Gentoo's website design

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Camoes · Post by **Camoes** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:21 pm

dont feed the trolls

pizen · Post by **pizen** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:23 pm

I disagree about Slashdot's design. I really don't like it. But they do give me the text-only option so it's ok.

Raoul_Duke · Post by **Raoul_Duke** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:24 pm

Camoes wrote:dont feed the trolls

Fair point, this thread should prolly be closed or something

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:30 pm

The whole point of first post was recommend, not criticize. Text-only site would be nice --Bsd

Cossins · Post by **Cossins** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:37 pm

As a teenage geek proclaiming himself a webdesigner (although in danish, my website is here), I can't help it but throw in my 0.02...

Gentoo.org has a quite decent layout, especially when compared with sites such as freebsd.org, openbsd.org, and others which are just plain ugly. However, I would've chosen a different colour scheme (there is a lack of complimentary colours, for instance - green and purple are both mixed colours, which makes them sort of incombineable).

Bsd: Please... I have seen people like you before - either you don't have a clue about how to do a decent discussion (that means without insults and being open to other peoples opinions) or you're just trying to start a flame war. Although I would be keen to do so, I will not resort to personal insults, as that would make me look just as childish as you seem to be...

I think the cause of the whole fuss is misuse of the word "professional".

- Simon

pizen · Post by **pizen** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:40 pm

Cossins wrote:As a teenage geek proclaiming himself a webdesigner (although in danish, my website is here), I can't help it but throw in my 0.02...

Pretty sweet, dude.

wheerdam · Post by **wheerdam** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:42 pm

That's a nice site, Simon.

idl · Post by **idl** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:44 pm

Cossins wrote:As a teenage geek proclaiming himself a webdesigner (although in danish, my website is here), I can't help it but throw in my 0.02...

Very nice indeed

Here is one I'm working on.

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:47 pm

To us old geezers the bsd sites are nice. We do not judge on the site being *pretty* but what information it has to offer on the start page right there and then. As you see on Freebsd.org the right column has security advisories, etc. Other sites like http://www.opennet.ru The main thing i do not like about the gentoo site is that the graphics in the middle like the penguin are distracting(makes you look at the pictures directly) --bsd

pizen · Post by **pizen** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:51 pm

So your definition of a "professional" website is one that will display properly in Mosaic? I'm really curious because I think there seems to be confusion as to what the definition of professional is.

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 3:53 pm

well, not mosaic in general but lynx, links, or maybe even w3m. Graphics are not everything in the world you know. I still use my old computers, they will never wear out.

Arker · Post by **Arker** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:10 pm

It occurs to me, the possibility that the Gentoo website was intentionally designed as it is to keep certain types of people from visiting. It appears it was almost successful, but it sounds like it at least works on their friends.

~arker

PowerFactor · Post by **PowerFactor** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:14 pm

bsd wrote:The whole point of first post was recommend, not criticize. Text-only site would be nice --Bsd

Criticism is fine as long as its constructive. You post did come across as insulting to me though.

I don't think gentoo's site looks "unprofessional". The graphics in the middle are a bit large, actually about 4x what they should be IMO. They do use different pics for different news topics so those graphics aren't completely useless but I could do without them. But the site's layout is functional and intuative and that's what counts for me. I like simple sites too though. I think freebsd's site is ok. But the colors are hideous, garish and distracting. Change those to something easier on the eyes and it would be exellent IMO. Gentoo.org seems to display fine in links(text mode) and w3m here btw. Lynx doesn't seem to handle it quite as well but it's still useable.

bsd wrote:I still use my old computers, they will never wear out.

Actuallly they will eventually. Been there done that.

Dang I type slow. WTF Arker, was that really necessary? Things were actually calming down.

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:26 pm

Well, the old computers did start to break(ps and hd) but i just repaired those. Lynx does not handle nested tables. I really don't know why some people say freebsd.org is an eyesore. The real true color that seems to be ease on people is blue.

wilburpan · Post by **wilburpan** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:30 pm

If I might make a suggestion (trying to increase the content:flame ratio):

I think the pages for the forums, the main gentoo site, and bugs.gentoo.org could use a consistent set of links to each other at the top of each webpage. As it stands now:

1. The forums have links on the bottom of the page
2. The main website has links at the top of the page on the first 1-2 levels only. Specifically, the main page, and the first documents page have links at the top, but the x86 install page and the rest of the specific documentation do not.
3. The bugs page has links at the top, but the layout is quite a bit different.
4. Viewing the CVS via the web does not have any links back to any of the other sections.

And for the record, I think the main Gentoo webpage is just fine. In fact, it was the layout that caught my eye when I first looked into Gentoo, whereas freebsd.org is a little offputting, in my opinion. Security advisories and similarly important issues are prominently posted at the top of the forums webpage, which is where I now go to first. I really check the main Gentoo webpage on Sundays when the GWN comes out.

I do agree that the news item graphics could be smaller.

pilla · Post by **pilla** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:50 pm

I guess that trolls are far more disgusting. Please think before posting if you want to keep the thread open (and also your account). We don't tolerate unpolite people here (so said the "childish" moderator).

bsd wrote: I know people that would absolutely love to use gentoo, but the childish moderators of the gentoo would scare them away.

Mystilleef · Post by **Mystilleef** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:57 pm

Hello Gents,

I'd like to know what bsd thought of kde.org. Is it professional? And what is your criteria for a professional looking website. Please note, I respect your opinions and aesthetic preferences, but reaching a common consensus on artist issues is as impossible as it is subjective. Especially, when there are no guidelines to follow.

I also believe there is specific forum called Gentoo Forums Feedback, where you can lodge your suggestions, complaints or concerns regarding the Gentoo forums and websites, I think.

Personally, I was impressed by the simplicity, the choice of colors and the general placements of frames on the Gentoo website. It invites one to explore more and it makes reading its content comfortable. It is a harmonic balance of space, color and functionality. Perhaps, you need to adjust your web browser a little, as I found the fonts on the Gentoo website are usually tiny with my default browser setting. Apart from that little gripe, I think it is functional and different for a Linux distribution website.

Regards,

Mystilleefa

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:08 pm

kde is good example of a professional website. it gets to the point. it has its logo at top. and usually a picture or two on the side. Thats a good example.

Gentoo chat has as its text.
Opinions, ideas and thoughts about Gentoo. Anything and everything about Gentoo except support questions.

Gentoo Forums feedback has..
Having a problem with the forums? Have a suggestion? Post here!

professional webpage is more of an opinion but does have standards for a professional webpage.

BennyP · Post by **BennyP** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:13 pm

I love the gentoo layout. It's got that eimple Earthbound aesthetic i love so much.. especially cause i'm in the middle of an EB game right now =)

bsolar · Post by **bsolar** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:14 pm

Mystilleef wrote:I also believe there is specific forum called Gentoo Forums Feedback, where you can lodge your suggestions, complaints or concerns regarding the Gentoo forums and websites, I think.

That is only for feedbacks about the forums. If the topic is the main gentoo site www.gentoo.org, posting here in gentoo chat is fine.

Peach · Post by **Peach** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:28 pm

wilburpan wrote:1. The forums have links on the bottom of the page

Totally agree... but it's a forum based on phpBB2 so, as I did a theme for it, it's quite hard to find a nice place for those personal/general menues so it's just fine...

I should only complain about 1 thing, being a gimp user I'd change that header graphics... sounds a little bit photoshop style... u know what I mean

Talking about the home site is quite fine, functional and enuff professional, whatever professional could mean in your opinion, in links is usable...
one of the things that convinced me first browsing this site is the text/link colors

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:36 pm

There needs to be a text only theme installed on the form and webpage.. (no graphics). it would be nice.. Im a text web user.

bsolar · Post by **bsolar** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:40 pm

bsd wrote:There needs to be a text only theme installed on the form and webpage.. (no graphics). it would be nice.. Im a text web user.

Uhm... I use lynx occasionally and never had troubles with the forums or the main site. What sort of problems have you experienced?

bsd · Post by **bsd** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:49 pm

I mean for X browsers as well.

PowerFactor · Post by **PowerFactor** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 6:45 pm

I seem to remember some discussion about a text version of the website butI don't know what became of it. Seems it could be done since the website keeps it's data in xml format it would just be a matter of writing a text-only theme. I don't know how dificult that would be though, I'm no web developer. The forums might be more dificult. I dunno, does phpbb support text only themes? Would enough users want such a thing to make it worthwhile? I kinda like web graphics myself as long as they're within reason.

OT
bsd: Sorry about the crack about comps wearing out, just laughed when I saw that. My old 386 laptop just the other day decided it doesn't even like being plugged in. Gives a post error and locks up without even turning it on. May be fixable but I probably won't bother.

Gentoo's website design

Re: Gentoo's website design

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