[Released] Minimalism (was: Proteus)

[bloc]

Theme has been added to themesite awaiting approval, but you can also check it out here:

http://www.blocweb.net/index.php?action=bwgallery;design=141

From Blocweb:

"Minimalism" is a FREE theme experiment where the starting point was to remove as many of the extra information contained in the default templates, as possible. The result is a theme which is simpler and cleaner and allowed me to try new layouts for the most used templates. The theme is a work in progress, and so far has 2 alternative variations which you can select from "current theme settings".

Note that the theme does NOT display much of the normal info, and that while it has support for some mods it still will need edits for other mods. Note also that it uses custom db code for some of the avatar - fetching functions.

Special care have been taken to use the theme with portals - it has a setting which moves the content of the sidebar, to the middle. Ideal for portals using their own panels.

Supported Mods are:
Aeva Media
Related topics
Tagging system
Users Online Today

[Allusion]

Too much functionality would be impossible to mimic or rather be confusing to operate

Indeed, and it can be confusing as it is even. The Facebook UI isn't the best example of usability and accessibility. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/12/business/facebook-privacy.html

Here's a concept redesign I found: http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Facebook-Facelift-Home-Profiles-_amp-Publisher/314489 Perhaps you can get some extra inspiration from it.

All in all, your theme looks promising. The buddies functionality is one of the most underused in SMF, it's nice to see themes and/or mods that make good use of it.

[Nao 尚]

Very nice, Bloc. And not only because you used an interesting mod in your screenshot

BTW, yesterday someone pointed out a similar FB Wall design in a mod that was released this year. Did you see it by any chance? (I can go find the URL if you're unaware of it.)

I'll be PMing you about something related.

[bloc]

Allusion,
Yes, I agree, the buddies option is a nice feature but not explored much. And thanks for the link to the Facebook concept there, interesting way to show FB not the least because of its target at wide-screen users. Even widely spaced items works due to the use of containers and "stripes". Bookmarked lol.

Nao,
yes Aeva was pretty much the first mod I thought about when starting this, as gallery features is so instantly tied to social networking sites like FB. Maybe even attachments in posts could be used in this concept here..but they are not included in recent posts feature for example, so harder to actually include. And besides, I think people are more inclined to separate the two: photos go in a gallery, files go in attachments.

FB wall design? As a theme or mod?

[bloc]

Ah, I assume you mean the "SMF social network" mod. I looked at it earlier, but two things keep me from using that actively: its a stripped lite/pro version affair, I rather make use of full free mods as this theme will also be free(same argument goes for SMF Gallery mod really). And two, here its made as a separate portion of the site to *just* show the activity. My approach is more to take existing SMF features and just tweak them to be more social networking-like, and still be usable as a forum foremost. Not just be a direct FB clone. I think its less interesting for users to see if a buddy changed his avatar, than seeing boardindex AND what buddies have posted at the same time - for example.

[~DS~]

Well the paid mod was worth it.
Here's what it look like.

[bloc]

No doubt worth it, but still just a clone of FB. I assume the messages in the screnshot are not from the forum, but from a separate messaging system?

[~DS~]

No doubt worth it, but still just a clone of FB. I assume the messages in the screnshot are not from the forum, but from a separate messaging system?

It's on the forum yes. 

[bloc]

Finished preliminary drafts of display/messageindex pages, next up is the profile and PM ones. But first, more on Display -  polls and attachments needs some drafts too.

[~DS~]

Finished preliminary drafts of display/messageindex pages, next up is the profile and PM ones. But first, more on Display -  polls and attachments needs some drafts too.

No BBcodes?

[Allusion]

Nice, but shouldn't the theme be using Lucida Grande? Or don't you want to go that far?

[bloc]

Why Lucinda Grande..?

BBCodes..hm, I'll see how it fits. The posting box(which will appear under each post if you press quote) is just a quickreply, which doesn't have that normally.

[dannbass]

I think it looks awesome, you should leave it without the BBCodes, the more minimal, the better!!

[~DS~]

I think it looks awesome, you should leave it without the BBCodes, the more minimal, the better!!

Unless there's a + and - expand and collapse to hide BBcode.
I am sure that will work.

[Allusion]

Why Lucinda Grande..?

It's the font Facebook uses.

[bloc]

Ah I see..but its already different from FB, so I'll use just verdana/arial for now. Its just CSS for that, so easy to change should you want it.

I had a change of heart and modified some stuff. New drafts displayed underneath. I think the style is coming around now, being more coherent than when I started.

[Deaks]

Bloc, firstly nice idea, secondly, I think the box to the left that fades on your messageindex, needs more work a dif color etc, it just breaks the look. thirdly, I think the whole color scheme needs work, while i know you are going for simple look, it just doesnt feel right for the look. (if you understand)

[Ken.]

Great concept Bloc.
It will be nice to see the end result. 

[bloc]

Thanks, Ken. it will be fun coding it after working out the drafts. Half the work just to make these.

Runic, I think I see where you are going regarding colors..but a little unsure. The orange and blues/bluegreen don't match perhaps?

The fading background on the left will most likely change, maybe that will work better as a solid background. We'll have to see when its live.

Also, I haven't taking into account more mods other than Aeva on "front"(boardindex), but its important to get a certain style out that can be added to more templates.

[Deaks]

its hard to explain but for me the colors just dont fit the design, maybe it is what you are saying so letrs go with that for now