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I may have solid artistic skills, and I also enjoy web development (most of the time), but the sad truth is that I am an awful programmer. I came to web development “the wrong way”, inserting <?php ?> blocks into my HTML code. As any awful developer, I had no idea I was doing something wrong :-)

Until now, that I urgently needed to develop (or rather, re-make from scratch) a not-so-simple online translations system for many of my projects (including Vladstudio.com website and Windy Press books). I started with my usual stuff - one PHP page for one action (like user-add-block.php), but very quickly got buried under my own spaghetti code.

I got depressed (I do so sometimes!), and despite having very stressed deadlines all around, decided to calm down and see how I can improve. I spent weekend learning Python, and it is definitely more beautiful language than PHP, but the time was not perfect for such serious switch, so I started searching for PHP framework to help me do more in less time, and write better code.

Another several days passed, I browsed hundreds of discussions, discovered and carefully reviewed dozens of frameworks. Unfortunately, none of them resonated with me immediately. In case you’re curious, here is the incomplete list of candidates (scroll down if you’re not):

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If you’re lucky owner of the new iPad with Retina display, you might like to know that my partner from Alsedi Desktop, Grig, released new version of his highly successful abcNotes app - featuring my wallpapers, now at 2048x2048. Check it out here - itunes.apple.com/app/abc-notes-checklist-sticky/id354015291

 

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I have been interviewed by DecalGirl! You can read and comment it below or on Decalgirl's Facebook page.

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How did you discover that you had talent as an artist?

Thanks for believing I have talent! :-) I tend to think otherwise, honestly speaking. I developed excellent skills pretending I have artistic talent and making other people believe it (pssst, don’t tell anyone!). There are so many people that draw so much better than me, it makes me sad sometimes! But there is positive side in it - I have plenty of room for improvement and professional growth.

Before I forgot to actually answer your question :-) Since I can remember, I have been drawing doodles in my school notebooks, like this:

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Several years ago, when I decided to try and make my living selling Vladstudio accounts ("registrations" at that time), I made four options to choose from (3, 6, 12 mohts and lifetime). Because more choices look more professional! Eventually I got rid of 6 months option, to keep things easier. Now I suddenly realized that I do not like the idea of expiring accounts at all. That is, I do like people returning and making another purchase :-) But the expiring account, as an idea, is something I myself would not be comfortable dealing with.

I also love experiments! So I deleted 3 and 12 months options as well, and all accounts purchased from now on are lifetime. All existing accounts have been converted to lifetime as well. I hope it won't hurt my earnings too bad, but I feel it is the right way to go.

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