Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

X-Fade's been doing fantastic work on building the packages interface. This is an integral part of the extras-testing QA process and there's a big push to getting it ready for developers, maintainers and community testers for Fremantle.

You can read more about it here: http://communitizer.blogspot.com/200...-packages.html

So far, however, there's been a focus on developing the features, rather than the UI. The community's got lots of fantastic designers in it: anyone got any ideas/CSS for how it could be improved? Even some basic things like compartmentalizing the information, and putting the main body on a white background would help, I think.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

Well, why not use the PackRat, modifying it to specific needs?

http://ageofikon.info/packrat/

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

Three reasons:

1. This isn't just a package search interface; it's integrated into the new QA process and Extras repositories.
2. PackRat doesn't have the maemo.org look & feel, and the code isn't open (AFAIK, but no-one asked you either)
3. Doesn't really help with the "making the QA interface look better to highlight the key information" problem, anyway.

PackRat - and Gronmayer - are addressing different problems. maemo.org/packages/ is going to be a key part of ensuring Extras' apps quality, and so ultimately getting Extras enabled out-of-the-box.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

Well, to put some meat on your own suggestion, why not just use this layout right here? With the rounded edge white box around the main text, and something like the Active Topics layout for the list of latest packages.

That said, I don't really know what it is you want an UI for, since I have no knowledge of this interface.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

volt, that was basically what I've been thinking. But I'm not a designer... If you know HTML/CSS, I'd be happy for you to have a play :-)

In terms of the interface; it's an in-development system for putting a QA process around Extras' packages. More info in X-Fade's blog post. When Quim talks about "pushing to extras-testing", this is what he's talking about.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

It can be extended any way you like.

Well, you should have just asked me on IRC. I have shared the code with rm_you and feel no problems sharing it with you or whoever else is interested.

See answer to your point #1.

What PackRat does is scanning a repositor[y|ies] and presenting you with the listing of their contents. How you use that listing is completely up to you. You can add all kinds of information there.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

[QUOTE=fms;309283]This is off-topic. Scanning the Extras repositories (which is already done for the autobuilder and Extras Assistant) isn't the hard bit. The hard bit is the workflow, promotion stuff under-the-covers. Hence the currently barebones UI.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

All right. I have got the hint and am shutting up.

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

I was thinking it would look good if styled more like the wiki (which is more like the rest of the site in general). The menu on the right is handy, etc. And, if it looked like this, it would be ok too.

Some of the design (afaik), is more than just CSS, though, and might need a little html tweaking as well.

Tim

Re: Get involved: styling the packages interface
 

I'm sure X-Fade won't mind changing the HTML to support a more usable design.