Debian Web Redesign

My history with Debian

I have a long and fun history with Debian. It wasn’t my first Linux distro, as back in the day I was introduced to Ubuntu which was viewed by it’s users as the “most user friendly Linux distribution”. Back then, you could request a CD with Ubuntu, for free and it would arive in your mail packed beautifully in a protected envelope. It was pretty awesome for a sub middle class young man to have an original, official CD of an operating system. At the time I was still using a preinstalled Windows XP on my machine.

I loved the novelty of it. I was bored of Windows from using it for many years, and this was something new, an entirely different experience. I started installing apps, and learning my ways around this Linux based OS. I remember audio was a problem back then. I tried and failed many times to fix my father’s 5.1 Genius system. Couldn’t do it. Also I couldn’t play any games, which was a serious problem for me. I was a huge Heroes of Might and Magic III fan and Diablo 2 fan (I still am) and I didn’t manage to install them either.

As a result, I decided to focus only on what Linux had in store for me. I just started thinking about design back then, and I remember installing GIMP and Inkscape as free alternatives for Photoshop and Illustrator. They worked, I used Inkscape for many years after. I still think it has the best autotracing function in the business.

As for games I remember the first days of The Battle for Wesnoth. Which was a somewhat a replacement for Heroes of Might and Magic.

Fast forward a couple months later, I learned about Debian from some hacker dudes from a local tech forum who mocked me for using Ubuntu. I tried it out because I wanted to be cool like them. What can I say? It wasn’t as user friendly as Ubuntu back then. It was a more bare bone version of a Linux distro.

I stuck with it and learned to navigate the Linux architecture. Debian taught me to do things myself, to fix problems my way and to be responsible about the software I install on my system. It was amazing to discover that you can mirror everything you do on your Windows if you take your time and you’re curious.

Today

I still use Debian for my homelab, which is a few years old Lenovo gaming laptop. My homelab hosts Nextcloud and other platforms I like to have fun with. It works great, as Debian came a long way in terms of experience and support. I even have VMs on my Mac which I use for development and hacking, one using Debian and the other using Kali, which is also a Linux distro based on Debian. I never contributed to Debian or other open source projects since they are very development focused and I don’t consider my development skills that great.

My Debian Website Redesign

While the Debian website caters to a technical audience, this redesign aims to improve the experience for newcomers. It’s a way of giving back to the project that sparked my Linux journey. This work in progress serves as a springboard for anyone interested in implementing it.

Changes include:

• Landing Page: Restructured information for a clear, top-down reading flow.
• Visuals: Revamped all visual elements for enhanced clarity.
• Navigation: Streamlined navigation through rearrangement and removal of unnecessary elements.
• Visual Language: Applied a consistent visual style that aligns with Debian’s existing branding.

Thoughts

Debian’s commitment to free and open source software truly resonates with me. It’s more than just providing free access; it’s about empowering users and fostering a collaborative development environment. This democratization of software is a beautiful thing, paving the way for a future where innovation thrives and everyone benefits.

I would love for this redesign to be considered and maybe even applied to every Debian web product.

Disclaimer

This project is not associated with the Debian Community. The text and logo used, all belong to Debian and were used for demonstration purposes.