It Takes a Village to Build a Website
The challenges of building your site without a team They say it takes a village to raise a child. The same applies to building a website representing your business, skills, identity, and future. Right now, I’m playing the role of single parent. Wearing All the Hats I’m the architect, designer, developer, copywriter, tester, project manager,…
I Got Pulled Into a LinkedIn Scam Funnel Disguised as Networking — Here’s How It Went
Opening It started like any other day on LinkedIn. I accepted a connection request from someone with a legitimate-sounding title and a profile that seemed solid at first glance. They even wrote me a short personalized note. I thought: okay, this could be a good networking opportunity. What followed was a bizarre, jargon-heavy descent into…
Your Business Isn’t a Cat Video: Why Facebook Isn’t a Website (And What to Do Instead)
You’ve got a small business. It could be a bakery, a vintage guitar shop, or a mobile dog spa. You love what you do, and you’re good at it. But when someone asks for your website, you smile and say, “Oh, we’re on Facebook!” or, “Just check our Instagram!” Cue the slow zoom-in and dramatic…
Making Work Flow: Why Automation Isn’t Just for Engineers
Workflow automation used to feel reserved for the most technical roles—scripts running in the background, triggered by cryptic logic only developers understood. But that’s changing. Automation has become a core strategy not just for engineers but for entire teams looking to work smarter, respond faster, and reduce burnout from repetitive tasks. The idea is simple:…
The Importance of Being Idle: Making Space for Change and Clarity
“I sold my soul for the second time, ’cause the man, he don’t pay me.”– Oasis, The Importance of Being Idle What a week it’s been. Last week was my final one at a job I held for years. I didn’t have something new lined up. That wasn’t the plan—I had hoped for a slower…
What Makes a Great Team (Hint: It’s Not Just the Code)
We often talk about speed, performance, and clean code in tech. But after working on many projects, I’ve realized that what makes a great team has little to do with code alone — and everything to do with the people behind it. The best teams aren’t just productive. They’re built on trust. Real collaboration goes…
Reflecting on My Time at DrupalCon
Attending my first DrupalCon was a revelation. I found a space where inspiration, community, and innovation come together. That first DrupalCon experience was in 2022. Walking into the Oregon Convention Center, filled with brilliant minds passionate about open source, was energizing and humbling. I remember being struck by how welcoming the community was—collaboration seemed to…
Making the Most of RSS: Feeds to Follow & Creative Uses
In my last post, we explored whether RSS can make a comeback. Judging by the response, many see the value in reclaiming control over content consumption. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) isn’t just an old-school tech relic—it’s a powerful, flexible way to stay informed without algorithms deciding what you see. Whether you want to follow your…
Could RSS Make a Comeback? A Look at Its Potential Revival
A recent LinkedIn comment got me thinking about something I hadn’t considered in a while: RSS feeds. The commenter reflected on how Drupal 7 had RSS tools baked into various system parts—views, nodes, and taxonomy pages—making it easy to syndicate content. But over the years, RSS faded from mainstream use, overshadowed by social media algorithms…
Building Smart: Choosing the Best Tech for My Blog
For years, I’ve built digital experiences for others—now, I’m creating something for myself: jamesfmcgrath.org. This site is more than just a blog. It’s a personal space where I can share my thoughts on front-end development, Drupal, web performance, AI, and the future of the open web. I wanted a platform that puts me in control…