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Frank has more than 10 year's experience working with architectural patterns, PHP object oriented programming, SQL, the Zend framework, A.P.I.'s, C.M.S (Wordpress), version control, payment systems, e-commerce systems, Photoshop, Javascript and jQuery. Frank consults on every aspect of coding, usability and design, including S.E.O., marketing, maintenance and upgrades. His focus is problem solving and creating value-added applications. He enjoys coding challenges and elegant solutions but is also highly customer focused, and always aims work to improve sites and applications from the user's perspective. |
Finding a good web host in Ireland
I needed to find a good web host in Ireland. My principle requirements were:
- Enough space to set up two or three Wordpress sites and a number of test sites.
- Lots of databases - preferably unlimited
- Bandwidth not being a problem.
- Latest PHP
- Latest mySql
- Something that made me think - 'simple' and 'professional'
Freelancer Frank's Portfolio: Natural Beauty
The Site:
Natural Beauty is a showcase site for a beautician based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK.
www.naturalbeauty.uk.com/
Features:
- Custom Wordpress design
- Custom coding
Freelance Frank's role:
Frank coded the site on Wordpress and to a design supplied as a Photoshop image file.
Tools:- Photoshop
- Wordpress
- Custom PHP
Zen Cart: List all products by default
There are many sites out there that just need a small shop attached, nothing fancy, maybe listing a few products and adding or deleting one or two in the year. Most e-commerce solutions are overkill for this kind of site. Zen Cart is the best I have found so far. Magento, though popular, has some serious drawbacks, such as not running locally out of the box and upload crashes. Zen Cart, in common with almost most e-commerce sites, has one drawback when it comes to deployment as a small scale shopping app. It defaults to a complex bells and whistles front page rather than a simple product list. A simple product list, however, is what most users would want to see if they are clicking a 'buy' option from within a larger containing site that has already done the job of explaining features and attracting custom. The Zen Cart admin does not have a quick and easy way to default to a product list, apparently because that would make it cumbersome for users should there be a long lists of products in the store. This is true but irrelevant when it comes to the small scale shop, with only a few products, which is the ideal candidate for defaulting this way in the first place. It's possible to mess about with item categories, and so on, but this wastes time when Zen Cart already has a perfectly good menu option for listing all products as standard. The only requirement, therefore, is to switch the default opener from the usual to this list. Preamble over, here's the hack. Top of the index page - add this:
if (!(isset($_GET['main_page']))){
$_GET['main_page']='products_all';
}
This is a quick and easy fix. The drawback is that you won't be able to access the original page, if needed. But, again, on the type of site I am talking about, this won't be a problem.
Incidentally, if you want to change the list ordering, add this one...
if (!(isset($_GET['disp_order']))){
$_GET['disp_order']='6';
}
There's a range of ordering variables, somewhere. If I get the chance to look it up I'll add it here.Read MoreThe Dublin Bay Taste and Music Festival Knows Where You Live…
When I posted some criticism on the Dublin Bay Taste And Music Facebook page under my own 'Frank Freelancer' Facebook account, they responded by deleting my comment, then trying to find out my real name and my wife's name and posting them in return, to me, asking "how's the wife?". I think that the kindest thing that that can be said for this is that it is highly unprofessional behavior. If I were less kind I would consider this a border-line threat. I certainly feel relieved that they are leaving today. Here's the proof - then more context.
Dun Laoghaire Council recently allowed the organizers of a 'Taste and Music Festival' to hold a four day event in the People's Park in Dun Laoghaire. I live near the park and I, in common with others, was irritated that it had to be closed for 4 days as the festival organizers wanted to charge between 8 euro and 12 euro for entry (and more for food). I have nothing against festivals in general and the council has held many good ones, but this one struck me as somewhat dated, unoriginal and over-priced. A cursory glance at the organizer's web page left me with a feeling that too much effort was devoted to propaganda and not enough to content.
On Thursday and Friday the park was empty. Sure, it rained, but not all the time. By Saturday the entry prices had been cut to free in the afternoon and 5 euro in the evening. Curious, I went to the free one and decided that it was nothing for locals - it was restaurants I know well, there was no added value and I would have to spend 10 euro up front to try anything.
The festival organiser is Connie Cunningham, originally from Chicago and after my post was deleted I was responded to by someone called Cunningham, also from Chigago - this is the person who names my wife (she gets my name wrong - calling me Dahai, not O'Connor):
This one, for more context, is my original complaint (others appear to agree here). This also appears to have been deleted by the organizers:
I think it is fair to say that the organizers are using their Facebook page to produce a completely inaccurate perception of popularity. They are basically deleting meaningful dissent and attempting crude intimidation on critics. I suppose, after having tried to fleece Dun Laoghaire of 8-12 euro per head before being forced to give up, this kind of behavior is not surprising. What is surprising is that Dun Laoghaire Council ever invited them here, gave them the people's park for 4 days and didn't even guess that it might just be a disaster.
Read More
Freelancer Frank’s Portfolio: Natural Beauty
The Site: Natural Beauty is a showcase site for a beautician based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK.
www.naturalbeauty.uk.com/
Features:
- Custom Wordpress design
- Custom coding
Freelance Frank's role:
Frank coded the site on Wordpress and to a design supplied as a Photoshop image file.
Tools:- Photoshop
- Wordpress
- Custom PHP
Freelancer Frank’s Portfolio: Getheard UK
The Site: Get Heard is a consultancy organisation established in 2002 that works with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies. The site was featured in the UK Times and described as: "intelligently constructed, simple and intuitive."
http://www.getheard.org.uk
Features:
- Custom design
- Custom coding
Freelance Frank's role:
Frank created and designed the site from scratch.
Tools:- Photoshop
- Custom PHP
Frank is thoughtful, thorough, creative, and competent. He communicates well and respondes to every question, idea, and request with promptness, patience, and flexibility. He’s a real professional. The work is delivered exactly as specified, with great coding and VERY FAST. I recommend Frank without reservation. 
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