Post-Flash Site Update
From Homestar Runner Wiki
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| - | + | [[File:NewIndexPage.png|thumb|The [[index page]] as of December 31, 2020]] | |
| - | + | On December 31st, 2020, [[homestarrunner.com]] underwent a '''massive overhaul''' to make it accessible following the death of [[Flash]]. The redesigned site uses a combination of {{wp|HTML5}}, {{wp|JavaScript}}, and embedded [[wikipedia:Ruffle (software)|Ruffle]] players to imitate the look and feel of the old site while retaining most of its functionality and making it usable on mobile devices. The update also came with some reorganization and other quality-of-life improvements. | |
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| - | {{ | + | == History == |
| + | [[File:FlashisDead.png|thumb|"Haven't you heard? Flash is dying!"]] | ||
| + | In 2015, [[The Brothers Chaps]] made the toon [[Flash is Dead!]] to acknowledge the news that [[Adobe Flash Player]] was becoming obsolete. Though vague mention was made of learning HTML5, there were at that point no concrete plans for what to do with homestarrunner.com, which consisted almost entirely of Flash content. As mobile devices could not run Flash and major browsers were already beginning to drop Flash Player support, there became more of a focus on [[YouTube]] content. In a [[Lost in the Stacks Interview - 15 Dec 2017|2017 episode of Lost in the Stacks]], Mike and Matt discussed Flash's 2020 end-of-life date and what they might do to update their website. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:IndexPageRedesign.png|thumb|left|"The website is finally being brought into the year... well, about 2007 from the looks of it."]] | ||
| + | In 2018, subscribers to [[The Deleteheads Download]] were given a sneak peek at a redesigned home page at [http://new.homestarrunner.com new.homestarrunner.com], featuring a mobile-friendly layout and an embedded YouTube player. However, it was given little attention and few to no updates after its unveiling. When a Twitter user asked in 2020 if the prototype had been abandoned, [[Strong Bad]] replied, {{prs|1344841875308601345|31|Dec|2020|alt="I didn't think anyone ever bandoned it in the first place!"}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:underconstruction.jpg|thumb|"www.homestarrunner.com is way under construction!"]] | ||
| + | In 2019, Strong Bad started [[@StrongBadActual|Tweeting]] about [https://ruffle.rs Ruffle], an in-development Flash Player emulator that promised to preserve Flash content after 2020. When asked toward the end of 2020 about the future of homestarrunner.com, he {{prs|1341153345973719041|21|Dec|2020|alt=responded that it was being worked on}}. [[Stinkoman 20X6]] became the first page to use the HTML5 navbar upon the [[Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough Level 10|level 10]] update. On December 31, the index page was replaced with a message stating that the website was [[under construction]]. Soon after, the entire site was updated. | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Changes == | ||
| + | [[File:StrongBadEmailMenu2021.png|thumb|The HTML5 Strong Bad Email menu]] | ||
| + | *The index page, [[TV Time Toons Menu|toons menu]], [[Strong Bad Email menu]], and [[navbar]] were given HTML5 makeovers. The cartoon menus now have expandable descriptions and links to watch on the official site or (if available) on YouTube. | ||
| + | *Flash content is playable in embedded Ruffle players. Ruffle does not yet support all features of {{wp|ActionScript}}, so some toons and games do not work properly. Some such pages include warnings at the bottom of the screen. | ||
| + | *Pages have been reorganized. Toons are now under the subpage <code>/toons/</code> and have more intuitive addresses (e.g. <code>toons/[[Lookin at a Thing in a Bag|lookin-at-a-thing-in-a-bag]]</code> instead of <code>whatsinthebag.html</code>). | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == External Links == | ||
| + | *[[hr:|visit the current homestarrunner.com]] | ||
| + | *[[hr:post-flash-update|read about the post-Flash update on homestarrunner.com]] | ||
[[Category:Technology]] | [[Category:Technology]] | ||
Revision as of 22:08, 14 January 2021
On December 31st, 2020, homestarrunner.com underwent a massive overhaul to make it accessible following the death of Flash. The redesigned site uses a combination of HTML5, JavaScript, and embedded Ruffle players to imitate the look and feel of the old site while retaining most of its functionality and making it usable on mobile devices. The update also came with some reorganization and other quality-of-life improvements.
History
In 2015, The Brothers Chaps made the toon Flash is Dead! to acknowledge the news that Adobe Flash Player was becoming obsolete. Though vague mention was made of learning HTML5, there were at that point no concrete plans for what to do with homestarrunner.com, which consisted almost entirely of Flash content. As mobile devices could not run Flash and major browsers were already beginning to drop Flash Player support, there became more of a focus on YouTube content. In a 2017 episode of Lost in the Stacks, Mike and Matt discussed Flash's 2020 end-of-life date and what they might do to update their website.
In 2018, subscribers to The Deleteheads Download were given a sneak peek at a redesigned home page at new.homestarrunner.com, featuring a mobile-friendly layout and an embedded YouTube player. However, it was given little attention and few to no updates after its unveiling. When a Twitter user asked in 2020 if the prototype had been abandoned, Strong Bad replied, "I didn't think anyone ever bandoned it in the first place!"
In 2019, Strong Bad started Tweeting about Ruffle, an in-development Flash Player emulator that promised to preserve Flash content after 2020. When asked toward the end of 2020 about the future of homestarrunner.com, he responded that it was being worked on. Stinkoman 20X6 became the first page to use the HTML5 navbar upon the level 10 update. On December 31, the index page was replaced with a message stating that the website was under construction. Soon after, the entire site was updated.
Changes
- The index page, toons menu, Strong Bad Email menu, and navbar were given HTML5 makeovers. The cartoon menus now have expandable descriptions and links to watch on the official site or (if available) on YouTube.
- Flash content is playable in embedded Ruffle players. Ruffle does not yet support all features of ActionScript, so some toons and games do not work properly. Some such pages include warnings at the bottom of the screen.
- Pages have been reorganized. Toons are now under the subpage
/toons/and have more intuitive addresses (e.g.toons/lookin-at-a-thing-in-a-baginstead ofwhatsinthebag.html).
