The Importance of Accessing the Actual Page Source

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 130 views

Introduction

As users of Read the Docs (RTD), we often find ourselves navigating through the documentation, trying to understand the intricacies of the code. One of the essential features that we rely on is the "View page source" button. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that this button is not as helpful as we would expect. In this article, we will delve into the current state of the "View page source" button and explore how we can improve it to provide a more seamless experience for users.

The Current State of the "View Page Source" Button

When we click on the "View page source" button, we are taken to a view of the literal text of the page. This is not what we would expect from a "View page source" button. Instead, we would expect it to take us to the actual page source, which is the underlying code that generates the page. This is particularly important for developers who want to understand how the page is generated and make changes to it.

The Importance of Accessing the Actual Page Source

Accessing the actual page source is crucial for several reasons:

Understanding the code: By accessing the actual page source, developers can understand how the page is generated and make changes to it.
Debugging: If there are any issues with the page, accessing the actual page source allows developers to identify and fix the problems.
Customization: By accessing the actual page source, developers can customize the page to suit their needs.

A Better Alternative: The "Edit on GitHub" Link

We have already implemented a better alternative on SciJava ops, which is to provide an "edit on GitHub" link. This link takes us directly to the actual page source, where we can edit the code and make changes. This is a much more helpful and intuitive approach than the current "View page source" button.

How to Implement the "Edit on GitHub" Link

Implementing the "Edit on GitHub" link is relatively straightforward. Here are the steps:

Create a GitHub repository: Create a GitHub repository for your project.
Configure RTD: Configure RTD to use the GitHub repository as the source for the documentation.
Add the "Edit on GitHub" link: Add the "Edit on GitHub" link to the documentation.

Benefits of the "Edit on GitHub" Link

The "Edit on GitHub" link provides several benefits, including:

Improved user experience: The "Edit on GitHub" link provides a more seamless experience for users, allowing them to access the actual page source and make changes.
Increased productivity: By providing a direct link to the actual page source, developers can save time and increase productivity.
Better customization: The "Edit on GitHub" link allows developers to customize the page to suit their needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current "View page source" button on RTD is minimally helpful. By implementing the "Edit on GitHub" link, we can provide a more seamless experience for users, increase productivity, and allow for better customization. We have already implemented this on SciJava ops, and we encourage others to do the same.

Future Directions

In the future, we plan to continue improving the "View page source" button and provide more features to enhance the user experience. Some potential future directions include:

Improving the "View page source" button: We plan to improve the "View page source" button to take us directly to the actual page source.
Adding more features: We plan to add more features to the "Edit on GitHub" link, such as the ability to edit the code directly from the link.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the current state of the "View page source" button on Read the Docs (RTD) and how it can be improved by implementing the "Edit on GitHub" link. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the "View page source" button and the "Edit on GitHub" link.

Q: What is the current state of the "View page source" button on RTD?

A: The current state of the "View page source" button on RTD takes us to a view of the literal text of the page, rather than the actual page source.

Q: Why is the "View page source" button not taking us to the actual page source?

A: The "View page source" button is not taking us to the actual page source because it is not configured to do so. This is a limitation of the current implementation of the "View page source" button on RTD.

Q: What is the "Edit on GitHub" link, and how does it improve the user experience?

A: The "Edit on GitHub" link is a feature that takes us directly to the actual page source, where we can edit the code and make changes. This link improves the user experience by providing a more seamless experience for users, increasing productivity, and allowing for better customization.

Q: How do I implement the "Edit on GitHub" link on my RTD project?

A: To implement the "Edit on GitHub" link on your RTD project, you need to create a GitHub repository for your project, configure RTD to use the GitHub repository as the source for the documentation, and add the "Edit on GitHub" link to the documentation.

Q: What are the benefits of using the "Edit on GitHub" link?

A: The benefits of using the "Edit on GitHub" link include:

Improved user experience: The "Edit on GitHub" link provides a more seamless experience for users, allowing them to access the actual page source and make changes.
Increased productivity: By providing a direct link to the actual page source, developers can save time and increase productivity.
Better customization: The "Edit on GitHub" link allows developers to customize the page to suit their needs.

Q: Can I customize the "Edit on GitHub" link to suit my needs?

A: Yes, you can customize the "Edit on GitHub" link to suit your needs. You can add additional features, such as the ability to edit the code directly from the link, or customize the link to point to a specific branch or commit.

Q: What are some potential future directions for improving the "View page source" button and the "Edit on GitHub" link?

A: Some potential future directions for improving the "View page source" button and the "Edit on GitHub" link include:

Improving the "View page source" button: We plan to improve the "View page source" button to take us directly to the actual page source.
Adding more features: We plan to add more features to the "Edit on GitHub" link, such as the ability to edit the code directly from the link.
Enhancing the user experience: We plan to enhance the user experience by providing more features and improving the overall usability of the "Edit on GitHub" link.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the "View page source" button on RTD is minimally helpful, and we can improve it by implementing the "Edit on GitHub" link. By providing a more seamless experience for users, increasing productivity, and allowing for better customization, we can make RTD a more valuable tool for developers. We encourage others to implement the "Edit on GitHub" link and continue improving the user experience.