[libreoffice-website] [Bug 59574] New: Enhancements for the LibreOffice Download Page

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=59574

          Priority: medium
            Bug ID: 59574
                CC: website@global.libreoffice.org
          Assignee: libreoffice-bugs@lists.freedesktop.org
           Summary: Enhancements for the LibreOffice Download Page
          Severity: normal
    Classification: Unclassified
                OS: All
          Reporter: harald-koester@htp-tel.de
          Hardware: Other
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
           Version: unspecified
         Component: WWW
           Product: LibreOffice

Created attachment 73257
  --> https://bugs.freedesktop.org/attachment.cgi?id=73257&action=edit
Mock-up for LibreOffic download website

There are 4 attached mock-ups in order to get an impression of the proposed
enhancements in this report.

-------------------

[A] Some months ago a user complaints about the LibreOffice download page
(https://www.libreoffice.org/download/) on the German discuss mailing list. He
wrongly downloaded the BitTorrent download file (… .msi.torrent) and not the
standard file (.. .msi) for the Windows installation. So the installation
failed. 

The reason for this problem is an unclear display of the green download button.
I would expect that I can click somewhere on this button and the download
starts. But I have to click on “Main installer”. A user normally does not
expect that there are three links (Main installer, Torrent, Info) inside the
download button.

Furthermore the link “Info” inside the download button is misleading. I would
expect more informations about LibreOffice or how to install LibreOffice. But
what do I get? A list of hashes and mirror servers in English and not in my own
language. To my opinion a normal user does not understand these lists and can't
do anything with it.

Proposal in order to avoid the mentioned problems (see also attached file
“Mockup DL 1.odg”): 

[1] Additional buttons for BitTorrent download. Name buttons with “Standard
Download” and “BitTorrent Download”.
[2] Clicking somewhere on the buttons starts the download.
[3] Insert a link “More download informations” or “Download Hints” or similar
to the download page (not in the download buttons!). On the page linked to, it
should be first described (in different languages on different pages) how
hashes and mirrors can be used. The links to the hash and mirror list should be
inserted on the linked page.

--------------------

[B] Some other discussion points and proposals according the download page (see
also “Mockup DL 1.odg”):

[1] To my opinion this page is directed primarily towards users and not towards
developers. So the downloads of the SDK and the source code should be moved to
the developers site (https://www.libreoffice.org/developers-2/). I'm sure a
developer who seriously wants to participate will find them. The links under
“Handy resources” then can be moved to the free place.

[2] Rename heading “Packages” to “Other Download Packages”. For a user this
makes more clear, that the downloads below are alternatives and are not needed
additionally. 

[3] Insert a link to the extensions and templates site
(http://extensions.libreoffice.org) with a short explanation on the download
page.

[4] Insert a link to the “Get Help” page
(https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help).

[5] Provide a link to the installation instruction
(https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/installation).

[6] In order to do not clutter up the download site to much, the donation hint
could be removed. Possibly it is better to display a donation dialogue at the
end of the LibreOffice installation. With such a proceeding you can also reach
people who get their LibreOffice from other sources than the download page.
(Hint is not removed from mock-ups yet.)

---------------------

[C] Another design possibility: The BitTorrent download buttons can be placed
below the heading “Other Download Packages” (see attached file “Mockup DL
2.dwg”)

----------------------

[D] In the past there have been some discussions in order to improve the
download site according different versions of LibreOffice. Especially if a
version is still in the early adopter phase users complained about problems.
See: 
(https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Design/Whiteboards/Download_Page)
(https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/File:LibOReleaseLifecycle.png)
(German site: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/DE/LODownload)

It seemed to me, that this is also the reason, that some localisation teams
still offer 2 LibreOffice versions on their download page (e.g. see Arabic,
French, Italian, Russian or Turkish download sites)

In “Mockup DL 3.dwg” I attached a design proposal in order to solve this
problem. In this proposal the download buttons for the recommended version are
big and the colour is green (indicates “Good Choice.”) whereas the buttons for
the early adopter version is small and the colour is yellow (indicates “Be
careful!”). 

Both, size and colour, support the intention to guide a user straight to the
right version for her/him:
(1) A user who is unaware the release scheme and not interested in other
versions will usually take the direct way to the recommended version. 
(2) A user who is unaware the release scheme but is interested in new versions
or new features is guided to the release note link of the early adopter version
and after reading she/he can decide.
(3) And a user who is aware the scheme is able to download the early adopter
version at once.

“Mockup DL 4.dwg” is a variation of “Mockup DL 3.dwg”. In “Mockup DL 4” besides
the recommended LibreOffice version two additional versions, a long term
support (LTS) version and a release candidate, are offered. Just an impression
how it may look like if you like to offer 3 different versions.

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