From: Daniel Carrera <dcarrera@...>
Date: 2003-01-28T07:41:30+09:00
Subject: proposed RAA update plan.

Hello,

I'd like to propose a very simple improvement plan for RAA.  I am 
confident that everyone would agree to the first 3 at least.

It is ordered in the suggested sequence, puttig what I think is easiest 
first (steps 1 and 3 are from Mark's email):

1) Move the search to the top of the page.

2) Turn the "What's new" section into a right tab, as depiced in the 
   mock-up

3) Combine redundant subcategories:

 In Application:

    devel, Devel, Development, development => Development   
    MIdi, midi          => MIDI
    util, Util, Utility => Utility

 In Library:

    devel, Development         => Development
    graphics, Graphics         => Graphics
    Regex, Regular Expressions => Regular Expressions


4)  Purchase the 'rubyarchive.org' domain and assign the 
    libs, apps, docs, and info subdomains as I suggested in
    my previous email.

    www.rubyarchive.org can be a "splash" site linking to
    the other subdomains, as Dwayne suggested.


5)  In the mid-level listings  -- for example:

http://www.ruby-lang.org/raa/cat.rhtml?category_major=Library

    Remove the last column and use the space for having two columns
    of links.  Like so:

    AI         6 projects   |  Hardware   4 projects
    Algorithm  3 projects   |  HTML      14 projects
    Array      1 project    |  I18N      10 projects
    ...                     |  ...


6)  In the lowest-level listings  -- for example:

http://www.ruby-lang.org/raa/cat.rhtml?category_major=Library;category_minor=Algorithm

  1.- Delete the version number, date and file name (e.g. diff.rb).
      Those are available at the individual project sections like:
      http://www.ruby-lang.org/raa/list.rhtml?name=diff

  2.- Replace the state (alpha/beta/stable) by icons
      (bronze coin/silver coin/ruby) respectively.

  3.- Perhaps use the new-found space for more complete descriptions.


-- 
Daniel Carrera
Graduate Teaching Assistant.  Math Dept.
University of Maryland.  (301) 405-5137