Re: [Wikimedia-l] Let's discuss first features of Desktop Improvements coming to Vector

Hi Vira, Ala'a, and Galder,

Thanks for your feedback - we’re really glad you’re enjoying the changes we’ve made so far. I wanted to point out that this is not all! The deployed changes are a part of a larger series of improvements that we will be rolling out progressively over the next 1+ years. To see a list of the other features we are planning on working on, please check out our project page[1]. In addition, we believe that even after the project is complete, there will still be work to do. We’d like to view this project as a new baseline on which we can build new functionality that can improve both reading and editing in the future.

Thanks again!

- Olga

[1] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Reading/Web/Desktop_Improvements/Features

On Sun, Aug 23, 2020 at 8:06 PM Galder Gonzalez Larrañaga < galder158@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for bringing this topic! At euwiki it has been some weeks we have experienced the new vector style, and it has some great things: you can be sure about how width images will take for any reader, you can create better galleries or even decide where to insert an image to avoid sandwiching.

BUT...

I think that the changes (even when finishing) will be too short on what we need (a real face change!) but it will annoy in the same amount to those who don't want any change at all. So, we are losing an opportunity to go on with big changes.

Best

Galder

*From:* Wikimedia-l wikimedia-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org on behalf of Ala'a Najjar ala201041@hotmail.com *Sent:* Saturday, August 22, 2020 10:06 PM *To:* Wikimedia Mailing List wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org *Cc:* ovasileva@wikimedia.org ovasileva@wikimedia.org *Subject:* Re: [Wikimedia-l] Let's discuss first features of Desktop Improvements coming to Vector

Thanks for bring our attention to this Desktop Improvements. I opened section about this on Arabic Wikipedia village pump https://w.wiki/a9S, so users can try it, and maybe there feedback can help Readers Web team.

Best, Alaa https://w.wiki/JNQ

-----Original Message----- From: Wikimedia-l wikimedia-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org On Behalf Of Vira Motorko Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2020 1:01 PM To: Wikimedia Mailing List‏ wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [Wikimedia-l] Let's discuss first features of Desktop Improvements coming to Vector

Hi all,

I don't see any messages about the Desktop Improvements to wikimedia-l, so I've decided to forward one from wikitech-l.

If I understand correctly, Desktop Improvements are changes to the desktop version of the Vector skin, which are to be built throughout the next year, features being added one by one. Several wikis already enjoy them by default, and users of other wikis can find a respective tick in their preferences to make new Vector visible.

Current features are said to not be permanent anyway but wouldn't it be good for more people to see them while they are still work in progress?

See email text and links below. *--* *Vira Motorko // Віра Моторко* mobile: +380667740499 | facebook: vira.motorko < https://www.facebook.com/vira.motorko%3E | wikipedia: Ата < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:%D0%90%D1%82%D0%B0%3E

---------- Forwarded message --------- Від: Olga Vasileva ovasileva@wikimedia.org Date: ср, 5 серп. 2020 о 15:33 Subject: [Wikitech-l] First desktop improvements features now available on early adopter wikis

---

Hi all,

We’re happy to announce that the first two of many changes focused on improving the desktop experience of the Vector skin [1] have been released as a user preference to all projects and as default on a set of early adopter wikis: Basque, Farsi, French, and Hebrew Wikipedias, French Wiktionary, and Portuguese Wikiversity.

Since its introduction in 2009, the Vector skin has changed little, while the needs of our readers and editors have shifted significantly, as have their expectations for a quality reading experience that focuses on the content itself. Over the next year, the readers web team [2] will be researching and building out improvements to the desktop experience based on research and existing tools built by our communities.

Our goal is to create a more welcoming reading and editing experience - something that feels familiar yet makes it easier and quicker to read, edit, and perform common functionality.

Our first change, a collapsible sidebar, allows users to collapse the lengthy menu on the left side of the page. We believe this change improves usability by allowing people to focus on the content itself - on reading, editing, or moderating.

Our second change introduces a maximum line width to our content on pages such as article pages and discussion pages. Studies have shown that limiting the width can lead to better retention of content, as well as a decrease in eye strain

You can opt into these features by unchecking “legacy vector” from the appearance tab of your user preferences.

We’d also like to note that these are the first of a series of changes and, as such, their visual characteristics are not permanent. Also - there might be bugs. If you notice an issue or would like to learn more about the project itself - please head to our project page [3].

Thank you!

Olga

[1] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Skin:Vector [2] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Readers/Web/Team [3] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Reading/Web/Desktop_Improvements -- *Olga Vasileva* // Senior Product Manager // Web https://wikimediafoundation.org/

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