[Python-Dev] revamped Python web site

[Vladimir Marangozov]

[Jeremy Hylton]
>
> Say a startup company decided to put some resources behind the Python
> Web site -- a full-time Web master, some content developers, etc.
> What would you have them do?  What could be done to open up the site
> to the community and make it more responsive to developers and users?
> What's your wish list for content, services, etc.?

The content is good. Some wishes on its presentation, not taking into
account any cosmetic changes.

With my webmaster's hat, I would say:

1. Make the content accessible, i.e. compliant to the standards
   HTML tidy does a pretty good job in cleaning up existing Web pages
   I would suggest sticking with valid XHTML 1.0 transitional or HTML 4.x
   transitional.

2. Use CSS -- not too much, though, given its growing but still limited
   support. I am using myself parts of CSS1. My approach is to use styles
   *and* attributes (which is redundant, for now). Browsers that understand
   styles would honor them, while those that don't would take into account
   the attributes. The aim is to have the same end result. With the evolution
   of the browsers, the attributes would disappear.

   A compromise that introduces styles smoothly.

3. Have a comprehensible site map for direct access to the major topics.
   I tend to like ours which is convenient for small to medium sized sites
   (http://www.inrialpes.fr/plansite.html)

4. Do not use frames, do not use JavaScript or similar, do not use anything
   that hurts content accessibility.

[Eric S. Raymond]
> 
>  My top wishlist item is "Burn all your GIFs".

This seems to be an important symbol for an organization with an Open Source
spirit.  Hopefully, a gif2png batch processing should make things easier.

-- 
       Vladimir MARANGOZOV          | Vladimir.Marangozov@inrialpes.fr
http://sirac.inrialpes.fr/~marangoz | tel:(+33-4)76615277 fax:76615252