treehouse/content/design/sidebars.tree

%% title = "maybe don't use sidebars on your website"

% id = "01HR9ZTS6PHTK6VRBF7S0M6MZ7"
- imagine if this page had a distracting bunch of text to the right of regular content. or even worse, advertisements.

    % id = "01HR9ZTS6P67VGVY6S460Q49HV"
    - fortunately I'm not cruel enough to do that (_and_ also I'm lazy _and_ also I'm at work at the moment so I haven't got time to do something wicked like that.)

    % id = "01HR9ZTS6P7AB97D6T177XMNKW"
    - these are sidebars in a nutshell. distracting, annoying, detracting from what you actually have to say.

        % id = "01HR9ZTS6PF06M7FD73VY9SN8R"
        - > enjoying this article? why not check out these 10 other articles while you're at it, even though you barely even read 30% of this one!

% id = "01HR9ZTS6PQ751GYMKN25YA4EC"
- try to arrange your content in reading order instead. don't distract one's eyes, guide them to the place you want them to be.

    % id = "01HR9ZTS6PGX3KEDJ7E8M794DE"
    - instead of displaying recommended or related articles in a sidebar, try to display them in a non-distracting way at the bottom of the page.

        % classes.branch_children = "branch-quote"
          id = "01HR9ZTS6PRPS2BJN8V1EPHTWA"
        - seriously, there's no need for anything more complicated than this:

            % id = "01HR9ZTS6PF3JRPQE4TS5DM09B"
            - If my blog piqued your interest, feel free to also check out these articles:

                % id = "01HR9ZTS6P1JJ2103E4QHATH3G"
                - [_on digital textures_][page:design/digital-textures], where I explore synaesthetic feelings in user interfaces

                % id = "01HR9ZTS6P73HSTZK6CP1RWQWG"
                - _[...so on and so forth.]_

        % id = "01HR9ZTS6PBFR78Y54HGGKXMF6"
        - note how I haven't even used pictures! I care about what you have to say, not what pretty pictures you managed to snap on your last field trip.

        % id = "01HR9ZTS6PHPAZSQ4YMH7XWBA9"
        + I personally don't even do that; the treehouse is unique enough in its structure is that it's a never-ending fractal of text, and you can keep on clicking and expanding parts you'd like to read.
        that isn't gonna work on conventional blogs though.

            % id = "01HR9ZTS6PKYGVTFF0F78XVXH2"
            - (I'm not saying this structure is any better than a conventional blog though.
            it has its own set of challenges you need to take into account while writing, like _when to split_, and _when to nest_.
            arguably, I still haven't learned how to write the treehouse well, but I think I'm getting better at it; compare [about (version 1)][page:about/v1] to this page and you'll see what I mean.)

% id = "01HR9ZTS6P484GD6Y9QR4TEGWD"
- I'm glad most individuals' blogs are foregoing sidebars, but unfortunately I still regularly see them on various news sites and older blogs

    % id = "01HR9ZTS6PCAWGEJNYXETFVDFT"
    - if you're designing a modern blog, consider structuring your page _vertically_ rather than _horizontally_.
    limit distractions you show on the sides of the screen.
    they _really_ are quite annoying when you're just trying to focus on the body.

        % id = "01HR9ZTS6PKZVXQE0VFVTNNQ6F"
        - not to mention mobile devices, which do not have the horizontal real estate to fit your sidebars!
        for those you have to arrange your website vertically anyways, so what's the point?

% id = "01HR9ZTS6P0H48X9990BRXFRS4"
- to summarize: don't use sidebars. arrange sites vertically. limit distractions.