Suggestions for Lazarus web site

[JJVillamor]

...

Why are headers(sections, categories, etc) in white text on light blue background?

There are no categories. Do you mean HOME, ABOUT... links? Because they are main navigation links. The color is to focus them as the MAIN links.

...

Some call them categories, others sections, forum, etc.

I just noticedc it but mine looks like this(There seems to be nothing on the bar but when selected the white "Announcement" and white Thread title appears with a dark blue background
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd26/brojames1/t.jpg)
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd26/brojames1/t.jpg

Is it only me?

Err: how do you insert an image?

[itmitica]

With regards to the word "Lazarus" as logo in the top left corner, I would think it should be an image, then it can be the same font that is used already for the word in other places.

Though I am not sure what font that is.

This is not the most important bit. But it would increase the corporate identity effect.

The font is Arial.

There are two problems with creating an identity using Arial: the licence and the font design, as in "Arial is the new Comic Sans".

There is a reason why Arial is not kept anymore in the current CSS font stack, even as a fallback, instead only the more generic sans-serif family is specified.

The new default sans-serif fonts for the new platforms are designed better. Keeping Arial in the font stack would mean a rude dismissal of the new typography efforts involved with the new platforms.

I would recommend the DejaVu Sans font if there is a wish to keep with the old splash screen and create a branding around it.

The rest of the page's typography doesn't have to revolve around the branding font, it just has to respect the better fonts in each new different platform. sans-serif is already enough.

I'll post an update of my mockup using DejaVu.

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Mitică

[jwdietrich]

I would recommend the DejaVu Sans font if there is a wish to keep with the old splash screen and create a branding around it.

I would like to support your position. The DejaVu Font familiy is very versatile, it is well readable on both screens and in print, and it makes a neat impression, at least for my taste. Its appearance transports both tradition and modernity, therefore it could help to unite two fractions in the Lazarus community.

Additionally, the DejaVu family is under a free license, therefore it would well fit in the philosophy of Lazarus and Free Pascal.

[itmitica]

Additionally, the DejaVu family is under a free license, therefore it would well fit in the philosophy of Lazarus and Free Pascal.

Precisely. It's a perfect match look-wise and license-wise.

This is my attempt at recreating the splash screen for the web page, using the DejaVu font: http://postimg.org/image/b3xv67x7p/


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Mitică

[jwdietrich]

This is my attempt at recreating the splash screen for the web page, using the DejaVu font: http://postimg.org/image/b3xv67x7p/

I am impressed by your design.

BTW, the Raspberry Pi is also a development platform, see http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/File:Lazarus_on_Raspberry_Pi_Raspian_Wheezy_version_2012-10-28.png for a screenshot of Lazarus on Raspbian (installation is not via packages from Sourceforge but with the apt package manger directly in Raspbian Wheezy).

[itmitica]

I am impressed by your design.

Thanks. 

BTW, the Raspberry Pi is also a development platform, see http://wiki.lazarus.freepascal.org/File:Lazarus_on_Raspberry_Pi_Raspian_Wheezy_version_2012-10-28.png for a screenshot of Lazarus on Raspbian (installation is not via packages from Sourceforge but with the apt package manger directly in Raspbian Wheezy).

Updated.
But I'm not really concerning my self with the content at this stage.

It's the design bits I'm chasing around now. Related, I've also changed around a bit the proportions for the elements in the splash screen.

http://postimg.org/image/dnw69jy0p/

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Mitică

[JJVillamor]

Additionally, the DejaVu family is under a free license, therefore it would well fit in the philosophy of Lazarus and Free Pascal.

Precisely. It's a perfect match look-wise and license-wise.

This is my attempt at recreating the splash screen for the web page, using the DejaVu font: http://postimg.org/image/b3xv67x7p/


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Mitică

I like the design. I would place another "FORUM" link on the right side above DOWNLOADS though or maybe just highlight it. Not a big deal but I have recommend some sites to people in the past and they failed to find the "forum" link on top of the web page(link).

[Legolas]

http://postimg.org/image/dnw69jy0p/

Impressive! I like it! 

[itmitica]

Thanks.


http://postimg.org/image/l6b9h9ayt/

Changes:
- logo/splash screen fiddling
- OpenSans font used for "Lazarus" logo (DejaVu works as well, but OpenSans looks better i think)
- page footer has been added a few colorful elements

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Mitică

[nsunny]

I use a 17 inch CRT monitor. It seems that LED/LCD monitors (especially dimmed monitors/laptop screens) pale the colors a bit. (That's why I use CRT monitor to get the correct color while designing.) So when I designed my prototype in photoshop, I had no idea that the color would look that pale in LCD/LED monitors. I bet that everybody who criticized the color has viewed the prototype form an LCD/LED monitor. But that's not their fault. LCD/LED monitors are common these days.

I should have optimized the color a bit more for both screens. That's my fault.

[Fred vS]

Hello everybody.

I suggest that, for new member, at inscription, there is a "Your config" section with :

- Your CPU :
- Your OS :
- Your FPC version (if installed) :
- Your Lazarus version (if installed) :

[itmitica]

I'm not sure what the maximum phrase length should be for a bulleted list, but here are some suggestions from me - others will add/delete items, I'm sure.
(BTW what you currently label as Features are not features of Lazarus as such, but a list of categories of potential software that Lazarus can be used to develop. I actually think this is not very important, especially since there are links to apps and projects created with Lazarus).

Features

• Cross-platform
• 200+ ready-to-use components
• Drag-and-drop form designer
• State-of-the-art code editor
• Single source for many platforms
• Full access to all sources
• Ready for Web development
• Uses strongly-typed Pascal
• Converter to port Delphi projects
• Regular releases
• Worldwide user community
• No runtime libraries needed
• Functionality can be packaged
• Many compatible frameworks
• No payment required to use
• Liberal usage licences

Short list elements, in my opinion, will impress much.
So actually, my suggestion was to move away from short list elements and turn to something more substantial.


Something like this:

Cross-platform development and deployment

• Lazarus is a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you create visual (GUI) and non-visual Object Pascal programs, and uses the Free Pascal compiler to generate your executable. Its aim is write once, compile anywhere: you should be able to just recompile your program source code with Lazarus running on another operating system (or a cross compiler) and get a program that runs on that operating system.

Drag-and-drop form designer, state-of-the-art code editor

• Lazarus is an open-source development system that builds on the Free Pascal compiler by adding an integrated development environment (IDE) that includes a syntax-highlighting code editor and visual form designer, as well as a component library that's highly compatible with Delphi's Visual Component Library (VCL). The Lazarus Component Library (LCL) includes equivalents for many of the familiar VCL controls such as forms, buttons, text boxes and so on that are used to create applications that have a graphical user interface (GUI).

[...]

and so on.

The html element I'm thinking of using, instead of the ul or ol, is dl.

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Mitică

[nsunny]

Hello everybody.

I suggest that, for new member, at inscription, there is a "Your config" section with :

- Your CPU :
- Your OS :
- Your FPC version (if installed) :
- Your Lazarus version (if installed) :

I  assume you want this in the homepage?
First two  are possible. But the rest are impossible to implement. Browsers cannot access computer's package list or environment variables. So it is only possible when a user inputs them manually.

(... Or if you are that serious, a java applet may be written to access the system info... )

[Fred vS]

I  assume you want this in the homepage?
First two  are possible. But the rest are impossible to implement. Browsers cannot access computer's package list or environment variables. So it is only possible when a user inputs them manually.

I propose that, when you ask something in a topic, a the bottom of topic, appear the infos about the config-system of the member.

It can be done adding those data in Profile>Forum profile, in: Signature:
It was asked many times to forum, few members have done it and have added  those data (example : mine )

Many thanks.

I use Lazarus 1.1.2 32/64 and FPC 2.7.1 32/64  on Ubuntu 13.04 32/64, Windows 7 32/64, Windows XP 32 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard 32.
Widgetset: Win, GTK2, Qt, Carbon.

I was not thinking about a automatic decrypter of the system (a member could subscribe in a other computer that the one he uses)

At forum profile, there is : Signature:

I propose that Signature: is asked in the page of inscription (not only in option).

With a note like :
Signatures are displayed at the bottom of each post or personal message. Please enter here :
- Your CPU :
- Your OS :
- Your FPC version (if installed) :
- Your Lazarus version (if installed) :

So, people do not forget to add those infos.

By the way, i invite each member to add those infos (if not already done). 

[nsunny]

I was not thinking about a automatic decrypter of the system (a member could subscribe in a other computer that the one he uses)

At forum profile, there is : Signature:

I propose that Signature: is asked in the page of inscription (not only in option).

With a note like : Signatures are displayed at the bottom of each post or personal message. Please enter here :
- Your CPU :
- Your OS :
- Your FPC version (if installed) :
- Your Lazarus version (if installed) :

So, people do not forget to add those infos.

By the way, i invite each member to add those infos (if not already done). 

Oh, not an automatic one? I see. Then its relatively easy.

Unfortunately, I am not that experienced in SMF. I have worked with phpBB before. But a quick search reveals that it is possible:
https://www.google.com.bd/search?q=smf+custom+fields+profile
- http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Features_and_Options#Adding.2FModifying_Custom_Fields
- http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=1084.0

It seems that it does not even need to install any plugin/mod. The custom fields feature comes as default.

I think you need to post this suggestion in this thread: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,16520.0.html

[EDIT]
I have found a way to use the current logged-in user's information which can be implemented in the homepage. It is possible to display personalized homepages depending on the custom profile (or any other) data.

For example, if a user is using the latest Lazarus version, then "What's new" slide can appear instead of Download slide. (By slide, I mean the whole download area in the homepage [prototype].)

...or may be something else. Customizing the experience would be so much easier.