Making the download page user-friendly

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Regarding the page at:

http://advocacy.postgresql.org/download/

I think it should list the version in the link, offer a link
to the mirrors, display the size of the file, and also have
links to the md5 files.

We could even generate links to the mirror sites ourselves,
since a redirect to the main page would not bounce them
automagically to the download URL.

Perhaps something like this:

"You can download the entire PostgreSQL project, or
only the pieces you need. This server is based in
Canada, please see the [list of mirrors below] for a
server that may be closer to you.

[small link to a help page with "which should I download?"]

The entire project:
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Complete] Size: 10.8 Megs
[Checksum for the above]

Just the core project, without the docs, test, or opt (reword):
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Base] Size: 1.8 Megs
[Checksum for the above]

The documentation:
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Documentation] Size: 1.3 Megs
[Checksum for the above]

[etc. for opt and test, with good explanation for each of them]

*PostgreSQL Mirror Sites*

Small explanation here of what a mirror is and how to choose the
best one.

How to do the mirrors?

Alternative 1:

Canada:
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Complete] Size: 10.8 Megs [Checksum]
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Base] Size: 3.8 Megs [Checksum]
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Docs] Size: 1.3 Megs [Checksum]
..

Mexico:
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Complete] Size: 10.8 Megs [Checksum]
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Base] Size: 3.8 Megs [Checksum]
[PostgreSQL 7.3 Docs] Size: 1.3 Megs [Checksum]

Pros: Everything on one page
Cons: Everything on one page :)


Alternative 2: they could use a pulldown menu to pick their
country/mirror, and a script would return a page with the
proper download links set for them.
Pros: smallest page size, clean.
Cons: requires CGI, extra clicks


Alternative 3: Like above, but use a simple hyperlinked list
of countries/mirrors that goes to a page with the proper
download links.
Pros: Easy to view, no CGI (although could be used)
Cons: Page slightly large


Alternative 4: Same as alternative 3, but the links go to
the bottom of the page via anchors, to the same list as
alternative 1. I think this one may be the best.


Alternative 5: We use the host they are coming from to figure
out what the best mirror is for them, and display that
as the primary one at the top of the page. This one is more
of an upgrade to the first 4. :)

Thoughts?

Greg Sabino Mullane  greg@turnstep.com
PGP Key: 0x14964AC8 200211301720

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