Improve simplicity of options page

[jaswrks]

I propose that the first configuration section of Quick Cache (i.e. where you enable it) should be the only option panel that's in full visibility by default. I think all of the other option panels in QC should either be concealed, or be dimmed out for first-time users.

At present, the message in the first option panel is designed to ease the minds of all site owners that try QC for the first time. However, just having all of those other option panels below it, still feels (to me) like it could be quite daunting for a first-time user.

I'm not sure what would be best, but as QC matures, there are more and more options and possibilities. With each of these new features, comes a need to add a new configuration panel. This is ultimately going to turn QC into W3 Total Cache, and I think that would be a huge mistake. Perhaps what is needed, is a Basic Mode and an Advanced Mode.

[raamdev]

This has been on my mind a while. Thanks for opening the issue and giving me a way to start moving forward with this.

Here's what I had in mind (a really basic mockup, just to give you an idea):

The Advanced Options section could itself be a single panel that opens and closes, thereby simplifying (visually) the options panel. At the very least, have some separation between what's required (enable/disable) and what's optional (everything else) will definitely help with keeping things simple. I also think it would be a good idea to have some messaging that explains how "the defaults work great for most site owners but if you want to tweak the advanced options, you can do that below."

[jaswrks]

Cool, that could work!

[jaswrks]

If at some point we improve the CSS and/or integrate the current design into the WP core interface classes I think that would be fine too. The current interface design was borrowed from the s2Clean theme, but that could always be changed in a future release.

[raamdev]

@jaswsinc writes...

I would also like to suggest that we work on this one in conjunction with #182

[raamdev]

Punting this to the Future Release milestone.

[raamdev]

Referencing #681

[theperfectwill]

@jaswsinc @raamdev

Hi. I have a custom framework I have been contributing to with another dev (a few) for my custom theme (and their themes). This version won't be released until 2017 after the main dev's theme release, but it is end product ready now. So I made a presentation/walkthrough of this framework and some of my ideas for Comet Cache to help move this issue along from 2 years :) and hopefully we can give Comet Cache a brand new look, feel and options!!!

You can watch the screencast at the bottom.

In a final note, not sure if I mentioned it in the screencast, but here are a few highlights.

• SCSS
• Chosen Jquery
• Auto Suggest to come
• Font Awesome
• Multiple Instances for the framework for admin pages, metaboxes, etc.
• Extendable fields
• Custom callbacks
• And more...

Usage:

$my_config_instance_id = get_option('Comet_Cache_options'); // ie: my config array instance id
$my_option = $my_config_instance_id['my_comet_cache_option_id']; // ie: my field id
var_dump($my_option);
echo $my_option;

I'll finish my own custom ui for this for my custom theme, then I will tweak that for I think is ideal (at least to start) for Comet Cache. Again, any ideas I would build or set up is up to you to run with or not run with. I'm just going to do what I think would be ideal for Comet Cache in terms of UX, performance, and features. It's up to guys to code it out, outside of what I can already maybe implement in testing.

Oh, the options are mobile friendly.

And the best thing I think you will find is the modal field which allows you to pass an iframe, video or html content about the field/option in question to the user. This should tremendously cut down on repetitive support question and other questions for new users especially. It's simple passing that content you specify to the Wordpress Thickbox.

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

(I think the audio is a little lower/distoted in the beginning buy picks up shortly after.)

Click The ScreenCast Image!!!

[jaswrks]

@NoahjChampion This looks beautiful. Can I get a copy to play with please?

[theperfectwill]

@jaswsinc These aren't toys!!! You can't just "play" with them :)

Email noahj [at] fearlessmode [] com

[raamdev]

@NoahjChampion That looks awesome! Thanks so much for putting together the screencast too — that was really helpful to get an overview of what's possible. I'll take a closer look at it and 'play' with it too once Jason gets a copy from you. :-)