Notice to all users,

WSD will go through it’s update cycle sometime Wed. While the site shouldn’t be offline. There might be issues with various aspects of the site, and its content, during the update. This a major update that focuses mainly on speed, content layout, usability, and general fixes. There will be some noticeable changes all around the site. However, I will not be changing much at the interface level. Mainly just adding features, and cleaning up the appearance a little.

Inside the update

1. Usability updates - Some browser and accessibility fixes.

Notes: These are mostly fixes that passed through the cracks on the first run. None of these are major fixes. There will also be some category additions. There is a possibility that I will have OpenID implemented as part of the update. It is last on my list of changes, but the update is almost ready. If I can work it in I will, otherwise I’ll implement it as a separate item later.

2. Speed Updates - Code cleanup, lessen image dependencies, and clean up some of the existing sites CSS.

Notes: I will be weeding out several of the images used in the standard theme. As my tutorials become more and more in depth, page loading on these pages become an issue for people with slower connections. I had mentioned this previously when I designed the existing theme, however the impact is greater then I realized at the time. There will also be some CSS updates to the site in order to lean it out.

3. Interface Updates - Tutorial column addition, site notices section, revised page and post templates, and overall interface cleanups. Form styles to better match the sites theme.

Notes: Since I have several hundred readers browsing through the tutorials every day, I will be adding a column specifically for listing my tutorials. I had originally had plans to use the third column for notices, however it will be removed, and replaced, with the menu column. Notices will be placed in the tutorial block at the head of the page in the future. The news column will be slightly narrower. The individual post and page templates now allow for wider content. Post pages also get a revised comment form that’s a little cleaner, and match the sites design better. The site’s overall color scheme gets lightened slightly to make it easier to read on some displays, and the feel is cleaner overall.

As usual, if you find any issues, let me know so that I can get them worked out. This is not a redraft of my current layout, but simply a cleaning of the existing sites code. Issues should be at a minimum despite the changes. Thanks. BK