dynapi-dev

[Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted

[Andrew G. <an...@zo...>]

Hello All,

The DynAPI website has been somewhat neglected for several years now, 
and some parts of it no longer work. So I've begun work on updating the 
site.

The old website was built using a CMS called phpWebSite-0.7.6, which is 
way out of date. I've installed the latest release of phpWebSite 
(0.10.1) on an adjacent directory on the sourceforge site, and I've 
begun transferring data from the old site to the new (phpWebSite stores 
all its content in a mysql database).

There is no simple upgrade between the two releases, as too many 
revisions have been skipped and the schema has changed significantly. So 
I have started with the default (blank) website and am transferring data 
one table at a time.

I really need help to create a default theme for the site - this 
consists of graphics and template files that define the L&F. My own 
graphic design skills are fairly abysmal, so if someone out there is 
able to help with this then we'll be able to get the new site up and 
running very soon.


As I see it, the upgrade consists of these tasks:

   1. get the new CMS installed and working (done),
   2. copy as much content as possible from the old CMS (started, in
      progress),
   3. create a default theme for the site,
   4. deploy the website as the default homepage at dynapi.sourceforge.net,
   5. define a site structure (categories etc.),
   6. add new content.

Steps 1, 2 & 4 are all quite mechanical and I'm happy to do them. Step 3 
needs someone with a sense of style. Steps 5 & 6 are the important ones 
that really need input from the entire DynAPI community for the best result.

The temporary URL for the new site is
    http://dynapi.sourceforge.net/phpwebsite/

If you would like to help with any aspect of this upgrade (theme design, 
admin, structure, content...) just let me know and I'll set you up.  
Also, any other suggestions, feedback, etc. will be most welcome.


Andrew Gillett

Re: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted

[Doug M. <do...@cr...>]

very late at night (or very early morning)...

I only took a quick spin and two things come to mind:

1) The black text on dark blue background would be difficult for someone =
who is visually impaired, or colour blind to read. Perhapse lighten the =
blue a lot, or change the black text to white for better contrast.

2)Would it be possible to put an extra line break between articles in =
the right-most column.
I find that it is difficult for me to pick out induvidual items from =
eachother. Also maybe widen the right panel ever so slightly as well. =
:-)

Cheers.
Doug

P.S. If y ou really want laout submissions, I'll do one up.=20
    however, I will warn you that I am somewhat a minimalist when it =
comes to visual design.
    <grin>
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Andrew Gillett=20
  To: dyn...@li...=20
  Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:07 AM
  Subject: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted


  Hello All,

  The DynAPI website has been somewhat neglected for several years now, =
and some parts of it no longer work. So I've begun work on updating the =
site.

  The old website was built using a CMS called phpWebSite-0.7.6, which =
is way out of date. I've installed the latest release of phpWebSite =
(0.10.1) on an adjacent directory on the sourceforge site, and I've =
begun transferring data from the old site to the new (phpWebSite stores =
all its content in a mysql database).

  There is no simple upgrade between the two releases, as too many =
revisions have been skipped and the schema has changed significantly. So =
I have started with the default (blank) website and am transferring data =
one table at a time.

  I really need help to create a default theme for the site - this =
consists of graphics and template files that define the L&F. My own =
graphic design skills are fairly abysmal, so if someone out there is =
able to help with this then we'll be able to get the new site up and =
running very soon.


  As I see it, the upgrade consists of these tasks:

    1.. get the new CMS installed and working (done),=20
    2.. copy as much content as possible from the old CMS (started, in =
progress),=20
    3.. create a default theme for the site,=20
    4.. deploy the website as the default homepage at =
dynapi.sourceforge.net,

    5.. define a site structure (categories etc.),=20
    6.. add new content.=20
  Steps 1, 2 & 4 are all quite mechanical and I'm happy to do them. Step =
3 needs someone with a sense of style. Steps 5 & 6 are the important =
ones that really need input from the entire DynAPI community for the =
best result.

  The temporary URL for the new site is
      http://dynapi.sourceforge.net/phpwebsite/

  If you would like to help with any aspect of this upgrade (theme =
design, admin, structure, content...) just let me know and I'll set you =
up.  Also, any other suggestions, feedback, etc. will be most welcome.


  Andrew Gillett

Re: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted

[Andrew G. <an...@zo...>]

Doug Melvin wrote:

> very late at night (or very early morning)...
>  
> I only took a quick spin and two things come to mind:
>  
> 1) The black text on dark blue background would be difficult for 
> someone who is visually impaired, or colour blind to read. Perhapse 
> lighten the blue a lot, or change the black text to white for better 
> contrast.

Hmm. The "dark blue" background looked quite light on my laptop.  I've 
since copied some colours and the logo from the original website.  Is it 
still too dark? (the previous colour was #2794d8, now it is #a1b8cc).

>  
> 2)Would it be possible to put an extra line break between articles in 
> the right-most column.
> I find that it is difficult for me to pick out induvidual items from 
> eachother. Also maybe widen the right panel ever so slightly as well. :-)

Yes, the column is narrower than on the original site; the numbering of 
items makes it even worse; and there is no vertical space between items. 
I will fix this as soon as I can.

>  
> Cheers.
> Doug
>  
> P.S. If y ou really want laout submissions, I'll do one up.
>     however, I will warn you that I am somewhat a minimalist when it 
> comes to visual design.
>     <grin>

I like minimalist. Take a look at 
http://dynapi.sourceforge.net/phpwebsite/themes/ to see what a 
phpwebsite theme consists of.  I've made a copy of the "Default" theme, 
called it "DynAPI", and set this as the site default.

Doug, if you create an account on the new site (I'm unable to transfer 
the accounts from the original site), then I'll enable admin access for 
you. To install or modify a theme, you'll need shell access to the 
server.  Is this a problem?


thank you for responding,
Andrew

Re: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted

[Doug M. <do...@cr...>]

Okay, I've create an account named DougMelvin.

I'll need the connection info to install the theme I guess.
I figured at first I'd post a few samples as just html and we can get =
feedback.

cheers
Doug Melvin
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Andrew Gillett=20
  To: dyn...@li...=20
  Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:48 PM
  Subject: Re: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted


  Doug Melvin wrote:=20
    very late at night (or very early morning)...

    I only took a quick spin and two things come to mind:

    1) The black text on dark blue background would be difficult for =
someone who is visually impaired, or colour blind to read. Perhapse =
lighten the blue a lot, or change the black text to white for better =
contrast.
  Hmm. The "dark blue" background looked quite light on my laptop.  I've =
since copied some colours and the logo from the original website.  Is it =
still too dark? (the previous colour was #2794d8, now it is #a1b8cc).=20

    2)Would it be possible to put an extra line break between articles =
in the right-most column.
    I find that it is difficult for me to pick out induvidual items from =
eachother. Also maybe widen the right panel ever so slightly as well. =
:-)
  Yes, the column is narrower than on the original site; the numbering =
of items makes it even worse; and there is no vertical space between =
items. I will fix this as soon as I can.


    Cheers.
    Doug

    P.S. If y ou really want laout submissions, I'll do one up.=20
        however, I will warn you that I am somewhat a minimalist when it =
comes to visual design.
        <grin>
  I like minimalist. Take a look at =
http://dynapi.sourceforge.net/phpwebsite/themes/ to see what a =
phpwebsite theme consists of.  I've made a copy of the "Default" theme, =
called it "DynAPI", and set this as the site default.

  Doug, if you create an account on the new site (I'm unable to transfer =
the accounts from the original site), then I'll enable admin access for =
you. To install or modify a theme, you'll need shell access to the =
server.  Is this a problem?


  thank you for responding,
  Andrew

Re: [Dynapi-Dev] DynAPI website upgrade - help wanted

[Leif W <war...@us...>]

> Andrew Gillett; 2005-04-14@01:07 -0500
>
> As I see it, the upgrade consists of these tasks:
>
>     1. get the new CMS installed and working (done),
>     2. copy as much content as possible from the old CMS (started, in 
> progress),
>     3. create a default theme for the site,
>     4. deploy the website as the default homepage at 
> dynapi.sourceforge.net,
>     5. define a site structure (categories etc.),
>     6. add new content.
>

I added a new Sub Task called Web Site, and added a new Task, phpWebSite 
theme creation.

http://sourceforge.net/pm/task.php?func=detailtask&project_task_id=114417&group_id=5757&group_project_id=42450

Andrew, please tweak if needed.  I put as highest priority (9) and 10 
hours seemed adequate, but I was only guessing.  It may take someone 30 
minutes to 2 hours for all I know.

Potential advantages of using Tasks:

* keep track of open tasks and their statuses as we get more tasks
* look back at all the completed tasks for a sense of accomplishment
* show refer people to the open tasks when they offer non-specific help
* increase the project's SF activity rating to maybe get in the top 10 
for visibility
* refer people to the closed tasks to see what has already been done

> Steps 1, 2 & 4 are all quite mechanical and I'm happy to do them. Step 
> 3 needs someone with a sense of style. Steps 5 & 6 are the important 
> ones that really need input from the entire DynAPI community for the 
> best result.
>
> The temporary URL for the new site is
>     http://dynapi.sourceforge.net/phpwebsite/
>
> If you would like to help with any aspect of this upgrade (theme 
> design, admin, structure, content...) just let me know and I'll set 
> you up.  Also, any other suggestions, feedback, etc. will be most 
> welcome.

I haven't had a chance to learn about phpWebSite yet.  By next week I'll 
make time to learn and then I'll know enough to say something.  ;-)

Leif

> Andrew Gillett