msrd.io

The web site for the Microsoft Regional Directors, a global community of independent Microsoft ambasadors.

Prototype Branch

Latest deploy of the Prototype branch: http://msrdstatic1.azurewebsites.net/

This is the working branch for the first full release of the RD web site. It includes these features:

• an interactive map of the RDs
• a full, searchable list of RDs
• news articles
• logo details

May 30, 2013

We have stopped working on the Master branch. All work is continuing on the Static branch for now. Two reasons:

1. Updates to Master get deployed immediately to www.msrd.io

2. Static gets 'compiled' into a release folder, which will eventually get deployed to Azure. But we haven't figured that out yet.

Technical details about the RD site

• HTML5 and CSS3, naturally
• Hosted on Azure as part of their preview "web site"
• Node.js and Express for minimal routing and layout engine
• Content marked up as Jade (HTML), Stylus (CSS) and Markdown (text)
• No client-side Javascript (yet)
• Git for source control; change sets pushed to Azure via git push
• Source will be on github

Getting Started

• npm install
• npm install -g bower <-- Installs the Bower client side package manager
• bower install <-- Brings in local copies of needed dependencies (ex: jquery)
• grunt <-- Builds/Compiles/MagicStuff and launches browser to test site

Stretch goals for the site

• Clean typography
• Semantic markup
• Grid-based layouts
• Mobile-first adaptive design
• Design ∩ Engineering
• EMs over Pixels
• Engineered HTTP for speed
• And source control as CMS (Markdown and Github)