May 12th, 2006 That Which Needs Work
I’m not a negative person, so don’t let the latest of my writings fool you. Still, I’ve gotta get some of this stuff off my chest and I figure my blog is a good place to do that. You don’t mind do you?
So, as pleased with the redesign as I am, there’s still some portions of the new TCC site that have been left undone, frustrate me, or even make me cringe. Since most of my readership here are web developers, designers, or saavy web-surfers, I thought I’d lift the rug and show the dirty underneath — as a sort of behind-the-scenes, help-me-out-if-you-can, yes-I’m-human-too thing. So, without further ado …
That, of the TCC redesign, which needs work:
- The favicon. Please. Have you ever SEEN a dumber favicon?
- The events calendar. I’ve had it with EasyPHPCalendar. I’m ready for Google Calendar’s API already. (Update: Okay so they’ve got an API, now I just need someone to write an EE module for it.)
- Event registration. I don’t think ANY of the forms validate, and they’re all horribly built. And not only do I not have the time to fix them, I’m having to add to the mess with new registrations going up this weekend!
- IE’s rendering of list items and, more specifically, the footer. Where do I begin with this one? Why, oh why, does IE insist on adding whitespace to list items? Try as I may, I can’t seem to get the sitemap to appear correctly in IE. Then there’s the issue of the sitemap somehow dropping off/out of the footer area. ARGH!
- The members section. I had such high hopes for this section of the site … Where did April go, by the way?
- The events calendar. Yes, again. The list on the homepage of upcoming events is powered by the same system, which sucks even more when in displayed in “list mode”.
- The lack of inline images. I think the site really lacks in the “this is what our church looks and feels like” department. We need a professional photographer on staff, for sure.
- Pastor’s Perspectives blog. I really wish I could’ve made this better than it is. Sure simple is good, but to me it just looks thrown together (uh, probably because it was).
- Print stylesheet. This one needs work mostly because it doesn’t exist. Ahem.
- RSS feed(s). Again with the doesn’t exist stuff. My goal here would be to have one main feed with literally everything on the site — audio archives, news, volunteer opportunities, comments, etc. — listed in reverse-chronological order. I think this may require some sort of not-yet-created module for EE, though. I’d also like to have singular feeds for each database.
- Ministries’ profiles. The ministries page in the about section really needs work. Honestly, each and every ministry of the church could have it’s own website, as they’re all so active, impacting and important.
Notice anything else that needs work?
Sean Sperte is Geek & Mild. His passion for technology and media, along with his interest in 
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Comments
Miron 13 May 1:31am
Everything ends. After some time this site will be completed.
Nate K 15 May 9:43am
I would say opposite of Miron, in that it may never end? This is the web – and with that we have the power to create/remove/update/…
This may mean that things are on a trial basis. Put a members section up and it didn’t work. WHY didn’t it work? Find out from your members what would be useful to them. If the consensus say they wouldn’t use it – should you spend your time on it or worry about it?
This is one of the tough points when you try and mix systems (such as EE and the calendar). Sometimes things don’t play together, or just flat out don’t work. Now, the annoying part would be to move to a new calendar and then script the updates to the new database system (if different).
This site was just launched, and is INCREDIBLE. I have already shared the link with several other friends and they agree that its an excellent design. Simplicity doesn’t hurt – especially if you dont NEED certain things.
Sounds to me like you are in need of 2 things:
1. Programmer
2. Photographer
I know number one would like to be eliminated by using something like EE – but there comes a point (such as with calendars and registration forms) – that you will need the professional understanding of construction, security, and implementation.
Overall – I don’t have negative things to say, as I know myself that each site I build evolves over time – and functionality is added, tested, and possibly implemented. Don’t let this little stuff eat at you – and give yourself a pat on the back for what you have already accomplished, which, to me, is one of the BEST church sites out there right now.
God Bless,
Nate
Sean Sperte 15 May 2:29pm
Boy you said it. I could really use a programmer and photographer right now. Also a copy writer/editor would be nice.
Speaking of, I’ve just posted some job opportunities at the church on the staff page. I’m really curious what kind of responses we’ll get, as we’ve never done this sort of blanket request before. We’ll see!
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