The redesign of JQuery DOT COM site recently gained a huge amount of comments; unfortunately most of them were not positive. Developers who have come along with the library feel unhappy with new slogan “Be a Javascript Rockstar” that, said, makes them look unprofessional.

Response to a post on Ajaxian, shypht commented:

Hate to say it, but image is everything. If I was trying to sell my manager on using jQuery, Prototype, Mootools or Dojo, and sent them to those sites, I think based on look alone jQuery would be at a disadvantage. “Write less, do more” is a great slogan, “Be a Javascript Rockstar”, not so much.

Strikes me as being an amateur, and more focused on flashy effects than functionality. I love jQuery, it’s helped me loads on my most recent project, but that header just makes me cringe a bit on the inside when I see it.

While Glen Lipka described his feeling in more colorful words on his blog post:

Truthfully, I feel alienated by it.  It doesn’t resonate with me.  It makes me feel old and lame.  My hair is not long and flowing. The rockstar isn’t me.  jQuery is me.  It’s different.

Obviously John Resig & team did listen to the community and decided to kill the “JavaScript RockStar” on JQuery site.

Apart from the new glossy UI, the best of JQuey site’s new design is to organize documentation for the library itself separately from hundreds of plugins and extentions. The new search functionality allows user to fine tune query to specific documents or keywords.

Well, however, please keep in mind that nobody want to be a JavaScript rocktar!

Recommended Reading

jQuery in Action, Second Edition

A really good web development framework anticipates your needs. jQuery does more-it practically reads your mind. Developers fall in love with this ... Read More >

jQuery Pocket Reference

"As someone who uses jQuery on a regular basis, it was surprising to discover how much of the library I’m not using. This book is indispensable f... Read More >

Head First jQuery

Want to add more interactivity and polish to your websites? Discover how jQuery can help you build complex scripting functionality in just a few li... Read More >