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Set a project homepage — decide content (Javadoc site vs docs/landing page) #221

Description

@AndreasIgel

Goal

The GitHub repository homepage field is currently empty. Setting it improves discoverability (it's shown prominently on the repo, and a real titled site earns its own Google ranking and gives us backlink surface). But what to point it at needs a deliberate decision — hence a dedicated issue.

Options for what the homepage should be

Option A — Published Javadoc site

Point the homepage at hosted API docs (e.g. GitHub Pages built from mvn javadoc:javadoc, or a javadoc.io URL once published to Maven Central: https://javadoc.io/doc/io.github.java-helpers/simple-builders-core).

  • Pros: zero/low authoring effort, always accurate, useful reference for @SimpleBuilder, @SimpleBuilder.Options, generated APIs. javadoc.io works automatically for anything on Maven Central.
  • Cons: Javadoc is a reference, not a landing page — poor first impression for a newcomer evaluating the library; weak for SEO/marketing copy.

Option B — A proper docs / landing website (GitHub Pages)

A small site (GitHub Pages from docs/, or a generator like Docusaurus/MkDocs/Antora) with a landing page + guides.

  • Pros: best for first impressions, SEO, and onboarding; can host the getting-started, configuration guide (we already have docs/CONFIGURATION.md), comparison vs Lombok/RecordBuilder, and examples; controllable <title>/meta for Google.
  • Cons: authoring + maintenance effort; needs a theme and content.

Option C — Hybrid (recommended starting point)

Landing/docs site (Option B) that links out to the Javadoc (Option A). Homepage → docs site; docs site prominently links the API reference.

What to put on it (if we go with B/C)

  • One-paragraph pitch (reuse the new README tagline).
  • Getting started (install snippet).
  • Feature tour (records, Jackson, with/copy, conditional, collections).
  • Configuration reference (port/link docs/CONFIGURATION.md).
  • Comparison vs Lombok / Immutables / AutoValue / FreeBuilder / RecordBuilder.
  • Link to Javadoc + Maven Central + GitHub.

Decision needed

  1. A, B, or C?
  2. If B/C: which generator (plain GitHub Pages / MkDocs / Docusaurus / Antora)?
  3. Hosting path (GitHub Pages on java-helpers.github.io/simple-builders vs a custom domain)?

Once decided, a follow-up PR can scaffold the site and set the homepage field.

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