We use the Google Closure Compiler to compress our JavaScript files in order to reduce page load times. When writing HeyBigName.com using Laravel 2.x it was implemented as a library. After having converted the code-base to Laravel 3.x we're repackaging much of our functionality into bundles.
Laravel's bundle system allows for developers to package libraries, models, migrations, routes, collections of MVC components, or entire sites into modular components that can be installed from a call on the command-line.
I highly encourage you to check out Laravel as 3.x is stable and production-ready. The documentation is good and the community is growing very quickly. In all honesty I see Laravel as the new baseline in which all other PHP frameworks should be judged. (not including full-stack frameworks such as Zend or Symfony)
Check out our bundle on the Bundle Page or on GitHub.
Excitement is building as CIConf 2012 gets closer! This weekend --the 19th and 20th of February-- I am going to be in London, England meeting a bunch of fellow CodeIgniter developers and checking out some great speakers.
If you see me there make sure you say hi! I'm so very lonely.
It's been a fun and exciting year for us. We worked with a lot of great people, released our first web app (Picofin.com) and Shawn moved to the Netherlands where he established a Dutch branch for Big.
We've learned a lot about running our own business over these past 12 months and we're looking forward to another year.
Thank you all for supporting us and helping us grow!
Photo Credit: mediamolecule
We're excited to announce the release of Picofin. Picofin is a fast, simple tool for online proofing and sharing. We needed a little more and a little less from a design sharing app. We made our own and invite you to use it as well.
We have some big news. Shawn and his family are moving to the Netherlands! More specifically, Utrecht. They traveled all weekend long and have made it to their destination safely. Their next step, among a lot of others, is to find a place to live. So, if you have any friends across the pond that can recommend real estate in Utrecht, they'd be much obliged. You can keep up with Shawn and his experiences at Shawn in Dutch.
Just so we're clear, Shawn isn't leaving the company. In fact, he'll be opening the Dutch branch of Big Name! We're very excited about this opportunity and we're looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Photo by Marcel030NL
Hey everyone! The talented designer Justin Seiter and I have joined forces to create the web design company Big Name. In addition to our regular web design work we're excited to announce that we'll be creating articles and screencasts on numerous design and development topics.
You can learn more about us on the about page and always feel free to drop us a line.
As we get up to speed you can follow us here and on our twitter @heybigname.
