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Comment on Ask HN: Launched my free app, now what?parent

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The page doesn't work very well without Javascript. In my opinion/experience it's better to create a page in a fully usable form without javascript first. Then write a nicer/flashier/*er interface in non-intrusive javascript ( i.e. not inline javscript on elements but in a seperate .js file )

Don't forget to include a friendly reminder "This page has features that require javascript" for the paranoid freakjobs who have javascript off ).

I see that you're pulling in: Prototype - from GoogleAPIs, YUI - from YahooAPIs, Tab.js - from Uservoice ( Who I've never heard of )

As a Tinfoil hat wearing NoScript user that's alot for me click allow on and seems very messy.

Surely all the functionality you use/need/want could be provided by Prototype OR YUI ( or my favourites Mootools or jQuery )

On the design front. Please, please, please get rid of those Image Headings that look like they're from cooltext.com in favour of a Text Header and a Text Link. The Black Border around the whole site probably isn't winning you any friends and the text layout needs some fixing.

For the section about installing the bookmarklet I would: Put a heading on it like "Get Started Now!". Change the tense of "Help me" to "Need help installing?". use a border/background-color/different font to separate it better, although a heading could do this. Align the top of it with the top of something else.

Nice point about the page not working without Javascript - making it friendlier to those with it turned off.

UserVoice is a customer service site. I'm seeing it used more often and I really like the features. The JS for UserVoice on this page is for the Feedback tab on the right.

I use YUI for layout, buttons and tab controls. I don't think Prototype would help here - however perhaps YUI may have features that could cover the Prototype I use.

Ha! The logo was from cooltext.com Perhaps I need a disclaimer on the page saying that this page was designed by a programming hacker with no sense of style :)

You don't like the black border? That was one of the pieces I actually thought looked nice :(

I definitely got the hint though about the page being ugly. I agree. Please try the bookmarklet though. Of the 5 or so months of part-time effort, 99.9% went into the back-end and .1% on the front page. Yeah - guess I need a homepage facelift ...

Why so much time on the back-end? Catalyst had a big learning curve for me, and I was trying to design a flexible platform.

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