Web 2.0 Entrepreneur

Why you should use a Web Application framework

• Posted by Tengku Zahasman on April 29th, 2007 filed in Web Programming, PHP, CakePHP, Web App Development


• 13 Comments »
• (7,203 Views)

Even though I have been programming for years, I have never actually fully utilized a web application framework when developing web applications. Part of the reason being that I may be a bit too proud to adopt someone else’s programming structure. I used to believe in my own codes so I always write applications from scratch. That was a big mistake. After I found and studied a great web application framework for PHP since just a few weeks ago, I realized how much time I have wasted all these while and how many headaches I had to go through just to rewrite the same codes and reinvent the wheel all over again.

For those who are new to web application framework, I’ll try to explain it briefly here. Everytime we start writing a web application, there are some basic codes that we need to repetitively write again and again. We had to write the database connection classes for the database access layer, we had to write every objects classes with their basic CRUD methods. Then we had to deal with so many annoying basic issues like Access Control Lists (ACL), data sanitizations, authentications and authorizations, session handlings, and you know… the rest of those stuffs. This same repetitive coding is a waste of time if you keep writing them from scratch. Plus, you can’t be really sure that the structure of your code is secure and lightweight enough to run. Then you started to wonder, “Am I doing this correctly? Is this exactly how everybody does it?” Here’s where an application framework comes in. An application framework is basically a standard programming structure that already pre-defines those repetitive stuffs as well as any other necessary functions so that you can easily and effectively write your web applications in no time.

Let’s see some of the few benefits that I find when using a Web Development Framework:

1. It saves a hell lot of time

Because you don’t need to worry about data sanitizaion, session handling, error handling, and authentication logics anymore (ok maybe just a little bit). Most of these are well taken care of by the framework. No more head scratching. You can start writing functions for your apps straight away without wasting anymore time with those repetitive codings. Double up development process!

2. Organized application structure

Another thing to not worry is about managing your web files and directories. The framework will already have a good skeleton structure to use. No more stuffing PHP files here and there and then realizing at one point that you have messed up with your files’ placings. Business logics can be separated from the interface files. Things get more organized.

3. Flexibility over different platforms

I’m a MYSQL user. If you give me a Postgresql database to use, I’d be scratching my head again if I am to write the application from scratch. Luckily a framework can help me not to waste time studying things that don’t really matter. A few tweaks can ship my application from one platform to another.

4. Secure codes

This is another huge advantage of using a development framework. You can be sure that your application is using good security measurements because the framework takes care of it. No need to worry over those nerd hackers trying to break your application anymore. In fact, I’ve never been truly confident that my application is secure if I write them from scratch. Now that I’m starting to use a framework, I feel much… much better

There are endless other benefits of using a web application framework but to list them all here is crazy. So I’ll let you decide the rest of them. I mainly develop web apps in PHP, so the framework that I’m currently exploring is CakePHP. I’ve looked into other PHP frameworks but so far I guess CakePHP got my attention the most.

How to get funded for Malaysian startup entrepreneurs

• Posted by Tengku Zahasman on April 29th, 2007 filed in Entrepreneurship, Financing/funding


• 8 Comments »
• (7,684 Views)

Internet startups in the Silicon Valley are used to getting funded by the many Venture Capitals and Angel Investors they have over there. That’s why Internet Startup companies in Silicon Valley blooms up like mushrooms after a rain. Unfortunately, we don’t have the same luxury here in Malaysia. You can’t easily find a VC to fund your startup… and most of our parents or friends are still pretty clueless/critical about Internet ventures to be your angel investor. But fret not, the Malaysian government does have allocation for the Malaysian Internet startups to get initial capital and start their businesses to boost the ICT industry in Malaysia. And there are also Malaysian companies that does businesses in Venture Capitals.

1. Technopreneur Pre-Seed Fund Programme

This fund is introduced by MDEC (Multimedia Development Corporation, Malaysia). In this programme, your startup business can get a conditional fund of up to RM150,000 that you can use to develop your IT business plan into commercial projects. The good news is that apart from the money, you will also get the benefit of their mentoring services and use their MSC status shared lab facilities.

Take note that ONLY INDIVIDUALS are eligible to apply. You can’t apply under a business name. In other words, you’re not eligible apply this fund if your business already has an established Sdn Bhd company name. You may read more information about this on their website.

- Download Guidelines and Application Form
- Download FAQ

2. Cradle Investment Programme

This programme offers RM50,000 of fund that you may use for the development of your project’s prototype, proof of concept or business plan. Same like the pre-seed programme above, this fund is also only for individuals, not companies. Their focus is to give entrepreneurs a headstart in realizing their unique ideas (sounds a lot like you?). You can make application online. Visit their website for more thorough and detailed explanation on this fund.

- Read Application Guide here

Before making an application to any of these funding options, be sure to have a strong business plan document to present them and to get their attention, besides avoiding yourself from looking foolish. Be confident of your project. Also be sure to do enough research about a certain funding programme so that you know what you’re dealing with. The question is… should you apply? Do you really need them? I’ll talk about that sometime later

________________________________________
Credit to webwatch for providing such useful information

3 simple steps to create a simple Web2.0 logo

• Posted by Tengku Zahasman on April 28th, 2007 filed in Web Design, Fireworks, Web2.0


• 12 Comments »
• (6,806 Views)

As an Internet Entrepreneur where your time and financial budget is limited, it is always a good idea to equip yourself with as many skills as you can handle. Knowing a little bit of graphic design can be very helpful most of the times. At least you don’t have to pay hundreds of bucks for someone to design you just a simple logo. The good news is you don’t need to know advanced graphics design when it comes to Web2.0 because Web2.0 designs are always created around “simplicity” and “cleanliness” (thank God!). Here’s a a few steps of how you can easily create a decent Web2.0 logo without much hassle. (PS: I use Macromedia Fireworks to do most of my image editing jobs. A handy tool!).

Generally, there are 3 basic things you need to consider when designing a Web2.0 logo:

1. The Text
2. The Object
3. The Style

Focus only on these three points and you won’t be scratching your heads anymore! Ready to get your hands dirty? Let’s go one by one.

The text

Let’s say your Web App is called “Flarke”. What you need to do is choosing the right font and the right color for this text. A smooth and simple looking font is always better than the edgy and complicated ones. In my case, I use the font “Euphemia”. When it comes to the color part, it is good to have at least two different colors for your text. If your text have two words paired together (like StumbledUpon), you can make each words to have different colours. If your text only consists of one word (like “Flarke”), then use your common sense and just differentiate the colors at some points. Here’s how my initial logo comes out:

This is so far very basic.

The Object

Text alone is too naked. You need an object to give your logo an attitude and a brand for people to recognise and remember. It can be an object that is related to your application or it can be something you create randomly - just make sure it looks fine. In my case, I created two simple rings which color matches the primary color of the logo, and shoved it to the corner of the initial text I created in Step 1. Simple. Here’s how it looks like now:

Actually this is already a good logo for a Web2.0 application. Clean and slick. But adding a few styles will make it look even better.

The Style

Web2.0 logos are often seen to have either of these two styles: One is a “glassy-look”, and another is by having a “reflection”. You can use either of this, or better still, you may even apply both. For now, I’ll just apply a reflection to my logo so that it looks like this.

Oh!… isn’t that a nice looking logo? Only three steps and you already created a decent, official-looking, and acceptable Web2.0 logo. But wait, Web2.0 logo usually also comes with the word “beta” (or any of its variants like “alpha”, “zeta”, etc). So let’s put it in and complete the logo:

That’s it! You’re done!