Thought Refinery

Community Events Plugin

Nick Ciske — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:32:31 +0000

As part of the product team at Modern Tribe I helped build an add-on to the popular Events Calendar & Events Calendar Pro plugins called Community Events.

Highlights

Frontend user event submission (anonymous & logged in)
Moderation: Decide whether submissions are published automatically or saved to draft
Optional frontend “My Events” list for users to see status of their submissions
Allow users to edit their own entries after submission — or don’t, it’s your call
Style submission form using custom templates
Integrate with Events Calendar PRO to allow users to interaction with additional fields
Easily separate between user submitted and admin created events
Use shortcode to place the form on any page (non-permalinks only)
Internationalized & ready for translation
MU compatible

A Collection of Tiny Details

Nick Ciske — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:49:11 +0000

It’s a post about automated cat feeders but it’s a great example of how much details matter, in life, in design, in software development and, yes, in website development.

This Is All Your App Is: a Collection of Tiny Details

The key quote:

This is still one of my favorite quotes about software. It’s something we internalized heavily when building Stack Overflow. Getting the details right is the difference between something that delights, and something customers tolerate.

I love the feeling of watching a client go from tolerating their website to enjoying it again.

I love it when an app adds the feature that’s been bugging me for a month… it feels like I’m their only customer.

Not just the devil is in the details.

Pocket Your Dollars

Nick Ciske — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:38:49 +0000

WordPress-to-lead for Salesforce CRM

Nick Ciske — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:15:44 +0000

Highlights

Brought in to bring the plugin to version 2.0

Improvements in v2.0

Improved internationalization
Multiple forms can be created and inserted via shortcode or widget
Spam protection (with optional captcha)
Fixed “Cannot use object of type WP_Error as array” bug
Fixed bug that showed successful submissions as “Failed to connect to SalesForce.com”
Hidden fields can now be used
Campaign_ID can now be set per form
Widget now hides description text upon submission
Admins can recieve an email of submissions
Users can request a copy of their submission (if enabled)
Custom return/thanks URL can be defined per form
Country field added

Clayfire

Nick Ciske — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:03:03 +0000

Highlights

Custom theme development
Custom widget development

We Are Sparkhouse

Nick Ciske — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:02:14 +0000

Highlights

WordPress MultiSite allows common logins for all sites, shared plug-ins and simplified administration
Custom theme development
Testimonials are entered per site and aggregated on the main site
Testimonials, Contributors and Books utilize custom post types for ease of entry

MN Volleyball HQ

Nick Ciske — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:00:47 +0000

Believers Press

Nick Ciske — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:59:59 +0000

Highlights

Heavily customized Shopp integration (e-commerce)
Content strategy, copy writing, and extensive SEO work

Click for larger view (site has since been redesigned)

Library Insider

Nick Ciske — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:56:59 +0000

Backend Member View

Highlights

Custom s2member integration
Custom database development
E-commerce vendor selection and integration

Believers Press Bookstore

Nick Ciske — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:06:56 +0000

Highlights

Customized X-Cart e-commerce site
Custom API integration with book distributor — orders are automatically transmitted to the fulfillment center
Handles multiple warehouses and correctly calculates shipping fees
Product page can pull in author’s latest posts via RSS