This is the most important point I'd like to make on design: please,
let's not become one more programming site with one of those generic
designs that are mainly based around convenience. Scheme programming is
fun exploration, so our site should be too.
Together the web browser medium, window managers and academia have explored
various possibly all ways to represent information. I can think of the following niches:
- vertical scrolling with 1 or more columns, this is the main and most obvious
- slides based, most of the time is a paginated vertical scrolling, but some time
it includes both vertical and horizontal scrolling, this is mainly used as speaker decks
- horizontal scrolling, that is things like
paperwm
- windows based like regular window managers possibly tiled
- spreadsheets and other tabular or pseudo tabular ways to represent things
like tree grid widgets etc... we might extend it to things like music and video
media centers.
- graph, tree representation: things like mind mapping software
- zooming based interface: that is a ui pratice where the user can zoom
in the ui like on a geographical map
While I think about it, you might be interested by this paper about personal
(also if you have time look at this other white paper that is less on-topic
> I put a great deal of thought into the design http://scheme-lang.com/.
>
> Here is the rationale:
>
> *I wanted a serif-font* because most if not all schemes are related to
> academia,
> I think that rejecting the roots of Scheme is bad karma. It is very bold
> to pick a serif font for a web view.
I like this kind of thinking. And serif fonts are basically fine now
that screens have better resolution and contrast.
No opinion of the bad karma thing, but I like that you think in stories
and metaphors. That should be a good foundation.
> *For the background and visual artifacts*, I wanted something in the spirit
> of https://www.scheme.com/tspl4/ that is computer / algorithm generated
> visuals something like fractals.
I also love computer-generated art, especially with recursion. Not sure
yet how to fit it in with Scheme.
I like the background image on scheme-lang.com because it reminds me of
space, and space exploration is really inspiring. But I don't think it's
an ideal fit for Scheme since space and Scheme don't have much in common.
Yes, space and Scheme don't much in common but it should be an ideal
we should be aiming for. (LISP was featured in movie about Mars).
> I settled a colourful strong abstract dark background, but not a video.
> A black background
> because every website around the web (but not caniuse.com) use white, white-ish
> background. I thought that being original would help convey the idea
> that Scheme requires attention.
We think the same way. I like it :) I would also strongly prefer to go
against the flow.
Yes, but that can fire back, even if dark modes are spreading, most if not all
companies websites still rely on light colors. Also, we can not fight multiple
battles at the same time.
Having both a unusual user experience + dark colours + scheme language
It might be just too much to ingest for the reader and potential user.
> The colourful abstract and strong part, was mainly
> to balance
> with the lack of visual in the actual page. Without a video, it gives a
> sense of *dynamism*.
This is great, I would also like to give a sense of dynamism. I'd
approach it from another point of view - I'll start another thread about
metaphors to explain it.
> The background is actually an image from space I picked from
> https://unsplash.com/
>
> Here is another design I made for another (scheme) software, that is missing
> the dynamic nature and also sound much more serious and too much
> pretentious: https://hyperdev.fr/link-grammar-website/
I like everything about that design - the colors, the font choices, the
layout, the background.
I don't think it's right for Scheme (see thread about metaphors) but it
looks great.
> *Colours: *I like flat ui colors <https://flatuicolors.com/>
I like many different kinds of color schemes so long as it doesn't look
institutional (corporate or academic) :)
Yes you are correct. Still getting together a colour scheme is difficult task.
If academic vibes are desired, I'd rather go for a "cozy bookshop/cafe"
feel. That's a pleasant and informal version of it.
I would gladly see a mockup or example design executing this idea.
The principle is that a site should make people feel at home - that it's
an environment that people enjoy being in, not just a utility. Utility
sites can work, but they are not memorable and enjoyable. Scheme is a
labor of love for us so we should let it show in the design as well.
That should fuel our own motivation too.
> My favourite scheme implementation website is by far the website of
> gerbil <https://cons.io/> even if it contradicts all the above points.
Exactly! Design is about being original and inviting first. It doesn't
matter if it's a little clumsy. Rules can and should be broken when it
makes sense.
> I am not saying, schemedoc api browser should use my style, I just want
> get started the conversation about the cosmetics aspects, the visuals and possibly
> ui/ux elements that we want to have in the application.
Thanks for adding fuel to the fire :) We have a similar way to think
about design. Much to my surprise - I expected to be the weirdo on this
list. This is a lot of fun.