[tor-bugs] #3590 [Website]: torproject.org/download is very confusing

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#3590: torproject.org/download is very confusing
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 Reporter:  cypherpunks  |          Owner:  phobos  
     Type:  defect       |         Status:  accepted
 Priority:  normal       |      Milestone:          
Component:  Website      |        Version:          
 Keywords:               |         Parent:          
   Points:               |   Actualpoints:          
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Comment(by cypherpunks):

 This is "velope". I provide help-desk support on the #tor channel and have
 been following development, including the website, very closely for
 several years. It's great to see improvements in graphic design.

 The present download-easy page is indeed ragged, but restoring it and
 making it the default was definitely the right decision. Only TBB should
 be listed on the primary landing page for new users. There are lots of
 packages that need to be listed on the full download page, but new users
 shouldn't see them, regardless of their platform. There are just too many
 important but conflicting needs to be met with a single page. Two are
 definitely necessary.

 But the two-page solution raises a design issue. When the aim was for a
 single page, sectioning by platform and doing the auto accordion was a
 sensible way of shortening the display. On the download-easy page,
 obviously there is no need for sections.

 Since download-easy addresses the need for a short and simple primary
 page, the question is whether sectioning by platform on the full page is
 necessary or helpful. Almost all packages will be available on the top
 three platforms, so repeating them in three sections complicates
 maintainence and greatly lengthens the expanded page. The language
 pulldown menu is great. Why not handle platform selection with a nearby
 pulldown also?

 Sectioning could still serve a simplifying purpose to separate stable
 versions from others, and the accordion could default to displaying only
 the section for stable. In reality, there are at least three types of
 versions that need to be convenient available: stable, alpha, and
 experimental (or "technology preview"). Perhaps ideally much of this would
 be moved off to a separate development section of the site, but that seems
 like a challenge for much later. Also, if an accordion remains, many users
 would appreciate an "Expand All" button, which needn't consume much space.

 A similar issue applies to the download-easy page (#3926). There should be
 no need to have an expanded page with three packages that are identical
 except for platform. Just a single download button with platform and
 language pulldowns. Once you have a vertically short layout like that,
 there's no need for the other visual duplication: the colored warning bar
 on top.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/3590#comment:23>
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