Agile initiatives expanding in the enterprise – but lots more work to be done

Agile is expanding within the enterprise – but there is plenty more that can be done to improve organisational initiatives. That’s the key finding from enterprise software development firm CollabNet. In the company’s latest State of Agile report – the 12th iteration – which collected almost 1,500 responses from various industries in software development, 97% of respondents’ organisations practiced agile development methods. Of that number, 52% said that more than half of their...

16 April 2018 | Approaches

WordPress powers three in 10 sites on the web, W3Techs finds

WordPress now powers 30% of all sites on the web, according to the latest figures from web survey provider W3Techs.

According to the most recent numbers, for the end of February 2018, WordPress is at 30.0% for absolute percentage of websites, giving it a 60.2% market share for all content management systems. It’s worth noting that just over half (50.2%) of sites analysed by W3Techs do not use a CMS monitored by the company, or are built from scratch. The figures arrive from...

6 March 2018 | UX/Design

Turn doodles into apps with Microsoft’s Ink to Code

Microsoft’s latest Garage project, Ink to Code, can turn your new app doodles into a working project.

Some of the world’s greatest ideas started as a doodle on a napkin or piece of paper. The Gettysburg Address, the poem that gave way to the U.S. National Anthem, and the premise of the Harry Potter series — all were reportedly started on a simple piece of scrap paper.

Ink to Code wants to ensure an idea for what could become the next big thing doesn’t...

26 January 2018 | Android

Google explains how to design optimal VR/AR experiences

As Google's UX engineer working on Daydream and Tango, Mary Cassin knows a thing or two about what makes the optimal VR/AR experience.

With VR adoption growing, we're learning new things every day about what makes a great and comfortable user experience. Google has vast resources to learn from its users and afford the odd pitfall along the way – but few of us have such a luxury.

Over the coming years, best practices are sure to adapt, but Cassin has shared her...

13 April 2017 | Gaming

Google takes its Optimize tools for website A/B testing out of beta

Google has removed the beta tag from its Optimize tools for A/B website testing as part of today’s global launch.

Optimize and Optimize 360 first came on the scene back in 2015 when a limited beta was launched to offer a lucky few additional help with their websites. Running on top of Google Analytics, the Google Optimize tool allows developers to see which versions of their website receive the best reception based on a set objective.

“We love the fact that Optimize...

31 March 2017 | Development Tools

Google wants developers to update their apps to support 18:9 aspect ratio

Android phones appear to be moving towards a new aspect ratio, and Google is politely reminding developers to update their apps or users will suffer.

When LG launched the G6 they made a big deal about its 18:9 aspect ratio display, and for good reason. The ratio allows two squares to be displayed next to each other and opens up a range of new possibilities – in particular for VR. Samsung has since followed suit with a similar ratio screen in the Galaxy S8; albeit marginally...

30 March 2017 | Android

A brief guide to the basic features of HTML Canvas

In this article, we are going to show you how to use the <canvas> element as outlined in Skilled.co's Canvas cheat sheet. You will have a basic understanding of how to write script using this element by the end of this article.

Keep in mind that the skills outlined in this brief tutorial are only the barest skills needed to use the <canvas> element. Even so, they are among the most critical skills and commands that you will need throughout your entire experience with...

30 March 2017 | Development Tools

Take a page out Googles (Play)book with news app for Android developers

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/JasminSeidel)

Google has launched a news app called 'Playbook for Developers' which offers a centralised place for Android developers to stay updated with all the latest on the world's most popular operating system. 

After opening the app for the first time you'll have the option to personalise the content to your individual needs and interests. There are categories spanning a variety of...

22 June 2016 | Android

Opinion: Bridging the gap between design and development

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/AlexAndrews)

Stereotypically, design and development teams within any agency are like warring factions. Design, led by creativity and optimism; development, grounded in reality and pragmatism. Surely it’s no surprise that, on paper, these two polar opposites clash so badly.

Except that they’re not polar opposites at all. The two are completely interlinked disciplines that should, by their very nature, work more closely than any other teams...

10 March 2016 | UX/Design

A call to app developers: 3D Touch and Proactive sweep away the need for splash screens

(c)iStock.com/Pekic

For years, Apple has been trying to push developers to abandon splash screens, wanting them instead to use a still image of their apps to give the impression that it is loading up. Splash screens are a hangover from the past, where software could be slow to load. Apps are meant to load quickly and allow users to do what they need to do.

With iOS 9 and 3D Touch, Apple is taking the war on splash screens to the next level. Not only will 3D Touch make splash...

8 October 2015 | Developer