OpenLampTech issue #71
Current date with PHP | Remove duplicates with SQL | WordPress Query loop block | Laravel input tips | MySQL course for developers | WooCommerce benchmarking. It's all here in OpenLampTech!
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Recently Published on the Digital Owl’s Prose Developer Blog
Like I’ve written in previous articles, I learn so much by reading real-world requests from WooCommerce shop owners in Facebook groups and then researching and implementing a working solution. I recently saw a question where a shop owner wanted a custom shipping date notice displayed on the Checkout page, 3 days out from the current date. Continue reading and see how I solved this. Suggestions welcomed.
All commentary is by me unless otherwise quoted.
From MySQL GUI to Application: 2 Ways to Build & Deploy Apps on a MySQL Database
There is a whole lot involved in building applications. Many many moving parts. From the front end to the middleware and the database, and even the hosting solution must all be considered.
Five looks to simplify all of this and much more. Leveraging the world's most popular open-source database, MySQL, and one-click deployments, Five offers a new way to build MySQL-based applications. Developers, data scientists, and database professionals alike will all likely have an interest in Five.
By: Dominik Keller
An Accidental Web Developer: Interview with Rick Hood | NERD Summit
Folks from all walks of life find their way into programming and development. This is one such story.
Discovering the crossroads of where your passion(s) and programming intersect is an effective means to keep you engaged and actively learning. I know it does for me.
Although I've never orchestrated a meetup or camp, I have mad respect for those who do as it looks like there is a lot to juggle behind the scenes.
By: Alethia Rose Braganza
Quick Tip: How to Get the Current Date in PHP
Date and Datetime objects in PHP are very powerful. In pretty much any application you work with, you must likely be 'aware' of date and time values. In PHP, there are multiple ways you can get the current date and time using built-in functions or the DateTime Class. Quick and digestible examples here. I've recently used some of these functions in WooCommerce code for specific functionality.
By: Claudio Ribeiro
Security Tip: Retrieving Request Values
I'm not even a Laravel developer but one thing I'm noticing as I read more Laravel-related content; there is a method for pretty much everything. And, this is just one of many reasons why Laravel is a top PHP framework. Laravel developer
over at has another fantastic newsletter exploring validating and sanitizing user input for your Laravel application.By: Stephen Rees-Carter
Performance Benchmarking for WooCommerce HPOS
WooCommerce has recently implemented a change in the database, now having specific (new) tables dedicated to storing order data. I'm not sure about how much as of now, is backward-compatible with the hosts of plugins. However, this is definitely a move in the right direction for better performance and organization of order data.
This article has interesting benchmark information and examples showcasing the change(s).
By: vedjain
📰 Get your brand, product, or service the attention it deserves with affordable classified ad placement in the OpenLampTech newsletter.
What Is the WordPress Loop, How to Use It + Query Loop Block Explained
I'm learning now there is a difference between the WordPress Loop and the Query Loop Block. This makes sense as there is a difference between classic themes and block themes these days in WordPress.
This is a fanatic deep dive on how to use both the WordPress Loop and Query Loop Block by the knowledgeable experts over at Hostinger (who have the best hosting IMHO).
By: Ignas R.
How To Profile SQL Queries for Better Performance
One of the toughest things for me to learn is that at some point, queries that were at one time performant will degrade over time as your application grows and scales. Be ready to fix them.
Most SQL implementations have built-in tools to diagnose and correct non-performant database queries.
SQL indexes and limiting data can both be effective means to speed up slow(er) queries.
By: Jørn S
Despite best efforts, you can still wind up with duplicate rows of data in the database. And, that can cause plenty of problems. But not to worry. There are some neat tricks you can do with SQL to locate and remove any duplicate rows. The ROW_NUMBER()
window function is handy in this type of scenario (among others). I wrote a similar article on using ROW_NUMBER()
for this purpose here.
By: Tobias Petry
What’s the problem with Awesome Motive?
I wish I had the knowledge, nerve, and ability to craft such engaging journalism as this. While I won't for one second pretend to have the business savvy to see everything between the lines as others do, I have been keeping up with Awesome Motive (AM). From an interest of "they are a behemoth juggernaut in the WordPress space" kind of sense.
Trust me, AM doesn't bother me at all. I'm not losing any sleep depending on what AM does (or does not do). Again, I have an interest in good reporting in a field I care about and am somewhat in as a developer. Until I have the ability to write such pieces for the OpenLampTech newsletter, I'll read and share others' great work.
By: Matt Medeiros
I've read a lot of content by this course's author and I definitely think this course is worth your time. I signed up for it when I first learned of it in its beta. Looking forward to jumping into it myself.
Interesting Tech News and Articles 📰
Introduction to WordPress Development: A proposed learning path
… How to record the screen on your Mac (Good tip from
over in the - useful for me as a new(er) Mac owner/user)
WooCommerce News and Updates
WooCommerce 7.5.1 Fix Release (03-21-2023)
WooCommerce 7.6 Beta 1 (03-21-2023)
WooCommerce Blocks 9.8.1 and 9.8.2 Release Notes (03-22-2023)
Critical Vulnerability Patched in WooCommerce Payments – What You Need to Know (03-23-2023)
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Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great rest of your week.
Take care.
Joshua Otwell
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