So where exactly is Drupal 8?
From the feedback I've gotten from BuildAModule subscribers, Drupal 8 is the thing you most want to learn about. But, before I can make more videos on Drupal 8, we need a release candidate. To make that happen, the Drupal Association and an array of core contributors have put together a fund called Drupal 8 Accelerate to help resolve the remaining issues blocking a release of Drupal 8.
Here's how it works: 1. Those who are looking forward to Drupal 8 donate $10 or more to the fund. 2. Other people (or the same people) apply for grants to work on specific issues or host Drupal 8 sprints. 3. A group of core contributors select which applications to fund based on how much it will help Drupal 8 development move forward (check out the grants that have been won for examples).
Why donate now? Well, 2 reasons. The first is that almost $220,000 of the original $250,000 goal has been met, and $30,000 feels very doable with a small, passionate group making reasonable donations. Second, you can enter a drawing to win a 1-year membership to BuildAModule by making a donation of any amount. And if more than 50 of you enter to win, I'll add another 1-year membership to the prize pool.
To enter the drawing, just send me an email with proof of your donation before July 13th (about 2 weeks from now).
Let's do a little something to help get Drupal 8 released!
Also, we're releasing 10 new videos in the "Front End Development'" collection today. Check out the rest of the newsletter below for details. Enjoy!
How 'unitless' CSS measurements work New!
Since we're on the subject, we look at relative 'unitless' measurements, which are one additional way we can establish a relationship between properties like line height and font size.
Comparing resources for learning more about CSS units New!
Besides the units we've covered, there are a number of others that can come in handy from time to time. In this video we look at two resources for learning more about the less frequently used (but not less loved!) CSS units.
Why some people use older browsers New!
(This one's FREE!)
A front-end developer's dream is a world willing to standardize on the latest version of a single browser. In this video we talk about why that hasn't happened and how to account for those users that are running older versions of various browsers.
How to use 'caniuse.com' to evaluate browser support for CSS and HTML New!
(This one's FREE!)
Even for the seasoned front-end developer, it can be hard to keep track of which versions of which browsers support which versions of what CSS properties and HTML tags. Here we talk a bit about a useful site called 'caniuse.com' and how to use its interface.
How we're going to decide if we can use rem CSS units New!
Deciding on whether to use a mostly-supported CSS value is not a cut-and-dry task, and the answer isn't always the same. In this video, we explain how we came to the conclusion that it's okay to use rem units in this particular project.
How JavaScript polyfills can fill the gap in browser support New!
While we're not going to dive deep into polyfills just yet, we spend a minute giving them a mention since they're often a useful way to implement newer CSS properties and HTML tags as browsers play catch-up.
Why we would want to use a CSS preprocessor like SASS New!
In this series, we've explored most of what the CSS syntax has to offer. The more you use CSS, the more you'll start to feel limited by it. You are forced to repeat property values and selectors, and that makes changing things later more painful and error-prone. We need something more, and that's where CSS preprocessors like SASS come into play. In this video we talk briefly about the main reasons we'd want to use a CSS preprocessor at this point.
Why we're using SASS instead of LESS and Stylus New!
There are a few CSS preprocessors out there, and you'll find fans of each. However, in the Drupal world, most front-end developers use SASS. SASS has been powerful for a long time, is relatively easy to pick up, and it has a lot in common with the other CSS preprocessors. Here we discuss a bit more about why we're focusing on SASS.
Why we're using the command line version of SASS New!
The command line isn't for everybody. Or isn't it? Using a CSS preprocessor on the command line is faster and more powerful than leveraging helper apps, and in this video we reassure you that we're not going down the path of unrelenting geekdom here. There's a good reason to go the CLI route.
How to install SASS on a Mac New!
Most front-end developers gravitate toward using a Mac, and one of the reasons is how straightforward it is to use the command line. Installing SASS on a Mac should be a breeze, but we walk through the steps carefully, just in case.