Liven-up the 404 page

SonarQube Server / Community Build Product Manager for a Day
1

A 404 is mostly unintentional :wink:
Thanks for the correct url!
I have a feature request = I am sure there are many very creative minds at Sonarsource, but your 404
page is very conservative aka b o r i n g.
So, let them off the leash to create a fancy 404 page to sweeten a 404 with a smile :slight_smile:

There used to be a site like “404 gallery” doesn’t find it anymore, but here another url for inspiration

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3

Hi,

I’ve split this post off to a different topic since it’s 
 a different topic. :joy:

And to not confuse the original discussion.

 
Ann

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6

Hi @anon67236913

Thank you for raising your concern about the 404 page.
Could you tell me more about it? Why is it important for you to have a fancy 404 page?
Thanks,

Alexander

7

Hi Alexander,

a 404 indicates a ressource, that doesn’t exist or can’t be found.
It is not necessarily an error in your application, it can also be a copy paste error or a wrong link on another page.

There are different styles of 404 pages, i.e bare bone only showing an error message and provide a link to the homepage = think of Google 404 https://google.com/foo or use it as a landing page providing useful links to your users - there may even be a possibility to report a wrong link.

Even Google itself tends to the landing page approach

If you have access to your server’s configuration files, you can make these error pages useful to users by customizing them. A good custom 404 page helps people find the information they’re looking for, and also provides other helpful content that encourages people to explore your site further. Here are some tips for designing a useful custom 404 page:

  • Tell visitors clearly that the page they’re looking for can’t be found. Use language that is friendly and inviting.
  • Make sure your 404 page has the same look and feel (including navigation) as the rest of your site.
  • Consider adding links to your most popular articles or posts, as well as a link to your site’s home page.
  • Think about providing a way for users to report a broken link.

Your current 404 page has neither a link to your homepage nor is it branded.
And last but not least, information does not exclude fun, the page can also be funny :slight_smile:

Gilbert

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8

Thank you for this insightful explanation.
Correct me if I’m wrong but it highlights 3 problems here:

  • Users can’t reach the documentation homepage

  • The page is not branded Sonar so it can be misleading

  • The page is not very funny whereas it could be a nice opportunity to lighten the mood

We take your request into consideration.
Thanks again for that.

Alexander

9

Hi,

I think you’ve missed something here @alexander.rage:

A 404 page is a nice opportunity to lighten the mood.

 
:smiley:
Ann

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10

You are totally right @ganncamp !
I add this to my previous post :slight_smile:
Thanks

Alexander

12

Yes

in addition to point 1. As i wrote, there are several possibilities for errors

so it’s important to guide the user in the right direction.
a 404 page should have helpful links, i.e. your homepage / the documentation / community forum 
 etc.

in addition to point 2
a 404 page should match the look and feel of your site, remember it’s a landing page !

in addition to point 3
Ann is totally right. That’s what i meant by “the page can also be funny”
Right now the page is purely technical, pale and dull. A little more drive/swing won’t hurt.

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13

Thank you for this @anon67236913.
Just to let you know that we take into consideration your feedback and we added the topic to our backlog.

Alexander

1 Like