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Author Topic: Suggestions for Lazarus web site  (Read 179330 times)

nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #60 on: April 03, 2013, 01:43:38 am »
On a PPC-based Mac the download button should point to http://sourceforge.net/projects/lazarus/files/Lazarus%20Mac%20OS%20X%20powerpc/ rather than to http://sourceforge.net/projects/lazarus/files/Lazarus%20Mac%20OS%20X%20i386/.

Thanks to your user agent data, it should now be detected at your Mac PPC machine and a proper link should come.


@Juha
Thanks. I will implement the 64 bit architecture soon. ... And maybe it will work without Javascript!! I got a spark of idea that php can also get User Agent data. So the logic decision can be made in the server side!! Then even if the user does not have javascript enabled he can use the platform-wise link, instead of the page link that comes now!!
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 01:49:42 am by nsunny »
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jwdietrich

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #61 on: April 03, 2013, 08:34:52 am »
Thanks again, nsunny, your design is excellent.

There is, however, still a minor problem with some older browsers, e.g. Windows Internet Explorer 8. Please see the attached screenshot. Of course, IE 8 is a very old browser, but it is still used by millions.
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nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #62 on: April 03, 2013, 12:37:39 pm »
Thanks again, nsunny, your design is excellent.

There is, however, still a minor problem with some older browsers, e.g. Windows Internet Explorer 8. Please see the attached screenshot. Of course, IE 8 is a very old browser, but it is still used by millions.
Well, its an ugly truth that people use IE. It is a CSS issue. IE8 (or below) handles css badly. But my IE10 on Windows8 renders it perfectly. I have used the browser mode-IE8 and reproduced the problem. it is now fixed.

Quote from: jwdietrich
3. Under the header Service the following links are to be created:
a) "Contact us": Page to be created *
b) "Legal information": Link to http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/licensing *
c) "Privacy policy": Page to be created *
d) "Open positions": Link to http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/board,41.0.html
e) "Bounties": Link to http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Bounties

What content should I put in  "Privacy policy" and "Contact us" pages?
EDIT: You have mentioned an "Events" link in your design. What is it for?

-----UPDATE: ----
Now Javascript is not necessary to get the button to show platform-specific link. It is now detected on server side (although still based on browser's user agent). Test it and see if it works for you.

http://adnan.freevar.com/online/lazarus/
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 12:39:55 pm by nsunny »
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geno

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #63 on: April 03, 2013, 06:18:30 pm »
@nsunny:

I am still getting the link for debian though it seems your test page detects properly:   

Quote
from http://adnan.freevar.com/online/lazarus/test.html
This is a 64 bit OS.

OS Platform: Linux/UNIX

Debian is not detected on your system

Browser User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:19.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/19.0

Navigator App Version: 5.0 (X11)

Under the download button, it shows:
Quote
For Debian 64 bit Try RPM? | Other ▼

However, the Try RPM link still takes me to the .deb download section. This link also uses the current tab instead of opening another as the Download button does.

  regards,
    geno
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 06:20:36 pm by geno »
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BigChimp

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #64 on: April 03, 2013, 06:32:04 pm »
Looks very nice!

Now Javascript is not necessary to get the button to show platform-specific link. It is now detected on server side (although still based on browser's user agent). Test it and see if it works for you.

Works for win64 Firefox, javascript disabled, as well as IE9, javascript enabled.
Want quicker answers to your questions? Read http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_Faq#What_is_the_correct_way_to_ask_questions_in_the_forum.3F

Open source including papertiger OCR/PDF scanning:
https://bitbucket.org/reiniero

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snorkel

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #65 on: April 03, 2013, 07:31:46 pm »
Hi, I showed the mockup to several friends of mine and they think it looks fantastic,
however they all said the main page should really focus more on the cross platform abilities and have a list of compatible platforms on the main page.  Maybe some mention of the "Write once compile everywhere" catch phrase.
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nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #66 on: April 03, 2013, 07:39:35 pm »
@nsunny:

I am still getting the link for debian though it seems your test page detects properly:   

Quote
from http://adnan.freevar.com/online/lazarus/test.html
This is a 64 bit OS.

OS Platform: Linux/UNIX

Debian is not detected on your system

Browser User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:19.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/19.0

Navigator App Version: 5.0 (X11)

Under the download button, it shows:
Quote
For Debian 64 bit Try RPM? | Other ▼

However, the Try RPM link still takes me to the .deb download section. This link also uses the current tab instead of opening another as the Download button does.

  regards,
    geno


Well, the thing is that browsers are not interested to pass information about package systems (I think only IceWeasel browser does). So it is impossible to get the info whether the system is running on debian or not. The message "Debian is not detected on your system" is also shown in my Ubuntu 12.04.1 installation!! So you can guess!

Debian OSs are most popular (including *buntus). So in the Linux platform, debian link is shown as default (with the correct architecture- 32 or 64 bit). The user is also given an RPM link, so that he can choose it if needed (also with the correct architecture). Whether an user is using 32 or 64 bit, all that the RPM users have to do is click the Try RPM link. This is the furthest a developer can go in case of detection in Linux systems.

I have mimicked your user agent in my local copy of the software. And it shows RPM link just fine. Can you please check again.

About opening the link in new window- It is not accepted in many web standards. I just remembered this from a strict HTML experiment. Besides standards experts suggest that users should be in control whether he should open in new window or not. Please see this link:  http://www.sitepoint.com/beware-opening-links-new-window/
or here: http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/01/should-links-open-in-new-windows/

Some even suggest to warn users with a restored window icon or "(opens in new window)" attached with a link that opens in new window. So may be it is better to avoid the new window trick altogether.

Hi, I showed the mockup to several friends of mine and they think it looks fantastic,
however they all said the main page should really focus more on the cross platform abilities and have a list of compatible platforms on the main page.  Maybe some mention of the "Write once compile everywhere" catch phrase.

When I designed the first mockup (which I did not share) it had a huge place in the homepage where now "The professional FreePascal RAD IDE" text sits. People have been asking to design the homepage for newcomers. So jwdietrich and I have designed the mockup to provide beginner information - to educate them about what Lazarus can do for them. But the idea is not dead. We can still think about it.

You guys know any good place in the homepage where may be the "Write once, compile anywhere" and the supported platform names can go? Any suggestions?
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 07:43:30 pm by nsunny »
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jwdietrich

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #67 on: April 03, 2013, 08:28:07 pm »
What content should I put in  "Privacy policy" and "Contact us" pages?

This is difficult to say, as I don't have this information, too. I know, however, that this information is required according to European legislation. All german-speaking central european countries, e.g., demand to put an impressum (a kind of masthead, colophon or imprint) on websites and this is only the national implementation of certain European directives, e.g. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32000L0031&model=guichett.

EDIT: I just discovered that there are the following two pages at the Lazarus Wiki:

* http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_wiki:Privacy_policy
* http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Lazarus_wiki:General_disclaimer

They would be suitable starting points for these links, but unfortunately they have been deleted due to vandalism in September 2012.

EDIT: You have mentioned an "Events" link in your design. What is it for?

It is intended for a schedule of conferences, congresses or meetings on Lazarus, FPC or even ObjectPascal in general, as listed in http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/Conferences_and_Events.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 10:03:03 pm by jwdietrich »
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geno

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #68 on: April 03, 2013, 10:41:51 pm »
Quote
I have mimicked your user agent in my local copy of the software. And it shows RPM link just fine. Can you please check again.
Yes, you are correct; I am not sure what happened the first time I tried.  More than likely it was just a head-space-and-timing issue on my part.

Quote
So it is impossible to get the info whether the system is running on debian or not
Not necessarily true - I generally have not had problems being directed to the correct download pages.  However, since I have not worked with HTML in the past decade, I will admit my ignorance.

Quote
About opening the link in new window- It is not accepted in many web standards. I just remembered this from a strict HTML experiment. Besides standards experts suggest that users should be in control whether he should open in new window or not
Correct once again; easily solved by middle clicking the link.  However I was just pointing out that it did not follow the same standard as the main download button.  Once again, just personal preferences as I usually end up closing the wrong tab by mistake!!

Please do not take any of these statements in the wrong context, I am not attempting to detract from your efforts; I think the new look is great.

  regards,
    geno
« Last Edit: April 03, 2013, 10:43:23 pm by geno »
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nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #69 on: April 04, 2013, 05:53:43 am »
It seems that the home page is ready to go online. Are there any further things necessary for finishing it? Any suggestions to polish it off?
http://adnan.freevar.com/online/lazarus/

@jwdietrich

Thanks for the links. I have added the wiki link for Privacy policy and also contests. I did not know that we have events. It should be focused in our community (like Ubuntu Developer Summit or phpBB community meetup). Although there was no content available, I thought that adding the wiki link would make someone write it. May be someday (!) the content will be added. Contact information is also crucial. Actually, rules are made for some reason. When we think of a website, these things matter.

If I can get an email address, an automatic email form can be made to send emails to the address. Email address of a webmaster is also nice. Plus a mailing address would be more acceptable. Do you know anyone who I could contact to get this information? Or may be if possible, could you please collect such information?

@geno
Quote from: geno
Quote
So it is impossible to get the info whether the system is running on debian or not
Not necessarily true - I generally have not had problems being directed to the correct download pages.  However, since I have not worked with HTML in the past decade, I will admit my ignorance.
May I ask for a list of sites that have worked for you. And please specify your distro and its version+Desktop environment+browser. May be they have implemented an OS-basis logic.

Quote
Please do not take any of these statements in the wrong context, I am not attempting to detract from your efforts; I think the new look is great.

No, no. I do like to hear everyone's thoughts. I want to make the site for visitors like you, not for myself! So your opinions matter. Although I cannot guarantee that I can keep every request. Additionally, I am also open to constructive criticism, because it is good for productivity.
« Last Edit: April 04, 2013, 06:02:39 am by nsunny »
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nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #70 on: April 04, 2013, 06:07:19 am »
Oh! Another thing!
Tip of the day has just some tips for testing.

Can you guys provide me with further tips? And may be more projects for the Random project part?
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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #71 on: April 04, 2013, 07:31:17 am »
Hello, that page is nice nsunny. However, you should adapt this whole theme for the forum and the wiki too.
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Silvio Clécio

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #72 on: April 04, 2013, 07:53:43 am »
I saw that site has areas like "Platforms", "Applications", "Education" etc., please add the "Frameworks" area, and add some frameworks like:

. Brook framework;
. Greyhound;
. Synapse;
. Zeos;
. BGRABitmap
. Others;

jwdietrich

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #73 on: April 04, 2013, 08:46:07 am »
Oh! Another thing!
Tip of the day has just some tips for testing.

Can you guys provide me with further tips? And may be more projects for the Random project part?

This is a very good feature. Key combinations are different on Mac OS X compared with Windows and Linux, however (e.g. what is F9 on Windows and Linux is Command+R on Mac OS). You might want to deliver tips that are tailored to the user's operating system (in analogy to the download option) or simply append the Mac version in parentheses, like "You can press F9 (Command+R on Mac OS X) to..." If you provide a list with the tips of the day then I could "translate" them to Mac OS X.

Thanks again for your great effort.
function GetRandomNumber: integer; // xkcd.com
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nsunny

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Re: Suggestions for Lazarus web site
« Reply #74 on: April 04, 2013, 01:53:04 pm »
I saw that site has areas like "Platforms", "Applications", "Education" etc., please add the "Frameworks" area, and add some frameworks like:

. Brook framework;
. Greyhound;
. Synapse;
. Zeos;
. BGRABitmap
. Others;
Yes, that's a great idea. Frameworks are strengths for every language. But there are so many frameworks. It seems unfair to the other frameworks... May be a Frameworks link to a wiki containing all the frameworks' description would be a good thing. And a mention in the features will be also nice. Can anyone make such a wiki? (I am not so familiar with all of them... :)  :-\ )
[ Or if needed, a separate page on the webpage could be created with the content. ]

Oh! Another thing!
Tip of the day has just some tips for testing.

Can you guys provide me with further tips? And may be more projects for the Random project part?

This is a very good feature. Key combinations are different on Mac OS X compared with Windows and Linux, however (e.g. what is F9 on Windows and Linux is Command+R on Mac OS). You might want to deliver tips that are tailored to the user's operating system (in analogy to the download option) or simply append the Mac version in parentheses, like "You can press F9 (Command+R on Mac OS X) to..." If you provide a list with the tips of the day then I could "translate" them to Mac OS X.

Thanks again for your great effort.
Oh! I didn't have any idea. I don't have any mac, so I am completely unaware of this. And I don't use Lazarus too much when I am using Ubuntu/Lubuntu/Mint XFCE. So same here.

For now, I think appending the mac version in a parenthesis is a good idea. In future, separate files for separate platforms may be implemented. (This would also give time to test the platform detection.)

When I was coding, nothing more than keyboard shortcuts came to my mind. Go ahead and add other kinds of tips. It will bring variety.

Here is the data that are in the tip of the day file. Have each tip in a new line:
Code: [Select]
You can press Shift+F9 to only build the project. That would compile and create the executable without running it.
You can press F12 to switch between Form View mode and source.
You can press Ctrl+Alt+P for searching for a component when you cannot find one under so many tabs.
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