[TriLUG] triangle open source lab web site

[Steve Litt]

On Tuesday 02 June 2009 09:32:38 am Jim Ray wrote:
> Well, I just got fired from my job as webmaster. I don't see what the
> big deal is:
>
> http://www.triangleopensource.org
>
> I completely re-designed the site from the ground up and started doing
> this stuff in 1997.
>
> What's the problem with plain text? These young whippersnappers do not
> have a keen appreciation for things like edlin and vi. Prolly a bunch of
> winders users as well.
>
> Time to take my toys and go home.

Hey Jim,

This site could be pretty cool with a few small changes. These changes are in 
the form of identifying what's what. As it stands right now, the user can 
feel very lost on this site, and that's not just aesthetic.

For instance, it's not instantly obvious what the two columns are. On at least 
one of the pages it appeared there was a one to one correspondence between 
members of the first column and members of the second column, which is wrong, 
wrong, wrong, but that's what it looks like. You could reduce this confusion 
simply by putting borders on the table. Also, and this is a function of the 
web author, not the CGI or whatever, column 2's title should obviously match 
the column 1 button clicked. Also, when someone clicks a button on column 1 
and the screen is redrawn, remove the link from the clicked button. That way 
the user will know exactly where he is.

The other improvement I'd make is to use a little bit of color and font sizes. 
We all know this isn't really plain text -- the links are html, so why not 
make the word "Buttons" bigger and a different color?

On those buttons that trigger a download, it would be much less confusing if 
all text on column 2 disappeared, centering attention on the download itself.

Some people are hopelessly addicted to pretty and cutesy. Such people will 
never appreciate your interface. Other people are practical and want 
something that does the job. With a few modifications to clarify where the 
user is at the moment, your interface would be a huge hit with those people.

Is the CGI or PHP or whatever behind this site Open Source? If so, I'd like to 
see it.

SteveT

Steve Litt
Recession Relief Package
http://www.recession-relief.US
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