Front page design

[Jim]

A pull request in GitHub got me to thinking about our project's front page.  I think it's a bit long.  Too wordy.  Maybe it needs a sample map.  I am open to ideas.  Here's the brief discussion to date that started over in GitHub:

https://github.com/TravelMapping/Web/pull/119

[michih]

I think that the front page is currently a "How to" manual. It contains the most important info for new travelers. But I'm not sure that it's enough to create own list files.

I think we should create a separate manual for new user first. Afterwards, we can redesigning the front page. I think it needs more pics than words like the old CHM front page.

No one is currently working on the web design. That's why I thought about this little change in "Travel Mapping Highway Data" paragraph to make it more readable. Just to get ahead a little bit...

[Jim]

No question that we need manuals for many purposes: how to run the site, how to contribute to the highway data, and how to use the site.

[mapcat]

Somewhat related: are we still planning on moving the site to a new domain?

[michih]

It seems that the redesigned updates page is working fine now.

I think we could remove the "What's New with Highway Data?" paragraph except:
- "Highway data is updated almost daily as corrections are made and progress is made on systems in development." --> should be moved to "Travel Mapping Highway Data". I think it should be the first sentence (or last one?).
- "The most recent site update completed ..." should remain where it is.

Ideas? Objections?

[Jim]

Somewhat related: are we still planning on moving the site to a new domain?

Yes, but there hasn't been much effort along those lines recently.

[michih]

Jim, do you plan to completely redesign the front page design this summer?

If not, I'd like to make the December 15th  changes again ("Travel Mapping Highway Data"), implement my December 22nd suggestions and add more blank lines like under "How to Participate" to make it more clearly arranged. I would also change "Some new features:" under motd to "Recently added features" highlighted in red because I think it's hard to recognize.

@ALL: Any other suggestions?

[Jim]

I have no front page redesign plans in the works.  I'll look back at your previous suggestions. I'm happy to make tweaks.

[michih]

Maybe you got me wrong. I'd like to try implementing it if it's fine with you... I cannot fully test it but I could try it. But it's fine with me if you wanna do it.

[Jim]

Maybe you got me wrong. I'd like to try implementing it if it's fine with you... I cannot fully test it but I could try it. But it's fine with me if you wanna do it.

Sure, give it a try.

[michih]

I've submitted a pull request. I guess that the "motd" file is on the server only and not on the GitHub repository?

[Jim]

Yes, the motd (message of the day) is intended to be changed frequently and would be different on the production and test servers also.

Am I reading the pull request correctly that your version would remove the list of most recent highway system activations?

[michih]

Yes, it's intended, see my December 22nd post. I think that the front page is too "full" and too wordy. There are links to the update page where you can find this info much better since the Christmas improvement. I think it's not so important to be presented on the front page and it's the only redundant info on the site.

[Jim]

Yes, it's intended, see my December 22nd post. I think that the front page is too "full" and too wordy. There are links to the update page where you can find this info much better since the Christmas improvement. I think it's not so important to be presented on the front page and it's the only redundant info on the site.

I like having it there, but I'm curious what others think.

[mapcat]

I like having it there, but I'm curious what others think.

Could we see what michih's front page looks like, for comparison?