[mapguide-internals] MapGuide Site Navigation Proposal

[Jason Birch]

I like the idea a lot...

Not sure how I feel about the divisions between 4, 5, 6.  It's all
"community", though slightly different facets of it.  

I see the benefits of the word "support" in allowing new users to find
the mailing lists, but it also sets up an expectation of one-way
communication.  Also, calling the developers section "contributing" is
undermining the important contributions that end users make to the
project.

And what is "community" supposed to be?

Of course, I don't have any really concrete ideas on how to make it
better...  :)

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: mapguide-internals-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:mapguide-internals-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Robert
Bray
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 20:40
To: MapGuide Internals Mail List
Subject: [mapguide-internals] MapGuide Site Navigation Proposal

As I started thinking about adding links for Trac to mapguide.osgeo.org
I came to realize how limiting our current site navigation is. So here
is a proposal for fixing it, feel free to do anything from providing
feedback to shooting it down entirely and telling me I am an idiot.

First I would like to propose introducing a collection of Tabs (Primary
Links in Drupal parlance) just under the banner. With this approach the
Left Navigation bar can then be tailored to the content of the Tab.


Tab #1: Home

  Left Nav
  - Essential Links (need to define these)

  Page Content
   Current Home
   Events (replace Announcements with Drupal Event block)


Tab #2: Download

  Left Nav
  - Current Stable (default)
  - Latest Development - Beta / RC (if available, else not present)
  - Previous
    - 1.0.2
    - 1.0.1
    - 1.0.0
  - Essential Links (need to define these)

  Page Content
    Corresponding Download Page


  Tab #3: Documentation

  Left Nav
  - Current (default)
    - Doc 1
    - Doc 2
    - ...
    - Doc n
  - Previous (collapsed by default)
    - 1.0.2
      - Doc 1
      - Doc 2
      - ...
      - Doc n
    - 1.0.1
    - 1.0.0
  - Essential Links (need to define these)

  Page Content
    Corresponding Doc List or Doc Page


Tab #4: Support

  Left Nav
  - FAQ
  - Mail Lists
  - Report a Bug
  - Essential Links (need to define these)

  Page Content
   Current Get Involved As a User Page ++


Tab #5: Contributing

  Left Nav
  - All the dev resource links
  - Trac
    - Browse Source
    - Roadmap
    - Timeline
    - View Tickets
    - New Ticket
  - Essential Links (need to define these)

  Page Content
   Current Get Involved as a Contributor Page ++


Tab #6 Community
FUTURE - Nathalie is working on a proposal for this...


I also wonder if there should be another called "Basics" or "Getting
Started" that steps through an overview of the project and everything
you need to get going, but I'll wait for feedback on this. This could
also be a key first element on the documentation page with a link to it
on the Essential Links menu.

Anyway give this some thought and fire back your ideas...

Bob


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