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From the Codebase

Articles documenting technical decisions, tradeoffs, and lessons learned while building systems that run under real-world conditions.

How Do We Ensure Our Platform Doesn’t Become Obsolete Quickly?

How Do We Ensure Our Platform Doesn’t Become Obsolete Quickly?

Digital platforms become obsolete when they’re built for short-term needs instead of long-term adaptability. A future-proof web platform balances flexibility, stability, and maintainability to support growth over time.

Top Website Accessibility Tips to Meet WCAG Standards

Top Website Accessibility Tips to Meet WCAG Standards

Learn practical tips to make your website accessible and compliant with WCAG guidelines and ADA standards. From semantic HTML and color contrast to captions and keyboard navigation, discover how to create an inclusive, user-friendly site for all visitors. Implementing these strategies not only improves usability for people with disabilities but also enhances overall SEO, performance, and brand reputation.

Buy vs. Build: Why Purchasing a Cookie Consent Popup Is the Smarter Choice

Buy vs. Build: Why Purchasing a Cookie Consent Popup Is the Smarter Choice

Choosing between building or buying a cookie consent popup can have major implications for compliance, cost, and efficiency. While in-house development may seem appealing, it often leads to higher maintenance demands, greater legal risk, and missed features. A professional, pre-built solution offers rapid deployment, automatic updates to meet evolving GDPR and CCPA regulations, advanced capabilities like cookie scanning and geo-targeting, and a lower total cost of ownership—making it the smarter, safer choice for any website.

Opinion: As a Web Developer, Frivolous Privacy Complaints Are Breaking the Web

Opinion: As a Web Developer, Frivolous Privacy Complaints Are Breaking the Web

As a web developer, I fully support strong privacy protections—but the rise in baseless privacy complaints is undermining the very trust these laws aim to uphold. Users are increasingly filing claims over standard, transparent features they've already consented to, putting unnecessary strain on developers and regulators alike. If we don’t draw a clear line between real violations and misguided frustrations, we risk burning out the people working hardest to keep the web ethical and usable.

Leading with Code and Character: A Developer’s Guide to Positive Leadership

Leading with Code and Character: A Developer’s Guide to Positive Leadership

In today’s fast-paced tech world, true leadership isn’t just about clean code or sprint velocity—it’s about empathy, communication, and creating a positive team culture. This post explores key practices that set developer leaders apart and offers practical guidance on how to avoid the cynicism and negativity that too often pervade engineering teams. Lead with code, but lead with character.

Google Tag Manager for Beginners: What It Is and Why Your Website Needs It

Google Tag Manager for Beginners: What It Is and Why Your Website Needs It

Learn the basics of Google Tag Manager and why it’s a must-have for modern websites. From simplifying analytics to streamlining your tracking setup, this beginner-friendly guide breaks down how GTM works and includes a handy starter checklist to get you up and running fast.

Comparing PIMCore to WordPress

Comparing PIMCore to WordPress

PIMCore offers an all-in-one, highly customizable platform that integrates content, product information, and digital asset management, making it ideal for enterprise environments with complex data needs. In contrast, WordPress is a user-friendly CMS known for its extensive plugin ecosystem, catering primarily to simpler content management and non-technical users.

What WP Engine Lawsuits Mean for WordPress: A Black Lab Perspective

What WP Engine Lawsuits Mean for WordPress: A Black Lab Perspective

At Black Lab Development, we value WordPress for its innovation, but WP Engine’s recent lawsuits raise concerns about the platform’s future. These challenges could affect costs and options for businesses. We’re here to help you adapt and thrive—your success is our priority.

Understanding Headless CMSs: A Look at Drupal and WordPress

Understanding Headless CMSs: A Look at Drupal and WordPress

A headless CMS decouples content management from its presentation layer, enabling developers to build flexible, scalable, and omnichannel solutions. Platforms like Drupal and WordPress excel in this space, offering powerful APIs to deliver content seamlessly across websites, apps, and IoT devices. While Drupal is ideal for complex, enterprise-level workflows, WordPress shines with its simplicity and vast plugin ecosystem. By adopting a headless approach, organizations can future-proof their content strategy and unlock limitless creative possibilities.

The Role of AI in the Future of Development: Making Code Smarter

The Role of AI in the Future of Development: Making Code Smarter

In today’s tech-driven world, AI is more than a buzzword—it’s revolutionizing software development. Acting like a tireless coding partner, AI helps developers write cleaner, more efficient code while saving time. From catching errors to boosting security, AI tools like GitHub Copilot and DeepCode are game-changers, transforming the way we code and innovate. It’s not about replacing developers but enhancing their creativity and efficiency. Ready to work smarter, not harder? AI is leading the way.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Manufacturers

Digital Marketing Strategies for Manufacturers

The manufacturing industry is evolving, and digital marketing is now essential for business growth and customer engagement. Buyers increasingly turn to online research, making a strong digital presence critical. At Black Lab Development, we help manufacturers excel with strategies like customer-centric websites, targeted content marketing, SEO, paid advertising, and marketing automation. Our tailored approach drives measurable results, helping you attract leads, boost visibility, and grow your business in the digital age.

HTML Structure and Solid Coding in SEO Success

HTML Structure and Solid Coding in SEO Success

HTML is the backbone of your website, and its structure plays a critical role in SEO. Clean, well-organized HTML helps search engines navigate and index your content efficiently. Using semantic tags like <header>, <section>, and <article> makes your content clear, improves accessibility, and supports rich snippets for better search visibility. Pairing solid coding practices with responsive design, faster loading times, and secure connections ensures your site performs well for both users and search engines. At Blacklabdev.com, we’re here to help you build SEO-friendly websites that stand out and rank higher.

Creating Engaging Websites with Interactive Development and Scrollytelling

Creating Engaging Websites with Interactive Development and Scrollytelling

Interactive development and scrollytelling are changing the game for websites, making them more engaging and fun to explore. These techniques help turn ordinary pages into memorable experiences that keep visitors coming back. At Black Lab Development, we’re here to help you build a website that doesn’t just look great but truly connects with your audience. Let’s create something amazing together!

The Importance of Maintaining WordPress Plugins and Security to Avoid Getting Hacked

The Importance of Maintaining WordPress Plugins and Security to Avoid Getting Hacked

Keeping your WordPress plugins and security up-to-date is crucial to protect your site from hackers. Outdated plugins and poor security practices can lead to data breaches, downtime, and reputational damage. Regular updates, proactive measures like SSL and backups, and trusted tools can help safeguard your site. At Black Lab Development, we specialize in maintaining and securing WordPress sites to ensure your online presence stays strong and reliable.

Turn Your Blog into a Learning Center That Answers Your Customers’ Questions

Turn Your Blog into a Learning Center That Answers Your Customers’ Questions

Transforming your blog into a Learning Center can revolutionize how your website serves prospective customers. By organizing content into clear categories and answering key questions, you’ll create a go-to resource that builds trust, improves engagement, and drives conversions. At Black Lab Development, we can help you design a Learning Center that turns your website into a powerful tool for growth.

Finding the Perfect E-Commerce Platform for Your Small Business

Finding the Perfect E-Commerce Platform for Your Small Business

Picking the right e-commerce platform is a big decision for your small business. Whether you’re looking for simplicity with Shopify, flexibility with WooCommerce, or powerful marketing tools with Marketo, each option has its strengths. At Black Lab Development, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit and create an online store that works for you. Let’s make it happen!

5 Best Practices for Building an Effective Business Website

5 Best Practices for Building an Effective Business Website

Your website should work as hard as you do. By focusing on clear goals, tailoring content to your audience, and optimizing performance, you can create a site that doesn’t just look good but truly delivers results. At Black Lab Development, we’re here to help you build a website that connects with your audience and drives your business forward. Let’s make it happen!

Best Practices for HTML Email Coding in Marketo

Best Practices for HTML Email Coding in Marketo

Creating effective HTML emails for Adobe Marketo involves adhering to best practices that ensure compatibility, accessibility, and engagement. Key recommendations include using inline CSS for styling, as some email clients ignore internal CSS and Marketo does not support external CSS.