Week Four (MGDP2050)

Lecture notes and exercises for Week Four of Web Design and Development II (MGDP2050).

See also Week Three (MGDP2050) - Week Five (MGDP2050).

In the news

Safari browser crash

• Search Suggestions Causing Apple's Safari Browser To Crash on Many Devices @ SlashDot

Java browser plugin deprecated

• Oracle deprecates the Java browser plugin, prepares for its demise @ Ars Technica

Deprecation is discouragement from using a feature, without actually removing the feature (for the time being).

• This is important for backward compatibility, among other reasons.

See also Plug-in (computing).

Do not confuse Java with JavaScript. They are different, unrelated programming languages.

Review from previous weeks

Human factors

• User (computing)
• User interface design
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Usability
• Web usability
• User experience (UX)
• User research
• Accessibility
• Web accessibility
• Proof of concept
• Prototype
• Mockup
• Website wireframe

Class web server

The class web server is located here:

• http://mgdp2050.htcwebcreative.com

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol (or simply FTP) is a widely-used protocol for transferring files across computer networks.

FTP consists of two programs:

• FTP server
• FTP client

The FTP server has two tasks:

• Receive uploaded files from clients
• Send downloaded files to clients

FTP servers are typically associated with web servers. If you have a web server account, you probably have an FTP account to go with it.

The FTP client has two tasks:

• Upload files to server
• Download files from server

In this course, we will use FTP clients to upload and download files.

• We will not download, install, or work directly with FTP servers

FTP clients

Many FTP clients are available. All do essentially the same thing.

For this class, You may use any FTP client you like.

FileZilla

FileZilla is a popular FTP client:

• Free and open source
• Available for Mac, Windows, Linux

FileZilla uses a two-panel display:

• Local files (on your computer)
• Remote files (on web server)

Fetch

Fetch is available for Mac only.

• Fetch uses a single window to display remote (web server) files
• Use a Mac Finder window to display local (your computer) files

Exercises: in class

FTP

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Exercises: for next week

Bootstrap

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Reading

• Backward compatibility
• Deprecation
• File Transfer Protocol
• Plug-in (computing)
• Web server