Dr. Bogdan Prelipcean

Dr. Bogdan Prelipcean

PhD in Computer Science | Manager, Core Threat Protection & Intelligence at Bitdefender | Teaching Assistant at UAIC

🌟 Academic Website Modernization Summary

🌟 Academic Website Modernization Summary

βœ… What Was Updated

🎨 Theme & Framework

  • Updated to Minimal Mistakes 4.24+: Latest version with modern features
  • Modern β€œAir” Theme Skin: Clean, contemporary base theme
  • Custom Modern CSS: Complete visual overhaul with modern design principles
  • Contemporary Typography: Inter font family for professional appearance
  • Modern Color Palette: Blue-based theme with sophisticated color scheme
  • Enhanced UI Components: Modern buttons, cards, and interactive elements
  • Remote Theme Configuration: Uses GitHub’s remote theme feature for easy updates
  • Modern Jekyll Plugins: Added SEO, search, archives, and other enhancements
  • Responsive Design: Mobile-first, modern UI/UX

πŸ”§ Technical Improvements

  • Enhanced Search: Full-content search with Lunr.js
  • SEO Optimization: Meta tags, structured data, better indexing
  • Performance: Compressed HTML, optimized assets, lazy loading
  • Modern JavaScript: Interactive features, smooth animations, progressive loading
  • Analytics Ready: Google Analytics, Tag Manager support
  • Social Sharing: Built-in social media integration
  • Progressive Web App Ready: Service worker foundation, modern meta tags
  • Accessibility Enhanced: Focus management, screen reader support

πŸ“š Teaching Section Enhancements

  • Rich Course Pages: Detailed course information with metadata
  • Document Management: Organized syllabus, materials, assignments
  • Student Resources: Help page, study guides, support information
  • Visual Organization: Current vs. past courses, better navigation
  • Professional Layout: Clean, accessible design for students

πŸ› οΈ Content Management Tools

  • Automated Templates: Ruby script for creating new content
  • Clear Documentation: Step-by-step guides for all updates
  • Best Practices: SEO, accessibility, mobile optimization
  • Quick Reference: Cheat sheets for common tasks

πŸ“ New File Structure

Your Website/
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ“‹ SETUP_INSTRUCTIONS.md      # Complete setup guide
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸš€ QUICK_UPDATE_GUIDE.md      # Fast update reference
β”œβ”€β”€ 🎨 MODERN_THEME_GUIDE.md      # Modern theme documentation
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ“ new_content.rb             # Content creation script
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ”§ _config.yml                # Enhanced configuration
β”œβ”€β”€ 🎨 assets/css/main.scss       # Modern CSS styles
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ–₯️ assets/js/modern-enhancements.js  # Interactive features
β”œβ”€β”€ 🎨 _includes/
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ archive-single-teaching.html  # Custom teaching layout
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ head/custom.html           # Modern meta tags
β”‚   └── footer/custom.html         # Enhanced JavaScript
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ“– _pages/
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ about.md                   # Modern homepage
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ publications.md            # Grid layout publications
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ teaching.html              # Enhanced teaching page
β”‚   └── teaching-help.md           # Student support page
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸŽ“ _teaching/                  # Course content
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ 2024-spring-java.md        # Updated Java course
β”‚   └── 2023-fall-cybersecurity.md # Sample cybersecurity course
β”œβ”€β”€ 🐳 Docker support files        # Dockerfile, docker-compose.yml
β”œβ”€β”€ πŸ“œ serve.sh                   # Automated local development script
└── πŸ“Š Enhanced collections for research, publications, talks

🎯 Key Features Added

For You (As Instructor)

  1. Modern Professional Design: Contemporary visual identity that stands out
  2. Easy Content Updates: Templates and scripts for quick additions
  3. Enhanced User Experience: Smooth animations, interactive elements
  4. SEO Optimized: Better visibility in search engines
  5. Mobile Excellence: Perfect experience on all devices
  6. Document Organization: Structured approach to course materials
  7. Performance Optimized: Fast loading, smooth interactions

For Your Students

  1. Better Navigation: Intuitive menu and course organization
  2. Resource Access: Easy links to syllabi, materials, assignments
  3. Support Information: Clear help and contact information
  4. Search Functionality: Find content quickly across the site
  5. Accessibility: Screen reader friendly, keyboard navigation

For Academic Community

  1. Publication Showcase: Enhanced publication listings
  2. Research Visibility: Dedicated research project pages
  3. Speaking Engagement: Professional talks and presentations section
  4. Professional Networking: Social media integration, contact info

πŸš€ Quick Start Commands

# Initial setup
bundle install
bundle exec jekyll serve

# Create new content
ruby new_content.rb publication "Your Paper Title"
ruby new_content.rb teaching "Course Name"
ruby new_content.rb talk "Presentation Title"

# Publish updates
git add .
git commit -m "Your update description"
git push origin master

πŸ“‹ Next Steps

Immediate (First Week)

  1. Update Personal Information: Edit _config.yml with your details
  2. Add Profile Photo: Replace images/profile.jpg
  3. Update About Page: Edit _pages/about.md
  4. Test Locally: Run bundle exec jekyll serve

Short Term (First Month)

  1. Add Current Publications: Use publication templates
  2. Update Teaching Content: Add current courses
  3. Upload Documents: Add PDFs to files/ folder
  4. Customize Colors: Modify theme skin if desired

Ongoing Maintenance

  1. Monthly Content Updates: New publications, talks, courses
  2. Semester Course Updates: Archive old, add new courses
  3. Regular Backups: Keep local copies of important content
  4. Performance Monitoring: Check site speed and accessibility

πŸ”— Important Links

  • Your Live Site: https://bprelipcean.github.io
  • GitHub Repository: https://github.com/bprelipcean/bprelipcean.github.io
  • Jekyll Documentation: https://jekyllrb.com/docs/
  • Minimal Mistakes Guide: https://mmistakes.github.io/minimal-mistakes/

πŸ†˜ Getting Help

  1. Quick Issues: Check SETUP_INSTRUCTIONS.md
  2. Content Updates: Use QUICK_UPDATE_GUIDE.md
  3. Technical Problems: Jekyll/GitHub Pages documentation
  4. Custom Needs: Contact web developer or Jekyll community

πŸŽ‰ Benefits of Your Modernized Site

Professional Impact

  • Enhanced Credibility: Modern, professional appearance
  • Better Discoverability: SEO optimized for academic searches
  • Improved Engagement: Students and colleagues find information easily
  • Time Savings: Automated templates and clear processes

Technical Advantages

  • Future-Proof: Latest technologies and best practices
  • Maintainable: Clear documentation and simple update process
  • Scalable: Easy to add new content types and features
  • Reliable: Built on proven Jekyll/GitHub Pages platform

🎊 Congratulations! Your academic website is now modernized with the latest technologies and best practices. You have a professional platform that will serve you well for teaching, research, and academic networking.

Questions? Contact: bprelipcean_at_info.uaic.ro