[gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[AllenJB]

Hi all,

Not 100% sure if this is the right list, but here it goes anyway. I
initially posted this on the forums [0] and it seemed to get a good
response.

[0] http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-716565.html

I was thinking about the Gentoo website, and how it can actually be
quite hard to navigate if you don't know where things are. I'd like to
suggest making it better through some simple restructuring of the
hierarchy of pages. The following list contains all the navigation links
on the current website, just rearranged.

I would suggest that only links directly below the level are displayed -
those further down would be hidden by default - perhaps via a
javascript/css reveal.

The order isn't specific.

     * Gentoo.org
           o Get Started - Links straight to the first chapter of the
handbook. I would suggest it explains how to choose which arch you need,
and then links to the handbooks for each arch, rather than the current
method of making people choose before they've read a single word.
           o News
                 + Security
                 + GMN
                 + Announcements

           o Community
                 + Forums
                 + IRC
                 + Mailing Lists
                 + Report issues (Bugzilla)
                 + Planet (Blogs)
                 + Package DB
                 + Vendors
                 + Unofficial sites (Possible new page)

           o Sponsors
           o Get Involved
                 + Report issues (Bugzilla)
                 + Help wanted (Staffing needs)
                 + Forums
                 + IRC
                 + Mailing Lists
                 + Adopt-a-dev

           o About
                 + About Gentoo
                 + Philosophy
                 + Social Contract
                 + Name & Logo Guidelines
                 + Graphics
                 + Screenshots

           o Documentation
                 + Handbook
                 + All docs (list.xml)
                 + IBM Archive
                 + GMN
                 + GLEPs

           o Get Gentoo (Download)
                 + Mirrors
                 + Torrents

           o Developer List
           o Package DB
           o Store
           o Contact Us
           o Donate
           o Projects

Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[Petteri Räty]

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AllenJB wrote:
> 
> I was thinking about the Gentoo website, and how it can actually be
> quite hard to navigate if you don't know where things are. I'd like to
> suggest making it better through some simple restructuring of the
> hierarchy of pages. The following list contains all the navigation links
> on the current website, just rearranged.
> 

Yeah the pages in general could use some work. The problem will probably
just be finding someone to do the work.

Regards,
Petteri


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[gentoo-project] Re: Website Reorganisation Ideas

[Steve Long]

Petteri Räty wrote:

> AllenJB wrote:
>> 
>> I was thinking about the Gentoo website, and how it can actually be
>> quite hard to navigate if you don't know where things are. I'd like to
>> suggest making it better through some simple restructuring of the
>> hierarchy of pages. The following list contains all the navigation links
>> on the current website, just rearranged.
>> 
> 
> Yeah the pages in general could use some work. The problem will probably
> just be finding someone to do the work.
> 
Er I think he was volunteering; I am sure enough forum users will support
his endeavour and help in turn.

AllenJB: I take it you're going to implement the proof-of-concept elsewhere?
(It will need testing etc.) Are you planning to mirror the Gentoo site and
then lay it out differently, or what? beandog's packages site is a good
example of the process that could be used; might want to forum msg/email
him about it (if you haven't already.) Dunno if he reads -project, and I
don't see him on IRC that often, fwtw.

Re: [gentoo-project] Re: Website Reorganisation Ideas

[AllenJB]

Steve Long wrote:
> Petteri Räty wrote:
> 
>> AllenJB wrote:
>>> I was thinking about the Gentoo website, and how it can actually be
>>> quite hard to navigate if you don't know where things are. I'd like to
>>> suggest making it better through some simple restructuring of the
>>> hierarchy of pages. The following list contains all the navigation links
>>> on the current website, just rearranged.
>>>
>> Yeah the pages in general could use some work. The problem will probably
>> just be finding someone to do the work.
>>
> Er I think he was volunteering; I am sure enough forum users will support
> his endeavour and help in turn.
> 
> AllenJB: I take it you're going to implement the proof-of-concept elsewhere?
> (It will need testing etc.) Are you planning to mirror the Gentoo site and
> then lay it out differently, or what? beandog's packages site is a good
> example of the process that could be used; might want to forum msg/email
> him about it (if you haven't already.) Dunno if he reads -project, and I
> don't see him on IRC that often, fwtw.

I am definitely volunteering to look at making these changes, but don't
have the time immediately.

I intend to look at this over Xmas / January and hope to submit some
patches. I've done some work with the GuideXML stuff used in the Gentoo
docs and site before, and I know where the items I want to change are
through some asking around.

My plan was to implement a public copy of my proposed changes on my own
server and submit patches to Bugzilla.

I was going to take the changes in bite-size chunks - so first I'd
simply redo the menus (without changing the actual site structure where
possible - which it should be I believe).

I'd then look at the extra pages I suggested after that.

I'll take a look at beandogs packages site to see what he's done -
thanks for the pointer.

AllenJB

[gentoo-project] Re: Re: Website Reorganisation Ideas

[Steve Long]

AllenJB wrote:
> I intend to look at this over Xmas / January and hope to submit some
> patches. I've done some work with the GuideXML stuff used in the Gentoo
> docs and site before, and I know where the items I want to change are
> through some asking around.
> 
> My plan was to implement a public copy of my proposed changes on my own
> server and submit patches to Bugzilla.
> 
> I was going to take the changes in bite-size chunks - so first I'd
> simply redo the menus (without changing the actual site structure where
> possible - which it should be I believe).
> 
> I'd then look at the extra pages I suggested after that.
>
Sounds great. Please let us know on-list when you're ready for some
beta-testers.
 
> I'll take a look at beandogs packages site to see what he's done -
> thanks for the pointer.
> 
Doh, forgot the url: http://spaceparanoids.org/trac/packages

Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[AllenJB]

Hi all,

Further to this, I've now implemented the changes and have uploaded a
copy to http://gentoowww.allenjb.me.uk/

The order is slightly different to my original proposal, but otherwise
it's unchanged.

The only thing different is the menu on the left side at this point.

Please let me know if you have any comments. Barring anything major I'll
 be submitting a patch to bugs.gentoo.org tomorrow.


AllenJB

Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[Douglas Anderson]

Looks good!

I know the old version does it too, but is it possible to not have the
bullet be part of the link? I don't think it looks very good to have
the link hover underline going under the bullet. How easy would that
be to change?

-Doug

Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[Marijn Schouten (hkBst)]

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AllenJB wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> Further to this, I've now implemented the changes and have uploaded a
> copy to http://gentoowww.allenjb.me.uk/
> 
> The order is slightly different to my original proposal, but otherwise
> it's unchanged.
> 
> The only thing different is the menu on the left side at this point.
> 
> Please let me know if you have any comments. Barring anything major I'll
>  be submitting a patch to bugs.gentoo.org tomorrow.
> 
> 
> AllenJB
> 

Hi Allen,

the changes you propose are a big improvement over the current version, thanks.

One thing I don't like about the website is how the links on the black top
mostly duplicate (I think) part of what's on the left. Do you have any thoughts
on that?

Marijn

- --
Marijn Schouten (hkBst), Gentoo Lisp project, Gentoo ML
<http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/lisp/>, #gentoo-{lisp,ml} on FreeNode
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Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[AllenJB]

Hi Marijn,

I don't think duplication is necessarily a bad thing. The links at the 
top provide a fast way to get somewhere when you know (generally) where 
you want to go, while the new side menu is designed to be usable by 
someone who's just come to the website for the first time.

Ultimately I suspect there's quite a lot of things that could be changed 
  to make the site better if a close look was taken. The idea behind my 
proposed new side menu was that it is something quick to implement that 
would have a large improvement on the site navigation.

My personal opinion is that the site probably really needs a total redesign.


AllenJB


Marijn Schouten (hkBst) wrote:
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> Hash: SHA1
> 
> AllenJB wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Further to this, I've now implemented the changes and have uploaded a
>> copy to http://gentoowww.allenjb.me.uk/
>>
>> The order is slightly different to my original proposal, but otherwise
>> it's unchanged.
>>
>> The only thing different is the menu on the left side at this point.
>>
>> Please let me know if you have any comments. Barring anything major I'll
>>  be submitting a patch to bugs.gentoo.org tomorrow.
>>
>>
>> AllenJB
>>
> 
> Hi Allen,
> 
> the changes you propose are a big improvement over the current version, thanks.
> 
> One thing I don't like about the website is how the links on the black top
> mostly duplicate (I think) part of what's on the left. Do you have any thoughts
> on that?
> 
> Marijn
> 
> - --
> Marijn Schouten (hkBst), Gentoo Lisp project, Gentoo ML
> <http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/lisp/>, #gentoo-{lisp,ml} on FreeNode
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Re: [gentoo-project] Website Reorganisation Ideas

[AllenJB]

Hi all,

The patches for this have now been filed as bug #252157 [0]

In response to the item on underlining of the bullet, included in the
above mentioned ticket are patches to switch to a unordered list based
structure for the main menu, which will result in this effect disappearing.

[0] http://bugs.gentoo.org/252157

AllenJB