Notes & tips on web dev & design

Track email opens in Rails

January 14, 2013 • Ruby on Rails

How to track email opens on the HTML emails you send from your Ruby on Rails application.

Configure ActionMailer to use multiple SMTP settings

January 4, 2013 • Ruby on Rails

How to set up your Rails app to send email through different servers. Useful for sending transactional email through a different account from your user-generated email.

Bash script to merge and compress CSS and JavaScript files

December 30, 2012 • Bash, CSS

Deliver a consolidated and compressed version of your stylesheets in production, while keeping your CSS files organized and readable during development.

CoffeeScript Global Classes

December 22, 2012 • CoffeeScript

Need to make a class in CoffeeScript available in other scripts? Make sure the class name is prefixed with an “@”.

Replace HTML text with CSS; no images needed

December 11, 2012 • CSS, HTML

A quick and easy way to replace the text of a HTML element through CSS. Helpful when you want to tailor text in a different media type, like print.

About

I create web apps & sites. I enjoy the simple, the unencumbered, the direct.

Like to work with me? Let me know at hello@justinreid.com.

What I'm working on

I've started a company, Fit-Track.com. Discovering, coordinating, and tracking workouts with friends has never been easier.

What I create with

Research: Usability testing, card sorts, surveys, persona development.
Design: HTML5, SCSS, CoffeeScript.
Develop: Ruby on Rails, Ruby, PHP, Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB.
Test: RSpec.
Manage: GIT, RVM, Homebrew.

What I'm inspired by

Designers sharing on Dribbble
Thinkers giving TED Talks
37signals' takes on writing & business
Nielsen's insights into web usability
Ryan Bates' Railscasts