Roel Schroeven schreef: > JW schreef: >> I >> immediately >> noticed something when visiting Joel using Firefox. **Scrollbars**. The >> page wouldn't even fit on the screen! I started to read it, but my face >> went numb before I needed to use the scrollbar. > > [...] >> >> OK for blogging -- not so cool for a book cover. > > I guess you're right that scroll bars are to be avoided on the main page > of a website, though I don't think it's such a big deal.
To correct myself: I don't think there bad at all, if only the main information is visible at first sight without scrolling. Take for example http://www.rubyonrails.org/. I like that design, with a few caveats: - the 'What's in the package' should be somewhat higher, in a more prominent place on the page. - the style of the text should be somewhat more humble. Other than that, I like it. There's a short summary of what Ruby on Rails is, the What's in the package section gives a more complete but still concise explanation. Than some references, followed by an overview of where the framework fits in the technical picture. Especially that last section is something I sorely miss on many project pages, while it is very important: I need to know if it fits in my existing infrastructure, or if it's feasible to make it fit. In fact I would like to see this section in front of the references section, but I guess this order is better for less technical people. It's also very clear where to get the software, tutorials and other docs, and where I can find mailing lists, IRC channels etc. In short, more or less everything I need to know right there on the front page (admittedly with a bit of scrolling, but to me that's absolutely not a big deal, even though my laptop doesn't have a scroll wheel) or clearly linked from there. (I'm not saying that Python should copy this design, just trying the explain what I like and don't like in website front pages) -- If I have been able to see further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants. -- Isaac Newton Roel Schroeven -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
