Accounts and Tools

There are a number of accounts and tools we will be using to support this class. Below is a list to get started on:

Mac, Windows, or Linux Machine

Chromebooks, iOS, and Android devices will not be satisfactory to be able to run the most important tool which is Visual Studio Code.

  • If you do not have regular access to a computer with MacOS, Windows, or Linux, please contact me ASAP to see what options York IT can make available.

CUNY Academic Commons

For course blog posts

  • Must sign-up with @yorkmail.cuny.edu email account;
  • May update email to preferred email after sign-up;
  • May update screen name to preferred name/pseudo-name;
  • Have a look at the Commmons FAQs for help;

Reclaim Hosting

Commercial shared hosting for uploading and hosting project code, as well as personal blog/Wordpress installation. This service is provided with your course fee.

  • Log-in/recover password to your Reclaim Hosting Account using the email used to create the account in CT 101 Digital Storytelling; OR
  • Create a Reclaim Hosting Account:
    • chose your own domain name and include privacy protection (free);
    • enter your personal contact info as this is a commercial account, we will provide a coupon code to cover costs.
  • In the client area check the “Accounts” tab and there note your domain name (mysite.com) and next due date;
  • Enter the “cPanel” clicking the same named tab and there review cPanel basics and file manager tutorial (to come).
  • cPanel and File Manager Review
  • CyberDuck FTP Client Setup

Visual Studio Code

the preferred text editor for writing code and managing projects

  • Install Visual Studio Code to a desktop computer which you have regular access;
  • Consider installing/reviewing my preferred extensions as well as favorite font – tutorial covering this process (to come);
  • Visual Studio Code Basics
  • Visual Studio Code Customizing
  • Extensions list:
    • Live Server
    • Material Theme
    • Material Theme Icons
    • Prettier
  • json of user settings if you want to do a quick copy-paste update: VSCode Command Palette => search “user settings” and select “Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)” => overwrite JSON with below:
{
  "workbench.colorTheme": "Material Theme Darker",
  "workbench.iconTheme": "eq-material-theme-icons-darker",
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
  "editor.wordWrap": "on",
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.fontSize": 14,
  "prettier.singleQuote": true,
  "editor.fontFamily": "Menlo, Monaco, 'Courier New', monospace",
  "[html]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "vscode.html-language-features"
  }
}

Chrome Browser

The preferred browser for web design and development in this class

CyberDuck FTP Client

One of many possible ftp clients for uploading your files to your server. Here’s the configuration tutorial when using your Reclaim Hosting account to setup FTP.