Pie in the Sky (September 27th, 2013)

Happy Friday! Here's some reading for the weekend.

Cloud

• Windows Azure multi-factor authentication: If you need multi-factor authentication, it's now generally available (GA, released, whatever.)

• Deploy pre-configured Oracle VMs on Windows Azure: If you need Oracle in the cloud.

Mobile/Client

• Getting started with flat UI design: An explanation of flat UI and some useful resources.

• Three.js and Babylon.js: A comparison between these two WebGL frameworks.

• Make your text content mobile-friendly: Some strategies for text content.

• Semantic UI: A more descriptive approach to web UI design.

• Content strategy for mobile web design: Things to think about when designing for mobile.

• Getting started with Web Components and Polymer.js: Good article on hacking around with Polymer.js.

• FlowType.js: Adjust typography on the fly based on element width.

• Easily port your Cocos2D-X game to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8: For those of you making games.

Java

• Microsoft, Azul bring OpenJDK to Windows Azure with 'Zulu': Zulu is Azul's build of the OpenJDK. You can grab the bits at the download page.

Node.js

• Node v0.10.19 released: Another week, another Node.js release.

• Node.js hackathon in Redmond, November 7-8: At the new 'Garage' facility in building 27 on the Microsoft campus.

PHP

• Update to default PHP runtime on Windows Azure: This is a fairly important one if your application relies on a specific version. Cory goes into details of explicitly setting the version to use for your web sites on Windows Azure.

Ruby

• Ruby 2.1: Ruby 2.1 was announced this week. Here's some of the planned changes.

• Ruby 2.1 preview: And if you live on the bleeding edge, here's a preview of 2.1.

• Rails security pitfalls: Securing rails.

Enjoy!

- Larry