Biorust v4 Design Progression

**Man1c M0g** · 08-17-2005

The backend technical work for Biorust v4 is now complete, so its time to get working on the new design itself. To help organize myself and let you all know what's going on, here's a progressive list that I'll tick off as I proceed:

Design a new interface in Photoshop, complete with backgrounds, menus, and with an eye on future CSS requirements. - COMPLETE
Post the completed design to the Biorust forums and obtain much needed feedback. If the design is not well received, then I need to go back to step 1. - COMPLETE
If people like the design, make minor corrections as necessary and then slice up the design into an active interface, coding the stylesheets as needed. - COMPLETE
Check the interface for compatability in various browsers. FYI the new design will *NOT* be CSS2-based because many browsers still do not have proper CSS standards compliance! - COMPLETE
Code the new sidebar context menu (mainly for use by the new tutorials interface). - COMPLETE
Code the semi-dynamic menu to adapt to functional and structural changes to the site. - COMPLETE
Take the site offline for a few hours and fully implement the new Biorust design. - COMPLETE
Develop the coding around the new site-wide search function. - COMPLETE
Code the resolution-sensitive code for automatic design expansion at higher resolution. - IMPOSSIBLE
Upgrade the forums to Vbulletin v3.5, which has pretty extensive changes to its underlying navigation structure. If possible, obtain v3.5 versions of existing hacks/add-ons, and install them. - COMPLETE
Implement the new design on the forums. - COMPLETE
Review the general forum categories. - COMPLETE
Review the gallery categories - see if they need clarifying, changing, etc. - COMPLETE
Announce the new design far and wide... and then sit down with a nice cup of tea and pat myself on the back... - COMPLETE

Order · 08-17-2005

15. Drink enough tea, then get busy on V. 5

Hurrah for

v.4!

**Man1c M0g** · 08-18-2005

I now have a preview of my initial design work over at http://forums.biorust.com/photopost/...hoto=767&cat=5 . All feedback will be greatly appreciated!!!

**Bub** · 08-19-2005

Looking pretty good so far! Keep it up

Order · 08-19-2005

how well does this stretch, fluid designs are awsome.

**Man1c M0g** · 08-19-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Order

how well does this stretch, fluid designs are awsome.

It can stretch as much as needed. Although I think I'll restrict the max preset resolution to 1024x768 or 1280x1024 so that the content does not get overly stretched out. Some of the tutorials, for example, would look rather daft if stretched out too much!

Order · 08-19-2005

Yea, I suppose.. but fluidity rules.

Get it implemented.. then get these forums revamped and working in that design!

thecubed · 08-19-2005

Ooohh! New site design looks really cool!
My only comment would be the font on the name "biorust", it needs (in my opinion) a different font, like the one you use now

good thing with the screen resolution thingy, because I run my monitor at 1600x1200, and some websites don't account for the fact that a 100% wide table will stretch unbreaked text to it's thinnest.

good job, M0g!

v4! wooo!

**Man1c M0g** · 08-21-2005

OK, the new design was received really well, so I've cut up the design, CSS encoded it, and verified it on all browsers I could lay my paws on. My initial goal of restricting the imagenumber to 20 or less has not come to pass, alas, due to ever-dodgy CSS implementation in Firefox (GRRRR!), but its still a very low number. Hell, the new design's image directory is nearly 2.5x smaller than the old one. That's gonna be hellishly hard to beat come Biorust v5!

Implementation of the new design starts in ernest tomorrow. Prepare for HELLISH amounts of site-wide disruption!!!!!!

Order · 08-21-2005

WooHoo, bring it on m0g!

**Man1c M0g** · 08-21-2005

OK, Biorust v4 is now online and I'm scanning it with a fine tooth comb for bugs. None have been found so far that didn't take more than a few moments to fix, but if you see something awry, please report it here and i'll correct it pronto...

**Man1c M0g** · 08-23-2005

Biorust now features a nice little search function. It makes extensive use of Google, I'll admit, but it works like a charm.

**Man1c M0g** · 08-24-2005

Well, I've taken a good look at resolution-sensitive design, and I'm afraid that its quite impossible at this stage in the development of Biorust. Since PHP is a server-side scripting technology, we'd have to make use of Javascripting and multiple page reloads... NOT an ideal solution for a high capacity webby like Biorust.

I may revive this idea in time when I have a proper membership system in place around Biorust allowing such things as unique browsing profiles linked into membership... but that is some time away yet...

thecubed · 08-24-2005

i'm not sure exactly what you mean, but --
you could have 2 templates for Biorust - one for resolutions of 800x600, and 1024x768, and another template for resolutions like 1280x1024 and above. PHP can (i believe) check the user's screen resolution. all you would have to do to implement this is use a index.php file that checks the user's resolution, then redirects you to the proper template of biorust.

but then again, i could have completely misunderstood your post

**Man1c M0g** · 08-24-2005

Running two sets of templates would be very confusing and besides... PHP cannot detect screen resolution at all since it is a server-side technology. Javascript may work, but it would be a half-baked solution. It's probably best just to wait and do it properly with a proper membership options system sometime in the future.