I don’t know how interested you are in the tools to measure page performance, but I have been doing some research and thought I would share some of what I found. This is not a strategy for performance optimization, just a diversion I had in my daily fight in this game of milliseconds.
I was given page load test results from an online tool named PingDom. This tool listed all of the images referenced in the tested page’s external CSS file as part of the page load test. All of the images referenced in the CSS selectors aren’t actually used on the tested page. In fact the images belong to many different pages, but they all share the same CSS file (common scenario right?). So why are they all listed in this test. Well I didn’t think that the browser Guru’s would let this happen, but I’m a developer so I can’t assume right? In my mind I know this isn’t so, having looked at HTTP streams daily I know this isn’t happening in the browser. How do I prove it? Do browsers download all images referenced on a CSS file, even if they aren’t needed? Read more »
Problem: We need to use Google Website Optimizer (GWO) to test different variations of an ASP.net contact form. We want to be able to add and remove form fields to test conversions based on the set of fields displayed. Additionally, the solution must meet some basic requirements:
Use Valid XHTML
Work in multiple browsers
Fail gracefully when javascript is not available
Work with client side and ASP.net server side validation
Work within ASP.net master pages and user controls
Track conversions that occur on the same page as the test
Provide information that can be used in third party analytics software to track the results of variations throughout the site.
Issues: Some of our issues include:
ASP.net post back model is causing the initial variation to be lost. After GWO writes the variation to the page, when a user clicks the submit button the page posts back to the server, when the response is returned to the browser the variation is lost and the original content is displayed.
GWO section tag includes an orphaned tag which fails XHTML validation.
ASP.net custom validation with client side JavaScript on multiple instances of a User Control
Problem: You have a page with multiple instances of a User Control that has a form that needs to be validated client side. JavaScript is not calling custom validation on the correct form because of naming conflicts.
In my specific case, I had a User Control that contained a form that we wanted to do multivariate testing on with Google Website Optimizer (GWO). Because we had complex variations that depended on dynamic data we had to work outside of the basic GWO setup. We found a way to optimize the form by including all of the different variations of the form on the page and allowing GWO to display and hide the different variations. First try resulted in the validation being called on all forms because they all shared the same validation group and ClientID. This is what led me to this solution. Read more »
It’s been ages since I blogged. I am 6 months into a new job and just haven’t had that time. Well its time to get back at it.
With my return, I think that I am going to change my focus and concentrate on the web development problems I face on a daily basis. Hopefully something I write can be of help to someone out there pulling there hair out about some web dev problem. I probably won’t give detailed posts on most topics. If you want more info about something I write about, just ask.
If you don’t know by now, I use to be a music producer. I spent a lot (emphasis on a lot) of money building my recording studio. So you can understand my surprise when I came across Aviary’s new free online recording studio, Myna. Not only can you record, mix, arrange, add effects and more to sounds, you can save and share the results with collaborators or people in general. All this happens online so you can co-produce with people around the world. Did I mention it’s free. The jury is still out on the quality of this tool for professional use, but glancing at the video it looks like it should have at least some application in preproduction.
Not only can you create your next MP3 master piece, you can also design the CD cover and tour graphics. These crazy people at Aviary also provide free tools for image creation. Actually these tools can be used for any graphics, not only music related. They have tools similar to Photoshop, Illustrator and others, that allow you to create some stunning graphics all within your web browser.
I’m real excited about this one and I’m going to have to force myself to look away for now so I can get some work done at my day job. You can check out all of their tools at http://aviary.com/ and watch the video below to see Myna in action.
This post is a little different. It may get a little long and confusing too, but I have to start getting this out of my system. I have failed a lot and I am glad I did. I have learned a lot from my failures and I have learned lessons that can’t be taught, you have to learn them. I have a different perspective on failing. You have to understand that I don’t look at failing as a bad thing. To be successful you have to fail. Failure is an education. I embrace the lessens learned in failure and I try not to repeat my failures. Read more »
Did you see the Google.com logo for the invention of the Bar Code that happened on 7th of October 1952? Well today is October 7, 2009 at 2:15 AM in the morning and I’m looking at a barcode on Google.com instead of their famous rainbow Google. I wonder if you swiped this at the grocery store self checkout, would “1 Google.com for $220,000,000,000 plus tax” pop up on the screen. Where’s my print button, hope they take Visa.
My blog is non-commercial so you won’t find a bunch of ads or blog posts touting some affiliate program I joined, but I have to talk about my favorite email marketing tool. I have been doing email marketing for my customers for years and MailChimp.com is hands down the absolute best service I have used. I mean there is no comparison. I can give you a list of why I think this, but I don’t want to bore you with the details.
The important thing to spotlight right now is they have a new forever free plan. You get access to their entire platform, the cool reports, the easy to use well designed templates, the social networking, helpful tips, videos and a great blog, Google integration, awesome API… OK, I had to talk about some of the features, but the point is it’s all free for up to a 500 email address list and you get to send up to 3,000 emails per month.
So, if you are already using a service and you are paying for a 500 email or less list, you need to switch. If you don’t use a service and want to gain the obvious benefit from building and managing your own list, this is the one to try (they even have videos to walk you through getting started). If you want to give me some credit for giving you the 411 on this, please sign-up with this link – http://eepurl.com/d3kA.
If you don’t believe me when I say they are the best, check out this video and compare it to who you have used, then compare the cost. Sign up for a free account and give it a test drive. You can even leave your comments to ask me questions about how to use it, that’s why I’m blogging.
Well, that’s the end of this commercial break. We can now return to our regular programming.
I mentioned Ted.com in my previous post and decided to post some of my favorite talks. I guess this means I really like Ted.com and that would be an understatement. Some of the most inspiring presentations I have ever seen have been Ted talks. One day I hope I will be fortunate enough to attend and interact with these people. They are changing the world. I have so many favorites, I can’t list them all. So, in no particular order here are just a few of my favorites. Read more »
BumpTop is a very cool implementation of Window’s 7 touchscreen features. It looks like what they do on CNN or the movie ‘Minority Report’. It’s a 3D multi-touch gestural interface that makes your desktop fun, well fun until we all get use to it. Right now, I’m trying to wrap my head around the benefits for business, but its definitely fun for personal use.
The views and opinions expressed on this website are my own, Charles Bryant, or that of the various contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of my employer or clients in any way.
Searching for Truth in Website Performance Optimization
I don’t know how interested you are in the tools to measure page performance, but I have been doing some research and thought I would share some of what I found. This is not a strategy for performance optimization, just a diversion I had in my daily fight in this game of milliseconds.
| 2 Comments » 
Problem: We need to use Google Website Optimizer (GWO) to test different variations of an ASP.net contact form. We want to be able to add and remove form fields to test conversions based on the set of fields displayed. Additionally, the solution must meet some basic requirements:
ASP.net custom validation with client side JavaScript on multiple instances of a User Control
It’s been ages since I blogged. I am 6 months into a new job and just haven’t had that time. Well its time to get back at it.
If you don’t know by now, I use to be a music producer. I spent a lot (emphasis on a lot) of money building my recording studio. So you can understand my surprise when I came across Aviary’s new free online recording studio, 
This post is a little different. It may get a little long and confusing too, but I have to start getting this out of my system. I have failed a lot and I am glad I did. I have learned a lot from my failures and I have learned lessons that can’t be taught, you have to learn them. I have a different perspective on failing. You have to understand that I don’t look at failing as a bad thing. To be successful you have to fail. Failure is an education. I embrace the lessens learned in failure and I try not to repeat my failures. 
Did you see the Google.com logo for the invention of the Bar Code that happened on 7th of October 1952? Well today is October 7, 2009 at 2:15 AM in the morning and I’m looking at a barcode on Google.com instead of their famous rainbow Google. I wonder if you swiped this at the grocery store self checkout, would “1 Google.com for $220,000,000,000 plus tax” pop up on the screen. Where’s my print button, hope they take Visa.
My blog is non-commercial so you won’t find a bunch of ads or blog posts touting some affiliate program I joined, but I have to talk about my favorite email marketing tool. I have been doing email marketing for my customers for years and MailChimp.com is hands down the absolute best service I have used. I mean there is no comparison. I can give you a list of why I think this, but I don’t want to bore you with the details.
I mentioned 
BumpTop is a very cool implementation of Window’s 7 touchscreen features. It looks like what they do on CNN or the movie ‘Minority Report’. It’s a 3D multi-touch gestural interface that makes your desktop fun, well fun until we all get use to it. Right now, I’m trying to wrap my head around the benefits for business, but its definitely fun for personal use.
