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How does SourceForge's download page work?

Answer 1

+2 A:

This is strictly MHO, but I personally do not find neither SourceForge's, nor CodePlex's download pages particularly elegant. Take a look at Google Code: clicking a hyperlink initiates download immediately, without asking you to accept a license agreement of any kind, select download mirror or view dozens of banners. It just does what it has to do: allow users to download whatever file they're interested in.

Anton Gogolev 2010-02-08 14:06:49

I totally agree, that's how normal direct linking to files works: the best user experience with the least effort. However, many sites are not aiming for the best user experience, they're aiming to show the user an extra page full of adverts.

bobince 2010-02-08 14:17:44

Answer 2

+2 A:

Just change the window location during page load.

Here's an SSCCE, just copy'n'paste'n'run it.

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <title>SO question 2222034</title>
        <script>
            window.onload = function() {
                setTimeout(function() {
                    window.location = 'http://download.java.net/maven/1/jstl/jars/jstl-1.2.jar';
                }, 2000); // It's "cool" to let user wait 2 more seconds :/
            }
        </script>
    </head>
    <body>
        <p>The download of jstl-1.2.jar will start shortly...</p>
    </body>
</html>

Or if you need to use POST, just submit a hidden form:

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <title>SO question 2222034</title>
        <script>
            window.onload = function() {
                setTimeout(function() {
                    document.getElementById('downloadform').submit()
                }, 2000); // It's "cool" to let user wait 2 more seconds :/
            }
        </script>
    </head>
    <body>
        <p>The download of jstl-1.2.jar will start shortly...</p>
        <form id="downloadform" action="http://download.java.net/maven/1/jstl/jars/jstl-1.2.jar"&gt;&lt;/form&gt;
    </body>
</html>

BalusC 2010-02-08 14:56:09

Nice, thanks.I missed the point that window.location = <url> does not alter the current page in the window if <url> does not point to a resource renderable by the browser.I'm sure decent (that's subjective of course) libraries like jQuery or Dojo offer to display some progress-like dialog while waiting for the resource. I wouldn't load a static resource that's already available on the server but invoke a Servlet which needs to create a PDF first. That mike take a few seconds. So, I don't have the 2s delay/timeout but a "natural" delay on the server. The user should be notified about this.

Marcel 2010-02-08 16:01:42

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How does SourceForge's download page work?

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