Monthly report for July 2018
The Redux JavaScript library
Even though this library was released in 2015, I only pay decent attention to it now. That makes me 3 years late, but I’ll live with that.
I’ve thoroughly followed the Tyler McGinnis Redux course, and I think that I’ve got a pretty good understanding on how to use Redux (this was obviously one of the main purpose of the course), but more importantly when to use it.
Yes, Redux is heavily associated with React because it was built around it, but it can be associated with any javascript code —or library. In my opinion, this tool is meant to be used when managing application state is a concern, whatever the reason. For most of the small applications out there, managing state won’t become a problem until quite a long time if ever, and until that time, using local state is a good, working solution. Using Redux from the start will just add more boilerplate code to the application.
Redux is a really sweet helper, but it shouldn’t be used blindly either. And so says Dan Abramov, the co-creator of the library.
Accessibility related stuff
Inaccessibility of CAPTCHA .
CAPTCHAs are supposed to test whether the agent is a human or a machine. However, there is no ideal CAPTCHA, and at some point people with disabilities will be unable to use it. Particular care should be brought to ensure this doesn’t happen.The Inaccessibility of Video Players - Gian Wild.
A study to determine accessible video players. Among the 37 players tested, only 2 passed. Way to go.Beyond WCAG: Experiences in Implementing BS 8878.
Video of EA Draffan at IWMW 12.
General
NPM scoped packages.
While this is not a new functionnality (it was discussed on GitHub in October 2014), I felt like I was just using it instead of really understanding it, so I went digging a bit further.Universal Office Converter (source).
Convert between any document format supported by LibreOffice/OpenOffice. Unless it crashes.
React and icons management in React pipeline
react-icons.
Looked interesting, but there are differences between original icons and the one provided, making it only “meh”.react-svg-morph. Morph a SVG component into another shape.