The Short Version
- I'm Dave Child.
- I'm best known for releasing free cheat sheets on this site.
- I'm the Head of Digital at Active Parity.
- I've been building websites since 1993.
- I like skiing, snowboarding, squash and chess.
- I'm doing a physics degree with the Open University.
- I like it when people email me.
- I'm a big fan of web applications. You can find me on last.fm, del.icio.us, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Streaming Soundtracks, and many more.
The Long Version
In September of 2003, I finally got around to registering a domain for my web design, development and marketing thoughts and put together this site. For a while, it was at the URL "ILoveJackDaniels.com". In 2008, the Jack Daniel's trademark team asked me to stop using that domain name, and I moved the site to AddedBytes.com on 30th June 2008, where it remains to this day. The current design is the 7th so far.
The site itself was, for a time, built in XHTML 1.1, and is now back to HTML 4 (for a million reasons), using CSS to specify fonts, layout - the aesthetics. Personally, I much prefer using CSS in web design than old-fashioned table-based design. The speed with which I finished the recent redesign helped hit home just how much a difference the seperation of style and content can make. It also made me realise that I need to improve my directory and url structure, add a pagination system for long articles, and how important it is to write XHTML with meaning in mind, not to fit your current design.
Using CSS this much in a site has, for me, been an eye-opener. I've learned a lot about accessibility (making this site accessible is an ongoing challenge), and about browser technologies. I've learned that I'm going to have to wait several years before I can do the things I'd like to do with this site, because Microsoft find it too grating to support standards properly (one day, I may put together an example page for Opera, Mozilla etc users, to see how this site could have looked).
At the heart of the site is bBlog (for now), an open source blogging system which has been heavily modified to manage the articles on here. Modifications include better URL rewriting, to allow the sections and articles to be properly navigable, article descriptions, search functionality, page titles, translation links and much much more. If any users of bBlog would like information on any of these or other modifications, feel free to get in touch.
To make life a touch easier, each page of the site is, believe it or not, printer friendly (note: It was when I wrote this ... not now. I need to fix the printer style sheet). A second style sheet is attached to each page, and will only be used when a page is printed. This style sheets hides the menus you see and the advertising. It changes the font to a better print font (serif fonts are better for print, sans-serif for the web, or so they say) and adds URLs of links after them so they are still at least useful, and adds decent margins. So don't be afraid to print anything out, ok?
In case you were wondering who the person behind the scenes is - I am Dave Child, a web developer from the south of the UK employed as the Head of Digital for Active Parity. I've been involved with web design and online marketing since 1993 or so, when I set up my very first hobby site. If you want to know more about my career, have a look at my portfolio page.
When I have a choice in the matter, I develop using PHP, but am quite happy with ASP and .NET, and have worked with most databases, including MySQL and SQL Server. I've been working with HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS and JavaScript since the early 1990s. I also like taking and editing photos, and I should think at some point I'll subject the WWW to a few of my attempts at graphic creation and editing.
When not at work, I am a moderator at In December 2006, I stepped down (not enough time to really do the role justice) as a moderator at Cre8asite Forums. Since joining there I have spent my time picking the brains of usability, accessibility, marketing, design, development and graphic experts, and feel like I have learned a huge amount through the forums. In summer 2007, I decided to start a fitness blog to chronicle my progress as I attempt to counter years of desk jockeying. I also run a site called TooYoo, a small but very friendly community site for the members of various consumer review resources, as well as a small Sudoku site and CrosswordCheats, a site built for Mrs Dave on a whim.
When not working, I try and spend as much time as I can outside away from computers. I've been with Mrs Dave (pictured right) since April 2000, and we got married on 22nd April 2006. I enjoy snowboarding and skiing, but don't get to go nearly as often as I'd like and would consider myself an enthusiastic if incompetent amateur photographer. I also play in a squash league, and have taken a shine to disc golf. In September 2008 I started a physics degree with the Open University.
I hope you enjoy the site and find it useful. Please do feel free to email me if you have any problems, suggestions or comments. If you like what you find here or find it useful, you can always say thanks by buying me something from my wish list.
53 Comments
Its worse than microsoft just finding ti grating to support standards, they keep re-inventing the wheel to add flashier new features that no one really needs.......
When they do it, all that carefull study you have spent ages sweating blood and tears over learning, will be thrown out the window and rendered fairly useless.
#1, kensplace, United Kingdom, 29 June 2004. Reply to this.
"I love what you've done with the place." Seriously, I really like how everything is organized.
Remember, you did say:
"If any users of bBlog would like information on any of these or other modifications, feel free to get in touch."
:D Well, I'm asking. I wanna hear about every tweak and mod you feel like sharing.
*gets out paper and a pen and waits, hoping....*
#2, Mary, Canada, 15 October 2004. Reply to this.
Hehe, thanks Mary. Now this design is done, one of the next things is working through a fresh install of bBlog and documenting all changes. And they'll all be posted here with instructions on use.
Given my currently busy lifestyle though, this might take a few weeks.
#3, Dave Child, United Kingdom, 15 October 2004. Reply to this.
Awesome! I can wait - eagerly anticipating - but I can wait. :)
#4, Mary, Canada, 15 October 2004. Reply to this.
Good use of CSS style. great.
#5, winteromeo, Singapore, 12 April 2005. Reply to this.
This is a very nice site. I really like the php cheat sheets.
#6, Joshua, United States, 4 July 2005. Reply to this.
Really nice design (though while writing this, font size in the comments box is too small to read) :)
I was wondering if we can exchange links?
#7, Kashif, Pakistan, 5 July 2005. Reply to this.
Thanks for providing everyone, mainly designers, with such a great resource. I've learned a lot today while looking around. Thanks a ton. Oh, and keep an eye on your mailbox (the physical kind, not the electronic variety).
#8, Ben Cochran, United States, 2 August 2005. Reply to this.
Like the clever ajaxian search.. did that come with tht blog or did you hack it?
Are you using a ready-made solution for that, if so what?
Great work Dave.
#9, Paulg, France, 1 January 2006. Reply to this.
Hi Paul,
I'm using a modified version of Bitflux's LiveSearch scripts, and it didn't come with bBlog.
Glad you like the site!
#10, Dave Child, United Kingdom, 1 January 2006. Reply to this.
Hi, i have just read your php security acticels, and would like to say they are very informative, i would like to ask you some more questions if it is at all possible, please add beam_2[at]hotmail[dot]com so i can ask more about vulnerabilities
#11, Thomas Beam, Canada, 20 March 2006. Reply to this.
Very nice site.....amazing UI..thanks for the css cheatsheet.May Hanumanji bless you.
#12, Delta, United States, 18 August 2006. Reply to this.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You made my day I love your cheatsheets saves developers' time. Nice website keep it up!
#13, purgedsoul, Philippines, 25 August 2006. Reply to this.
css cheatsheet is great. Jdgoods.com thanks you!
#14, Jack Daniels Store, United States, 29 August 2006. Reply to this.
ive been searching for the jack daniels font for ever. might you tell me how you have it??
#15, dustin, United States, 9 September 2006. Reply to this.
great site! Great CheatPages too. But if you're concerned 'bout bandwidth you might want to consider not putting them in pdf but in plain html or use a service like megaupload.com or something like that. (just a tip)
#16, Walter The Belgian, Belgium, 15 September 2006. Reply to this.
Dave,
Love your site and the design!
and it's printing my comment as i type. Ooooh freaky.
Would like to know more about your blogging software.
Cheers,
-a
#17, Atul, United States, 7 February 2007. Reply to this.
Found your site following a link from The Peoples Toolbox. I share your taste for Jack Daniels, how else are supposed to unwind from dealing with software all day. Your site looks nice, I expect to be back.
#18, Ted, United States, United States, 22 February 2007. Reply to this.
Nice site, interesting and useful information. Pity about the logo- Jack Daniels has no apostrophe. (you love Jack Daniel's what?)
#19, Anonymous, United Kingdom, 2 March 2007. Reply to this.
Jack Daniel's does so have an apostrophe. It's Jack Daniel's whiskey. Jack Daniel (note the spelling ? no 's') is the original distiller.
#20, John Whittet, Unknown, 5 April 2007. Reply to this.
Thanks John. You are right, of course.
Anonymous - if you want to check, http://www.jackdaniels.com uses an apostrophe, as do the bottles.
#21, Dave Child, Unknown, 5 April 2007. Reply to this.
Great site, good resources..especially the cheat sheets, really good. An exceptionally clean and well authored site.
#22, Patrick - UK, United Kingdom, 18 April 2007. Reply to this.
Thanks Dave, for all those great scripts and articles! your in my favs at home and at work! Especially your cheat sheets come in handy very often :D
Cheers
#23, Jan, Unknown, 16 May 2007. Reply to this.
Your Cheat sheets were simply amazing..
Today, I found your cheat sheet through vertrigo.sourceforge.net...
Actually, i forget cheat sheet concept for the past couple of years.. Now, I would adopt this concept, with your ones as base..
Thanks Very Much..
#24, Pandian, United Kingdom, 20 May 2007. Reply to this.
though ur website is a great blend of Design and Contents ,i am writing to you for the love of Jack Daniels... :)
Thanx for writing such articles that make life of a new programmer very easy.I may not be new to this field but i have certainly learned few tricks n tips from your website...
i hope u keep doing the great work...
Sharad
#25, Sharad, India, 28 June 2007. Reply to this.
Dave love your site!
A nick? Well I am sort of getting a
Igor the Troll, I am not to crazy about it but it does have balls...
If you want to fix the empty top space, which is not agronomic check out a few of my pages.
http://www.travelinasia.net/forum/project_honeypot.php
http://www.travelinasia.net/phsdl/extract_all_absolute_urls_from_page.php
You are probably using
<div style="clear: both"></div>
But I use one div for header on for sidebar and on for body content top left and if I want body content bottom I will stick
<div style="clear: both"></div> first.
Oh and I wrap the whole thing..some people call it container.
#26, Igor Berger, Japan, 12 July 2007. Reply to this.
Nice work Dave, I'm loving your periodic, but oh-so useful and well thought out posts. Having just finished your latest, 'mutual blog promotion' I came up with a few questions (which I'll post there), but it also made me look around... hey, who is this guy?
One thing I really like is that you are giving so much back to the online community. Something I have wanted to do for ages, and here you are doing it! Inspiring.
So, for a start I'd like to offer to fix your print CSS file, 'cos I never have time to read blogs online I often print them out... and yours had nearly 2 pages of menus up first.
Keep up the good work, what will you blog about next I wonder??
Yari
ps, you have a slight typo 'taking and editting photo' should be 'editing'...
#27, Yari McGauley, Australia, 2 August 2007. Reply to this.
Hi Yari,
Thanks, fixed the typo.
I've been meaning to sort out the print style sheet for over a year now. It's just one of those things I need to get around to doing. Thankyou for the offer of help, but I really need to do this one myself or I'll feel guilty forever :)
#28, Dave Child, United Kingdom, 2 August 2007. Reply to this.
Dear Dave, thank you for your show of support for me and my project.
When many, many people looked down on me and the project you gave it thumbs up.
A few great people besides you showed their support as well. A Doctor from Cambridge University, a well known search engine marketing person, and a small developer. All these people are from England!
It is great to see the British people stand up for what is right.
I really feel indebted and grateful to you guys, so I will be visiting U.K towards the end of the year to pay respects to all who supported my endeavor.
If you would like to meet me then we can get pissed together. You can nourish Jacky D. and I will do Johnny W.
Hey maybe we can all meet together as a clan, in London. :)
I did go ahead a registered a nick name domain http://www.igorthetroll.com
And the project PHSDL has been moved from an incubator to its authoritative domain http://www.phsdl.net
So after 3 months in hibernation with 16 hours a day of programming in PHP and MySql I am taking a vacation and going to China on Tuesday.
Again thank you very much for your support,
Igor Berger
#29, Igor Berger, Japan, 3 August 2007. Reply to this.
can anyone give me some advice on how to get started building websites? dan_barnes1@yahoo.com
#30, Dan Barnes, United States, 17 September 2007. Reply to this.
Nice website. I like the cheat sheets, they are very helpful. I am a newbie programmer and sites like this really help out.
#31, Tim Price, United States, 26 September 2007. Reply to this.
I really love the site, but many people can't access it due to the name. I really wish this site had a more suitable name that people could access. Large companies that have coders could really benefit from these cheat sheets. These are some of the best on the net. But if you worked a P&G, or General Electric and went to a site called [redacted].com it would get blocked. It's a shame, alot of people could use this, if only they could access it.
#32, Jim, United States, 27 September 2007. Reply to this.
Dan Barnes, if you have no prior knowledge of HTML, your best bet is to start with a CMS host provider.
Jim, have you heard of online anonymous proxies?
Oh, and a little brag on my side, published my first code on php.net
Guess I got an insparation after all these years scrapping it for code snipets...
#33, Igor The Troll, Japan, 30 October 2007. Reply to this.
i adore your domain name... i wish i could register it before you did. keep that great work!
#34, Justin, Turkey, 30 October 2007. Reply to this.
WOW, I second that wish (Justin)! LOL
Definitely my drink of choice - with a little diet coke and a slice of lime! :-)
Great site...thanks. (I somehow ended up here after doing a search for software that's installed on my Treo 650 and my interest was peaked when I saw the website address).
#35, Barbie, Unknown, 31 October 2007. Reply to this.
You said that you switched from XHTML 1.1 to HTML 4 for a million reasons? Mind sharing a few reasons with us?
#36, Rohan Prabhu, India, 27 December 2007. Reply to this.
Very Nice and useful . Thanks to Jack
#37, Vipin.V, Unknown, 6 January 2008. Reply to this.
Bravo !
Des pages A4 contenant les principales informations des codes phares de nos jours est une excellente idée !!!!
#38, youchief, Switzerland, 27 January 2008. Reply to this.
Hiya,.. I dig your site.. added ya to my roll :)
Joe
#39, Joe W., Unknown, 22 February 2008. Reply to this.
Somebody posted a link to one of your cheat sheets in one of the php newsgroups. When I saw the domain name, I just HAD to see the site.
Kudos for great design, concise cheat sheets, and good humor (yep, I'm from the U. S. of A.), and good taste in whiskey!
Although I finally updated my old 90's site to CSS, it has been neglected far too long. I think you've inspired me to have another go at it!
Thanks.
--
Mark
Keep-On-Learnin' :)
#40, mboyd, United States, 14 March 2008. Reply to this.
Thank you for your job! It save a lot of time for developers!
I got a real problem - can't find a good color printer for printing sheets:)
Anton F
#41, Anton F, Russian Federation, 21 March 2008. Reply to this.
I've been reading your site since version 4 or 5, mainly for the cheat sheets and miscellaneous information it contains.
I just thought i'd drop you a comment telling you to keep up the good work, you provide some awesome resources.
Lets see more updates!
#42, arkin, United Kingdom, 29 April 2008. Reply to this.
Hello! I love your site :o) I just today subscribed to your igoogle widget. I'm wondering... Do people ever buy you things on your wish list? I think that's a cute idea. :o)
#43, Sarah Coffey, Unknown, 30 April 2008. Reply to this.
@Sarah: Sometimes :). Glad you like the site.
#44, Dave Child, United Kingdom, 1 May 2008. Reply to this.
I'd really like to hear some of those 'million reasons' for changing from XHTML 1.1 to HTML 4. Perhaps an article about it one day? :-) Thanks for the PHP cheat sheets.
Mark
#45, Mark, United Kingdom, 9 May 2008. Reply to this.
Across the pond, A4 paper is somewhat uncommon. Our nearest equivalent is "letter" which is 8.5" x 11". The PDF's don't print well on letter nor on 11" x 17". Some of the first letters of some of the lines just disappear during printing. My guess is that is due to the scaling but, I don't know much about the underlying format for PDF.
Any suggestions?
#46, Chuck, United States, 23 June 2008. Reply to this.
i downloaded the css and the html cheatsheet. it´s great. thank you. greetings to uk. dschannaS
#47, DschannaS, Unknown, 8 July 2008. Reply to this.
Hey Brighton! I am from Shoreham by self, nice to see someone from this part of England.
PS: Like the updated website, particularly the Cheat Sheets.
#48, Nat Woodbridge, United Kingdom (Shoreham-by-Sea), 16 July 2008. Reply to this.
Your website is cool, but u need to validate your form! :D
Sorry for that post!
#49, Anonymous, Canada, 11 August 2008. Reply to this.
I came across of your blog and feel that a lot of people like your post. Frankly speaking, i learnt a lot here and getting lot of info, i believe most important thing is to apply what i have learnt. Action is Power!
There is one question is i do not understand is. Most of the blog owner will put no follow tag, why you didn't use it? I am going to create a own blog, but i don't know whether want to use no follow tag or not?
#50, Malaysia Tractor, Malaysia, 5 May 2009. Reply to this.
Thank you for your valuable cheat sheets.
it gives overview about various concepts.
#51, malwinder, Unknown, 17 June 2009. Reply to this.
thank you for creating this fine cheatsheets, they saved me a lot of time
i've mirrored them on my little website, you may have a look at it:
http://helios.exofire.net/
providing backlinks to addedbytes.com, of course..
#52, slacker, somewhere, 19 July 2009. Reply to this.
A very useful sight for a newbee like me. You have put the security tips in a very easy to unserstand manner.
Great Work!!
#53, Viraj V., Unknown, 21 August 2009. Reply to this.