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We'll be upgrading the server running KernelTrap shortly, thanks to the many donations received so far [story]. To date, 21 people have donated a total of $370.90 (after PayPal's fees). My intention is to order the new server this weekend, having it up and running handling live traffic by the end of March. Bandwidth for the new server is being donated by Danube Technologies.
On the new server, I'll be upgrading to the latest release of Drupal, which will most notably add comment moderation and discussion forums to the site. Additionally, there will be numerous performance optimizations taking place behind the scenes to better handle heavy loads.
With this upgrade, I would also like to introduce a new KernelTrap logo and theme. Unfortunately, my artistic skills are limited to stick figures and vague scribbles, my web layout skills not much better. Instead, I'm opening up the new logo and theme design to KernelTrap readers. If interested, read on for full details.
Logo Requirements
I'm looking for a logo to replace the banner at the top - the replacement does not need to be a rectangular banner itself, but it should easily fit into the page header. (The current logo is 73 pixels high and 321 pixels wide.) This image should be no larger than 8k.
Also needed is a smaller square image for stories about KernelTrap (replacing the ugly KT image on this story...) This image should be no larger than 6k.
For bonus points and to tie your theme together, feel free to submit images for the various topic headings: Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Hurd & Tools. These images should be no larger than 6k.
The graphics should be submitted in png or jpeg format.
All submissions must be original artwork.
All logo submissions will be displayed for reader discussion prior to final selection.
Theme Requirements
Drupal themes are written in php. Details on how to write a theme can be found here. Example themes can be found here. (Remember, the theme needs to be compatible with Drupal 4.1)
We need a three column theme, or the equivalent. I'm working on one myself, but as mentioned earlier I'm not a web designer, and it shows. The theme needs to be easily readable, and compatible with all browsers.
I'll be happy to try and help anyone who's talented with web layout, but not versed in PHP. Drop me an email and explain what it is you wish to do, and how I can help...
Deadline:
The deadline for logo and theme submissions is Sunday, March 16th, 2003.
If we find a good logo but not theme, or a good theme but not logo, the deadline may be extended.
Prizes:
The person responsible for the winning logo and default theme will be named in the KernelTrap FAQ, as well as in a story on the front page when they are unleashed. A link can be provided to your site from the FAQ. All rights to the the winning logo and theme will be transferred to KernelTrap.
The winning logo creator will be awarded $35 US, paid either by personal check or via PayPal.
The winning theme writer will be awarded $50 US, paid either by personal check or via PayPal.
(Note, each prize will only be awarded to one person. If multiple logos are chosen, the prize money will be split as I deem appropriate. If no logo is chosen, no logo prize money will be awarded. If multiple themes are chosen, only the designer of the default theme will be awarded the prize money. If no theme is chosen, no theme prize money will be awarded.)
How to submit:
Send your logos and themes to me via email at jeremy@kerneltrap.org. When submitting logos and themes, include the following:
Multiple entries per person are accepted.
Fine Print:
I reserve the right to choose a new logo and/or default theme or to stay with the existing logo and/or default theme at my sole discretion. If no winners are selected, no cash prizes will be given. You must agree to transfer all rights to the chosen images and themes to KernelTrap.
Future proof your logo and get a favicon.
You should also request: SVG versions of your logo, if possible.
You should also mention it would be nice if one of the logos scaled nicely for use as a favicon.ico
Not all of us know how to pro
Not all of us know how to produce SVGs easily. GIMP, on the other hand, is readily accessible. Perhaps once the winning logo is generated, we can find someone who is SVG-saavy to make an SVG rendition?
how to produce SVGs easily
Just have a look at Sodipodi.
An incredible drawing app using svg as file format.
SVG
You have to use a graphic format that is accessable from 99% of the browsers out there. It will be quite a while before people start using SVG extensively on the web.
re: Future proof your logo and get a favicon.
My knowledge of SVG began just now browsing this link.
Something that scales to a favicon would be nice as well, good point.
I'd also be quite interested in getting the image in gimp format, that being the graphics program I use...
re: Future proof your logo and get a favicon
Perhaps you can accept the logo in whatever form first, and then do a favicon thing later. Just like KDE has their own logo and a small "K" for their favicon.
I like it as it is.
I like it as it is.
re: I like it as it is.
The theory is, we only change if someone submits something better... If not, we'll keep it like it is.
Regardless, this theme will remain an option for logged-in users. It will be called "KernelTrap_Classic" or something like that...
Logo?
Logo? Who can see the logo? You mean there are people viewing KernelTrap with non-textmode browsers?
Yes, logo
But of course! There is links -g, you know... :)
a simple solution
A good logo: <h1>kerneltral</h1>
Then you may do some fancy things with CSS.
And I'm serious. :)
Gimme a break
Don't you think it's off-topic inappropriate to use the top of Kerneltrap to voice your political views?
Political views? WTF?
Political views? What are you talking about?
If you're referring to the lack of GIFs, I think that's just a natural tendency to avoid unneeded lawsuits. And encoding a GIF with libungif isn't a great way to make a small GIF.
No
I'm referring to someone pushing their views with the "Say No To The War On Iraq" statement with links that shows up on EVERY page. Not very professional at all. Maybe next week's will be "Abortion is murder" or "God is against gays".
My apologies
Hadn't even noticed that! I looked at the banner at the top of the page and all through this particular article, and didn't see that. Ah well.
Personally, I feel that Jeremy can put whatever the heck he likes at the top of the page (goatse.cx IMG tag anyone?), since this is his website. We don't have to visit it if we find it distasteful. That said, I think a spirit of cooperation works far better for a weblog than a spirit of antagonism.
I have mixed feelings about the "Say No..." header. It's an important issue that affects all of us worldwide. The other "political views" you cite as examples (abortion and gay-bashing) are a bit more narrow and aren't quite so immediately world-destabilizing. Incidentally, I'd expect someone who's against war in Iraq to more likely side with pro-choice and alternative lifestyles, not against.
Right
Yes, they are on opposite ends of the spectrum, those were just examples. I still feel they have no place here, but you're right, it's his site, and he can do whatever he wants with it, people who are offended by it can/will just read their kernel news elsewhere.
re: Right
Having a user account on KernelTrap, you can select a different theme. Only 'kerneltrap' (default) and 'three-column' (the one I use) have the message. Try 'kerneltrap2', 'kerneltrap3' or even plain-Jane 'example' if you prefer.
re: No
You only have to meet me to understand the humor in this comment.
Read the FAQ, and you will learn that this site is only a hobby. I maintain it as it helps me to learn about open source kernels. As I learn, I share. Nothing more, nothing less.
This war is a global issue. It is serious, and it is now. When the threat of war has passed, I intend to remove this message.
re: Gimme a break
I think it's inappropriate for me to continue to ignore what is happening in the world. What my country is doing.
We are not going into this war to defend ourselves.
We are not going into this war to end a dictatorship, to free an oppressed people.
We are not going into this war to fight terrorism.
From the media we receive fear, uncertainty and doubt.
Do some digging into the facts. Look at the last decade of US history in this region. Look at the history of the current presidency. Ask questions. Learn. Listen. Speak out. Discuss these issues with your friends.
There is a growing number of people all around the world speaking out against this approaching war. In time, I hope that everywhere you look, everywhere you listen, you see and hear people speaking out for alternatives to war. Even places like KernelTrap.
And if Bush brings us into this unjust war in spite of these voices, the voices will only get louder.
re: Gimme a break
*shakes head* I'm not going to argue it, it's your site, I'm just a reader.
Thanks for catching that...
Actually I was planning on donating 100 bucks next paycheck, but I don't think I will now. It's funny, because I was going to donate primarily because kerneltrap is relatively unbiased and balanced, at least as far as technical content goes.
Other posters in this thread have pointed out that Jeremy can do whatever he wants with that site. And they're 100% correct. But it does certainly not follow that the message is in good taste.
In my opinion, it's very poor taste to use the front page as a soapbox.
Well it is worth noting that
Well it is worth noting that the message is rather subtly incorporated into the page. It took someone else pointing it out for me to notice. It's not as if there's a flashing, pulsating animated GIF or Flash thingymabob at the top of every page.
My submission
I have some of the logo drafts I was working on here:
http://www.hotnudiegirls.com/~xjjk/kerneltrap/
Does anyone any opinions on what I could do for improvement? The JPEG title logo looks horrible when I get it down to 8K, but I can work on that later.
The idea is it's supposed to be a box propped up with a stick--a 'trap' you seen in a lot of Western cartoons. I was going to try to add a Tux and a Daemon looking into the box but my drawing skills aren't there yet.
like the idea
What about a mouse trap? It might be more easily recognized.
Or a hanging net (the kind you accidentally step in while walking through the jungle and get lifted up in the air) with tux, bsdaemon and a gnu in it?
I'm no artist, otherwise I'd give it a shot :-)