All blog entries
26.11.2011 ~ Ungreat Unknowns
Shining a light on some small Backpage features you didn't know existed!Alternate document content typesBy default Backpage returns documents in a xHTML or HTML5 template depending on the preference / requirements of the designer. But it can just as easily return that content in a number of other formats:JSON Append ?json to a page url to return a JSON objectPlain textAppend ... [ read more ]
09.10.2011 ~ New features
Some new toys to play with on the e.commerce front Product recommendations engine Much sought after, this new addition makes cross selling as easy as ticking a box (or four)!Enhanced product categorisation Product categories have (finally) gotten some love, with nesting, ajax support and a healthy dash of SEO goodness all added to the mix'Featured Product' & 'Out of stock' Options ... [ read more ]
17.07.2011 ~ To seek a chance to find...
Finding the items you want on the website you're visiting should be straightforward, but sometimes the information architect / UX lead may need a helping hand. We're often told that it's the "simple things" that make the difference. That kiss on the cheek in the morning, the barman who knows your order before you open your lips or the CMS ... [ read more ]
26.05.2010 ~ Oak Ridge
This is a blog post our marketing and community engagement departments strongly warned us against publishing. At least we imagine they would, had they existed... Hiding behind labels Computer hardware and software projects typically have a code-name hung off them to ensure drunken bar room boasts ... [ read more ]
04.05.2010 ~ HTML5*
How do I love thee, let me count the ways** My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight HTML5 has given us gearless local storage, a client side database and the ability to build apps that ... [ read more ]
27.04.2010 ~ WYSIWYG
I heard the most fantastic derisive comment today: the acronym WYSIWYG is commonly used for "What You See Is What You Get" when it usually applies to "What You Get Is What You deserve*"! :) * with a generous dose of artistic license ... [ read more ]
23.04.2010 ~ Not just under the hood
A measure of spit and polish has been applied to the Web Manager and Blogging tools. The most obvious change is the addition of a date view and a cosmetic change to a number of icons, but the changes run deeper: Quick search can ... [ read more ]
02.04.2010 ~ Patches
A little notice on some of the upgrades we're currently sweating over that will soon find themselves coming down the line. Support BpTags for shop, one for store categories, the other returns the contents of a users shopping cart ... [ read more ]
21.03.2010 ~ Templates
They say necessity is the mother of all invention. I'm going to add an addendum to that. Hatred works too! Backpage grew out of a frustration with repetitive tasks and a deep, vocal dislike for a mandatory three column layout. Most modern websites need templating, a data access ability ... [ read more ]
10.03.2010 ~ Rude comments
I've written many words in the past on the subject of comments and moderation. In truth I find myself flip-flopping - loving the idea of growing an unfettered community that accurately portrays 2% of a websites visiting audience but reeling with the knowledge there's an inevitable need for the iron fist of ... [ read more ]
27.02.2010 ~ Ecommerce - module style!
Are you ready to hear the least imaginative name for an e.commerce platform ever? Shop! Yep, we called our main e.commerce module 'shop'! Not 'superZen', 'HyperBucksStoreCart' or 'profitMaker'. Just simple, boring 'shop'. We contend that all our imagination went into building it, so much so the ultimate christening became an afterthought. ... [ read more ]
16.02.2010 ~ Mosquito
From time to time the question of software design philosophy comes up, and I find myself half cringing and half smiling. Over the years I've found myself falling between the cracks of the well established principles. I wanted all the best parts of KISS, UCD, TIMTOWTDI etc, but none of the baggage. ... [ read more ]
01.02.2010 ~ Mapping and tagging tweaks
We're massaging existing backpage features as feedback and gripes are shared with us. The latest two tools to go under the knife are the tagging and mapping systems. Mapping Geotagging, you cruel mistress! Yet you languish unused on so many installations. Those who use it, love ... [ read more ]
13.01.2010 ~ ICMB
Metadata typically doesn't ignite passion in most of us, but the following addition to the METATAGS bpTag made me giggle! The ICBM meta tag The "ICBM" name comes from an old Internet joke where a latitude-longitude coordinate pair is an "ICBM address*", that is, the destination ... [ read more ]
09.01.2010 ~ (re)Introducing the Backpage CMS
...because it's been a while So, what were we up to? Only retooling the 'little CMS that could' into a leaner, meaner beast. We've taken a long hard look at the content management tools arena, jotted down what we liked, crossed out things we hated ... [ read more ]
21.10.2009 ~ The Backpage blog
Yaaaay - the inargual Backpage Blog post! Right here we will share the inevitable hints & tips, our thoughts and reasoning on certain features, latest news etc. Tune in, it'll be fun! ... [ read more ]