About TechTrench

TechTrench is a blog I put together in a platform not ordinarily used for blogging—Xaraya. I thought I would try something out of the ordinary, but I have practical reasons for using Xaraya as well. Xaraya is solid for document management, and I like to attach documents to articles and posts occasionally and keep track of them with a database. I can version documents quickly if need be and I can manage files with php rather than an ftp client.

Xaraya is out of the blog spam loop more than a lot of other platforms. I miss a lot of spam because Xaraya is on fewer radar screens. Probably more than any other reason, I use Xaraya because I enjoy how integrated and flexible it is. Xaraya's modules are cross-functional, and its API is easy to use. I can do about anything I want with Xaraya, including blogging with it.

Technical Communication

TechTrench's focus is on technical communication, the field(s) in which I work as both a Web developer and technical writer. Technical communication isn't about technical writing; although, it includes technical writing in my definition. I find myself working so often at the intersection of communications (marketing, teaching and learning, help authoring, application documentation) and Web development (technical layout, graphic design, programming, content management, information architecture) that I cannot help but use an expanded definition of technical communication to help me understand what I do.

When I am asked me what I do for a living, I tell people I'm a technical communicator, which is similar to what blacksmiths do. Blacksmiths don't just shoe horses for a living. If metal is the blacksmith's media, then language is my media—how it works, looks, and means in as many structures as necessary.

The site

I created the the current TechTrench design and functionality by closely studying how many blogs look and work. Blogs have become wonderful communication tools, but they fall short in a number of ways. I put together TechTrench with a blogish feel, but with powerful content management functionality behind. The interface and Xaraya theme I use to manage it are completely customized. Overall, Xaraya provides more long-term functionality than I've been able to achieve with simpler platforms.

TechTrench primarily uses Xaraya's Xarpages and Articles modules, as well as the Uploads, Comments, Keywords, and Image modules. I've added content tabs and use userapi functions for most content placement. I've customized all the templates used in the site. The site's XHTML code validates and works cleanly in all modern Web browsers, including Internet Explorer.

RSS Feeds

You can use a news aggregator to keep track of updates to TechTrench by subscribing to the RSS Text Feeds. I include feeds for all of TechTrench and the website's main offshoots: website development technologies, content management systems, technical communication tools, and technical communication news. If you’re using an RSS compatible browser, bookmark these feeds. They are living and growing all the time.

Contact TechTrench

Use TechTrench's contact form to let me know what you would like see on the site. The messages posted through the form are sent to me personally, and I keep no one’s e-mail address or other privacy information.

If you would like to speak to me or would rather phone me, use my number below:

Tim Stalker
(303) 997-4593
Colorado, USA