Alternative wording for an old old page (customize/advanced)

[foxfirefey]

Not linking to the comment because I don't want to bring unnecessary attention to somebody without asking their permission, but they talked about hitting https://www.dreamwidth.org/customize/advanced/ and seeing the warning "Unless you're a programmer or web designer, you should probably stay away from this area" and getting too intimidated to go further.

I think we could make alternative wording that doesn't tell people who aren't programmers or web designers to "stay away", one that's more inclusive--and we have more documentation here that can help somebody out.

What do people think?

Comments

[madgastronomer]

This area will be easier for programmers and web developers, but here is some documentation that will help if you want to try."?

[siderea]

"LIVE CODE INSIDE! (lightning bolt warning icon)

This is the place to make manual edits to customize the code that regulates how this journal displays. Mostly this will be of use to web programmers and web designers, and people who are learning these skills."

It's okay if people get a bit intimidated. Hacking on your journal is intimidating! The point of the warning is to warn off those who aren't up for that. It's just that those with healthy trepidation should be welcomed.

[vass]

I think you're right. Also I don't think it needs to be called a "disclaimer" either. How about:

Advanced Customization

Introduction

This area is for advanced customization, and allows you to directly modify the code for your journal's style, or create new styles. Are you looking for the main customization area, which can help you customize your journal's style without modifying the code directly?

Documentation

Here are some useful resources to help you understand Dreamwidth's S2 system before you get started tweaking or programming it:

• Dreamwidth development wiki page on Styles
• S2 Documentation
• Public Layers

Advanced Options

• Your Layers -- create/manage your layers
• Your Styles -- create/manage your styles

[mdlbear]

I like this version

[roadrunnertwice]

This is very close to what I would have said! My only suggestion is to tweak the second sentence:

If you’d rather not do that, you can use the main customization area to adjust your journal’s style with settings and CSS.

The “are you looking for?” construction subtly assumes the reader is lost, so I think it’s a little kinder to just be explicit about which kinds of activities happen where. 👍🏼

[vass]

Good point.

Does the main customisation area let you change the CSS? It's been a long time since I changed my style, and I didn't do that much tweaking then.

[roadrunnertwice]

Yeah! “Custom CSS” tab, I’ve used it to fix all kinds of overflows and bad display of less common elements.

Technically, not every style has to support that; it just ends up being an S2 property, and the layers that implement functions get to decide whether to do anything w/ it (and/or whether to show that tab in the wizard at all). But it’s so common w/ the site styles here on dw that it might as well be standard? Idk, I haven’t done an exhaustive search to try and find one that breaks it.

[foxfirefey]

Custom CSS is a built in property of core2! So, all the Core2 styles would have it, but imported S1 styles might not.

[pauamma]

https://github.com/dreamwidth/dw-free/issues/2408

[foxfirefey]

Thank you!

[birguslatro]

I know nothing of which you speak, but to the good suggestions above, I'd add: "And don't worry - there's an Undo button." Though of course, if there isn't one, perhaps there should be?