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Update Look and Feel of Generated Maven Sites

Discussion: https://github.com/support-and-care/maven-support-and-care/discussions/176

Original Item: "Update Look and Feel of generated Maven sites (Hendrik)"

Problem Statement

The output of the Maven Site Plugin is not very appealing. It should be updated to look more modern.

Current State / Starting Point

The Maven Site Plugin currently generates sites using the default skin and basic CSS styling. The resulting pages are functional but look dated, with a simple layout and limited responsiveness or branding.

Expected Outcomes / Benefits

We need to update the Maven Site Plugin to look more modern. Here a well-known CSS framework can be used.

Discussion Summary

This proposal received strong pushback against "modern" redesigns that prioritize aesthetics over usability. The suggested approach is to create a new skin rather than modifying the site plugin itself. There was support for dark mode, with a preference for respecting browser/OS theme preferences via plain HTML and prefers-color-scheme CSS rather than adding heavy frameworks.

Final Discussion (2026-02-24)

  • Discussion:
  • Consider switching to a well-known CSS framework
  • Ensure good accessibility
  • Ensure usability is not compromised
  • Document the new skin
  • Decision: Request Funding