[xwt-users] XWT through the looking glass

In an effort to present a more professional front for XWT, I'd like to
see some updates in the way that the website is handled.

Some of the changes I'd like to see:

 o  Automatic generation of the news

    It would be ideal if we could somehow generate the news from the
    announce mailing list.  Given the regularity of news - at best a
    message every 2 weeks - this will hardly be a problem for people's
    mailboxes.

    An alternative might be to reverse the situation; to have updates
    to the news page be reflected by an email to the announce list.

    Regular updates really help a project.  There are hundreds, if not
    thousands, who keep an eye on places like Freshmeat and activity
    breeds activity.  We do ourselves no favours by being publicly
    effectively silent for long periods at a time.

 o  Reduction of text on the front page

    There is far too much.  I know how it can be condensed well and
    will shortly (this week?) be committing an alternative version so
    you can see if you agree.

    News should be reduced basically to headlines.

    XWT aspect descriptions should be reduced to bullet points and be
    as concise as is possible whilst retaining meaning.

    eg: "XWT applications are specified using a dialect of XML,
    combined with ECMAscript (JavaScript), so existing HTML/JavaScript
    developers can be productive immediately. No special tools are
    required."

    should be: "XWT is easier than HTML"

 o  To fix or not to fix the width of the page

    I offer some paraphrased rumblings, "A web page should not fix the
    width of it's content because those with larger screens would use
    larger fonts, and those inbetween can resize their browser should
    they experience difficulty."

    The source was unavailable for comment, because I can't remember
    where I heard it.  However, I do agree. :)

 o  Which layout do you prefer:
        http://www.xwt.org
     or http://www.xwt.org/test
     or http://website-beta.mozilla.org

    Can anybody offer up any other good examples of standards compliant
    layout that doesn't use nested tables?

 o  Logos

    Not much to say here because nobody has seen anything much yet.

    I'm putting together 3 logos - 1 Adam's idea (an X where the ends
    'scythe' around in a circle) and 2 mine (the stickman-like one
    which bore a resemblence to somebody elses logo, and another is
    a little difficult to explain in a sentence) which should give us
    a good choice.

    Any other logo suggestions or submissions are welcome.  Remember
    that a logo must be simple enough that it is memorable and can be
    easily reduced to b/w.

 o  Tutorials

    I've been hard at work on some docs that are aimed at complete
    newbies and build up to introducing most of the basic concepts of
    XWT programming.

    They are aimed at Nitrogen and will probably (depending on some
    answers I get from Adam wrt to CVS) will be available through CVS
    in their native XML format.  Since I intend to make a bit of money
    through these, they'll be for personal reading only!  However,
    once the exclusivity clause runs out (probably 30 days) with
    whomever I publish them, they'll be available under a free license
    of some form.

    Again, comments on these (when you look at them) would be much
    appreciated as I hope they become the de facto introductions for
    learning XWT.

 o  Niwi - Nitrogen Widgets

    A few holdups in Nitrogen have really hampered Niwi progress.  This
    such because Nitrogen is useless to most XWT hopefuls without a
    widget set.  Still, progress is being made although it's a case of
    'watch this space'.

    Adam and Brian have made brilliant progress on Nitrogen and it's a
    far more powerful platform than Lithium.  It's been a long wait, but
    it's been worth waiting for.

Hmm I kinda went off at a tangent there.

Just a heads up to let y'all know progress is being made on several fronts.

Comments welcome!

- Charlie