Matt McCarthy - Full Stack Developer

Now it's easier to send Matt McCarthy - Full Stack Developer a message.

All of my sites have had noticeable changes since the last update, check out https://mccarthycode.com/portfolio for the updated screenshots.

Portfolio - McCarthy Code Providing Web/mobile app design and development in addition to domain and hosting administration to clients in the Chicago area.

Theme for this week: "Let's try that again."

Context: For the New Year, I've dedicated all week for taking the time to step back, analyze how I want my setup configured, and install things the best way possible within a 40 hour time frame. Throughout the process, however, I keep messing up configurations, and I've lost track of how many times I've started this Debian install from scratch. 🙃

The way I see it, however, as frustrating as it may be, with each failure, we learn from our mistakes and grow a little bit stronger. In this case, I'm learning more about the Linux system than I had known before, namely how to share important system directories across virtual systems. This will allow me to switch contexts more easily, to use less space on my SSD, and, ultimately, to focus better on my main priority: Web design!

So if you find yourself constantly failing and repeating the same steps over and over again, try not to get discouraged. Take a step back, and see if you notice what's changed with each iteration. Even if you keep finding yourself at square one, if you can identify what went wrong and think of a new possible solution, you're better prepared for the next attempt than you were before. Hopefully this will help you stay on track to achieving your goals, even those that have nothing to do with software development.

Failure is always an option. - Adam Savage

Look how cute the icon is for VirtualBox's clone VM feature.

Matt McCarthy - Full Stack Developer updated their business hours.

Matt McCarthy - Full Stack Developer updated their website address.

Someone knows their jQuery!

Software development is like battling Hydra: you knock out one task and two more pop up in its place. Some updates (mostly behind-the-scenes with one exception ✨) coming to MTM Chicago, hopefully by the end of the wee—EGADS, MORE HEADS!

McCarthy Web Design is now McCarthy Code.

Why the change? This is to expand to mobile and desktop app development. I'm learning new frameworks to make this possible, and soon any new Web app I create will also have the ability to be run on iOS, Android, Windows, OSX, and Linux as a hybrid app—an app that runs a Web page natively on a mobile or desktop device. Notice that mccarthywebdesign.com now redirects to mccarthycode.com.

Ah, that "Close Multiple Tabs" after completing a big task feeling.

I hear ya, there's no way a video is playing unmuted on *my* sites! Can't say I agree on the crypto part, tho; that's some BS, too.

🚨 New site updates! 🚨

The portfolio page got a colorful revamp, there's a new form to submit a quote request, and the legal and about pages have a higher contrast background. Also, I changed the About page content to first person because talking about myself in the third person just sounded ridiculous. I hope you like the design changes! Oh, and there's a three-panel Easter egg hiding in there somewhere. 🐣

https://mccarthywebdesign.com

Microsoft announced that they will end its support to Internet Explorer Nov. 30, 2020. Good riddance! MWD recommends Mozilla Firefox, but Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Opera are all good options.

I often talk to myself out loud when I've had enough coffee, which is actually a good programming practice referred to as "rubber duck programming." It lets you talk out your process to yourself, or to a rubber duck, or to any person or inanimate object, and allows you to catch things you may have missed. Can you think of any contexts other than programming in which this may be useful? I invite you try it for yourselves, and see if you notice that light-bulb moment where you hear yourself say something that isn't right, and figure out how to correct it.

So I'm applying for a freelance matching service, and preparing for their screening test is going a little something like this. Good thing I'm understanding most of it!
https://www.abstrusegoose.com/474

Abstruse Goose | Arithmetic for Beginners This webcomic tastes like happiness.

I just updated the About page on my website to feature the RedBull Robot I talked about. I wish I had a video of it!

https://devpost.com/software/redbull-robot-checkers-player
https://mccarthywebdesign.com/about/

Writing a commit message is the Show and Tell stage of the software development process, and to me, it's just as much fun.

You can see the commit history of any GitHub project by navigating to the project page (e.g. https://github.com/mattmc318/McCarthy-Web-Design) ➔ # Commits ➔ select development branch, and for each commit, after the short, ≤ 50 character description, click the ellipsis (…) to see a more detailed description (if the developer provided one).

For any open source software (OSS) hosted on GitHub (which is most OSS projects), you can follow these steps to find exactly what the project's developer(s) are working on. The verbiage might be a bit technical, as it's more geared to other developers than the general public, but usually most viewers can make sense of the top-level description, as the developer is forced to condense their description of the whole commit into 50 characters or fewer.

This is a great tool for learning about bleeding-edge changes to a project, and will allow you to see what will likely be included in the next update, before that update actually happens! Pretty cool, right?

Have you every been stuck on a problem for so long that once it's solved, you kind of don't know what to do with yourself? I suppose a small celebration is in order. 🎉

Linux users, are you a Phoebe or a Joey when it comes to pronouncing "sudo?" I'm definitely a Joey. Or is there another way to pronounce it? Be sure to voice your opinions on this in the comments!

If you like McCarthy Web Design, be sure to write a review on Yelp!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/mccarthy-web-design-chicago

McCarthy Web Design - Rogers Park - Chicago, IL Web Design in Chicago, IL

Are you a small business owner in need of a website? Or maybe you have one but aren't satisfied with how it's laid out or functioning? Let's try to decide what option is right for you, even if it isn't with MC.

First of all, it is important to note that there are free options. Namely, what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editors like those from Wix and GoDaddy work pretty well for basic sites with a few pages, but that's all you're limited to if you want to go the free route.

Note that custom domains, online payments, and other premium features all cost extra no matter which route you take. Signing a contract with McCarthy Web Design, however, allows you to pay by the hour, and caps payments to MC at a competitive rate.

Every individual's and business's needs are different, so it's difficult to say what you final price tag will look like. However, this article may help clarify what you should be paying:
https://www.nutsandboltsmedia.com/the-truth-how-much-you-should-pay-for-a-website-design/

Hopefully this helps make the decision a bit easier for you. If you have any questions, or would like a quote, don't hesitate to reach out at 773 612 3678 or [email protected].

Happy website shopping!

The Truth: How Much You Should Pay for a Website An honest look at how much a professionally designed and developed website or blog should cost.

Illinois to open more small-business development centers, including 5 in Chicago, to help COVID-19 recovery Illinois unveiled an $11.5 million investment to open seven small business resource centers, including five in Chicago, that provide support amid the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and stores damaged from protests in early June.

Thanks to everyone who liked my page! I know it's a bit bare at this point, but the real info is on my website:
https://mccarthywebdesign.com
There you can find a more detailed bio and my portfolio in addition to contact information also visible here.

Home and Contact - McCarthy Web Design