For some time now I’ve attempted to find the ideal configuration of software and services to develop websites on a Mac, and more specifically, how to keep these files synced between an FTP server and multiple Macs. The following should serve as a rough guide to beginners attempting to do the same, but a few caveats:

Just sayin’…

I’ve had some decent ideas, but my recent fall, pending surgery, and pending redesign of my employer’s massive website have all created a perfect storm of not being able to do much web-related work on the personal side of things. In a week, I’ll be left handed mousing, and typing with one hand…

In the past seven months I have adopted a cat, purchased a house, switched jobs, lost a marriage, gone skydiving for the first time, gained a roommate, purchased a car, and led an initiative to overhaul my employer’s CMS — in that order.

I’m starting to create again, but I still have a nagging itch. It’s this site. What am I doing with it? Not really anything. It got me the job I needed, but it serves little purpose as a voice for me. I rely on Twitter + Facebook far too much for that. Something needs to change. But when do I have time? Somewhere, I do. But I don’t feel much like sitting on the couch or at my desk to do it. Maybe I should go to more coffee shops and fewer pubs? Perhaps I need to block out a specific day and time to write?

I’ve noticed I’m not the only one — many designers aren’t publishing as frequently as they used to. Our communication channels are shifting ever closer to shorthand, easy-to-consume signals. Are our sites destined to become dusty portfolios slapped up alongside Tumblelogs?

Nay, I tell you! It takes quite a bit of effort to generate content, but we’ve all got to get better about it before the dumb channels take us over. Besides, you can’t squeeze a Photoshop tutorial or a full-blown discussion about frameworks into a tweet. So this is my reminder to myself… Write, dammit! Now I’m no expert, but what do you young designers entering the field want to know O.o