Modern Full-Stack Web Frameworks: When to use What and Why

When it comes to choosing web development technologies, we now have more options than ever. And while that’s a good thing, it also poses a problem. Answering the question, “What is the ideal technology for this new project?” is not as easy as it used to be. In this post, I briefly highlight the most popular full-stack web frameworks, and why you might want to choose each of them.

Continue reading “Modern Full-Stack Web Frameworks: When to use What and Why”

System for Success: Atomic Design for Google Display Ads

The process for creating Google Display ads, using a system to optimize collaboration between Design and Marketing teams.

Our design team wanted to implement a design system that could quickly generate different variations of Google Display ads in multiple sizes. This system had to balance creative freedom and brand adherence. We wanted a user to be able to change content, colors, backgrounds, buttons and other visual elements without further involvement from a designer. However, it was important to create a controlled environment so the ads would stay on brand and follow a conceptual and visual pattern.

Continue reading “System for Success: Atomic Design for Google Display Ads”

Dark and Light Modes: 3 Simple Paths to FileMaker UX

FileMaker 19 introduced support for Dark Mode. Not only does the application’s chrome support Dark Mode (like many applications), but developers now have the ability to detect the OS Dark Mode setting.

Let’s look at three easy techniques to give FileMaker Pro users a choice between Dark Mode and Light Mode, plus an option to automatically adapt modes based on OS settings.

Continue reading “Dark and Light Modes: 3 Simple Paths to FileMaker UX”

Mark Scott presenting at DIGFM: Modular FileMaker Design

We have better tools than ever in FileMaker to create reusable modules. In this video of Mark Scott’s presentation at a Bay Area FileMaker developer meetup, he explores why the combination of card windows and JSON reigns supreme for modular FileMaker architecture. Included is an in-depth look at how modules can open, close, and communicate.

Continue reading “Mark Scott presenting at DIGFM: Modular FileMaker Design”

Large d3.js Application Development

“Code that belongs”. This is the mantra, the quest, of Beezwax Senior Developer Ryan Simms; which he discusses in this ten-part article on building a large-scale web application using d3.js. How to write code that fits the context intrinsically. The article focuses on specific techniques with the data visualization library, d3.js. But the lessons are broad. How do you make something fit — in ways that make it feel like it belongs?

Continue reading “Large d3.js Application Development”

Introducing LOgiCATOR: A Modular Search Interface for FileMaker 16

We’re excited to announce the release of LOgiCATOR, a new modular search interface for FileMaker. It’s designed as a module you can drop into a FileMaker application and, with minimal configuration, add a rule-based search interface to any number of layouts in that solution. LOgiCATOR is also a springboard for learning about some great new design and integration features of FileMaker 16, like card-style windows and native JSON.

Visit the LOgiCATOR page at Beezwax.

Continue reading “Introducing LOgiCATOR: A Modular Search Interface for FileMaker 16”

Why It’s Always Good to Test Things with the Current Version of Software (When Writing a Blog Post)

While working on the third installment of Fun with FileMaker Button Bars, I was served a reminder of why it’s good to test the stuff you write about using the latest software updates (even if they just arrived that very morning).
Continue reading “Why It’s Always Good to Test Things with the Current Version of Software (When Writing a Blog Post)”

Fun with FileMaker Button Bars, Part 2: Expert Panel

Fun with Button Bars, Part 2: Expert Panel

Have you ever had a FileMaker design conundrum for which you wished you could convene an Expert Panel to help guide you? If you’re thinking “panel of experts,” I can’t help you, but if you’re looking for a more flexible and visually engaging alternative to FileMaker Tab Panels, this combination of a slide-panel control and a button bar just might be your “Expert Panel.”

Continue reading “Fun with FileMaker Button Bars, Part 2: Expert Panel”