New Look and Navigation

by Monica Pawlan

June 25, 2002

You spoke. We took note. The result? The Java site has a new look and navigation. Now, it is easier than ever to get online and on track with the information and technologies you need.

• Your Input to Us
• What Happened to the JDC?
• New Banner, Footer, and Platform Focus
• Simplified java.sun.com Home Page
• Beta Search
• Streamlined Left Navigation
• Conclusion

Before we began and at major checkpoints throughout the project, input was solicited from you and gleaned from the Java sites in the following ways:

• We performed a detailed audit of the existing sites,
• reviewed detailed statistics of site usage (traffic stats),
• engaged you in usability studies, focus groups, and surveys,
• and followed, video recorded, and studied a selection of developers through the course of a typical work day.

We continually fed the data to a cross-functional team responsible for specifying the new design and features outlined in this article.

The former JDC home page has been adapted as a landing page for registration-related Developer Services. Developer services are benefits provided to registrants, and include such things as technical tips by email, authorization to post to site discussion forums, access to prereleased software, the ability to create a bug watch list, and more.

The Java site's updated look features the red, yellow, and blue colors of the new Sun brand, a streamlined left navigation, and buttons to take you from the home page to the J2SE, J2EE, and J2ME platform pages. The platform pages have a clear and clean tab design to make Java platform product information, downloads, and documentation readily accessible.

Note: Be sure to scroll to the bottoms of the pages to find an enhanced footer that features links to company information, help, press releases, employment information, and links to other Sun developer sites.

The java.sun.com home page has a simplified organization to help you quickly learn what is new and continue seamlessly on your way to the information you want.

Many of you told us that enhancing site searching capabilities is very important. You also told us that Google was your favorite search engine. In response, we worked with Google to use their search engine to power Java site searches. Try it out and let us know how you like it by filling in the reader feedback survey below.

The streamlined left navigation focuses on what developers want most: downloads, documentation, Java technology information, developer services, and architectural information (blueprints).

Downloads is a new page that aggregates links to Java technology downloads organized by platform and listed by version number. It includes a link to an A to Z index for developers who prefer an alphabetized organization.

Documentation takes you to a page that aggregates links to product documentation, Java series books online; and related articles, technical tips, quizzes, tutorials, code samples, Question of the Week archive, technical FAQs (a new page) and the New to Java programming center.

• APIs is a new page that lists API docs (javadocs) organized by platform.

• Tutorials is a collection of online tutorials from the Java Series, JDC, and JGuru.

• Code Samples links to an updated and revised code samples index. It categorizes code samples from Sun's developer sites by topic. Not only do you get a link directly to the code sample, but a companion link takes you to information about the code sample.

Technologies (product information) is the former Products & APIs page, and takes you to a page that aggregates links to information on Java technology downloads. The Technologies page is organized by platform, and includes a link to an A to Z index for developers who prefer an alphabetized organization.

• J2SE platform centralizes links to J2SE platform-related information and downloads. It uses a tab organization to make Java platform product information, downloads, and documentation readily accessible.

• J2EE platform centralizes links to J2EE platform-related information and downloads. It uses a tab organization to make Java platform product information, downloads, and documentation readily accessible.

• J2ME platform centralizes links to J2ME platform-related information and downloads. It uses a tab organization to make Java platform product information, downloads, and documentation readily accessible.

• XML technologies links to a page describing Sun's XML technologies: Java Web Services Developer Pack, Java XML Pack, and more.

• Other technologies provides links to information and downloads on Java technologies that are not associated with the J2SE, J2EE, or J2ME platforms. Other technologies currently fall into two categories: tools and networking-related products.

Developer Services (formerly JDC) links to the former JDC home page. It aggregates information on benefits provided to site registrants, that include such things as technical tips by email, the ability to post to site discussion forums, access to prereleased software, and more.

• Bug Database provides an opportunity for developers to contribute to and be involved with Sun's engineers in fixing and improving Java products. A recently added feature, Bug Watch, lets you monitor the bugs you are interested in tracking. When a bug in your watch list is updated, you get an email notification with the bug report URL.

• Forums lets you join ongoing forums on a variety of topics, chat with Java technology] experts, and access community resources.

• Support provides self-help options for finding answers to technical issues.

Java BluePrints help you decide which Java technology is best for solving your particular business problem, and once you choose a technology, recommend the best ways to use its features.

The changes and new features represent phase 1 of a two-phase roll out of site improvements. For now, you will still see the old navigation on some lower level pages, and not all pages throughout the site have the new banner.

We hope you enjoyed the tour.