[PHP-DEV] Confusing Windows Users 101...the download page is UNUSABLE.
I've been writing software for Windows in Visual Studio since forever and also know user-land PHP like the back of my hand and, even after a few Google searches, I'm still scratching my head over which PHP Windows binary download I want to use. If *I* can't figure out which version is appropriate, neither can the average web developer. Fixing the Windows binary download page so that it is USABLE by the average user should be priority #1. If I want to download PHP, I usually go here: http://www.php.net/downloads.php Which in turn, because I want Windows binaries, now takes me here: http://windows.php.net/download/ Here are the specific issues with the Windows binary download page: * The Which version do I choose? box is confusing, out of date, doesn't actually address all the real questions users will have, and most users will just give up before getting to that box. Even if they do get to the box, the end result will be an even more confused/confounded user. The box should, at the very least, explain in clear English the difference between the Non-Thread Safe and Thread Safe builds. Also, assume that most users won't even know what Visual Studio even is. Hold the user's hand here and you'll have less cruft on the mailing lists later. * The ordering of the downloads seems backwards. But until you get the Which version do I choose? box fixed, I won't be able to determine this. * The Select an option to direct access... dropdown is completely useless. * The previous page says Windows binaries and installers. In that context, the user mentally asks: Why is there source code on the next page? And why is source code listed first if I'm after binaries? And, last, but HARDLY least. Listed last because this item requires rethinking and redesigning the entire Windows binary download page: * The two column layout is confusing and not really necessary. If users are not going to know what they need (which they won't) and you are going to maintain a complex set of binaries (which it appears there will be for some time), consider making a wizard instead. First step: Choose a version of PHP. This step is pretty self-explanatory but affords explaining which version the user should choose and why. Second step: Choose a build type. In this step, explain the differences between the builds and then *RECOMMEND A BUILD TYPE!* Third step: Download. In this step, include the links to the appropriate VC++ runtimes and Apache in addition to the correct downloads for the previously selected version and build type. This approach also affords adding a What do I do next? section to be on the download page to get the user started on the right path if they've never used the PHP binaries or PHP before. Maybe also inject a short blurb somewhere on the download page discussing ZIP vs. Installer vs. Debug Pack. -- Thomas Hruska CubicleSoft President Barebones CMS is a high-performance, open source content management system for web developers operating in a team environment. An open source CubicleSoft initiative. Your choice of a MIT or LGPL license. http://barebonescms.com/ -- PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP-DEV] Confusing Windows Users 101...the download page is UNUSABLE.
hi, On Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 6:14 PM, Thomas Hruska thru...@cubiclesoft.com wrote: Fixing the Windows binary download page so that it is USABLE by the average user should be priority #1. Here are the specific issues with the Windows binary download page: * The Which version do I choose? box is confusing, out of date, doesn't actually address all the real questions users will have, and most users will just give up before getting to that box. Even if they do get to the box, the end result will be an even more confused/confounded user. The box should, at the very least, explain in clear English the difference between the Non-Thread Safe and Thread Safe builds. Also, assume that most users won't even know what Visual Studio even is. Hold the user's hand here and you'll have less cruft on the mailing lists later. Right VC6 could be removed. However I kept it so that users still downloading older PHP 5.2 or 5.3 still needs this notice, it has been proven to be useful. * The ordering of the downloads seems backwards. But until you get the Which version do I choose? box fixed, I won't be able to determine this. * The Select an option to direct access... dropdown is completely useless. Right, now that we have only two kind of binaries, NTS (fastcgi) or TS (apache SAPIs and co). But in a few months, that wil change again with the re introduciton of the x64 binaries. * The previous page says Windows binaries and installers. In that context, the user mentally asks: Why is there source code on the next page? And why is source code listed first if I'm after binaries? The box, clearly visible, contains the binary. We can indeed move the src link down the box. And, last, but HARDLY least. Listed last because this item requires rethinking and redesigning the entire Windows binary download page: Feel free to provide a patch for a wizard. btw, I, for one, am not BLIND. Thanks. Cheers, -- Pierre @pierrejoye | http://blog.thepimp.net | http://www.libgd.org -- PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP-DEV] Confusing Windows Users 101...the download page is UNUSABLE.
Hi! btw, I, for one, am not BLIND. Thanks. Coincidentally, just read this: http://thingist.com/t/item/4372/ I think makes a useful reading. -- Stanislav Malyshev, Software Architect SugarCRM: http://www.sugarcrm.com/ (408)454-6900 ext. 227 -- PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
