Emphasize preferred package formats on platform download options

MMachado05 commented 10 months ago

Under each of the operating system options, all the download files are sequentially listed seemingly arbitrarily. To less technically-savvy users, this may be a bit intimidating.

One way to alleviate this could be by having one, no more than two, immediately-visible "preferred" download methods, and a hidden drop-down menu for "other download options." If I knew how to use design software, I'd provide a prototype of what I'm thinking about, but I could always provide a pencil-and-paper drawing if need be!

samuelwarang commented 4 months ago

Can you elaborate on the design with some visuals ?

MMachado05 commented 4 months ago

Not the prettiest, but as I mentioned, I'm no formal designer! The main points that I think can be improved upon are:

Replacing the Downloads section with an obvious link to the developer's preferred format. We already know what downloads we're seeing based on the highlighted option a few pixels above.
Using visuals and logos wherever possible. I take to using the conventional buttons that exist for some package managers, like the App Store one the current website already uses. Relatedly, some information where relevant for binary packages.
Equally subdividing the "alternative downloads" sections per download category, such as binaries, package managers, and app stores. The extra whitespace on iOS is kind of distracting.

If anyone knows their way around a prototyping tool (i.e. PenPot), I'm sure a mockup would look much better than my sketch!

(The ellipsis just means "another download view, but I didn't want to bother drawing the whole thing again." I'm not suggesting we combine all the downloads onto one screen!)

Michael-Obele commented 2 weeks ago

As I mentioned in #37, this could easily be handled with dynamic routes, and it would open up opportunities like sharing specific links for devices. I don't even mind implementing it.

MMachado05 commented 2 weeks ago

As I mentioned in #37, this could easily be handled with dynamic routes, and it would open up opportunities like sharing specific links for devices. I don't even mind implementing it.

Not knowing anything about @Tienisto's development workflow, I figure it wouldn't hurt to make a PR for it! I'm by no means a web dev, so I'd love to see what this looked like implemented!

Michael-Obele commented 2 weeks ago

However, for the time being, collapsing all other options into a simple dropdown will suffice. I will make a PR for this soon.

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Emphasize preferred package formats on platform download options #31