Certainly looks good, more modern but still a few years behind the times maybe? (i.e. a bit boxy and trying to overload the page with options/content)
I would like to point out that there seems to be nothing there that is Google App Engine specific. That design can be implemented using a regular open source CMS such as Joomla, Drupal or something as simple as WordPress with some custom plugins. Or even custom written reasonably easily using frameworks such as Zend, CakePHP (or asp equivalents depending on flightgear.org's capabilities). Ease of use to update the content of course should be important and if App Engine is good then no reason it shouldn't be considered. For specific criticism on the design (constructive of course) - * The "call to action", where you want to lead people as their first click on the site and should catch the eye, is the message about mpserver02. It needs to be a general FG introduction, a download link, the gallery or a combination of those to keep peoples interest up If someone browses to the home page by random link/chance the lack of a 'now do this' in their face has been proven on other sites to cause a large number to just leave straight away. Think of it as a guided tour - With this much content the regulars who know the site are free to browse, but the newcomers need signposts and something to draw them in. * The left menu is harder to scan quickly than it needs to be as the major navigation tool. Maybe have them all lined up on the left but the text still indented. The current sites menu is also good with dropdown boxes to hide subsections until it is needed. Ease of use and less clutter should be number 1 priority and the design should be driven by it, not the other way around. * Clicking Index, Website and the logo would presumably all link to the same place, It only needs 1 of them. * Why the login button? If the general public can't login, don't let them think they can. If they can, let them know what benefit they would get, i.e "Login/register to post comments". and (not a design issue, just content in general) * There is no About->FlightGear on the menu or preferably obvious on the front page. Someone already into sims will want to see the feature list, but someone completely new has nothing to get them fired up about sims in general and FG in particular. Also be honest about what it can and can't (currently) do on that page, nobody likes over-hyping especially on open source apps. The current site has an introduction, although could still do with a bit extra. The first paragraph is key (same on the home page) and currently is just about open source/cross-platform support which needs to be said, but not straight away. It needs to grab them - "Your Cessna C172p SkyHawk is fuelled and ready to go on runway 28 right at San Francisco International Airport. There is a light easterly wind and barely a cloud in the sky, looks like the scenery is going to be impressive today. You are cleared for takeoff Captain, what are you waiting on the ground for? Roll out! <new paragraph> FlightGear is a complete open source flight simulator for all major computer platforms...", etc. Make them want to download and have a go before they do anything else that day. I'm not a designer but I am currently considering going freelance as a web developer so been reading up on some of the standard rules of web design, content and user experience in case I need them. I am also a lurker so feel free to tell me not to poke my nose in :). I am still looking for some free time to contribute though as there are a few areas I'd love to help with, namely terrain rendering and computer ATC/AI traffic, maybe even a career mode (I really miss FSPassengers from FS2004/FSX). I was also going to try and do a design for this site as well, but been busy the last week as usual. Curtis Olson wrote: > - Do we want to lock ourselves into google? > Regards, > > Curt. > > > On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 4:25 AM, Patrice Poly <p.pol...@gmail.com > <mailto:p.pol...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > I like it too ! Very nice and fresh work ! > > On 08/03/2010 06:22, Pete Morgan wrote: > > Have developed the idea a bit further. > > > > http://fg-www.appspot.com/ > > > > idea is to have a dedicated aircraft and Online site also > > > > > > is this worth pursuing ? Its quite neat and developer friendly > on the > > Google App Engine. > > > > pete > > > > > -- > Curtis Olson: http://baron.flightgear.org/~curt/ > <http://baron.flightgear.org/%7Ecurt/> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list Flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-devel
