Michael Novotny

I am a developer. I make things.

Introducing WP Test: The Best Tests For WordPress

March 27, 2013 — 6 Comments

Accounting for all the variables is one of the most challenging aspects of developing for WordPress.

There are so many scenarios to account for, such as WordPress versions, plugin versions, plugin conflicts, host server configurations, browsers, and the endless ways you can customize WordPress through post formats, custom post types, theme options, theme templates, etc.

In this vast sea of variety is both the pleasure and the pain in developing WordPress themes and plugins for mass distribution.

Today I would like to begin to put an end to one of those variables. I would like to introduce the release of WP Test, the best tests for WordPress.

In Projects

How To Test And Troubleshoot WordPress Plugins And Themes

March 19, 2013 — 1 Comment

I had the incredible honor and privilege to speek at WordCamp Atlanta last week.

I gave a presentation on Testing & Troubleshooting WordPress Plugins & Themes, which is the culmination of all that I have learned from leading quality at 8BIT for the past three years.

I am posting my enture presentation along with bullet point cliff notes and resource links for each slide.

In Speaking jQuery, WordPress

Speaking At WordCamp Atlanta

March 15, 2013 — 1 Comment

For the next two days I will be attending WordCamp Atlanta.

I also have the privilege of speaking this year. I will be giving a presentation on Testing & Troubleshooting WordPress Plugins & Themes on Saturday, March 16th at 10:00am EST.

In Speaking WordPress

How To Fix WordPress Admin Styles Not Loading

February 28, 2013 — 2 Comments

This is one of those articles you tuck away in Evernote or your favorite “read it later” app because it will most likely not mean anything to you right this moment, but when it does happen, you will be glad you saved this.

When I got my new computer, I took the opportunity to clean up my local development environment. That meant a fresh installation of MAMP Pro and some new databases.

I got everything setup and I was settling in for a good, long second shift when I saw this in my WordPress admin.

WordPress admin CSS styles missing.

This was not what I had planned for my evening… *sigh*

In Tips WordPress

13″ MacBook Air vs. 13″ Retina MacBook Pro…Fight!

February 20, 2013 — 6 Comments

MacBook Air vs. Retina

I have to admit, I have been pretty spoiled when it comes to computers over the past several years. I have not bought a computer for myself since 2007. I have been incredibly fortunate to have employers give me top-of-the-line hardware for both company and personal use.

My new job is decidedly more corporate, which means it came time for me to once again separate work and personal computer use.

Now, which computer to get?

In Uncategorized

Breaking Up With Flash

January 2, 2013 — 13 Comments

My relationship with Adobe Flash started in 2006. I owe a lot to Flash. It has shaped my professional development career for the past six years and paid for our wedding, our house, two cars, and two kids. I have immense gratitude and respect for the platform.

But things change, especially in technology.

Today is bittersweet. Today I am officially breaking up with Flash…for good.

It’s not you, Flash. It’s me. It is time to see other platforms.

In Thoughts

Practical Blogging Advice

December 11, 2012 — Leave a comment

This is the fifth and last post in the How To Start A Blog series.

Peanuts Blogging Advice

After getting everything installed and setup, you finally arrive to that point… The time has come to start publishing content.

If you are anything like me, this is the most difficult part of this entire series. I agonized over everything… Which categories and / or tags should I use? How do I make my posts sound natural and not forced like I am trying too hard? How do I engage my readers?

Fortunately, I am surrounded by a great team who have done this blogging thing long time. I have observed their tactics, taken a lot of notes, and asked a lot questions. Whether they know it or not, they have imparted their wisdom to me for the better part of three years.

I would like to share with you what I have learned from them in hopes that it will help you too.

In Articles

Essential Blog Accounts And Services

November 12, 2012 — 2 Comments

This is the fourth post in the How To Start A Blog series.

So far we have covered choosing a platform, a theme, and some additional plugins to get your site started. Now what?

This moment, right here, is where I get asked the most questions on how to start a blog or website. Unless you have traversed these internet waters before, it can be quite overwhelming. After I went through the process a few times for myself and for my clients, I started a checklist of essential accounts and services to setup before launching a blog or website.

Rather than keep that list to myself, I thought I would share them here. Continue Reading…

In Articles

WordPress Plugins

November 2, 2012 — 2 Comments

This is the third post in the How To Start A Blog series.

It would seem that the WordPress community has a love / hate relationship with WordPress plugins.

On the positive side, plugins are one of the primary reasons users and developers are drawn to use WordPress in the first place. Plugins offer a way to quickly add functionality to a WordPress site and there are literally thousands to choose from.

On the negative side, there is no process for monitoring plugin quality. While it is nice that anyone can create and distribute a plugin, there is no standard enforced. This means that you could install a poorly coded plugin and it could have a huge impact on your site’s performance.

I will share my thoughts on what you should consider when installing plugins and what WordPress plugins I use on my site.

In Articles

Why I Use Standard Theme

November 1, 2012 — 3 Comments

This is the second post in the How To Start A Blog series.

Is it just me or does discussing WordPress themes always seems like a touchy subject? It feels like every comparison or “showdown” article ends up with countless “my theme can beat up your theme” comments. Do not get me wrong, these comparisons are helpful to see how themes stack up against each other, and how one of them might be more tailored to your needs. And in a weird, twisted way, it is neat to see how passionate people are about WordPress and their theme of choice.

But with that said, can we just get something out-of-the-way right up front? I do not think there is a “best” theme out there. Maybe a “best for you” theme, but not a “winner take all” theme.

Choosing a theme is a personal and subjective decision. Based on that, I am not going to impose my reasons for why you should use Standard. Instead, I would simply like to explain why I use Standard.

In Articles