dlang.org "Getting Started" page

[Jonathan Marler via Digitalmars-d]

On Saturday, 31 January 2015 at 19:35:45 UTC, Zach the Mystic 
wrote:
> On Saturday, 31 January 2015 at 19:22:06 UTC, Jonathan Marler 
> wrote:
>> On Saturday, 31 January 2015 at 19:03:55 UTC, Zach the Mystic 
>> wrote:
>>> I'm looking for feedback for:
>>>
>>> https://github.com/D-Programming-Language/dlang.org/pull/878
>>> https://issues.dlang.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14088
>>>
>>> Investigation shows that the D Wiki is the best landing place 
>>> for newcomers, so they are directed there first. I think the 
>>> current page leaves newcomers a little bit stranded.
>>
>>
>> Seems like a good idea to me.  One thought, when I'm looking 
>> at a new language and I see a "Getting Started", I would 
>> expect to see links for tutorials such as how to install and 
>> tutorials on writing Hello World...  I would put those links 
>> first.
>
> In principle, I agree, but the front page of the Wiki has such 
> links already, plus a whole lot more. It won't take the new 
> user long to find what they're looking for there.
>
> I thought "Getting Started" was a good title, but maybe I 
> should change it to "Introduction".

Personally, when I get started with a new language the first 
things I want are:

1. Examples (Hello World, File IO, some examples that demonstrate 
what makes the language unique).

2. I want to see an introduction to the language, what makes the 
language unique, what are the goals of the language, things like 
that.

3. I want to see language references, where can I go to reference 
how to do something in the language.

4. I want to see build/install/small program tutorials.


I think these 4 things should require 1 click to get to.  The 
user should be able to click on one link ("Getting Started") is a 
good name, and then be able to see direct links to all these 
topics.  Redirecting to a wiki is not horrible but I think the 
optimal design is to have one landing page that a user can go 
back to in order to get started and find everything they need.  
In our case, I think links to the wiki and forums would be good 
as well, but the most important things should be obvious and easy 
to get to.  Splitting these topics up among the wiki and the 
dlang website makes it harder to get around, not horrible, but 
not optimal.