewport").</li><li>Content: Provides the actual information being conveyed in the META tag.</li><li>Charset: Specifies the character set used by the webpage.</li><li>Http-equiv: Provides HTTP headers for the webpage.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, to add a description META tag to your HTML code, you would use the following syntax:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><meta name="description" content="A brief summary of the content on the page."></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this example, the "name" attribute is set to "description" to indicate that this is a description META tag, and the "content" attribute provides a brief summary of the content on the webpage.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As you can see, adding META tags to your HTML code is a straightforward process. By providing accurate and descriptive information in your META tags, you can help ensure that your website is displayed accurately and attractively in search engine results and other automated systems.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Common uses for META tags</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">META tags have a wide range of uses beyond simply providing information about a webpage. One of the most common uses for META tags is improving search engine optimization (SEO). In his book <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Search-Engine-Optimization-All-Dummies/dp/1118921755?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=3a6ab5483926eea2ddab9f4655de6e98&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Search Engine Optimization All-in-One For Dummies</a></b>, Bruce Clay explains, "META tags can be used to give the search engines information about your page that they wouldn't otherwise know." By including relevant keywords and a well-crafted description in your META tags, you can help your webpage rank higher in search engine results and attract more visitors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to SEO, META tags can also be used to improve accessibility and mobile optimization. For example, the viewport META tag can be used to optimize a webpage's layout for different screen sizes and devices. Jon Duckett explains that "The viewport is the area of the browser where content is displayed...By setting the viewport META tag, you can control how the browser displays your page on different devices." This can help ensure that your webpage is readable and navigable on a wide range of devices, from desktop computers to smartphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">META tags can also be used to improve social media sharing. By including Open Graph META tags on your webpage, you can control how your website is displayed when it is shared on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Open Graph META tags help social media platforms to fetch accurate information about your page, so that your shared link will show an attractive preview image, title, and description, making it more likely that people will click on it. By taking advantage of Open Graph META tags, you can make your webpage more visually appealing and shareable on social media.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">META tags may seem like a small and insignificant part of web development, but they actually play a vital role in improving your website's search engine optimization, accessibility, mobile optimization, and social media sharing capabilities. By including relevant and accurate information in your META tags, you can help your webpage stand out and attract more visitors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As explained above, there are different types of META tags that can be used for various purposes. From the description and keywords tags for SEO to the viewport tag for mobile optimization, each META tag serves a unique function. By understanding how to use these tags effectively, you can create a more polished and user-friendly website that is optimized for various devices and search engines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, don't underestimate the power of META tags! Take the time to polish the META tags in your website, and it will make a significant difference.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />15 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Get professional website development services. Contact us now.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-5384970572518589512023-03-11T14:53:00.008+08:002023-03-11T14:53:51.884+08:00Create HTML Documents Like An Expert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-rcRoz3oZ7Lm7fyn85vhYLHxBbHqTlMQdKAAylrd5r684r1LvF59Mexh9q6dfviOsoL6mTwuCebh2fYUxvId52VyMsn0JTXeaoxgQPO5wL0-OMifiszaA8nmtS9_1BX6jZpmwvqneGUpC20NoA_NElRXFRRk_5Z7Jy-jHKx4VCbNRV9HCvQ/s1100/blog-htmlx-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-rcRoz3oZ7Lm7fyn85vhYLHxBbHqTlMQdKAAylrd5r684r1LvF59Mexh9q6dfviOsoL6mTwuCebh2fYUxvId52VyMsn0JTXeaoxgQPO5wL0-OMifiszaA8nmtS9_1BX6jZpmwvqneGUpC20NoA_NElRXFRRk_5Z7Jy-jHKx4VCbNRV9HCvQ/w640-h408/blog-htmlx-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">If you are doing website design, or are currently on a web development project, you will want to make sure that you can create HTML documents like the experts do it: well-structured, semantically optimized, SEO friendly, and error-free. The importance of creating well-structured and semantic HTML documents has become more essential than ever. In today’s world, businesses, organizations, and individuals are competing for attention and visibility online, and having a strong web presence has become a crucial component of any successful marketing strategy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the heart of any successful web page is the HTML document. It is the foundation upon which all other elements are built, and it is what search engines and web crawlers use to understand and index the content of a web page. For this reason, it is essential that your HTML documents are error-free, easily maintainable, and optimized for SEO.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But what does it mean to create well-structured and semantic HTML documents? Well-structured HTML documents are ones that are organized and easy to read, making it easier for developers to maintain and update the code. Semantic HTML, on the other hand, is about using HTML tags to describe the content and structure of the page in a meaningful way. By using semantic HTML, you make it easier for search engines and web crawlers to understand the content of your page, which can help improve your search engine rankings.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this article, we will take a look into the best practices for creating error-free, maintainable, and SEO-friendly HTML documents. We will explore the importance of using valid HTML markup, keeping your code clean and organized, using semantic HTML, optimizing for performance, and testing and validating your code. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your HTML documents are not only well-structured and semantic but also optimized for performance and ready to attract and engage your target audience. So, let’s look into how you can create HTML documents like an expert!</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Use Valid HTML Markup</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">As a web designer or developer, using valid HTML markup is crucial to ensure that your HTML documents are error-free, easily maintainable, and ready for SEO. Valid HTML markup means that your code adheres to the guidelines set forth by the W3C, making it easier for search engines and web crawlers to index and understand your content.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to Steve Krug, in his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a038900745c005e54a1fa80b0fe6b792&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability</a></b>”, “<i>Valid HTML is a necessary but not sufficient condition for Web accessibility. But it is necessary. And it’s easy. So you might as well start with valid HTML and build on a solid foundation.</i>”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One way to ensure that your HTML documents are valid is to use HTML validation tools. These tools scan your HTML code and highlight any errors or issues, allowing you to quickly identify and fix them. Some popular validation tools include the <b>W3C Markup Validation Service</b> and the <b>HTML Validator Chrome Extension</b>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to using validation tools, it’s also essential to understand common validation errors and how to fix them. For example, one common error is the use of deprecated HTML tags, such as the <span style="font-family: courier;"><center></span> tag, which can cause compatibility issues with modern web browsers. To fix this error, simply replace the deprecated tag with a modern alternative, such as using CSS to center content.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Using valid HTML markup is a fundamental best practice in web design and development. As Jeffrey Zeldman writes in his book, “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Web-Standards-Jeffrey-Zeldman-dp-0321616952/dp/0321616952/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe4d4432df5e8d981979c6e5d79c7079&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Designing with Web Standards</a></b>”, “<i>Valid HTML makes it easier to create sites that are accessible to people with disabilities, and it makes it easier to achieve good search engine rankings. Valid HTML is a win-win situation.</i>”</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Keep Your Code Clean and Organized</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">It’s also essential to keep your code clean and organized to ensure that your HTML documents are error-free, easily maintainable, and ready for SEO. In his book, “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Construction/dp/0735619670/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a89e4e6d6ddedfe7352c5419fdfe426e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction</a></b>”, Steve McConnell explains that “<i>Clean code is easier to read and understand, which makes it easier to maintain and less prone to errors. Poorly written code is difficult to read and understand, leading to bugs and errors.</i>”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One way to keep your code clean and organized is to use proper indentation, formatting, and commenting. Indentation helps to visually separate different sections of your code, making it easier to read and understand. Formatting ensures that your code is consistent and easy to read, reducing the chances of errors. Commenting provides additional context and explanations for your code, making it easier to understand and modify in the future. From my own personal experience, lots of beginner web developers tend to ignore indentation, formatting, and commenting, which leads to lots of frustrations and errors during their web design projects.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to using proper indentation, formatting, and commenting, many code editors have features that can help with organization, such as auto-formatting and code folding. Auto-formatting automatically formats your code to ensure consistency, while code folding allows you to collapse and expand different sections of your code for easier navigation and readability.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Robert C. Martin in his book, “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e80c79df3127b6b7395cc360129e60fb&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship</a></b>” writes: “<i>Clean code is simple and direct. Clean code reads like well-written prose. Clean code never obscures the designer’s intent but rather is full of crisp abstractions and straightforward lines of control.</i>”</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Use Semantic HTML</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">In web development, semantic HTML has grown in importance. Using semantic HTML is one of the best practices that you should adopt to ensure that your HTML documents are error-free, easily maintainable, and ready for SEO. But what is semantic HTML? Simply put, semantic HTML is a way of writing HTML code that has meaning and structure. It involves using HTML tags that convey specific meanings to both humans and search engines. By using semantic HTML, you can make your code more understandable and accessible to all users, including people with disabilities who rely on screen readers to navigate the web.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Some of the main semantic HTML elements include <span style="font-family: courier;">header</span>, <span style="font-family: courier;">nav</span>, <span style="font-family: courier;">main</span>, <span style="font-family: courier;">article</span>, <span style="font-family: courier;">section</span>, <span style="font-family: courier;">aside</span>, and <span style="font-family: courier;">footer</span>. These elements provide more context and structure to your HTML documents, making them easier to read and understand. For example, instead of using <span style="font-family: courier;">div</span> tags to structure your web page, you can use the <span style="font-family: courier;">main</span> tag to define the main content of the page, the <span style="font-family: courier;">nav</span> tag to define the navigation links, and the <span style="font-family: courier;">footer</span> tag to define the footer section.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By using semantic HTML, you can also improve your website’s accessibility and SEO. Screen readers and other assistive technologies rely on the structure of HTML code to provide a meaningful experience to users with disabilities. By using semantic HTML, you can ensure that your website is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, search engines use semantic HTML to understand the content and structure of your web pages. By using proper semantic HTML elements, you can provide search engines with more context and relevant information about your website, which can improve your website’s search engine ranking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To use semantic HTML effectively, you should follow some best practices, such as using the appropriate HTML tags for each section of your web page, avoiding the use of non-semantic HTML tags like div and span, and using meaningful names for your HTML elements. For example, instead of using a generic class name like “box” for a section of your web page, you could use a more descriptive class name like “testimonial-box” to provide more context to both humans and search engines.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Optimize for Performance</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Optimizing HTML code for performance is crucial for creating fast-loading web pages that keep users engaged. Steve Souders in his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-Web-Sites-Essential/dp/0596529309/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=53c2920e4224073e1171acb1b4aa5a79&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">High Performance Web Sites</a></b>” writes, “80-90% of the time that the user spends waiting for a page to load is spent waiting for components to download.” Therefore, it is important to minimize the size and number of components that must be downloaded.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To reduce file size, you can start by removing unnecessary white space and comments from your HTML code. This can be done manually or by using a code minifier, such as <b>HTMLMinifier</b>. You can also consider using CSS sprites to combine multiple images into a single file, reducing the number of HTTP requests.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Reducing HTTP requests can also be achieved by using CSS and JavaScript minification, which removes unnecessary characters from these files. Additionally, you can use a tool like <b>Google PageSpeed Insights</b> to identify and optimize images that may be slowing down your website.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While optimizing for performance can sometimes feel like a tedious task, the benefits are well worth it. Faster loading pages can lead to increased user engagement, lower bounce rates, and improved search engine rankings. So, take the time to optimize your HTML code and your users (and your website’s performance) will thank you.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Test and Validate Your Code</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Testing and validating your HTML code is a crucial step in the web development process. It ensures that your code is error-free, functional, and accessible on different browsers and devices. As a web developer, you should aim to create code that is not only visually appealing but also efficient and user-friendly. To achieve this, testing and validating your HTML code should be part of your development routine.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the reasons why testing and validating your HTML code is important is that it ensures cross-browser compatibility. Different browsers have different ways of rendering HTML code, and what works on one browser may not work on another. By testing your code on different browsers, you can identify and fix any issues that may arise, ensuring that your website looks and functions the same across different platforms.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is also essential to test your code on different devices. With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet, it’s essential to ensure that your website is responsive and accessible on different screen sizes. Testing your code on various devices allows you to identify any issues and make the necessary changes to ensure a seamless user experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are different HTML validation tools available that can help you test and validate your code. These tools can help identify errors in your code and offer suggestions on how to fix them. For instance, the <b>W3C Markup Validation Service</b> is a widely used tool that can help you check your code for errors and ensure that it conforms to the HTML standards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As you test and validate your code, you should also ensure that you fix any errors identified. Fixing these errors will not only improve the functionality of your website, but it will also improve its search engine optimization (SEO). According to Steve Krug, “<i>Good web design is about the character of the content, not the character of the designer.</i>” Striving to create code that is efficient and user-friendly as a web developer can enhance the user’s experience, and testing and validating your code is one of the best ways to achieve this.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Creating error-free, maintainable, and SEO-friendly HTML documents is crucial for the success of any website. By following best practices such as using valid HTML markup, keeping code clean and organized, using semantic HTML, optimizing for performance, and testing and validating code, web developers can ensure that their HTML documents are of high quality and meet industry standards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Using valid HTML markup ensures that websites are accessible to all users, regardless of the browser or device they are using. By using proper indentation, formatting, and commenting, developers can keep their code clean and organized, making it easier to maintain and update in the future. Additionally, using semantic HTML improves accessibility and SEO, which can lead to increased traffic and better search engine rankings. Finally, optimizing for performance by reducing file size and loading times can greatly improve user experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is also important to regularly test and validate HTML code to ensure that it is error-free and compatible with different browsers and devices. By using HTML validation tools and testing on different devices, web developers can identify and fix errors before they become problematic for users.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In today’s competitive digital landscape, it is more important than ever to create high-quality HTML documents that are error-free, easily maintainable, and optimized for SEO and performance. By following these best practices, web developers can ensure that their websites are accessible, user-friendly, and successful in achieving their goals.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />11 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Get in touch for web design and development services.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3.1569486 101.712303-25.153285236178846 66.556053 31.467182436178845 136.86855300000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-80825235968366832602023-03-09T13:37:00.003+08:002023-03-09T13:37:48.354+08:00Importance of Privacy Policy in a Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQikeK6EwMsqQ-GzL2XJcjXNzNBLvNAjozYPfYVenPuMsOCLxCXSWAMnrrkzJB8noxyclcIYCZlafB5_cCrQc_KABqy0MagkAqcBR5YTfeO3nFaNo1aRVz7euFFCwv0FZ5EIqlCyAbZU7mLhSYFRNf4unnS-frTgixe85qNqw-keCyHCWeBs/s1100/blog-privacy-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQikeK6EwMsqQ-GzL2XJcjXNzNBLvNAjozYPfYVenPuMsOCLxCXSWAMnrrkzJB8noxyclcIYCZlafB5_cCrQc_KABqy0MagkAqcBR5YTfeO3nFaNo1aRVz7euFFCwv0FZ5EIqlCyAbZU7mLhSYFRNf4unnS-frTgixe85qNqw-keCyHCWeBs/w640-h408/blog-privacy-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Nowadays, websites have become an essential tool for businesses to reach a wider audience and connect with potential customers. However, as more personal data are being collected from users, privacy concerns have become a major issue. In Malaysia, taking an example, businesses must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) to protect the privacy of their customers. One way to meet the PDPA requirements is by having a website privacy policy in place.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A website privacy policy is a legal document that outlines how a business collects, uses, and protects personal data from users who visit their website. It informs users of their rights and how their data is being used, which helps build trust between businesses and their customers. Without a privacy policy in place, businesses risk facing legal and financial consequences, as non-compliance with the PDPA can result in fines, imprisonment, and reputational damage.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this article, we will explore the importance of having a website privacy policy for businesses. We will discuss the legal requirements for having a privacy policy, the expectations of users when it comes to privacy, the types of data that businesses collect, and the benefits of having a privacy policy in place. By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of why having a website privacy policy is essential for your business.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Legal Requirements</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Managing the personal data of users is usually regulated by law everywhere in the world today. In Malaysia, businesses are required to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of 2010, which regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. The PDPA applies to any individual or organization that processes personal data in the course of commercial transactions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Under the PDPA, businesses are required to inform individuals about the purposes for which their personal data is being collected, used, and disclosed. This includes providing a privacy notice, which must be readily available and easily accessible to users. A privacy notice is typically included in a website privacy policy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Failing to comply with the PDPA can result in severe legal and financial consequences. Businesses may face fines of up to RM500,000 and imprisonment of up to three years for non-compliance. In addition, businesses may face reputational damage and loss of customer trust, which can have significant financial implications in the long term.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is essential for businesses to have a website privacy policy that complies with the PDPA to avoid legal and financial consequences. A website privacy policy provides clear and transparent information to users about how their personal data is being collected, used, and protected. This helps build trust with users, which is crucial for businesses to establish and maintain a strong online presence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to the book “<b>The Law of Privacy in Malaysia</b>” by Lee Fook Meng and Foong Cheng Leong, having a website privacy policy is not only essential for legal compliance but also helps businesses to minimize legal risks and potential lawsuits. A privacy policy can also help businesses to avoid negative publicity and reputational damage caused by data breaches or privacy violations. Therefore, businesses should ensure that their website privacy policy is up-to-date, accurate, and compliant with the legal requirements set out in the laws of the country they are operating in.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">User Expectations</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Users are also becoming increasingly aware of the importance of their personal data privacy. According to a survey conducted by the <b>Centre for Governance and Political Studies</b> in Malaysia, 91% of internet users are concerned about their online privacy and data protection (CGPS, 2018). This means that businesses that collect personal data must take the necessary steps to address these concerns and build trust with their users.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One way businesses can address user privacy concerns is by having a comprehensive privacy policy. Users expect businesses to be transparent about how their data is collected, stored, and used. By providing a clear and concise privacy policy, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to protecting user privacy and data.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In her book “<b>The Privacy Engineer’s Manifesto</b>”, Michelle Finneran Dennedy emphasizes the importance of building trust with users through transparency and accountability. She states that “privacy is not just a legal obligation, it is a human rights issue” (Dennedy, 2014). Businesses that take a proactive approach to protecting user privacy will not only build trust with their users but also position themselves as leaders in their industry.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Data Collection and Use</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">The data that businesses collect may include various personal information, and could also include sensitive information such as financial information, medical records, and browsing history. The use of this data can range from marketing to product development to personalization of user experience. However, without proper safeguards in place, this data can be misused or even stolen, causing harm to individuals and businesses alike.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The website privacy policy provides transparency and accountability to users by giving them the information they need to make informed decisions about sharing their personal information with a business. It also sets out the limitations on how that data is used and ensures that it is used for lawful purposes only. For example, a privacy policy might state that personal data will only be used for the purpose of providing the user with the requested product or service and not shared with third parties without the user’s explicit consent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Without a privacy policy, businesses may be more susceptible to legal and financial consequences resulting from data misuse or security breaches as user consent will be deemed as not being given in the first place. Additionally, businesses can be subject to regulatory scrutiny and penalties for failing to comply with applicable data protection laws. Laws like the PDPA in Malaysia also requires businesses to implement appropriate measures to protect users’ personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, and destruction.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Benefits for Business Owners</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Having a privacy policy in place can bring numerous benefits for business owners, including both legal and marketing advantages. Firstly, having a privacy policy can help businesses stay compliant with regulations and avoid legal consequences. In addition to legal compliance, having a privacy policy can also improve the credibility and reputation of a business. By being transparent about how user data is collected, stored, and used, businesses can build trust with their customers and show that they take their privacy seriously. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth marketing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Furthermore, a privacy policy can help businesses better understand their customers and their preferences. By collecting consented data about user behavior and preferences, businesses can tailor their products and services to better meet their customers’ needs. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and retention.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Overall, creating and implementing a website privacy policy should be a priority for any business operating in the digital space. By doing so, businesses can protect user data, build trust with their audience, and ensure compliance with legal regulations. As technology continues to evolve and data privacy concerns become more prominent, having a privacy policy in place when developing a website will become increasingly important.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9 March 2023</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">------</div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us for professional website development services.</a></b></div></b><p></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-24916160194641180012023-03-08T15:40:00.009+08:002023-03-08T15:40:41.500+08:00Why JavaScript Is The #1 Programming Language In The World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTNHeB8OOf4kx4EwSc6QD5a5nO1dYrpmaMplRsX1sEUAQUy5ziJ1HjAi_hcFFLn0MPmLiZnSVp7qJUABi41b9EwoOC6-3hT0ygSV3ZOrM_eCzU8ZPb__MKevfX38fXvf3M3QW3I6iwJHZnjCk7cxF74gEquSHyaqVbO7383tPSzKZomPW1vU/s1100/blog-js1-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTNHeB8OOf4kx4EwSc6QD5a5nO1dYrpmaMplRsX1sEUAQUy5ziJ1HjAi_hcFFLn0MPmLiZnSVp7qJUABi41b9EwoOC6-3hT0ygSV3ZOrM_eCzU8ZPb__MKevfX38fXvf3M3QW3I6iwJHZnjCk7cxF74gEquSHyaqVbO7383tPSzKZomPW1vU/w640-h408/blog-js1-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript is the most widely used programming language in the world today according to surveys by <b><a href="https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#most-popular-technologies-language" target="_blank">Stack Overflow</a></b>, <b><a href="https://octoverse.github.com/2022/top-programming-languages" target="_blank">GitHub Octoverse</a></b>, <b><a href="https://redmonk.com/sogrady/2022/10/20/language-rankings-6-22/" target="_blank">RedMonk</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2022/" target="_blank">JetBrains</a></b>, and many others. Its popularity is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, it is the most in-demand programming language among employers, and it has become a critical skill for developers who want to work on cutting-edge applications and technologies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One reason for the popularity of JavaScript is its versatility. It is a language that can work across different platforms, which is why it is widely used in front-end web development, back-end development, and even mobile app development. The language has also evolved to allow for server-side development with Node.js, which makes it a viable option for full-stack development.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript has come a long way since its creation in 1995 by Brendan Eich, who was working at Netscape Communications Corporation at the time. The language was initially developed to add interactivity to web pages and was called LiveScript. However, due to the popularity of Java at the time, Netscape renamed it JavaScript to capitalize on the Java hype. Despite its rocky start, JavaScript quickly gained popularity among developers and has continued to evolve over the years.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the key reasons for JavaScript’s continued popularity is its huge community support. There is an active online community of developers who contribute to the language’s development, share their knowledge, and collaborate on open-source projects. This has resulted in an abundance of resources for developers, including libraries, frameworks, and tools that make it easier to build complex websites and applications with JavaScript.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Versatility of JavaScript</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript’s versatility is one of the key factors that has made it the most widely used programming language in the world. It can work with various platforms and is widely used in both front-end and back-end development.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In front-end development, JavaScript is used to create dynamic and interactive user interfaces. It is the backbone of many popular front-end frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.js. These frameworks make it easier for developers to build complex user interfaces, and they rely heavily on JavaScript to provide the functionality that users expect.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In back-end development, JavaScript is used with Node.js to create server-side applications. This means that developers can use a single programming language for both the front-end and back-end of their applications, which simplifies the web development process and reduces the need for multiple programming languages.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another advantage of JavaScript is its ability to integrate with other programming languages. For example, developers can use JavaScript with PHP, Python, Ruby, and other languages to build more complex applications. This integration is possible through frameworks like Electron, which allows developers to create cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Huge community support</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript’s huge community support is another key factor that has contributed to its status as the #1 programming language in the world. The language has a vibrant and active online community of developers who are constantly sharing their knowledge, contributing to open-source projects, and creating new resources for others to use.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the benefits of having such a large community is the abundance of resources available to developers. There are countless blogs, tutorials, videos, and courses dedicated to teaching JavaScript and helping developers improve their skills. Additionally, there are many online communities and forums where developers can ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate with others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Open-source libraries and frameworks are another example of the tremendous community support for JavaScript. These libraries and frameworks provide developers with pre-written code that can be used to speed up the development process and simplify complex tasks. Examples of popular JavaScript libraries and frameworks include React, Vue.js, and Angular.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the great things about open-source libraries and frameworks is that they are continually updated and improved by the community. This means that developers can rely on them to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in web development. Additionally, the open-source nature of these resources means that developers can contribute their own improvements and features, which benefits the entire community.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Growing demand for JavaScript skills</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to its versatility and large community support, another reason why JavaScript is the #1 programming language in the world is the growing demand for JavaScript skills. As the web continues to dominate our daily lives, businesses across industries are seeking developers who can build and maintain web applications using JavaScript.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The increasing number of job opportunities for JavaScript developers is a clear indication of the growing demand for this skill set. A quick search on popular job search websites like Indeed or Glassdoor reveals thousands of job openings for JavaScript developers across various industries. Moreover, many of these jobs offer high salaries and job security, making it a lucrative and stable career choice.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the reasons for the high demand for JavaScript developers is the ubiquity of the language. Almost every website and web application uses JavaScript in some way, and as more businesses move their operations online, the demand for skilled JavaScript developers continues to grow. Additionally, the rise of mobile and cloud computing has only increased the need for developers who can build web-based applications that can run on any device and be accessed from anywhere.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Furthermore, JavaScript is not limited to any specific industry or sector. Its versatility and cross-platform capabilities make it a valuable skill for businesses across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and more. This means that developers who specialize in JavaScript can choose to work in a variety of fields, depending on their interests and career goals.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Continuous evolution and improvement</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript is also the most widely used programming language in the world because of the continuous evolution and improvement of the language. JavaScript is constantly evolving and updating to meet the changing demands of the web development industry.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the ways that JavaScript improves is through regular updates and the introduction of new features. JavaScript is an open-source language, which means that anyone can contribute to its development and improvement. The language’s maintainers release new versions of JavaScript periodically, adding new features and capabilities that improve its functionality and performance.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript’s adoption of the latest web standards is another example of its continuous improvement. As web technology continues to evolve, new standards are developed to improve the functionality and performance of web applications. JavaScript has been quick to adopt these standards, ensuring that developers can take advantage of the latest web technologies to build better applications.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The flexibility and scalability of JavaScript are also key factors in its continuous evolution and improvement. JavaScript can be used in a variety of different ways, from simple scripts to complex applications, and can be scaled to meet the needs of any project. Additionally, JavaScript’s versatility allows it to be used with a wide range of frameworks and tools, making it an adaptable language for any development project.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript’s versatility, huge community support, growing demand for skills, and continuous evolution and improvement have all contributed to its status as the #1 programming language in the world. JavaScript’s ability to work with various platforms, use in front-end and back-end web development, and integration with other programming languages make it a go-to language for developers across industries.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">JavaScript’s active online community, numerous resources available, and open-source libraries and frameworks provide a wealth of support and knowledge for developers, allowing them to easily learn and improve their JavaScript skills. The increasing number of job opportunities, high salaries, and job security also make learning JavaScript a wise investment for anyone considering a career in software development.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking to the future, the outlook for JavaScript remains bright. With the continued growth of web development and the increasing demand for fast, responsive, and engaging user experiences, the need for skilled JavaScript developers will only continue to rise. As the web continues to evolve, JavaScript will continue to evolve with it, ensuring that it remains a relevant and valuable programming language for years to come.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For developers, it is important to continue learning and improving their JavaScript skills in order to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and advancements in the language. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting out, there is always something new to learn in the world of JavaScript. By staying engaged and continuing to develop their skills, developers can ensure that they remain competitive in the job market and continue to make meaningful contributions to the web development community.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">True to its stature as the most popular programming language, there is an abundance of books to read as references to gain a deeper understanding of the language. Here are 5 recommended reads on JavaScript:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ol><li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/JavaScript-Definitive-Most-Used-Programming-Language/dp/1491952024/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=34c953ff456017283b266af708a03f1b&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">JavaScript: The Definitive Guide</a></b> by David Flanagan</li><li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eloquent-JavaScript-Modern-Introduction-Programming/dp/1593272820/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=05bf00c809bda327991def6411ba9bbf&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming</a></b> by Marijn Haverbeke</li><li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Know-JS-Yet/dp/B084DFZ6GW/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4a4d4bbe4d2a741bda8cd5b3330fc6e3&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">You Don’t Know JS Yet</a></b> by Kyle Simpson</li><li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/JavaScript-Patterns-Better-Applications-Coding/dp/0596806752/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=1b47ac6b44c55c4fd100d1bc1a74023c&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">JavaScript Patterns</a></b> by Stoyan Stefanov</li><li><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-JavaScript-Functional-Programming-maintainable/dp/183921306X/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=6821a0fac5f2ae17e4f97d2003198179&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Mastering JavaScript Functional Programming</a></b> by Federico Kereki</li></ol><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />8 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us for web development services using JavaScript.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-46319785780321981532023-03-06T16:37:00.004+08:002023-03-06T16:37:43.906+08:00Avoiding Copyright Infringement: Tips for Choosing Images for Your Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ1EtDtulZGPVPG5TRoLGiUpu6XFMlvXVutlpTy7Gs8OB9UMtj8gcCxoJ2tqOoH6keD3LSF-srs0b1l3SMBR-il9RDoZQOJqTSEMIo-_4GsJrdiUg9ij96fGQt2fJr6hFdOxCwz_9Pr-FMh0qRh9Jbpqk7ggDjwvi9kOhS2pj-CASTzAa4Fo/s1100/blog-imageori.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ1EtDtulZGPVPG5TRoLGiUpu6XFMlvXVutlpTy7Gs8OB9UMtj8gcCxoJ2tqOoH6keD3LSF-srs0b1l3SMBR-il9RDoZQOJqTSEMIo-_4GsJrdiUg9ij96fGQt2fJr6hFdOxCwz_9Pr-FMh0qRh9Jbpqk7ggDjwvi9kOhS2pj-CASTzAa4Fo/w640-h408/blog-imageori.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’re a web developer, you know the value of images in website design. They add visual appeal, convey important information, and help tell the story of your brand. However, when it comes to choosing the right images, it’s essential to avoid copyright infringement.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Using copyrighted images without permission can result in serious legal consequences, from hefty fines to lawsuits. Not to mention that it is unethical. This is why it’s important to know the ins and outs of choosing images for your website, and how to ensure they are legally and ethically sourced.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’re the kind of developer who search for images via Google, and then download the first nice image that you see in the search result for your website, chances are the image is copyrighted. In this article, we will provide tips and guidelines for selecting images that are free to use, or that you have permission to use. These tips will help you to make more professional decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Let’s get started!</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Understanding Copyright Law</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Copyright law is crucial to understand for any web developer who wishes to avoid legal issues that may arise from the use of copyrighted images on their website. Copyright law gives the creator of an image the exclusive right to use, reproduce, or distribute the image. According to “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web-Design-Developers-Programmers-Techniques/dp/1934356131/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=f29fbcceaf7c79530827d51f0cce4529&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Web Design for Developers</a></b>” by Brian Hogan, “...if you use an image without permission, you are infringing on the copyright owner’s exclusive rights, and you could be sued for damages.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Determining whether an image is copyrighted can be tricky, but there are some steps that web developers can take to avoid infringing on someone else’s work. The general rule is “if you are unsure if an image is copyrighted or not, it’s best to assume that it is and not use it”, as advised by Jon Duckett in the book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HTML-CSS-Design-Build-Websites/dp/1118008189/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=aa6ab514e77a6565eaeb7ec87950d0bf&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites</a></b>”. However, there are some images that are not protected by copyright, such as images that are in the public domain or images that have a Creative Commons license.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The consequences of copyright infringement can be severe, ranging from receiving a cease-and-desist letter to facing a lawsuit. In some cases, web developers may be required to pay damages to the copyright owner. “As a web developer, it’s important to take copyright law seriously and make every effort to ensure that you are not using copyrighted images without permission,” warns Jennifer Robbins in “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Web-Design-Beginners-JavaScript/dp/1491960205/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=ce5772a7d38b65b1af5b1abb610dcd27&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Learning Web Design</a></b>”.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Options for Obtaining Images</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Once you understand copyright law, it’s time to explore your options for obtaining images for your website without infringing on someone else’s rights. There are several options available to you, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One option is to use stock photo websites. These websites offer a vast selection of high-quality images that you can purchase for a reasonable fee. Stock photo websites like <b><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/" target="_blank">Shutterstock</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Getty Images</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/" target="_blank">iStock</a></b> are popular choices for many web developers. The advantages of using stock photo websites is that you have a wide variety of images to choose from, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for, and that you have the legal right to use them. Be sure to read the license agreement carefully before purchasing as some photos may still be subjected to certain terms and conditions of use.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another option is to use Creative Commons images. Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that provides a set of licenses that allow creators to share their work with the public while still retaining some control over how it is used. When you use a Creative Commons image, you are free to use it as long as you abide by the terms of the license. Some popular websites for finding Creative Commons images include <b><a href="https://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></b>, <b><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.pexels.com/" target="_blank">Pexels</a></b>. One advantage of using Creative Commons images is that they are often free to use, but be sure to check the specific license terms before using.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Creating your own images is also an option. This can be a great way to ensure that your images are unique and tailored specifically to your website. Plus, it can be a fun and rewarding creative process. However, creating your own images can be time-consuming and may require some technical skill and equipment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Each option has its own pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh them carefully before making a decision. Using stock photo websites and Creative Commons images may be the easiest and quickest options, but they can also be expensive and limit your creativity. On the other hand, creating your own images can be more time-consuming but offers complete control over your images.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It’s important to remember that just because an image is available online doesn’t mean that you have the legal right to use it. Always do your research and make sure that you have the legal right to use any images you use on your website. <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=991097717654ae3f4fcb4f821ca490a2&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=books&keywords=Nancy+Wolff" target="_blank">Nancy Wolff</a></b>, an attorney specializing in copyright law, advises, “The best way to avoid copyright infringement is to obtain permission or a license for the use of copyrighted material.”</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Considerations for Choosing Images</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">When choosing images for your website, there are several considerations you should keep in mind. First and foremost, the image should be relevant to the content on your website. Images that are unrelated to your website’s content can be confusing for visitors and can detract from the user experience. For example, if you are creating a website for a bakery, it makes sense to use images of baked goods rather than photos of flowers or cars.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another important consideration is image quality. Poor quality images can make your website look unprofessional and can negatively impact the user experience. When choosing images, make sure they are high-resolution and that they are not blurry or pixelated. It’s also important to ensure that the images are properly optimized for web use to minimize load times. Lengthy load times will give a massive negative impact on user experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Consistency with your website branding is another important consideration. The images you choose should match the overall style and color scheme of your website. This can help create a cohesive look and feel and can enhance the user experience. For example, if your website has a clean, modern design, it may be best to use high-quality, minimalist images rather than busy or cluttered ones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It’s important to consider your target audience when choosing images. Your images should resonate with your target audience and help communicate your brand’s message. For example, if you are targeting a younger demographic, you may want to use more vibrant and colorful images, whereas if you are targeting an older demographic, you may want to use more subdued, classic images.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Image Editing</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Once you have chosen the right images for your website, it’s time to edit them to fit your needs. This is where image editing comes into play.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Basic image editing tools are widely available and easy to use, and they can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your website. Some of the most common image editing tools include cropping, resizing, and adjusting brightness and contrast. These simple edits can help you create images that are more visually appealing and better suited to your website.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When editing images for a website, it’s important to keep in mind the size and resolution of the image. Images that are too large can slow down the loading time of your website, while images that are too small can appear blurry or pixelated. According to Kevin Siegel, the author of “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Captivate-2019-Essentials-Second/dp/194460748X/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a730c36a81a61457faf87dc33d235a3e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Adobe Captivate 2019: The Essentials</a></b>”, “The ideal size of an image depends on the space it will occupy on your web page. Smaller images may be appropriate for sidebars, while larger images may be better suited for banner images or hero shots.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Adding branding elements to images can also be a great way to reinforce your website’s branding and create a cohesive look across all of your pages. This can include adding a logo or watermark to your images, or using a specific color scheme or font for any text overlays.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to these basic editing tools, there are also more advanced editing techniques that can help you create truly unique and eye-catching images for your website. Those techniques require more skill and experience, and may be best left to professional graphic designers or photographers.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Choosing the right images for your website is not just about finding visually appealing pictures that fit the content, but it’s also about avoiding the risks of copyright infringement. By understanding copyright law and exploring various options for obtaining images, such as stock photo websites, Creative Commons images, and creating your own images, you can ensure that your website is legally compliant and visually appealing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When choosing images, it’s also important to consider relevance, quality, consistency with website branding, and target audience. Basic image editing tools can help you optimize the images for web use, adjust size and resolution, and add branding elements.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As a web developer, it’s crucial to understand the importance of choosing the right images for your website. Always remember to obtain images legally, choose images that fit the website’s content and branding, and optimize images for web use. By doing so, you can create a website that stands out while avoiding potential legal issues.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />6 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us for professional web development services.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-29788217244454199242023-03-05T14:06:00.002+08:002023-03-05T14:06:18.027+08:00Comparing 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi Bands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaUd4oKbRRXa1t6jrieKt3vE3mR8ftGTHmietEokAt9uUI3xkw9x-4VjTn-9zWTBQYlHcoepkaRZ2sf4dwTuv0IVVI5CSlaF2-NrD_RF6JzgAw7h08WiZLNYcgtWbrAvlEAX6XMWac--4PPhuC7tXzkyPA7fc8RS-dEBeTq7ma3zCFGC6nrc/s1100/blog-wifiband.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaUd4oKbRRXa1t6jrieKt3vE3mR8ftGTHmietEokAt9uUI3xkw9x-4VjTn-9zWTBQYlHcoepkaRZ2sf4dwTuv0IVVI5CSlaF2-NrD_RF6JzgAw7h08WiZLNYcgtWbrAvlEAX6XMWac--4PPhuC7tXzkyPA7fc8RS-dEBeTq7ma3zCFGC6nrc/w640-h408/blog-wifiband.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">You may have noticed nowadays that your WiFi router offers two connection choices: 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. You have wondered, what’s the difference, and which one should you use? So, let’s compare and look at the differences between these two types of WiFi so that you know which one to use.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>2.4GHz WiFi: The Basics</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">First, let’s start with 2.4GHz WiFi. This is the older and more widely used of the two bands, and it offers a slower but more reliable connection. The speed of a 2.4GHz band is typically up to 300Mbps. You’ll typically find that older devices, such as smartphones and laptops from a few years ago, only support the 2.4GHz band. This is because it’s been around for longer and is more widely supported.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the advantages of 2.4GHz WiFi is that it offers a <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">longer range than 5GHz WiFi</b>. This means that if you have a larger home or office space, you may find that 2.4GHz WiFi offers better coverage. Additionally, because 2.4GHz signals can <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">more easily penetrate through walls and obstacles</b>, you may find that your connection is more stable even if you’re far away from your router.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, 2.4GHz WiFi is also more susceptible to interference from other wireless devices and appliances. If you have a lot of other wireless devices in your home, such as cordless phones or microwaves, you may find that your connection drops or slows down. This is because these devices can interfere with the 2.4GHz signal.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>5GHz WiFi: The Basics</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, let's move on to 5GHz WiFi. This is a newer and faster band, and it offers <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">speeds of up to 1300Mbps</b> or more. However, because it’s newer, not all devices support it. You may find that older smartphones or laptops don’t have a 5GHz WiFi antenna.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the advantages of 5GHz WiFi is that it’s <b style="background-color: #fcff01;">less susceptible to interference</b> from other wireless devices and appliances. This means that you’re more likely to get a consistent connection, even if you have a lot of other devices on your network.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, 5GHz WiFi offers a shorter range than 2.4GHz WiFi. This means that if you have a large home or office space, you may find that your connection drops off when you’re far away from your router. Additionally, because 5GHz signals are more easily blocked by walls and obstacles, you may find that your connection drops if you’re in a different room or in an area with lots of walls.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Which One Should You Use?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, which WiFi band should you use? The answer depends on your specific situation. If you have a lot of older devices that only support 2.4GHz WiFi, you may need to stick with that band. Additionally, if you have a larger home or office space, you may find that 2.4GHz WiFi offers better coverage.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, if you have a lot of wireless devices in your home or office, or if you need fast and consistent speeds, you may want to use 5GHz WiFi. Just be aware that you may need to be closer to your router to get a good connection, and not all devices support this band.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 March 2023</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">-------</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank"><b>Get web design services. Contact Us.</b></a></div><p></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-17169007421506938382023-03-01T12:44:00.001+08:002023-03-01T12:44:14.072+08:0017 Best Practices To Enhance Website Security<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc9HTpbyMeec8z4bDwOnDtchZRnGLDPgsO8F6tg6RdxbihuE-jJj91BX7uK9ymrjZ1VGYxCKGYn5K61OyUIKtJgNH1kMRa2oeA6DQVoqU573q5HWEmH2Oq3G2TZjzZhRzReJ-pzW8kwYI0TaEZ6rpcWYSGmIZNS6QnFOieKNSpBJQMyHXdhU/s1100/blog-secure-wide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc9HTpbyMeec8z4bDwOnDtchZRnGLDPgsO8F6tg6RdxbihuE-jJj91BX7uK9ymrjZ1VGYxCKGYn5K61OyUIKtJgNH1kMRa2oeA6DQVoqU573q5HWEmH2Oq3G2TZjzZhRzReJ-pzW8kwYI0TaEZ6rpcWYSGmIZNS6QnFOieKNSpBJQMyHXdhU/w640-h408/blog-secure-wide.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">In today’s age of digitalizations, website security is more important than ever before. Almost every other day there will be news of data leaks or breaches somewhere. Cyberattacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and session hijacking can lead to the theft of sensitive data, financial loss, and damage to your reputation. As a web developer, it’s essential to implement best practices to enhance website security and protect your users’ data. In this article, we’ll list out 17 best practices to help you secure your website and safeguard against potential cyber threats. By referring to this list, you can help ensure that your website is a safe and secure place for your users to interact with your brand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[01]</span></b> Use parameterized queries: Parameterized queries help prevent SQL injection attacks by ensuring that user-supplied data is properly sanitized.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[02]</span></b> Use strong and unique passwords: Use <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/read-amz-it-solutions-blog/how-to-create-strong-passwords-and-remember-them" target="_blank">strong and unique passwords</a></b> for database access, and avoid using default passwords.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[03]</span></b> Implement encryption: Encrypt sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card information, and personal information, to prevent unauthorized access.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[04]</span></b> Use SSL/TLS: Use SSL/TLS to encrypt data in transit between the user’s browser and your web server, preventing Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[05]</span></b> Sanitize user inputs: Validate and sanitize user inputs to prevent malicious input, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[06]</span></b> Limit access: Restrict database access to authorized users only, and limit the privileges of each user to only what is necessary to perform their job.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[07]</span></b> Use a firewall: Use a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your web server and database.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[08]</span></b> Keep software up-to-date: Keep your web server, database, and other software up-to-date with the latest security patches.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[09]</span></b> Use a reputable hosting provider: Choose a reputable hosting provider that has strong security measures in place.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[10]</span></b> Monitor for unusual activity: Monitor your web server and database for unusual activity, such as multiple failed login attempts or unusual database queries.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[11]</span></b> Implement Two-Factor Authentication: Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to your website. 2FA requires users to provide a second form of authentication, such as a code sent to their phone or email, in addition to their password.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[12]</span></b> Secure session management: Implement secure session management to prevent session hijacking and ensure that user sessions expire after a certain period of time. Use session cookies that are marked as secure and HttpOnly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[13]</span></b> Limit error messages: Limit the amount of information that is provided in error messages to prevent attackers from gaining information about the system.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[14]</span></b> Log everything: Implement logging and monitoring tools to track all activities and events on your web server and database. This will help you identify any suspicious activity and respond to security incidents quickly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[15]</span></b> Regularly backup data: Regularly backup your database and store backups in a secure location. In the event of a security breach or data loss, backups can be used to restore lost data.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[16]</span></b> Implement a Content Security Policy: Implement a Content Security Policy (CSP) to prevent cross-site scripting attacks by whitelisting the domains that are allowed to load scripts on your website.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">[17]</span></b> Conduct security audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in your website and database. Address any vulnerabilities found in a timely manner.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Securing your website is crucial for protecting your business and ensuring that your users’ data remains safe. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and provide a safe online experience for your users. To continue learning about website security, we recommend reading some of these highly recommended books: “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web-Application-Security-Beginners-Guide/dp/0071776168/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=d266b063472d72fe483faa1db26035e6&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Web Application Security: A Beginner’s Guide</a></b>” by Bryan Sullivan and Vincent Liu, “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web-Application-Hackers-Handbook-Exploiting/dp/1118026470/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4aec1b098f2fb1eef64d5cbfe1623a30&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook: Finding and Exploiting Security Flaws</a></b>” by Dafydd Stuttard and Marcus Pinto, and “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hat-Python-2nd-Programming/dp/1718501129/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=9a96a51312baa1a1463028b772b56fe3&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Black Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Pentesters</a></b>” by Justin Seitz. With the knowledge gained from these resources, you’ll be better equipped to keep your website secure and protect against potential cyber threats.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />1 March 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us for web development services.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-53256957819117871992023-02-28T15:43:00.009+08:002023-02-28T15:44:42.313+08:00The Limitations of Social Media Pages: Why a Website is a Must-Have<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTLPdDQTVljX9ZXzAM2GK7o_qzAVv0_uqUbOA8Kizo0v29Q8YSmd-oRGgReDo0KiBjEC67TzjnKf6G_EKlRY8i6ykD84oODBSyNqBU2diktbgQHcklqm27Rw3yhD-y6Pm9I61tqu_wEzH2UcaFR8KT5GoXxqN5MpglFbuja5Hurkesxh1sKc/s1100/blog-socmedweb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTLPdDQTVljX9ZXzAM2GK7o_qzAVv0_uqUbOA8Kizo0v29Q8YSmd-oRGgReDo0KiBjEC67TzjnKf6G_EKlRY8i6ykD84oODBSyNqBU2diktbgQHcklqm27Rw3yhD-y6Pm9I61tqu_wEzH2UcaFR8KT5GoXxqN5MpglFbuja5Hurkesxh1sKc/w640-h408/blog-socmedweb.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. As more and more people turn to the internet for information and products, a company’s online presence has become a vital component of its success. In his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Marketing-Handbook-Step-Step/dp/1599186217/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=1af4f6f411c665e81387afef90f30900&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">The Digital Marketing Handbook</a></b>”, Robert W. Bly states, “Your website is your company’s <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">24/7 marketing and sales representative</span>, constantly providing information and services to customers around the world.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Social media pages, such as Facebook and Instagram, have become popular platforms for businesses to connect with customers and promote their brand. However, having a website is equally important. A website is a dedicated space that a company owns and controls, where they can provide comprehensive information about their products and services. As explained in the book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Age-Google-Revised-Updated/dp/B01FGMU3VW/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=410231488a573d1857eb27fdab638960&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Marketing in the Age of Google, Revised and Updated</a></b>” by Vanessa Fox, “Your website is your online storefront, your brand’s digital hub, and <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">the first place people go to learn about your company</span>.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While social media pages can be useful for engaging with customers and building a following, they have limitations when it comes to presenting information and conducting transactions. A website allows a company to have a more professional and comprehensive online presence. In the book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web-Design-Developers-Programmers-Techniques/dp/1934356131/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=07556e35065db738dae5927e6912698e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Web Design for Developers</a></b>”, Brian Hogan explains that, “A website is more than just a digital brochure. It’s a platform that can be used to reach out to customers, sell products, and interact with your audience in a more meaningful way.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to have a website in addition to a social media page. The website can serve as a central hub for all online activities, providing a professional and comprehensive space for customers to engage with the brand. In the following sections, we will explore in more detail why a website is a must-have for businesses and the limitations of relying solely on a social media page.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Customization and Branding</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Customization and branding are essential for any business that wants to establish its unique identity and stand out in a crowded market. A website offers a wide range of customization and branding opportunities that social media pages simply cannot match.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Branding, as Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller in their book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Management-Global-Philip-Kotler/dp/1292404817/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=cfa711dc698f82e30a98a37491f6b67d&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Marketing Management</a></b>” explain, “...is a powerful means of cultivating deep emotional connections between the company and its customers. A strong brand creates a distinctive image, inspires customer loyalty, and differentiates a company from its competitors.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A website allows businesses to create a <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">distinct online presence</span> that reflects their brand identity. From the layout to the color scheme, every design element can be tailored to create a consistent and cohesive brand image. The logo, fonts, and images used on the website can be carefully chosen to reinforce the brand and make it more recognizable to customers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, social media pages are limited in their customization options. While some platforms do offer basic customization tools, businesses are still limited by the platform’s design and functionality. As a result, social media pages can look generic and fail to reflect a business’ unique brand identity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, a website allows for greater control over the user experience. Navigation menus can be designed to help users find what they need quickly and efficiently. Custom forms and calls-to-action can be added to encourage user engagement and lead generation. Social media pages are limited in their ability to control the user experience, which can lead to frustration and a lack of engagement from users.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Ownership and Control</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Owning and controlling a website offers many benefits to businesses that social media pages simply cannot offer. The first of these benefits is the ability to have complete ownership and control over the content and functionality of the website. <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=5e2cf1e450c0666ce4ee575d8ad04a1e&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=books&keywords=Robin+Houghton" target="_blank">Robin Houghton</a></b> explains that owning a website means “you have total control over the branding, the user experience, and the content.” This is crucial for businesses who want to establish their own unique online presence and stand out from their competitors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another benefit of owning a website is the ability to monetize the site and generate revenue through advertising, e-commerce, or other means. This is not possible on social media pages, which are designed primarily for social interactions rather than commercial activities. As David Meerman Scott writes in his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Marketing-PR-Applications/dp/1119070481/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=7f4199efc7e1b4d7136f171c1e3f752e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly</a></b>”, “A website is your <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">online property</span>. It’s the place where you can create a destination that people come to learn about you and buy from you.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition, owning a website allows businesses to gather valuable data and insights about their customers and their online behavior. This data can then be used to inform marketing strategies and improve the user experience on the site. Andrew Macarthy in his book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/500-Social-Media-Marketing-Tips/dp/179279603X/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e7fc4b2c63f4481add9cc8de8592712c&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">500 Social Media Marketing Tips: Essential Advice, Hints, and Strategy for Business</a></b>” explains, “Your website analytics data provides you with a wealth of information about your customers, such as where they’re coming from, what pages they’re visiting, and how long they’re staying.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Social media pages, on the other hand, are subject to the terms and conditions of the social media platforms on which they are hosted. These platforms can change their policies and algorithms at any time, affecting the reach and visibility of the content posted on them. In contrast, owning a website means that businesses have complete control over the content and can ensure that it is presented in the best possible way to their target audience.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Functionality and Features</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Websites offer a vast range of functionality and features that are not possible on social media pages. One of the most significant advantages of having a website is the ability to customize and optimize its functionality to suit the specific needs of a business. This means that businesses can tailor their website to offer unique features that help them stand out from the competition and provide a more comprehensive and personalized experience for their customers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For instance, an e-commerce website can offer features such as shopping carts, product search, and detailed product descriptions that help customers make informed buying decisions. Additionally, businesses can include interactive elements like c<span style="background-color: #fcff01;">ustomer feedback forms</span>, <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">live chat support</span>, and <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">appointment scheduling</span> that enhance customer engagement and lead to higher conversion rates. Social media pages, on the other hand, have limited functionality and are primarily designed for social networking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Websites can also offer businesses the ability to create a <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">customer support system</span>. This can include features such as live chat, ticketing systems, and forums. By providing a platform for customers to ask questions and receive support, businesses can improve customer satisfaction and reduce the workload on their support staff.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Search Engine Optimization</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Having a website for your business can significantly improve your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. With a website, businesses can optimize their content with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and tags to increase their visibility on search engines. A website also allows businesses to create unique and valuable content, which can help attract organic traffic and improve their search engine rankings.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to <b><a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/seo-success-factors/" target="_blank">Search Engine Journal</a></b>, <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">93% of online experiences begin with a search engine</span>, making it crucial for businesses to optimize their online presence. Social media pages can be indexed by search engines, but they are limited in terms of optimization opportunities. A website, on the other hand, provides more control over the optimization process, allowing businesses to rank higher on search engines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Businesses can use a website to create landing pages, which are specifically designed to target certain keywords and phrases, and drive more traffic to their site. Landing pages can be optimized with keyword-rich content, meta descriptions, and other SEO tactics, making them a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve their online visibility.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to creating landing pages, businesses can also use their website to create a blog, which is another effective way to improve their search engine rankings. By regularly creating high-quality blog content, businesses can attract more organic traffic and establish themselves as industry thought leaders.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While social media pages can help increase brand awareness and engage with customers, they are limited in terms of SEO opportunities. By having a website, businesses can significantly improve their online visibility and attract more organic traffic. A website allows businesses to optimize their content with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and tags, create landing pages, and <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">establish themselves as thought leaders</span> through a blog.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Integrating Social Media</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Integrating social media with your website can help to enhance your online presence and increase engagement with your audience. Social media integration allows for the sharing of website content on social media platforms, which can drive traffic to your website and increase visibility. Additionally, embedding social media feeds on your website can provide fresh and relevant content, which can improve user engagement and increase time spent on your website.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to marketing expert <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=8d273f5dc7b78e2bb7878eef36e5345d&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=books&keywords=Ryan+Deiss" target="_blank">Ryan Deiss</a></b>, “Social media shouldn’t be a separate channel, it should be an integrated part of your entire marketing strategy, including your website.” By integrating your social media pages with your website, you can create a cohesive online presence that reflects your brand identity and values.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, businesses can add social media buttons to their website that allow users to easily connect with their social media pages. This can increase the reach of your social media content and provide another avenue for customers to engage with your brand. Additionally, businesses can create landing pages on their website specifically for social media campaigns, which can provide a more targeted and personalized experience for social media followers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While social media pages are limited in terms of design and functionality, a website can provide a more customizable and interactive experience for users. By integrating social media with your website, businesses can take advantage of the benefits of both platforms to create a comprehensive online presence that reflects their brand identity and engages their audience.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Hence, while social media pages are valuable for businesses, they <span style="background-color: #fcff01;">should not be the sole platform</span> for online presence. The limitations of social media pages can be overcome with the use of a website. A website allows for greater customization and branding opportunities, provides businesses with ownership and control, offers a wide range of functionality and features, improves search engine rankings, and enables integration with various social media.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To effectively utilize both social media and a website, businesses should aim to create a cohesive online presence. For example, they can use social media to direct traffic to their website and provide a more in-depth look at their products and services. Additionally, businesses can use their website to showcase their social media pages and provide a seamless experience for their customers. By utilizing both platforms, businesses can increase their online visibility and enhance their brand identity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’re a business owner looking to establish or improve your online presence, consider consulting a web development business to create a website that complements your social media pages. As Steve Krug, author of “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=32caf0ee5ff1eca4fd84caf02a028816&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability</a></b>”, once said, “Good design is not about making things look pretty; it’s about creating an interface that is easy to use and that accomplishes the user’s goals.” A well-designed website can help you achieve your business goals and attract more customers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, having a website in addition to a social media page is a must-have for businesses that want to establish a strong online presence. By overcoming the limitations of social media pages and utilizing the benefits of a website, businesses can enhance their brand identity, improve search engine rankings, and increase their online visibility. So, if you haven’t already, consider creating a website to complement your social media pages and take your business to the next level.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />28 February 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us now to start building your professional website.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-55689834606322582962023-02-27T15:26:00.007+08:002023-02-27T15:26:51.031+08:00Investing in a Customized Online System: Is It Worth It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ8hoFARYS6KgbwKrruP3iCgzttThimhVI5MvzEP3n03DcI_MqcerpTPEucL6e7_B9X9cbUjSV8rtbzVvE3HOzFS7xLqpsM0Om9XCThG5UmvkCD1XX_q09iCE9ZcqEUYnxbl4lHla8d-Iu5eXBc8HS4hhn4XL2c5TuX66Ac1s2UjLaFbHFns/s1100/blog-customize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ8hoFARYS6KgbwKrruP3iCgzttThimhVI5MvzEP3n03DcI_MqcerpTPEucL6e7_B9X9cbUjSV8rtbzVvE3HOzFS7xLqpsM0Om9XCThG5UmvkCD1XX_q09iCE9ZcqEUYnxbl4lHla8d-Iu5eXBc8HS4hhn4XL2c5TuX66Ac1s2UjLaFbHFns/w640-h408/blog-customize.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">A customized online system is a software solution that is tailored to meet the specific needs of a company or organization. It is designed to automate and streamline various business processes, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Customized online systems can include an employee leave management system, a student disciplinary record system, a point of sales system, an inventory management system, a project management system, and many others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In today’s business landscape, customized online systems are becoming increasingly important for companies and organizations of all sizes. With the rapid growth of technology, businesses need to keep up with the latest trends in order to remain competitive. Investing in a customized online system can help businesses achieve this goal by providing them with a powerful tool to manage their operations. If they don’t invest in a customized online system, they will soon be left behind by their competitors who do.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There are many benefits of investing in a customized online system. It can save time and money by automating repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and eliminating the need for manual processes. It can also improve data accuracy and security, allowing businesses to make better decisions based on real-time information. Additionally, a customized online system can be scaled to meet the changing needs of a business, making it a long-term cost-saving strategy.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Cost-effective</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">A customized online system can be a cost-saving strategy for businesses in the long run. Although building a customized online system requires a significant investment upfront, it can help to reduce operational costs over time. By streamlining business processes, a customized online system can help businesses to operate more efficiently and effectively, leading to cost savings in areas such as labour, resources, and time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When comparing the costs of building a customized online system versus using off-the-shelf software, it is important to consider the long-term benefits of a customized solution. While off-the-shelf software may have a lower initial cost, it may not be tailored to the specific needs of the business. This can lead to inefficiencies and additional costs in the long run, as businesses may need to invest in additional software or workarounds to address gaps in functionality.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, a customized online system can be designed to meet the unique needs of the business, minimizing the need for additional software or workarounds. This can help to reduce overall costs and increase the return on investment for the business.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Streamlined Processes</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the key benefits of investing in a customized online system is the ability to streamline business processes. With a system that is specifically designed to meet the needs of your business, you can automate many of your manual processes, reduce paperwork, and eliminate redundancies. By doing so, you can save time and money while increasing overall efficiency.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, a customized employee leave management system can help you automate the process of tracking and managing employee leave requests. This can eliminate the need for paper-based leave request forms and manual tracking, resulting in significant time savings. Similarly, a customized inventory management system can help you automate the process of tracking inventory levels and orders, reducing the risk of stockouts and overstocking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The difference between business processes before and after the implementation of a customized online system can be significant. Before implementing a customized system, businesses may rely on manual processes that are time-consuming and prone to errors. For example, an organization may have a paper-based system for tracking employee leave requests. This system may require employees to fill out a form, which is then manually routed to a manager for approval. The manager may then have to manually perform some verifications before approval, and then enter the information into a spreadsheet or other tracking system.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With a customized online system, however, the process can be streamlined and automated. Employees can submit leave requests online, which are then automatically routed to the appropriate manager for approval. The system can automatically track employee leave balances, making it easy for managers to see how much leave each employee has available. The system can also check for overlaps to ensure the number of employees going on leave at any given date does not exceed certain threshold. Overall, a customized online system can improve the efficiency of your business processes, resulting in significant time and cost savings.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Scalability</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the biggest advantages of investing in a customized online system is scalability. As your business grows, your system needs to grow with it. A customized online system can be designed to accommodate the current needs of your business, but it can also be designed to scale with your business in the future. This means that as your business grows, your system can be adapted and expanded to meet your changing needs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, if you need to add new functionality to your system, such as a new module or feature, a customized system can be easily modified to accommodate these changes. Similarly, if your business expands to new locations or adds new users, a customized system can be designed to handle these changes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Off-the-shelf software can be a good option for small businesses or those with limited budgets. However, as your business grows, you may find that off-the-shelf software has limitations that prevent it from accommodating your specific needs. For example, off-the-shelf software may have a limited number of users or a fixed set of features that cannot be modified. Customized online systems, on the other hand, can be designed specifically for your business needs and can be adapted as your business grows and evolves.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Data Security</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">A customized online system offers a higher level of data security compared to off-the-shelf software solutions. With a customized system, businesses can incorporate advanced security features and ensure their data is protected against various cyber threats. Customized systems can be designed with specific security features in mind, such as access control, data encryption, and regular backups. This means that businesses can tailor their online systems to meet their unique security needs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, off-the-shelf software solutions are designed to meet the needs of a broad range of businesses, making them more vulnerable to security risks. These types of software solutions often come with pre-set security features that may not be tailored to meet the specific needs of a particular business. Additionally, because off-the-shelf software solutions are widely used, they are more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals, making them more prone to security breaches.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By investing in a customized online system, businesses can have peace of mind knowing that their data is secure. They can also take advantage of additional security features such as regular software updates, intrusion detection, and firewalls. These features can be incorporated into the customized system to create a secure environment that meets the unique needs of the business, and the flexibility to grow and adapt to changing market conditions.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Investing in a customized online system can be a smart long-term strategy for businesses to save costs, streamline processes, accommodate growth, and provide superior data security. The upfront investment in building a customized system can lead to significant long-term savings compared to using off-the-shelf software.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you’re interested in exploring customized online systems for your business, it’s important to start by assessing your specific needs and goals. From there, you can work with a web development company like AMZ IT Solutions to create a customized solution that fits your unique business requirements.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />27 February 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br /><b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us today and take the first step towards improving your business processes and increasing efficiency.</a></b></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-34627593420275203602023-02-27T10:53:00.002+08:002023-02-27T10:53:16.526+08:00 WHY DRIVE C? NOT A OR B?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wim1Uto2YLMEBPH_o7PFyOKkA_5_ML642AIQaNQJLT-FEyftWbgS5Hb2_CB_jBOlsfmTLkUqjG5e5_QoDENu5RW-U7tnZi53qR3qx-zwe4RAl9Jjlov7llQIoHiKnVM5WHqlJdcyQ0lghQ4c5genfg60DPZa0ELBhC-JCELLkCNbWqo3twM/s1100/blog-diskette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wim1Uto2YLMEBPH_o7PFyOKkA_5_ML642AIQaNQJLT-FEyftWbgS5Hb2_CB_jBOlsfmTLkUqjG5e5_QoDENu5RW-U7tnZi53qR3qx-zwe4RAl9Jjlov7llQIoHiKnVM5WHqlJdcyQ0lghQ4c5genfg60DPZa0ELBhC-JCELLkCNbWqo3twM/w640-h408/blog-diskette.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever wondered why the main drive in Windows is always labeled as C: and not A: or B:? This is a question that has puzzled many people, and the answer lies in the early days of computing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Back in the 1970s and 1980s, floppy disk drives were the primary means of data storage for personal computers. Hard disks were big and expensive back then so they were not so popular. Those floppy disk drives were labeled A: and B: in the order in which they were physically connected to the computer. This left the letter C: available for the first hard disk drive that was added to the computer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As computers became more advanced, the use of floppy disks declined, and hard disk drives became the primary means of data storage. However, the lettering convention of A: and B: for floppy drives remained, while the letter C: was used for the primary hard disk drive.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This convention has been maintained to this day, and while it may seem like an odd choice, it has become a standard that is unlikely to change anytime soon. In fact, some older computer programs may still require the C: drive designation, so it is important to keep this convention in mind when managing your computer's storage.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While it may seem like a minor detail, understanding the history behind the C: drive designation can give you a deeper appreciation for the evolution of computing and the role that early technology played in shaping the conventions that we still use today.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">-----</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli</div><div style="text-align: justify;">27 February 2023</div><p></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-81114034546707855192023-02-25T08:50:00.006+08:002023-02-25T08:50:24.426+08:00DESCO, A Simple Online System for Membership Database<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3bvRK0egkie3alXWRaZGbK4Pso0UpW6i3TgdyLsvsTR_6y0NTDqKhjuMEz0_emiZ1k97cFO5T6Q9LFVBb8p6MoRqu2iU-clDr98Lr3pVPj83k8P7xmi9SV1Ts5pQeBHGFcgrKUewiyVQWwTWwUyOyif7kVVShQQ40TFi6_FopVd9qqWYoFQ/s1100/blog-society.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3bvRK0egkie3alXWRaZGbK4Pso0UpW6i3TgdyLsvsTR_6y0NTDqKhjuMEz0_emiZ1k97cFO5T6Q9LFVBb8p6MoRqu2iU-clDr98Lr3pVPj83k8P7xmi9SV1Ts5pQeBHGFcgrKUewiyVQWwTWwUyOyif7kVVShQQ40TFi6_FopVd9qqWYoFQ/w400-h255/blog-society.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Introducing <b>DESCO</b>, a simple online system for membership database. DESCO is a system that was developed more than 10 years ago, so the overall look of this system is a bit old school. DESCO was developed to help clubs or organizations that are still using spreadsheets (like MS Excel) to store their membership database. With this system, they can easily record all of their members’ information; then filter or search according to various terms. They can also record members’ participation in events organized by the club and have some statistics to monitor the progress of their club’s membership.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The demo of this system is <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/demo/desco" target="_blank">uploaded to our site, here</a></b>. Please contact us to request full access to the demo system. The system is fully customizable, and any number of functions can be added to the system should any organization is interested in using this system. For any enquiries regarding DESCO, contact us at: <b><a href="mailto:naim@amz.com.my" target="_blank">naim@amz.com.my</a></b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__spPxEMLu1tZhynXnG0-_eB2g30CAlt84kKo-Ek2NNcSW6a3Hk8bhAl9OROizT0LyZ0G2ZGTYCbywmzqRIApKr0GBDq5YsuVMVhW6hrEQxFhvaToXB020l1kWAjW-_FpzfReLpRBMwHh8IwZvovLv0oWLvh8jqMLXuS6ZU8CwU9AEBbm-kc/s1080/desco_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__spPxEMLu1tZhynXnG0-_eB2g30CAlt84kKo-Ek2NNcSW6a3Hk8bhAl9OROizT0LyZ0G2ZGTYCbywmzqRIApKr0GBDq5YsuVMVhW6hrEQxFhvaToXB020l1kWAjW-_FpzfReLpRBMwHh8IwZvovLv0oWLvh8jqMLXuS6ZU8CwU9AEBbm-kc/w640-h640/desco_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1yQXEbj0c-ZrDLyjuL4LwTo1VaJkbs-G8nL3WFu9VG-nAgKwk3afx6r3zqFLMuShATLDJ9GtHB1waJwmCGCQhgnq3OqXKc783nT-Jur91h_V6kyHR7RHy4QSncsRk6elnZr7w1L7FUraUNi5mI0Fxijz9h26jcwk9UALPoCPQPhqJ8XEMxk/s1080/desco_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1yQXEbj0c-ZrDLyjuL4LwTo1VaJkbs-G8nL3WFu9VG-nAgKwk3afx6r3zqFLMuShATLDJ9GtHB1waJwmCGCQhgnq3OqXKc783nT-Jur91h_V6kyHR7RHy4QSncsRk6elnZr7w1L7FUraUNi5mI0Fxijz9h26jcwk9UALPoCPQPhqJ8XEMxk/w640-h640/desco_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNt3HWkXar75hmlAzENqTNIUtbJ50hzKI2dj06gYc6HkRzqxkN9vVz2iX0R07Zjn1mAKyRRB3BU4xShxwGAL89temo4anYAdPnqggFlPIUkPgYDi0Ucv8Vm-kJXeVICM_HYm8oVPbMv-37EBYrHX-GX74wC3Me_IE7q7Gb1TKa1ABQZO_TO0/s1080/desco_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNt3HWkXar75hmlAzENqTNIUtbJ50hzKI2dj06gYc6HkRzqxkN9vVz2iX0R07Zjn1mAKyRRB3BU4xShxwGAL89temo4anYAdPnqggFlPIUkPgYDi0Ucv8Vm-kJXeVICM_HYm8oVPbMv-37EBYrHX-GX74wC3Me_IE7q7Gb1TKa1ABQZO_TO0/w640-h640/desco_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMBCRDBdrPusU_JJ7AIgUJYCmWuOm9gws6vN-1oj3I8oiE4qojtgRjxnHkN6g71gfhQGT_omps-nx-VBNA_SaIEzLEoqawaIxAymQ96HxeX4tVYLbjLxrYuzB33YA5niTPrPcLJF2H5nlg0PjcqvBsoefEmuAiiV7UJzHorORQ-BFg7W9HTU/s1080/desco_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMBCRDBdrPusU_JJ7AIgUJYCmWuOm9gws6vN-1oj3I8oiE4qojtgRjxnHkN6g71gfhQGT_omps-nx-VBNA_SaIEzLEoqawaIxAymQ96HxeX4tVYLbjLxrYuzB33YA5niTPrPcLJF2H5nlg0PjcqvBsoefEmuAiiV7UJzHorORQ-BFg7W9HTU/w640-h640/desco_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-28344230948051673202023-02-23T13:57:00.006+08:002023-02-23T13:57:36.815+08:005 Reasons Open Source Is Better For You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyde1r7cSm9CAWFBPt9LcgxhiuZCfSofStJKaHgC1SZnD-yFC3i5-ZTdbCuHEMWdptNK2cRuWN1wEV-_iwehnl68Q4E-F79Aq0oG0DQ_Ks0cBhH0r-MOTzKP9-NKk8v0MUeBDRn-3mhH_GkEl0wdDrxW4vhleRKDE9h-GVkwHha-6hvKyb8Tk/s1100/blog-opensource.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyde1r7cSm9CAWFBPt9LcgxhiuZCfSofStJKaHgC1SZnD-yFC3i5-ZTdbCuHEMWdptNK2cRuWN1wEV-_iwehnl68Q4E-F79Aq0oG0DQ_Ks0cBhH0r-MOTzKP9-NKk8v0MUeBDRn-3mhH_GkEl0wdDrxW4vhleRKDE9h-GVkwHha-6hvKyb8Tk/w640-h408/blog-opensource.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Open source software has become increasingly popular in recent years. In fact, much of the technology we consume on a daily basis runs on open source (<b><a href="https://www.ashnik.com/top-5-open-source-trends-for-2023-whats-next-for-os/" target="_blank">Jobanputra, 2023</a></b>). The concept is simple: source code is freely available to anyone who wishes to modify or improve upon it. This means that the community can collaborate to create the best possible version of a software product. This is in contrast to proprietary software, which is owned by a company and only available to those who purchase a license.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The idea of open source software is not new. In fact, it can be traced back to the early days of computing. The Free Software Foundation was founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman, and it was instrumental in promoting the idea of software freedom. In the years since, the open source movement has grown, and it now encompasses a wide range of software products. To learn more about the history of the development of open source, read “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Free-Freedom-Richard-Stallmans-Software/dp/0596002874?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=17ac7387f1494752711ad0f465a114a4&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software</a></b>” by Sam Williams. The book tells the story of Richard Stallman, his fight for free and open-source software, and his contributions to the development of the free software movement, including the GNU operating system and the creation of the Free Software Foundation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In this article, we will explore 5 reasons why open source software is better for you. These reasons range from the practical to the philosophical, and we believe that they provide a compelling case for why you should consider using open source software in your daily life. By the end of this article, we hope that you will have a better understanding of what open source software is and why it is an important part of the software ecosystem.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Reason #1: Flexibility</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Open source software is widely known for its flexibility, which is one of the primary reasons why it is preferred over proprietary software. Flexibility refers to the ability to modify, customize, and extend software to meet specific needs. Open source software is designed to be highly customizable, giving users the freedom to modify it as they see fit. This means that users are not limited to the functionality provided by the software but can tailor it to their unique requirements.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The flexibility of open source software has several benefits. For one, it allows users to experiment with new features and functions that are not available in the original software. It also enables users to fix bugs and errors in the code, which can improve the software’s overall performance. Another advantage of flexibility is that it allows users to create custom solutions that are specific to their needs, without having to rely on third-party vendors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the best examples of open source software that offers flexibility is the Linux operating system. Linux is known for its highly customizable nature, which allows users to modify and extend it in countless ways. With Linux, users can create custom distributions that are optimized for specific tasks or hardware configurations. They can also modify the user interface, add or remove features, and fine-tune the system for maximum performance.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Other examples of open source software that offer flexibility include the Apache web server, the MySQL database management system, and the WordPress content management system. All of these software applications are highly customizable and can be extended in various ways to meet specific needs.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Reason #2: Cost-effective</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the biggest advantages of open source software is its cost-effectiveness. Unlike proprietary software that requires a license fee, open source software is free to download, use, and distribute. This means that individuals and organizations can use open source software without any upfront costs or ongoing fees, making it an affordable alternative to proprietary software.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The cost-effectiveness of open source software provides several benefits. Firstly, it enables individuals and organizations to save money on software expenses, which can be redirected to other areas of their business or personal life. Secondly, it allows for greater access to technology, particularly in developing countries where proprietary software may be too expensive. Finally, the lack of licensing fees means that open source software can be easily shared and distributed, promoting collaboration and innovation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What are some examples of open source software that are cost-effective? Well, there are several open source software options that are cost-effective, including:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li>LibreOffice, a free alternative to Microsoft Office that provides similar functionality for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations</li><li>GIMP, a free and open source image editing program that is comparable to Adobe Photoshop</li><li>WordPress, a popular content management system that is free to use and provides a customizable platform for building websites</li><li>Ubuntu, a free and open source operating system that is a viable alternative to Windows or Mac OS</li><li>Blender, a free and open source 3D creation software that can be used for animations, visual effects, and video games</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">By using cost-effective open source software, individuals and organizations can benefit from the same features and functionalities as proprietary software without the associated costs.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Reason #3: Transparency</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the key characteristics of open source software is transparency. Open source software is developed in a collaborative manner, with the source code open and available for anyone to view, modify, and redistribute. This transparency is essential for creating trust between the software developers and the users.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Transparency in open source software offers several benefits for end-users. One of the primary advantages is that it allows users to understand how the software works and what data it collects. This helps users make informed decisions about whether or not to use the software, and how to configure it to meet their needs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another benefit of transparency is that it makes it easier to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. With the source code open for inspection, any security issues can be identified and addressed quickly. This is in contrast to proprietary software, where security vulnerabilities may remain hidden for months or even years, putting users at risk. A recent example of how proprietary software hides issues is when Outlook users were suddenly flooded with spam, but the Microsoft team does not reveal (even a little) what the real problem was to the users (<b><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/outlook-users-express-alarm-as-inboxes-flood-with-spam/" target="_blank">Mogg, 2023</a></b>).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Transparency also promotes innovation and collaboration. With open access to the source code, developers can build upon existing software, creating new and innovative applications. This collaboration can lead to faster development, improved functionality, and a greater variety of software options for users.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Several examples of open source software demonstrate the benefits of transparency. The Mozilla Firefox web browser, for instance, is an open source browser that offers users complete control over their online experience. The browser is transparent in its operation and provides users with access to the source code, allowing them to modify and customize it to meet their needs.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Reason #4: Security</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Open source software is often considered more secure than proprietary software due to its unique development model. In open source, the source code is available for anyone to inspect, test, and improve, creating a collaborative environment that can quickly identify and fix vulnerabilities. This collaborative effort often results in a more secure software ecosystem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the key benefits of security in open source software is the ability to detect and fix vulnerabilities quickly. With the source code openly available, any developer can audit the code for potential security flaws, making it easier to identify and address issues. Additionally, the community can come together to share information and best practices for securing the software.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Examples of open source software that prioritize security include the Linux operating system, which is widely used in enterprise environments, as well as security-focused applications like GnuPG for encryption and OpenVPN for secure network connections. The Apache web server, which powers a significant portion of websites on the internet, is also an open source project that places a strong emphasis on security. In fact, Apache and Nginx (both open source web servers), is used by more than 66% of all websites (<b><a href="https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/web_server" target="_blank">W3Techs</a></b>); and, Unix-based operating systems (like Linux) powers more than 80% of all websites globally (<b><a href="https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/operating_system" target="_blank">W3Techs</a></b>).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">By using open source software, users can benefit from a more secure computing environment, with the knowledge that the software they are using has been thoroughly vetted by a community of developers. Open source also provides the added benefit of being transparent, allowing users to see exactly how the software operates and ensuring that it is free from backdoors or other malicious code.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Reason #5: Community support</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Open source software development is typically supported by a community of volunteers who contribute their time, skills, and knowledge to the project. The community consists of developers, users, and other contributors who share a common interest in advancing the software. This collaborative effort is what makes open source software so unique and powerful. To further understand the sheer size of this collaboration, over 413 million contributions were made to open source projects on GitHub in 2022 alone, with more than 20 million people from around the world already on GitHub (<b><a href="https://www.ashnik.com/top-5-open-source-trends-for-2023-whats-next-for-os/" target="_blank">Jobanputra, 2023</a></b>). In comparison, Microsoft has a total number of only 221,000 employees.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the benefits of community support is that it helps to identify and fix bugs in the software more quickly. With many people working on the same codebase, bugs are often spotted and fixed faster than they would be in proprietary software. Additionally, the community can provide support and answer questions for new users, making it easier for people to get started with the software.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another advantage of community support is the ability to influence the direction of the software. With an active community, users can suggest new features, offer feedback on existing features, and contribute code to the project. This means that open source software can evolve to better meet the needs of its users, rather than being beholden to the interests of a single company.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is no doubt that open source software is becoming more popular by the day. In this article, we have explored five reasons why open source is better for you. We began by highlighting the flexibility of open source software, which allows users to modify the code to fit their specific needs. We also discussed the cost-effectiveness of open source software, which can be used for free, without the need for licensing fees.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We also explored the transparency of open source software, which allows users to see the code and ensure that no malicious activities are taking place. Furthermore, we discussed the security benefits of open source software, which is usually more secure than proprietary software due to the constant review of the code by a community of developers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, we touched on the community support that comes with open source software. This support is usually in the form of forums, documentation, and contributions from other developers. It creates a community-driven culture that helps to improve the software over time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you haven’t already, try out open source software and see how it can benefit you. For further reading about open source technology, we recommend “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Bazaar-Musings-Accidental-Revolutionary/dp/0596001088?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fa86c2bcb2b1296434e7a83b755772bc&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">The Cathedral and the Bazaar</a></b>” by Eric S. Raymond and “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Open-Sources-Voices-Source-Revolution/dp/1565925823?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=f67c777ad730f4f1656966a69deefc52&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution</a></b>” edited by Chris DiBona, Sam Ockman, and Mark Stone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />23 February 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br />Open source solutions can save office operations costs. <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact us to learn more</a></b>.</p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-5036255034712527112023-02-22T15:34:00.008+08:002023-02-22T15:34:49.164+08:00What is a URL?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVLy3SW8dz-vqUuSVwIV1Qf_IlANFzQRiP05rrxRyhK0kJrZRO3FAgmjImuLMCz8v-exxTytS_oEyETn-Pr9zTMtmJjE4NKg2OkRVVIzU1N9C9_l09eDrY5XEKPXSPXc0-sTF5A-OIUWk48CkNT3_UbLBjTlDW1UR-T6EvvFeQ_jx8GggDLA/s1100/blog-url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVLy3SW8dz-vqUuSVwIV1Qf_IlANFzQRiP05rrxRyhK0kJrZRO3FAgmjImuLMCz8v-exxTytS_oEyETn-Pr9zTMtmJjE4NKg2OkRVVIzU1N9C9_l09eDrY5XEKPXSPXc0-sTF5A-OIUWk48CkNT3_UbLBjTlDW1UR-T6EvvFeQ_jx8GggDLA/w640-h408/blog-url.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Introduction</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and one of its most important components is the URL. You may have heard of the term “URL” before, but don’t really know what it is. Understanding URLs can be one of the most effective ways to avoid falling victim to phishing scams. A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is a string of characters that identifies a specific web page, document, or other resource on the internet. URLs allow us to navigate the vast expanse of the web and access the information we need quickly and easily.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu3rqA5nyinVbG1wHzXjqzZeHJINlXosiSVjJCOL1D2cwAJSjL4OaCy_LOwCPnwbI4ebHKeVlVnxf8AujpKiyehS5Uhh7nzKCLo0oLO5ltTc6QIHYjQp_A2D4lF-0ZY_EH97Ul9RhvnkJLHE8tpnvJvzdNXN59Z24-Nvt44QKk108S137lb0/s1248/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1248" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu3rqA5nyinVbG1wHzXjqzZeHJINlXosiSVjJCOL1D2cwAJSjL4OaCy_LOwCPnwbI4ebHKeVlVnxf8AujpKiyehS5Uhh7nzKCLo0oLO5ltTc6QIHYjQp_A2D4lF-0ZY_EH97Ul9RhvnkJLHE8tpnvJvzdNXN59Z24-Nvt44QKk108S137lb0/w640-h246/Slide1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The concept of a URL dates back to the early days of the internet, when it was known as ARPANET. At that time, the internet was a relatively small network used primarily by researchers and academics. As the internet grew and became more widely used, the need for a standardized way to identify and access resources on the network became apparent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1994, Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, proposed the idea of a URL as a way to standardize web addresses. The first URL was created for the CERN website, which was the birthplace of the World Wide Web. Since then, URLs have become an integral part of the web, and they are used billions of times each day to access information from all over the world. If you want to gain a more in-depth understanding of URLs and the web in general, a highly popular book is “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weaving-Web-Original-Ultimate-Inventor/dp/0062515861?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e218eab99c12af02f35a4c9bfd7ef94e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Weaving the Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web</a></b>”. This book is highly popular because it is written by the inventor of the World Wide Web himself, Tim Berners-Lee.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Understanding how URLs work is essential for anyone who uses the internet, and even more essential for aspiring web developers. In this article, we’ll explore the history of URLs, how they work, and why they are so important. We’ll also discuss some of the common components of a URL and how they are used to identify web pages and other resources on the internet. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how the web works and how URLs play a crucial role in making it all possible.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">What does URL stand for?</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">URL is an acronym that stands for “Uniform Resource Locator”. It is the address of a webpage or file on the internet. In other words, a URL is the unique identifier that helps locate and retrieve specific resources on the web. It’s similar to a physical address, but for the internet. Each URL contains a set of protocols, such as “http” or “https”, which specify how the resource should be accessed. Additionally, URLs may also include the domain name, which identifies the website that the resource belongs to, and the path, which specifies the location of the resource within the website’s directory structure. Understanding what a URL is and how it works is important for navigating the internet and accessing the information we need.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Components of a URL</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is composed of several components that work together to direct a user to a specific website or resource on the internet. The first part of a typical URL is the protocol, which is the method used to transfer data over the internet. The most common protocol is HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is used for websites. HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is a more secure version of HTTP that encrypts data to protect against interception and tampering. Other protocols include FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and more.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The second part of a typical URL is the domain name, which identifies the website or server where the resource is located. The domain name is typically composed of a name, such as “google”, and a top-level domain (TLD), such as “.com” or “.org”. The domain name can also include subdomains, which are used to organize different sections or functions of a website. For example, “mail.google.com” is the subdomain for Google’s email service.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMeeVwT8-au8RXdOstjCm_lf6WCuesnGEkryspzfNWE1eDH-GOZjK9ofr0Ksdm7G6juzSj9kFO7QWDw2Yrxguv3GheOM4FOwVcCshbv92JNrPBvjtQHwBb1Bhe4YYIWzImZebRRyrofenTXRZfyUlYZThv1mpgXUQMXfupOJLBL7AHVRnyRc/s1248/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1248" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMeeVwT8-au8RXdOstjCm_lf6WCuesnGEkryspzfNWE1eDH-GOZjK9ofr0Ksdm7G6juzSj9kFO7QWDw2Yrxguv3GheOM4FOwVcCshbv92JNrPBvjtQHwBb1Bhe4YYIWzImZebRRyrofenTXRZfyUlYZThv1mpgXUQMXfupOJLBL7AHVRnyRc/w640-h246/Slide2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">The third part of a typical URL is the path, which identifies the specific resource on the website or server. The path can include directories and subdirectories, as well as the filename of the resource. For example, in the URL “https://www.example.com/products/software/index.html”, the path is “/products/software/index.html”, which refers to the “index.html” file located in the “software” directory of the “products” directory.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The final part of a typical URL is the query string, which contains additional parameters that modify the request for the resource. The query string is composed of key-value pairs separated by ampersands, and begins with a question mark. For example, in the URL “https://www.example.com/search?q=term&page=2”, the query string includes the parameters “q=term” and “page=2”, which modify the search query and page number for the resource.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVTJaBizOPYbqKva1YXfxC29TJl96umFgIRNAyHihTdWRkyvve5wa9oUJk1CiCDv5OigPyrgxHeZm9BTaEWN5vrAwqQGXKZf8AMcdmIDBYJpnU04JB8E10aakY4cKdVJ04iVCDN5Lx43H8hffQqlQg2DNUnleKBRANA-CHGk0d4Q3SPi8jhM/s1248/Slide3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1248" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVTJaBizOPYbqKva1YXfxC29TJl96umFgIRNAyHihTdWRkyvve5wa9oUJk1CiCDv5OigPyrgxHeZm9BTaEWN5vrAwqQGXKZf8AMcdmIDBYJpnU04JB8E10aakY4cKdVJ04iVCDN5Lx43H8hffQqlQg2DNUnleKBRANA-CHGk0d4Q3SPi8jhM/w640-h246/Slide3.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Understanding the components of a URL is important for both website developers and users, as it helps ensure that resources are accessed correctly and efficiently. By knowing how the different parts of a URL work, developers can create more effective and user-friendly websites, while users can navigate the internet more efficiently and avoid security risks.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Types of URLs</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">There are various types of URLs used in different contexts. The most common type is the HTTP URL, which is used to access websites on the World Wide Web. The HTTP protocol is widely used because it is simple and efficient. According to the book “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HTTP-Definitive-Guide-Guides/dp/1565925092?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=2e4c85b24f3dfb60571242030a94e6a8&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">HTTP: The Definitive Guide</a></b>” by David Gourley, Brian Totty, and others, “HTTP is a simple, efficient, and extensible protocol that provides mechanisms for client/server communication over the Internet.” The HTTP URL is based on a simple syntax which makes it easy to construct and parse. Additionally, the HTTP protocol provides a range of powerful features that allow clients and servers to exchange information quickly and efficiently, making it well-suited for a wide range of web applications.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another type of URL is HTTPS, which is a secure version of HTTP that uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between a web server and a client. According to Google’s “HTTPS Everywhere” guide, “HTTPS is essential for protecting data that users are sending or receiving from a website, especially if it involves sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">FTP URLs are used for file transfer, and they are commonly used by web developers to upload files to a web server. As David Sawyer McFarland explains in “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/CSS-Missing-David-Sawyer-McFarland/dp/1491918055?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=7be1f8b44ea918adbae3a9ea3d726a6a&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">CSS: The Missing Manual</a></b>”, “FTP URLs are used when you need to transfer files to or from a remote computer.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Other types of URLs include mailto URLs, which are used to create links that open the user’s email program and start a new message, and tel URLs, which are used to create links that allow users to call phone numbers directly from a website. The tel URL is important in mobile-first design approach. As Jakob Nielsen and Hoa Loranger explain in “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prioritizing-Usability-Voices-That-Matter-ebook/dp/B0058NXWHM?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=c4d14e45955bcb84ea574fbdaba46d01&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Prioritizing Web Usability</a></b>”, “The tel URL is particularly useful for mobile devices because it allows users to make phone calls with a single click.”</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">So, to recap: a URL is the address used to access web pages on the internet. It is made up of various components that work together to create a unique address for each webpage. Understanding the components of a URL is important for web developers, website owners, and internet users alike. It can help ensure that web pages are accessed correctly and securely, and it can also help with search engine optimization.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In modern web browsing, URLs play a critical role in the user experience. A poorly constructed URL can result in a frustrating browsing experience, while a well-crafted URL can make it easy for users to navigate the web. As such, understanding URLs and their components is an important part of creating a positive user experience. Also, by understanding the components of URLs well, a user can increase security while browsing the internet and avoid becoming a victim of phishing scams.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">To learn more about URLs and web development, there are a number of books that can be helpful. “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web-Design-HTML-JavaScript-jQuery/dp/1118907442?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=9b1e7fda593bb6a760804409e2913664&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set</a></b>” by Jon Duckett provides a comprehensive guide to building websites, including information on URLs and web page structure. “<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Web-Design-Beginners-JavaScript/dp/1491960205?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=f4fcb91b3a4fe65dfc919923b2c6c93e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Learning Web Design</a></b>” by Jennifer Niederst Robbins is another excellent resource for those looking to deepen their knowledge of web development.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />22 February 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-------<br />Need help with a web development project? <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact Us</a></b>.</p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18403736.post-79573911724716610612023-02-20T13:28:00.003+08:002023-02-20T13:28:16.570+08:009 Don’ts to Ensure Your Website Works Great on Mobile Devices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCtQSb4f5XCQZkAEN2OH5sccDj9hfoPg4VXUd7docIc5ytUiLh2THfnDtYneeN5j-MLrj7pmii16W_9YZiRA5QlJkAowPwmou8BMk9h0lexvsWhpSMvgVNQrjC075q1Wq_OMxZyEdvdSKbwB3-KniYEP9N26LSfd3OCC83OenWHYoI8VkXAw/s1100/blog-9donts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1100" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCtQSb4f5XCQZkAEN2OH5sccDj9hfoPg4VXUd7docIc5ytUiLh2THfnDtYneeN5j-MLrj7pmii16W_9YZiRA5QlJkAowPwmou8BMk9h0lexvsWhpSMvgVNQrjC075q1Wq_OMxZyEdvdSKbwB3-KniYEP9N26LSfd3OCC83OenWHYoI8VkXAw/w640-h408/blog-9donts.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Mobile devices are ubiquitous, and it’s no secret that they have changed the way we interact with the world around us. Today, more people access the internet on their mobile devices than on desktop computers, and this trend is only going to continue. This means that if you have a website, it’s crucial to ensure that it looks and functions great on mobile devices.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But designing a website for mobile devices can be challenging. With smaller screens and touch-based navigation, there are a lot of factors to consider. It’s not just about making sure the site is responsive, it’s about creating an experience that is intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable for users on mobile devices. In this article, we’ll be discussing 9 don’ts to ensure your website works great on mobile devices. These tips will help you avoid common mistakes that can make your website frustrating to use on mobile devices. So, whether you’re designing a new website or optimizing an existing one, read on to learn what to avoid when designing for mobile devices.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t use tiny fonts that are hard to read on a mobile device.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Using tiny fonts on a website is a sure-fire way to frustrate mobile users. With a smaller screen, it can be challenging to read text that is too small. Not only can it cause an unpleasant user experience, but it can also negatively impact the website’s usability and credibility. Users are likely to leave the site quickly if they find it difficult to read the content, leading to a higher bounce rate and lower conversion rate. As a general rule, it is suggested to use a minimum font size of 16 pixels for body text on mobile devices. However, font size can vary depending on the typeface and design of the website, so it’s important to test how the text appears on different mobile devices to ensure it’s legible.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t use too many images or graphics that slow down the site’s loading time on a mobile device.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">When designing a website for mobile devices, it’s important to keep in mind that users often have limited bandwidth and slower internet speeds than they would on a desktop computer. Therefore, using too many images or graphics that are large in file size can significantly slow down the loading time of a mobile website, which can lead to frustration and potentially cause users to leave the site. To avoid this issue, it’s recommended to use a minimal amount of images and graphics on mobile websites, and to optimize them for the web by compressing the files to reduce their size without sacrificing quality. As a general guide, for audiences with an average mobile internet connection speed of 3Mbps (like in Malaysia), it’s recommended to keep the total size of a website under 1-2 MB for optimal loading speed.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t use pop-ups or overlays that can be difficult to close on a mobile device.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Using pop-ups or overlays can be frustrating for mobile users, especially if they are difficult to close. These elements can interfere with the user experience, making it hard to navigate and find the information they are looking for. This can lead to higher bounce rates and lower engagement levels. Moreover, pop-ups or overlays that cover the entire screen can be particularly troublesome on smaller mobile devices, and users may have difficulty locating the close button or navigating away from them. Therefore, it’s important to avoid using these elements altogether, or to make sure they are easy to close and don’t interfere with the user’s ability to interact with the website.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t use too much text or make paragraphs too long, as this can be difficult to read on a small screen.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">When designing a mobile-friendly website, it is important to keep in mind the limited screen space available on mobile devices. Using too much text or long paragraphs can make it difficult for users to read the content and navigate the website. It’s recommended to break up text into shorter paragraphs, use headings and subheadings to organize the content, and include bullet points or numbered lists to make the information easier to digest. Additionally, using a legible font size and colour contrast can make reading text on a mobile device easier and more enjoyable for users. By prioritizing readability and organization, website owners can ensure that their content is accessible and engaging on mobile devices.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t make the buttons or links too small or too close together, making it difficult to click on them with a finger.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">It is important to consider the size and spacing of buttons and links when designing a website for mobile devices. If they are too small or too close together, it can be difficult for users to click on them with their fingers. This can lead to frustration and a poor user experience. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to use larger buttons with ample spacing between them, making them easy to identify and click on. Additionally, providing visual cues such as colour or animation can help draw attention to important buttons or links. By considering the size and spacing of buttons and links, you can ensure that your website is easy to navigate and use on a mobile device.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t use autoplay videos or animations that can slow down the site’s loading time and drain mobile device battery life.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Autoplay videos and animations may seem like a good way to grab visitors’ attention, but they can actually do more harm than good on mobile devices. Not only do they increase the site’s loading time, but they can also drain the mobile device’s battery life. Visitors may also find it frustrating if the video or animation starts playing without their consent, especially if they are in a situation where they need to be discreet, such as in a public place. It’s best to avoid autoplay videos or animations altogether or, if they must be used, ensure that they can be paused and that there is an option to turn off autoplay.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t forget to optimize the site for mobile SEO, such as by using mobile-friendly keywords and incorporating local search terms.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">Optimizing a website for mobile SEO is crucial to ensure it performs well on search engine results pages (SERPs) on mobile devices. One way to do this is by using mobile-friendly keywords that are more likely to be used on a mobile device. It’s also important to incorporate local search terms if the website is aimed at a local audience. This includes using location-specific keywords and including local business information such as the address and phone number. By optimizing for mobile SEO, the website has a higher chance of appearing at the top of search results and driving more traffic to the site.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t ignore the importance of a mobile-first design approach, which ensures that the best version of the website is for a mobile device’s screen.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">In today’s mobile-centric world, it’s crucial to prioritize a mobile-first design approach when creating a website. This means that the website is designed and optimized first for mobile devices, and then adapted to larger screens. Ignoring a mobile-first design approach can lead to a frustrating user experience for a majority of the users, lower search engine rankings, and ultimately, fewer visitors to the site. Therefore, it’s essential to consider a mobile-first design approach when creating a website to ensure that it is optimized for mobile devices and provides a positive user experience.</p><h4 style="text-align: justify;">9.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t forget to test the site on a variety of mobile devices and browsers to ensure it functions properly for all users.</h4><p style="text-align: justify;">It’s important to remember that not all mobile devices and browsers are created equal. Testing your website on a variety of devices and browsers is crucial to ensure that it functions properly for all users. Issues with compatibility can arise, such as certain features not working or pages not loading correctly. By testing your website on various mobile devices and browsers, you can identify and fix any issues before they affect your users’ experience. Additionally, testing can also help you optimize your site’s performance and loading time, which is crucial for a positive user experience on mobile devices.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, these are the 9 don’ts that you should avoid to create websites that work great on mobile devices, and most importantly, provide a seamless and pleasant browsing experience for mobile users. Use this list as a reminder when creating your websites. For further reading on mobile-friendly website design, here are some suggested references:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Design-Development-Practical-techniques/dp/0596155441/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=b628dd5a2401ee580826f28430e24c7e&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Mobile Design and Development: Practical concepts and techniques for creating mobile sites and web apps by Brian Fling</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Performance-Weighing-Aesthetics-Speed/dp/1491902515/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=da28b8cb49ccb00c69c840fcf6f38894&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Designing for Performance: Weighing Aesthetics and Speed by Lara Callender Hogan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Responsive-Web-Design-HTML5-CSS/dp/1839211563/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=amzamz0d-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=6b393b3888042ff21eab3bcf6318b952&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Responsive Web Design with HTML5 and CSS: Develop future-proof responsive websites using the latest HTML5 and CSS techniques by Ben Frain</a></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Naim Zulkipli<br />20 February 2023</p><p style="text-align: justify;">-----<br />Need help with mobile-first website development? <b><a href="https://www.amz.com.my/contact-amz-it-solutions" target="_blank">Contact AMZ IT Solutions</a></b>.</p>Naimzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08405229118589238176noreply@blogger.com0