Show HN: I made a modern web UI for Wikipedia (modernwiki.app)

Article summary

A redesigned user interface for Wikipedia, called Modern, has been created as a free browser extension. The extension offers a modern design with customizable themes, fonts, and styles, as well as features like powerful search and trending articles. The extension is available for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and only works on desktop or laptop computers. It builds upon the existing Wikipedia interface, supporting all current features and allowing users to switch back to the old design if needed.

Main themes

• Wikipedia redesign
• UI design trends
• Readability and accessibility
• Desktop vs mobile design
• Typographic design principles
• Standardization of CSS media types

What commenters say

• The name 'Modern' may be overly aggressive towards other design trends and could be misleading.
• Some users prefer a more minimalistic and dense design, similar to the default MediaWiki theme, for better readability and information density.
• Others argue that ample whitespace and padding are necessary for readability and aesthetics, citing typographic design principles.
• The trend of designing desktop UIs with excessive whitespace, similar to mobile designs, is seen as a negative development, potentially driven by the desire to increase scrolling and ad views.
• Reader mode is a useful feature, but its effectiveness can be limited by heuristics-based implementation and lack of standardization.
• The importance of standardizing CSS media types, such as '@media reader', is highlighted to improve readability and accessibility.
• Some users express a desire for a more timeless and less 'flat' design, with features like window borders and minimal JavaScript usage.
• The influence of mobile-first design on desktop applications and operating systems is seen as a factor contributing to the prevalence of excessive whitespace and minimalistic designs.