Progressive Web Apps: Apps You Can Install Anywhere Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are modern web sites designed to feel like native apps. They can be added to your home screen or desktop, opened in a separate window, and used even when the network is slow or offline. A PWA combines the reach of the web with the engagement of a native app. The key ingredients are a manifest file and a service worker, plus a secure connection (HTTPS). ...
Web3 and Blockchain in Practice Web3 and blockchain are often described as futuristic tech, but in practice they are tools you can understand and use. A blockchain is a shared ledger that stores transactions in blocks, making history harder to alter. Smart contracts are small programs that run on the network and can automate rules without a middleman. In many projects, teams use a mix of public networks for openness and private networks for privacy. For example, a manufacturer might log shipments on a private chain with permissioned access for suppliers, while users settle payments on a public layer. This combination helps balance transparency with control. ...
WebRTC for Real-Time Collaboration WebRTC enables direct media and data exchange between browsers. It makes real-time audio, video, and fast data flows possible without plugins. This is ideal for collaboration tools like live whiteboards, co-editing, and group chats. The technology is powerful, but it relies on careful integration with signaling and network handling. The core pieces are RTCPeerConnection for media and data, RTCDataChannel for custom app data, and getUserMedia to capture local devices. Signaling is outside WebRTC: your app must exchange offers, answers, and ICE candidates through a server or another channel. ICE helps peers find a path through firewalls and NATs, using STUN and, when needed, TURN servers. ...
Content Delivery Networks: Speeding Up the Web Worldwide A content delivery network (CDN) places copies of a site’s files on servers around the world. This helps data travel shorter distances and reduces the time it takes to load a page. For users far from the origin server, a CDN can make a big difference in perceived speed and reliability. How a CDN speeds up a site Edge servers store copies of images, scripts, and media so requests travel less distance. Smart routing finds the fastest path from a user to a nearby server. Caching keeps popular files ready, so the origin server handles fewer requests. What this means for different sites ...
Web Servers Explained: How The Internet Serves Your Site A web server is not a single machine; it is software that runs on a computer and answers requests from browsers. When you visit a site, you are asking a server to send you files, images, or dynamic data. The journey involves several layers: the domain name system, secure transport, and the server software that decides what to send back. First comes DNS. Your browser asks a DNS resolver to translate the domain into an IP address. Then a connection is made to that address. If the site uses HTTPS, a secure TLS handshake happens to establish a trusted link. After that, your browser sends an HTTP request, usually a GET for a page like index.html. The server reads the request, checks permissions, and returns a response that includes a status code, headers, and content. If the page is dynamic, the server may run code or query a database before replying. ...
VoIP and WebRTC: Real-Time Communication in Practice Real-time communication powers many daily tasks, from a quick phone call to a live support chat. VoIP and WebRTC are two cornerstones that make this possible. VoIP has a longer history and often follows traditional phone-style signaling, while WebRTC lets browsers handle audio and video directly, without plugins. Together they enable flexible setups for offices, apps, and websites. The goal remains simple: convert speech to data, send it over the internet, and play it back cleanly on the other end. ...
Real-Time Communication with WebRTC WebRTC lets browsers talk in real time with audio, video, and even data. It runs in the user’s browser, so you can build video calls, screen sharing, or fast data apps without plugins. The core pieces are getUserMedia for capturing media, RTCPeerConnection to manage the call, and RTCDataChannel for direct data transfer. A signaling channel is needed to start a session and exchange setup messages. WebRTC itself does not define signaling, so you choose a messaging method for your app. ...
Content Management Systems in the Age of Personalization Personalization is not a gimmick. It shapes how people find, read, and trust online content. Modern content management systems must support not only publishing, but also presenting content in many formats. The same article should work on a website, a mobile app, or an email newsletter without rewriting it for each channel. In practice, personalization relies on three ideas: modular content, audience-aware delivery, and reliable governance. Content is built from reusable blocks—headlines, summaries, images, and calls to action. Rules decide which blocks to show and which variants to publish, all while keeping a single source of truth. ...
Web Servers: How They Power the Internet A web server is software that runs on a computer and serves content to users over the internet. It answers requests from browsers, delivering pages, images, or data. The whole internet relies on many servers talking the same language to share information quickly and safely. The typical journey of a web request starts with a domain name. A DNS server translates that name into an IP address. Your browser then opens a connection, often secured with TLS, and sends an HTTP request. The web server processes the request and replies with a status code and a body. If the page is dynamic, the server may run code to produce the content before sending it back. ...
Content Management Systems for Content Strategy A CMS is more than a repository. For content strategy, it becomes the engine that turns topics into coherent, reusable content across a website, mobile apps, and social posts. The right system helps writers plan, reviewers approve, designers preserve consistency, and marketers measure impact. When teams share a common structure and vocabulary, content moves faster and feels more trustworthy. Content modeling defines the building blocks: content types like article, guide, product page, or FAQ. Taxonomies organize topics and audiences so readers find what they seek. Editorial workflows set who approves each piece and when it goes live. Localization keeps translations aligned with the original and local context. SEO features, accessibility checks, and performance dashboards help teams optimize content without adding steps. ...