[pmwiki-users] It's time to change pmwiki default skin!

[Carlos AB]

On 9/20/11, Petko Yotov <5ko at 5ko.fr> wrote:
> On Wednesday 21 September 2011 00:40:16, Carlos AB wrote :
>> Or perhaps  just simply a link from <Menu> to the sidebar page.
>
> Or to a larger page like a site map.

 That too.

>> The idea of not having a sidebar displayed togheter with the current
>> page, can look simple, attractive, functional and add the possibility
>> to use the same skin for more devices, using css media queries as you
>> said.
>
> I think wikis with many groups and pages, with teams of writers may really
> need a sidebar navigation. Even, in some cases, a 3 column skin with 2
> sidebars may be needed, with a top "breadcrumbs" navigation and a bottom
> "trail". :-)
>
> A simplistic skin will suit well smaller sites with a very limited number of
> pages, maintained by a single author.
>
> The default skin with a sidebar is neither too much, nor not enough. It is
> easy to understand (Group sidebar or Site sidebar), it has links to the
> documentation and a link "Edit Sidebar". This principle is not too bad for a
> default installation, and for the pmwiki.org website -- one can use PmWiki
> for
> tiny and for huge sites.
>
> Again, the skin could adapt for a small screen to a simpler layout.
>
>> The template would be very, very simple and easy to customize, all the
>> complexity - that wouldn't be much - would be hidden in the css
>
> If the default (or pmwiki.org) skin is too minimalistic, a visitor who needs
> a
> larger community or intranet wiki, may not immediately notice that PmWiki
> can
> do large portals -- and visitors don't stay long on any page (10-30 sec):
>
>   http://www.useit.com/alertbox/page-abandonment-time.html (latest Alertbox)
>
> If the default skin is too complex, a person who just needs a small personal
> wiki may also "zap" to elsewhere.
>
> So, when I wrote that the homepage should be well balanced, it should show
> enough of the potential of PmWiki for a visit of 20 seconds.
>
>> There are good examples out there, such as some of the sites Petko made,
>> see: http://notamment.fr/
>
> The PmWiki-driven sites listed there are really small sites with only few
> dozens of pages and 1-2 editors. While they are examples of what PmWiki
> does,
> they don't even use 1/10 of all PmWiki *can* do.
>
> Petko

Good points.

CarlosAB