ves-tech · nickcannon · Feb 12, 2026 · Feb 8, 2026 · Feb 8, 2026 · Feb 8, 2026
diff --git a/.claudeignore b/.claudeignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+node_modules/
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Dependencies
+node_modules/
+vendor/
+
+# Build output
+_site/
+.sass-cache/
+.jekyll-cache/
+.jekyll-metadata
+
+# Environment
+.env
+.bundle/
+
+# IDE
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# OS
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
+
+# Logs
+*.log
+npm-debug.log*
+
+# Temporary files
+*.tmp
+*.bak
+
+# Archived reference
+v1-reference/
diff --git a/404.html b/404.html
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ <h2 class="text-2xl font-semibold mb-4">Page Not Found</h2>
   <p class="text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-300 mb-8">
     The page you're looking for doesn't exist or has been moved.
   </p>
-  <a href="/" class="inline-block px-6 py-3 bg-gray-900 dark:bg-gray-100 text-white dark:text-gray-900 rounded-lg hover:bg-gray-700 dark:hover:bg-gray-300 transition-colors">
+  <a href="{{ '/' | relative_url }}" class="inline-block px-6 py-3 bg-gray-900 dark:bg-gray-100 text-white dark:text-gray-900 rounded-lg hover:bg-gray-700 dark:hover:bg-gray-300 transition-colors">
     Return Home
   </a>
 </div>
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+VFX Reference Platform - a Jekyll-based static site documenting reference platform specifications for VFX/animation software. Hosted with Github Pages and published to https://vfxplatform.com. 
+
+**Stack:** Jekyll 4.3 (Ruby), Tailwind CSS 3.4, PostCSS, vanilla JS
+
+## Documentation
+
+The README.md file contains a friendly guide on how to administer the site aimed at the site adminitration team. It should be updated as features are added or changed so that it always accurately reflects up to date instructions on how to update the site content.
+
+## Development Commands
+
+```bash
+# Install dependencies
+npm install && bundle install
+
+# Development (CSS watch + Jekyll livereload on localhost:4000)
+npm run dev
+
+# Production build
+npm run build
+
+# Individual commands
+npm run build:css      # One-time Tailwind build
+npm run watch:css      # Watch mode for CSS
+bundle exec jekyll serve --livereload
+```
+
+## Architecture
+
+**Data-driven content:** Platform specs live in YAML files, not code. Most updates are data edits.
+
+```
+_data/
+├── platforms/CY20XX.yml  # Version specs per year (CY2014-CY2026)
+├── components.yml        # Component metadata and categories
+├── faq.yml              # FAQ Q&A content
+├── footer.yml           # Footer content (description, resources, contact)
+├── navigation.yml       # Main navigation menu
+├── notes.yml            # Technical footnotes
+├── status_updates.yml   # Status updates shown on homepage
+└── useful_links.yml     # Useful links section on homepage
+```
+
+**Key config in `_config.yml`:**
+- `current_year: 2026` - Active platform year
+- `supported_years_count: 4` - Total number of years shown in tables, except on pages where all platform history is shown.
+
+**Layouts:**
+- `_layouts/default.html` - Base page layout (centered content container)
+- `_layouts/home.html` - Full-width layout used by pages with hero sections
+
+**Key templates and assets:**
+- `_includes/platform-table.html` - Main specs table component
+- `assets/css/main.css` - Tailwind directives + custom components
+- `assets/js/year-comparison.js` - Compare page logic
+- `assets/js/component-detail.js` - Component detail page
+- `assets/js/table-collapse.js` - Collapsible table categories
+- `assets/js/note-popover.js` - Note tooltip/bottom sheet
+- `assets/js/dark-mode.js` - Dark mode toggle persistence
+
+## Common Tasks
+
+**Add new platform year:** Create `_data/platforms/CY[YEAR].yml` following existing schema. Tables auto-render it.
+
+**Update component versions:** Edit `_data/platforms/CY[YEAR].yml` - no code changes needed.
+
+**Add FAQ entry:** Append to `_data/faq.yml`
+
+**Add technical note:** Add to `_data/notes.yml`, reference with `note:` key in platform data
+
+**Update footer content:** Edit `_data/footer.yml`
+
+**Update status updates:** Edit `_data/status_updates.yml`
+
+**Update useful links:** Edit `_data/useful_links.yml`
+
+## Platform Data Schema
+
+Each `_data/platforms/CY[YEAR].yml` contains:
+- `year`, `status`, `last_updated`
+- `linux`: gcc/glibc versions with `min_max: true` flag
+- `macos`: deployment_target with optional `note:` reference
+- `windows`: visual_studio, sdk versions
+- `components`: python, qt, pyqt, pyside, numpy, imath, openexr, ptex, opensubdiv, openvdb, alembic, fbx, opencolorio, aces, boost, onetbb, onemkl, cpp_standard
+
+## Deployment
+
+Push to main branch triggers GitHub Actions (`.github/workflows/deploy.yml`) which builds and deploys to GitHub Pages automatically. A separate `.github/workflows/deploy-staging.yml` workflow deploys the staging branch for preview.
diff --git a/FAQ/index.html b/FAQ/index.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-layout: default
+layout: home
 title: Frequently Asked Questions
 description: "VFX Reference Platform - Frequently Asked Questions"
 ---
@@ -23,6 +23,23 @@
 }
 </script>
 
-<h2 class="text-2xl font-semibold mb-8">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
+<!-- Hero Section -->
+<section class="bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800/50 border-b border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700">
+  <div class="container mx-auto px-4 max-w-6xl">
+    <div class="py-12 md:py-16">
+      <div class="max-w-3xl mx-auto text-center">
+        <h1 class="text-4xl md:text-5xl font-bold tracking-tight mb-4">
+          Frequently Asked Questions
+        </h1>
+        <p class="text-lg text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-300 leading-relaxed">
+          Common questions about the VFX Reference Platform and how it works.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</section>
 
-{% include faq-accordion.html %}
+<!-- FAQ Content -->
+<section class="container mx-auto px-4 max-w-6xl py-12">
+  {% include faq-accordion.html %}
+</section>
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ This repo hosts the VFX Reference Platform web site hosted at https://vfxplatfor
    - [Updating Component Versions](#updating-component-versions)
    - [Adding/Editing Notes (Footnotes)](#addingediting-notes-footnotes)
    - [Adding FAQ Entries](#adding-faq-entries)
+   - [Editing Homepage Content](#editing-homepage-content)
+   - [Editing Footer Content](#editing-footer-content)
    - [Modifying Navigation](#modifying-navigation)
 5. [Deployment](#deployment)
    - [Staging](#staging)
@@ -81,13 +83,17 @@ _data/
 │   └── CY2026.yml
 ├── components.yml       # Component metadata and categories
 ├── faq.yml              # FAQ questions and answers
+├── footer.yml           # Footer content (description, resources, contact)
 ├── navigation.yml       # Main navigation menu links
 ├── notes.yml            # Technical footnotes referenced from platform data
-└── status_updates.yml   # Status updates shown on the homepage
+├── status_updates.yml   # Status updates shown on the homepage
+└── useful_links.yml     # Useful links shown as cards on the homepage
 ```
 
 **Key point:** You rarely need to touch HTML templates. Almost all routine updates involve editing these YAML files.
 
+**Interactive features:** The platform table supports collapsible category sections — users can click any category header (Linux, macOS, Windows, Components) to collapse/expand its rows. Collapsed state is remembered across visits via localStorage.
+
 ---
 
 ## Common Tasks
@@ -275,6 +281,55 @@ questions:
 
 ---
 
+### Editing Homepage Content
+
+The homepage uses a dedicated `home` layout (different from other pages) that allows full-width sections like the hero. Content is structured into sections:
+
+1. **Hero section** — Title, subtitle, and call-to-action buttons. The hero text is configured in `_config.yml` under the `hero:` key:
+   ```yaml
+   hero:
+     subtitle: "A standardized set of tool and library versions..."
+     cta_primary_text: "View Latest Platform"
+     cta_primary_url: "#reference-platform"
+     cta_secondary_text: "Join Discussion"
+     cta_secondary_url: "https://groups.google.com/g/vfx-platform-discuss"
+   ```
+
+2. **Current Status** — Shows the latest 4 status updates as cards (data from `_data/status_updates.yml`)
+
+3. **Reference Platform** — The main version specs table (data from `_data/platforms/`)
+
+4. **Support Guidance** — Two cards describing support window and best practices
+
+5. **Useful Links** — Card grid driven by `_data/useful_links.yml`:
+   ```yaml
+   - title: "Link Title"
+     url: "https://example.com"
+     description: "Brief description of the link."
+     icon: "chart"   # Options: chart, python, container, grid, matrix
+   ```
+
+### Editing Footer Content
+
+**File:** `_data/footer.yml`
+
+The footer displays across all pages with three columns: about, resources, and contact.
+
+```yaml
+description: "Site description text..."
+
+resources:
+  - title: "Discussion Group"
+    url: "https://groups.google.com/g/vfx-platform-discuss"
+  - title: "Academy Software Foundation"
+    url: "https://www.aswf.io/"
+
+contact_email: "feedback@vfxplatform.com"
+collaboration_text: "Updated annually in collaboration with..."
+```
+
+---
+
 ### Modifying Navigation
 
 **File:** `_data/navigation.yml`
@@ -285,6 +340,8 @@ The main navigation menu is a simple list:
 main:
   - title: Home
     url: /
+  - title: History
+    url: /platform_history.html
   - title: Compare
     url: /compare.html
   - title: Linux
@@ -293,8 +350,6 @@ main:
     url: /FAQ/
   - title: About
     url: /about/
-  - title: Contact
-    url: /contact/
 ```
 
 Add, remove, or reorder items as needed. URLs can be:
@@ -488,10 +543,11 @@ current_year: 2026
 supported_years_count: 4
 ```
 
-Other settings (rarely need changing):
+Other settings:
 - `title`: Site title
 - `description`: Site description for SEO
 - `url`: Production site URL
+- `hero`: Homepage hero section text and CTA buttons (subtitle, button labels, URLs)
 
 **Important:** After changing `_config.yml`, you must restart the local Jekyll server to see changes.
 

diff --git a/_config.yml b/_config.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ plugins:
 author:
   name: VFX Reference Platform Working Group
 
+# Hero section
+hero:
+  subtitle: "The VFX Reference Platform defines a set of tool and library versions to establish a consistent build target for software providers. Its purpose is to minimise incompatibilities between different software packages, ease the support burden for integrated pipelines and encourage further adoption of Linux."
+  cta_primary_text: "View Latest Platform"
+  cta_primary_url: "#reference-platform"
+  cta_secondary_text: "Join Discussion"
+  cta_secondary_url: "https://groups.google.com/g/vfx-platform-discuss"
+
 # Analytics
 cloudflare_analytics: 75ac194cb08e4271aa16a0649ac38734
 

diff --git a/_data/footer.yml b/_data/footer.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+description: "A standardized set of tool and library versions to minimize incompatibilities between software packages in the VFX industry."
+
+resources:
+  - title: "Discussion Group"
+    url: "https://groups.google.com/g/vfx-platform-discuss"
+  - title: "Academy Software Foundation"
+    url: "https://www.aswf.io/"
+  - title: "VFXpy Tracker"
+    url: "https://vfxpy.com/"
+
+contact_email: "feedback@vfxplatform.com"
+collaboration_text: "Updated annually in collaboration with the <a href='https://vesglobal.org/technology-committee-activities/' class='text-blue-400 hover:text-blue-300 hover:underline'>Visual Effects Society Technology Committee</a>."
diff --git a/_data/navigation.yml b/_data/navigation.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 main:
   - title: Home
     url: /
+  - title: History
+    url: /platform_history.html
   - title: Compare
     url: /compare.html
   - title: Linux
@@ -9,5 +11,3 @@ main:
     url: /FAQ/
   - title: About
     url: /about/
-  - title: Contact
-    url: /contact/
diff --git a/_data/useful_links.yml b/_data/useful_links.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+- title: "2021 Studio Platform Survey Report"
+  url: "https://bit.ly/VRP21Rep"
+  description: "Results from the 2021 survey of VFX studio platform configurations and requirements."
+  icon: "chart"
+
+- title: "VFXpy Python 3 Compatibility Tracker"
+  url: "https://vfxpy.com/"
+  description: "Track Python 3 compatibility for common VFX and animation software packages."
+  icon: "python"
+
+- title: "ASWF Docker Containers"
+  url: "https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/aswf-docker"
+  description: "Ready-to-build containers implementing VFX Reference Platform compliant build environments."
+  icon: "container"
+
+- title: "DCC Tool Version Compatibility"
+  url: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-8VdfspUBpkYJzfKKovI-H2bZeb5Wn3cuNPsq_Ho3S8/edit?usp=sharing"
+  description: "Track major digital content creation tool version compatibility with each platform year."
+  icon: "grid"
+
+- title: "VFX Industry Build Matrix"
+  url: "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EwRlz5ZYObEOdBfIk8iTX5thlpTyEAfp3bxOgAfFOiU/edit?usp=sharing"
+  description: "Cross-reference of build configurations used across the VFX industry."
+  icon: "matrix"
diff --git a/_includes/dark-mode-toggle.html b/_includes/dark-mode-toggle.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <button
   id="dark-mode-toggle"
   type="button"
-  class="p-2 rounded-lg text-gray-400 hover:text-white focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-gray-600 transition-colors"
+  class="p-2 rounded-lg text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-900 dark:hover:text-white focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-gray-300 dark:focus:ring-gray-600 transition-colors"
   aria-label="Toggle dark mode"
 >
   <svg id="dark-mode-icon" class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">

diff --git a/_includes/faq-accordion.html b/_includes/faq-accordion.html
@@ -28,13 +28,3 @@
   </div>
   {% endfor %}
 </div>
-
-<style>
-  .accordion-item.open .accordion-chevron {
-    transform: rotate(180deg);
-  }
-  .accordion-item.open .accordion-header {
-    border-bottom-left-radius: 0;
-    border-bottom-right-radius: 0;
-  }
-</style>